The 2023 NFL preseason is underway, and it’s around the where teams will try to maneuver on the trade front a bit to shore up their fall possibilities.
While we’re ringing in the return of NFL play, why don’t we imagine how some trades could go this month?
While none of the trades we’ve mentioned below might come true, we’ve still come up with some scenarios we feel would be really intriguing to see play out this month as teams get ready for the regular season.
Let’s dust off the trade machine and see how some players could land on new teams ahead of September’s season start.
WR Mike Evans to the Buffalo Bills
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are probably going to have a tough go of it this fall, and moving on from high-priced veterans will become more and more important as the team considers its future.
Evans is still an excellent receiver in the NFL, and it would be absolutely delightful to see him head up to Buffalo to play with Josh Allen and the Bills.
A trio of Evans, Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis could rival the three-headed monster that the Cincinnati Bengals boast, and it would strengthen the Bills’ Super Bowl chances that much more.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Evans to Buffalo for a 2024 second-round pick, 2024 fourth-round pick
DL Lawrence Guy to the Detroit Lions
The New England Patriots love trading veterans around this time of year, and it wouldn’t at all be shocking to see the team move on from defensive lineman Lawrence Guy ahead of the season.
New England might want to get rookie Keion White on the field faster, and moving on from Guy could help facilitate that transition. Guy held out some from the Patriots’ offseason program in hopes a new deal, too.
The upstart Lions could use a veteran on the defensive line in a rotational role, and the team might be interested in upping his salary a bit and signing him to a minor extension.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Guy to Detroit for a 2024 sixth-round pick
WR Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have a very dangerous offensive group at present, but the team still looks a bit thin at wide receiver behind Drake London.
Jefferson has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate in the past, and he could establish himself as the clear WR2 for Atlanta for the foreseeable future.
The Rams need to replenish the roster, and they might be very interested in safety Jaylinn Hawkins (set to be a free agent in 2024) as a starter for their rebuilding defense. Hawkins is having a great camp for Atlanta, but he won’t have a starting role on the field as things stand on the depth chart.
Let’s just do a clean player swap here and call it a day.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Jefferson to Atlanta for Hawkins
TE Zach Ertz to the Dallas Cowboys
The Arizona Cardinals might be the worst team in the NFL this season until quarterback Kyler Murray gets back in the lineup. Even then, they still might be one of the lesser programs going this fall.
The team should try to trade Ertz, a capable veteran tight end with an elite history, before the season gets going. How about to the Cowboy, who could use a good veteran to top the depth chart as Luke Schoonmaker develops?
The Cowboys could use an intermediate option in the passing game for Dak Prescott, and Dallas could use Ertz to keep the offense going strong. The Cowboys could also send a tight end prospect back in Peyton Hendershot.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Ertz to Dallas for a 2024 fifth-round pick, Hendershot
DE Jerry Hughes to the Seattle Seahawks
The Houston Texans might not be all that good this year, and they’ve got a very capable veteran pass rusher on the roster in Jerry Hughes who deserves a change of scenery.
Why not send him up to Seattle? The Seahawks need some edge rushing help, and they’re contending in the NFC right now.
Nearing 35, Hughes had 9 sacks for the Texans last season, and he could step right into a rotational role with the Seahawks.
POSSIBLE TRADE: Hughes to Seattle for a 2024 fifth-round pick
