NFL Insider Jason La Canfora: Six Trades Which Could Happen Before the New Season Begins; Execs and Agents Have Their Say

Key highlights

• On Myles Garrett: "A year ago, world-class pass rusher Micah Parsons was dealt just before the season. Could we get a repeat? "Maybe by the trade deadline," suggested one NFL general manager, pointing to midseason."
• On Alvin Kamara: "This trade, if executed, will look more like "a salary dump," as one longtime NFL exec put it, than a blockbuster."
• On Jacoby Brissett: "I think Beck is going to get a chance to play this season," suggested the personnel exec, who believes no matter the outcome of Brissett’s negotiations he could be gone by the trade deadline as well.
• On what might happen between JJ McCarthy and Kyler Murray at the Vikings: "I don’t think that dynamic between those two would work out very well," said one longtime NFL agent who has represented many starting QBs."

The biggest question being asked around NFL front offices during this downtime in the league calendar centers on a particular star wide receiver.

It’s not if the Eagles will trade AJ Brown. It’s to whom.

The when part of this equation is starting to come into focus, with Brown’s contract structured in a way that it becomes more tenable for Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman to absorb cap hits and fees after June 1. That’s always been the date targeted by rival front offices for a potential Brown trade, and after the Eagles grabbed pass catchers with their top two draft selections, including moving up for one, Brown knows he will be elsewhere and the rest of the league knows it as well.

He’s long welcomed a change of scenery and it’s going to come, whether it be to New England (as many expect) or Buffalo or Jacksonville or Kansas City or somewhere else. While Brown is the most prominent name on the trade block at a time in which, frankly, not many other such transactions are anticipated, he won’t be alone. There is another flurry of activity that will come during training camp and before roster cutdowns, and some of these players will be included in it:

EDGE Myles Garrett: It’s getting a little testy in Cleveland again. New coach Todd Monken has yet to speak to the future Hall of Famer, who is away from spring voluntary practices and who demanded a trade a year ago, before eventually acquiescing to a new boosted contract to stay with the Browns. The question is: for how long. A year ago, world-class pass rusher Micah Parsons was dealt just before the season. Could we get a repeat? "Maybe by the trade deadline," suggested one NFL general manager, pointing to midseason.

RB Alvin Kamara: The former Pro Bowl back is 30, which is bad news for running backs, and coming off a lost season with some concerns about what he can still do as anything close to an every-down back. But, like Brown, the contract gets easier to peddle after June 1 (his cap hit drops from $21M to $7M). This trade, if executed, will look more like "a salary dump," as one longtime NFL exec put it, than a blockbuster. We’re talking minimal assets in return going the Saints way, but Kamara could be an interesting piece on a pitch count in the backfield with a contender, perhaps primarily catching screen passes in space.

WR Brian Thomas, Jr.: He couldn’t find his way with a bright, young coaching staff that quickly resurrected the Jags offense and QB Trevor Lawrence’s play in 2025. Still probably isn’t a great fit now and has been the subject of trade rumblings for months. The GM suggested if he was in the Jags front office he would be pushing to land Brown now and then take a mid-round pick or whatever to offset what they give up. "Jacksonville makes as much sense for (Brown) as anyone," he posited.

QB Jacoby Brissett: Surely, he regrets signing a basement-level, two-year deal in 2025, because after a career year the Cardinals passer wants more money now. Arizona has a crowded quarterback room after signing Gardner Minshew and drafting Carson Beck in the third round. "I think Beck is going to get a chance to play this season," suggested the personnel exec, who believes no matter the outcome of Brissett’s negotiations he could be gone by the trade deadline as well.

QB Mason Rudolph: Many are simply projecting him to back-up Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh. And he’s done just that for that team for quite some time. But we continue to hear that new coach Mike McCarthy is very high on 2025 draft pick Will Howard ("He’s got a chance to be a quality starter," as one member of the organization put it). And they certainly aren’t cutting QB prospect Drew Allard, who they just drafted. And they aren’t keeping four quarterbacks. So … Some team is going to suffer a quarterback injury and Howard might get a chance to play behind Rodgers in Pittsburgh.

QB JJ McCarthy: If Kyler Murray grabs hold of the starting job in Minnesota as quickly as execs around the league expect, is this recent first-round pick going to make it clear he’s ready to move on? Not sure how much they get for him, but there is always QB need and anytime a kid is drafted this high and gets a short sample to play, and then heads to the bench, it can lead to a departure. He needs reps and development and that’s probably not coming in Minnesota if they think they can win now with Murray. They’ll throw themselves into that proposition. Weird QB room if McCarthy is the No. 2. "I don’t think that dynamic between those two would work out very well," said one longtime NFL agent who has represented many starting QBs.

Elsewhere, the recent Josh Jacobs arrest news could prompt the Green Bay Packers to consider adding a veteran back - James Conner (Arizona) is an option for them.