Training camps are rapidly approaching, but there remains significant uncertainty surrounding the futures of some of the league’s top talent.
Amid the discussion, here are five NFL trade candidates who could soon be on the move, along with three potential landing spots for each of them.
5 Players Who Could Be on the Move as Training Camps Approach
Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
Earlier this offseason, Baltimore had pulled off a trade to acquire the superstar pass rusher from Las Vegas, but after a failed physical, they backed out of the deal entirely. That left the Raiders in an awkward position, which they are seemingly still trying to figure out.
Despite suffering a knee injury that kept him out of the final two contests of the season, Crosby still played at a near All-Pro level in 2025. Notably, he recorded 10 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, and ranked fifth among edge rushers, according to PFN’s EDGE Impact Metric.
Once again, Las Vegas should look to capitalize. GM John Spytek may struggle to fetch the two first-round pick price tag he managed all the way back in March, but for the five-time Pro Bowler, the Raiders should still expect a relatively massive haul from a Super Bowl contender.
Potential Landing Spots:Â Bears, Cowboys, Eagles
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Between Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter, the Jaguars already seem to have a plan in place for their wide receiver group. This same unit produced at an extremely high level last year under first-year head coach Liam Coen, and simply put, Brian Thomas Jr. wasn’t a focal piece of it.
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Then again, as he showcased during his rookie season, Thomas has all the tools a star wide receiver could possess. He’s a strong route runner, can win in all three areas of the field, has great run-after-the-catch ability, and, outside of a few crucial drops last season, has shown reliable hands.
The Jaguars may struggle to help Thomas unlock his full potential. Dealing him away for an early Day 2 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft could be their best course of action, allowing him to develop elsewhere while running back the same core from 2025.
Potential Landing Spots:Â Commanders, Raiders, Ravens
George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
George Pickens and the Cowboys have yet to reach an agreement on a contract extension late into the offseason. With training camp quickly approaching, the noise surrounding his future will only continue to grow. It’s now up to Jerry Jones whether he wants to pay Pickens WR1-level money or deal with the consequences of not doing so.
In his first season as a Cowboy in 2025, catching passes from Dak Prescott, Pickens put the NFL on notice. He recorded 93 receptions for 1,429 yards and 9 touchdowns, posting a 90.6 Impact Score and ranking third among all wide receivers, per PFN.
Pickens proved, both from a talent and production standpoint, that he can be a true No. 1 receiver. However, co-star CeeDee Lamb is already set to make $34 million next season, making it difficult for Dallas to commit that kind of money to a second pass catcher. WR-needy playoff teams could profile as potential suitors for the 25-year-old breakout star.
Potential Landing Spots:Â Chiefs, Ravens, Rams
Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
The Browns have a complete logjam in the quarterback room, meaning one of Deshaun Watson, Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green, or Shedeur Sanders is likely to leave the team ahead of the regular season.
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ESPN Cleveland radio host Tony Rizzo recently revealed that the Browns are fielding calls for the second-year quarterback, noting, “There are talks and ongoing calls about the availability of Shedeur Sanders.” Ultimately, this report makes it all the more likely that Sanders is the odd man out.
Although the box score suggests Sanders struggled in limited action last season, as evidenced by his 7 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, the former college star still showed off his mobility and arm talent on several occasions. Expect teams with uncertainty at the QB2 position to reach out about the Browns’ talented young signal-caller.
Potential Landing Spots:Â Cowboys, 49ers, Buccaneers
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
Based on multiple reports surrounding Minnesota’s camp this offseason, Kyler Murray currently seems to have the edge in the quarterback competition. Should this be the case entering Week 1, J.J. McCarthy will be completely out of a starting role, despite being selected in the first round just two offseasons ago.
After missing his entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus and missing another seven games in 2025, McCarthy hasn’t had a fair opportunity to adjust to the true speed of the NFL. Sitting behind a veteran like Murray this season would do the third-year quarterback no favors either.
The Vikings re-signed veteran Carson Wentz this offseason, seemingly to serve as the third-string quarterback behind Murray and McCarthy. However, as time goes on, McCarthy appears increasingly expendable, and the Vikings may look to cut ties ahead of Week 1.
Potential Landing Spots:Â Jets, Bengals, Chargers
