Five players that could be on the trading block as the NFL season nears

The NFL season is just a week away, so, as a way to kill some time over the next seven days, we thought it would be a useful exercise to take a look at five potential trade candidates, and the teams they could end up with when it’s all said and done.

Reddick has made the Jets look a bit ridiculous since he arrived from the Eagles in the offseason. Since then, he has demanded a new contract and held out from the Jets’ training camp. At this point, it could be worthwhile to move on from the pass rusher and send him to elsewhere, even if it’s just to end the headache that has been managing him.

The Bears have assembled a roster that is almost in win-now mode despite having a rookie QB, it’s been an impressive rebuild but the one area they perhaps would still like to strengthen is their pass rush. Per NBC Sports, they hold eight picks in the 2025 draft, so would surely be happy to give one or two up to get Reddick.

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If you read any of our draft coverage from the 2023 draft, we could have told you this was a bad pick, but alas, the Chargers seemingly ignored (definitely didn’t read) our advice and picked him anyway. Johnston has “struggled” per Cody Benjamin for CBS Sports and has slipped down the depth chart despite a lack of talent around him. Maybe a fresh start is needed.

The Pats boast a number of solid depth options of wide receiver but no stand-out stars, so why not send a fifth-round pick in 2025 to Los Angeles and see what Johnston can do in a new environment?

Per Bo Wulf and Zach Berman of PHLY, Kenny Pickett has been outplayed this Summer by the Eagles’ presumed third-string QB Tanner McKee. Pickett has shown he’s capable of playing in the NFL, so perhaps a team in need of a backup QB could be interested.

The Vikings have had some serious bad luck at the QB position of late, losing their presumed starters to injury in both of the last two seasons. Currently, Sam Darnold is set to be their signal-caller for the 2024 season which inspires little confidence, perhaps adding Pickett would at least provide some insurance.

Does anyone really know what’s going on with Brandon Aiyuk? It seems that every few days a new trade is agreed for his services and then doesn’t materialize. Adam Schefter recently reported talks have taken place with the Steelers but so far nothing has come of it leaving his status unclear.

So far, the Steelers seem the team most willing to trade for Aiyuk, even if it’s a questionable trade from our vantage point. Given the dearth of talent in their QB room, how much value does Aiyuk bring, considering the contract and draft capital needed to acquire him?

As Bill Barnwell writes for ESPN, “The Raiders don't need a 31-year-old wide receiver if they're out of contention,” especially one who would net a decent return in a trade. Adams is among the best wideouts in football, but he will have Gardner Minshew throwing to him on a team that’s a long way from competing.

This is a little out of the blue given the Jags have given big money to Christain Kirk and Gabe Davis in recent years as well as drafting Brian Thomas Jr. in the first round this year. However, Adams is better than all of them and would instantly make this offense elite. Would a 2025 third-round pick be good enough to get a deal done?

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