NFL summer trade proposals: Alvin Kamara to the Broncos and other big-name deals for 2025

The big moves of the 2025 NFL offseason may be over. Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf are Pittsburgh Steelers. George Pickens is a Dallas Cowboy. Deebo Samuel is a Washington Commander. And odds are, with minicamps in the books and training camps around the corner, we won’t have too much more player movement that rivals the name recognition of those swaps; even Kirk Cousins is publicly anticipating staying put.

That doesn’t mean NFL teams are done exploring the market, however. In many ways, all 32 are just beginning the process of refining their offseason depth charts. And now that the calendar is well past May, enabling certain veteran contracts to become more expendable, a handful of high-profile players figure to be the subject of last-minute trade talks. Are said players very likely to be dealt? Not necessarily. But there’s always room for a couple of summer blockbusters.

With that in mind, here are five trade proposals ahead of the 2025 season, including another offensive move by the Steelers and a big swing for a five-time Pro Bowler by Denver:

• Why it makes sense: Kamara may be a Saints mainstay, but he’s approaching 30 with an annual injury history, and New Orleans isn’t necessarily geared to compete for meaningful wins in 2025 with a rookie coach and quarterback in Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough, respectively. The Broncos, meanwhile, could still use additional big-play weapons for Bo Nix. And their coach, Sean Payton, was responsible for drafting and unleashing Kamara during his time with the Saints. So what if Denver signed J.K. Dobbins and drafted RJ Harvey? Payton wants depth to win on the ground, and besides, Kamara’s best attribute is collecting passes out of the backfield; he could be Nix’s top safety valve.
• Potential holdups: Moore has talked about wanting to center the Saints offense around Kamara in 2025, which could help ease the burden on Shough. Kamara, meanwhile, has successfully navigated several contract disputes with New Orleans, inking a contract extension as recently as last October; he’s probably content standing pat, with $18.5 million due from the Saints in 2026.

• Why it makes sense: Even after securing Metcalf as their new No. 1 wideout, the Steelers have reportedly been sniffing around for pass catchers, in part to replace the gifted but volatile Pickens,. And Fant — more so than, say, the Atlanta Falcons‘ Kyle Pitts — would seem to be readily available in Seattle. The Seahawks spent a second-round draft pick on fellow tight end Elijah Arroyo, whose athleticism could quickly vault him into a starting role, and trading Fant would save the team close to $9 million in 2025, the last year of the veteran’s deal. As a bonus, Fant previously spent three years working alongside current Steelers assistant Zach Azzanni in Denver.
• Potential holdups: Even if the Seahawks want to shed Fant’s salary, they might prefer to swallow his cap hit for the sake of ensuring new quarterback Sam Darnold has at least one proven option at tight end. And while the Steelers seem to want more offensive pieces, tight end is already reasonably stocked with both Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington atop the depth chart.

• Why it makes sense: Ramsey and the Miami Dolphins have basically been broadcasting the cornerback’s trade availability for weeks, anticipating a breakup less than one year after the two sides struck a lucrative contract extension. And early indications are Ramsey would prefer to land in Los Angeles. A reunion with the Rams makes sense given their title aspirations and secondary needs, but the Chargers were reportedly close to swinging a major deal for Metcalf earlier this offseason, so they could be even more primed to part with real draft capital, this time to shore up the back end of Jesse Minter’s defense. They’ve still got north of $25 million in 2025 salary cap space.
• Potential holdups: It’s clear someone in the Ramsey trade sweepstakes is being stingy, be it Ramsey or the Dolphins or potential suitors, probably because of the financial toll attached to an aging, though accomplished, cover man. And the Chargers have ultimately settled for more team-friendly gambles this offseason, leaving their Los Angeles counterparts, the Rams, as legitimate competition in trade talks.

• Why it makes sense: Minnesota spent big to address both trenches this offseason, but the one non-quarterback spot that lacks top-end answers is the secondary, now sans veteran starters like Stephon Gilmore and Camryn Bynum. Forward-thinking general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was in the Browns‘ front office when Cleveland spent a first-rounder on Newsome in 2021, and at just 25, the former Northwestern standout has the upside to become a longer-term option for Brian Flores’ defense. Why would the Browns give up such a young chess piece? Despite his draft reputation, Newsome managed just three starts in Jim Schwartz’s unit in 2024, and he’s headed into a contract year.
• Potential holdups: The Vikings paid top dollar to retain Byron Murphy Jr. at one cornerback spot, and they might just be comfortable rolling with bargain additions like Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah down the depth chart. And the Browns, while perpetually rebuilding, might want to stash Newsome as insurance; after all, how many other young building blocks do they have?

• Why it makes sense: Dean’s six-year run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers includes a Super Bowl title and big-money extension, but the veteran has been frequently mentioned as a potential cut or trade candidate due to a $15 million 2025 cap hit, almost all of which the Bucs could clear from their books by dealing Dean elsewhere. Las Vegas is a logical landing spot firstly because new coach Pete Carroll still lacks formidable answers at cornerback, secondly because the Raiders have more than $30 million in available cap space, and thirdly because there’s a personal connection here: New general manager John Spytek directed the Bucs’ player personnel department when Dean was drafted in 2019.
• Potential holdups: Even if Dean is more serviceable than special at a lofty price, the Bucs are trying to defend their NFC South crown, and jettisoning such an experienced corner would put immediate pressure on rookie corners like Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish to have a playoff-caliber impact.