With the NFL trade deadline candidate less than a week away, it’s only time we put together our list of the NFL trade deadline candidates 2022.
The season has been full of surprises, but the best is yet to come as teams start to offload their stars and think about the upcoming NFL Draft.
NFL trade deadline candidates 2022
The Green Bay Packers desperately crave help in their receiving corps, but they may wind up being sellers. The Denver Broncos were supposed to be a powerhouse, but their offensive miscues may force them to be last-minute sellers as well.
The San Francisco 49ers have already pulled off one of the biggest moves of the year by landing Christian McCaffrey. But will CMC be the only superstar or big name to finish the season somewhere else? That just doesn’t seem likely at this point.
So, sit down, buckle up, and keep scrolling as we let you know the top 20 players most likely to be traded before the NFL tade deadline.
20. Jackson Carman
Despite being a second-round pick just two years ago, Jackson Carman has failed to establish himself in the Cincinnati Bengals’ Offensive Line. The physical traits are there, but the impact hasn’t, losing his starting job in back-to-back seasons and giving up a lot of ground in the pecking order.
Carman isn’t likely to see the field unless there’s a major injury in the Bengals’ new-look offensive line. Even so, he’s more likely to be waived than given another shot, but there could be a team desperate for O-Line help.
19. Tarell Basham
The Dallas Cowboys have had one of the most impressive defenses in the league this season, but it’s not like they have Tarell Basham to credit for that. They have DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler, and Sam Williams to cover that spot, so they don’t actually need him.
Moreover, Basham is on a team-friendly deal and will be a free agent at the end of the season, so moving on from him would be a no-brainer for America’s Team. He’d be a solid pickup somewhere else.
18. Jerry Hughes
The Houston Texans aren’t any good, nor will they be for the foreseeable future. They should just give up on the season and aim for that first or second-overall pick to get Bryce Young or CJ Stroud and finally start their rebuild on the right foot.
Jerry Hughes is a serviceable veteran who’ll have no shortage of suitors. He’s on a reasonable contract but is already 34 years old, so the young Texans have no use for him.
17. Nelson Agholor
The New England Patriots have a surplus at the mediocre wide receiver position. Bill Belichick hinted at them possibly moving at least one of them before the deadline, and Nelson Agholor is sure the prime candidate for that, as he’s barely played this season.
Moving Agholor could be tricky, though. He’s got a steep salary and little-to-nothing to show for it. He’s not likely to gauge a lot of interest around the league at this point.
16. Marquez Callaway
The New Orleans Saints have a great set of offensive weapons, at least when they’re all healthy. That leaves boom-or-bust wideout Marquez Callaway as the odd man out, with Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, and Jarvis Landry getting most of the snaps.
Callaway could definitely help a WR-needy team like the Green Bay Packers or Baltimore Ravens. He’s a downfield, big-play threat and not much more, but he’d still be an upgrade.
15. Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Surprisingly, Clyde Edwards-Helaire could be among the NFL trade deadline candidates 2022. He’s looked better this season but has failed to live up to the hype that came with him when he entered the league out of LSU. Either because of injuries or flat-out inefficiency.
Moreover, Edwards-Helaire has ceded snaps to sensation rookie Isiah Pacheco, who looks like the better runner. Jerick McKinnon has also beaten him for the passing-down role, so some believe his time could be up.
14. Amari Rodgers
In all honesty, it’s not like the Green Bay Packers can afford to be trading their wide receivers away right now. If anything, they should be looking to add more bodies to that mediocre and struggling receiving corps to try and salvage their season.
But former third-round pick Amari Rodgers has barely played, and it’s clear that he’s not poised to be the star they thought he’d be. So, they’d gladly take anything they could for him.
13. Melvin Gordon
The Denver Broncos lost Javonte Williams for the season, so naturally, most people thought Melvin Gordon would take over. Unfortunately for fantasy football players, that wasn’t the case, and Gordon has been in the doghouse despite being the most productive back on the team sans Williams.
The veteran hasn’t looked happy on the sidelines this season. RBs are more expendable now than ever, but with all the injuries, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see multiple teams interested in his services.
12. Zack Moss
On the same note, the Buffalo Bills have failed to establish the running game again. Devin Singletary has been better than in the prior years, but the bar wasn’t that high, to be honest. Zack Moss, on the other hand, has kind of regressed this season.
Moss is a pass-catching back whose skill set could come in handy for a couple of teams, but his future seems away from Buffalo. Also, he’s only played 20% of his team’s snaps.
11. Casey Hayward
The Atlanta Falcons have fared better than expected this season, so there’s still a chance they won’t be sellers at the deadline. If that’s the case, then they should most definitely hold on to Casey Hayward, although that could be a big mistake.
Heyward has been a lockdown CB as per usual, but he’s already 33 years old. Multiple teams could use some help in the slot CB position, and his contract is more than reasonable.
10. Mitch Trubisky
It’s been another tough year for Mitch Trubisky. He went from being the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback to sitting near the top of the NFL trade deadline candidates 2022. Although, in all honesty, I’d be shocked to see any team wants anything to do with him.
Trubisky proved over and over that he’s not NFL material, at least not as a starter. His inability to hit receivers in stride and lack of pocket awareness is simply remarkable.
9. Kadarius Toney
Kadarius Toney should be near the top of most NFL trade deadline targets. I mean, he’s been mostly bad throughout his career, and he’s been hurt this season, but he’s still a first-round pick with impressive athleticism, and there’s got to be some upside there.
The New York Giants aren’t known for their strong passing game, so there’s a chance other team makes the most of Toney’s talents. Still, his trade value is unclear, which is why he could be hard to deal.
8. Mike Gesicki
Mike Gesicki might well be one of the NFL players available for trade. The Miami Dolphins are using him mostly as a blocker and in short routes, which seems like a waste of his talents and skill set. Also, his chemistry with Tua Tagovailoa is non-existent.
There’s a shortage of reliable pass-catching tight ends which are also elite blockers, and Gesicki fits that mold. Also, he’s playing on the franchise tag, so trading him is a bit of a no-brainer.
7. Josh Jacobs
Josh Jacobs entered the season as one of the prime NFL trade deadline candidates 2022. Some even claimed that Josh McDaniels played him in the preseason just to showboat him and bait other teams into trading for him after not picking up his fifth-year option.
Jacobs has proven that trading him would be a mistake, but hey, it’s the Las Vegas Raiders we’re talking about here. Any team would be wise to pick up the phone to try and get him.
6. Cam Akers
Cam Akers has officially entered Sean McVay’s doghouse, and it seems like he’s never getting out. If anything, the Los Angeles Rams have all but ruled him out for the remainder of the season, and he may never play a single snap for them again.
Akers’ character and constant injuries have kept him from becoming the superstar we thought he’d be. But he’s still got more than enough upside to be worth a flier.
5. Chase Claypool
Chase Claypool has the physical tools to be one of the NFL’s most dominant and physically imposing wideouts. But poor quarterback play, a boring offensive system, and his own character issues have prevented him from fulfilling his true potential.
With the Steelers still trying to compete, whether they’ll deal Claypool is uncertain. But he’s potentially one of the NFL players available for trade, and the Packers should try and get him.
4. Roquan Smith
Roquan Smith claimed that he’d handle his contract dispute like a professional, but that hasn’t seemed like the case. The Chicago Bears star has been one of the most disappointing players in the league this season, so it would be tough to make a case for him right now.
Still, he’s just 25 years old, a multi-time All-Pro player with a lot of football ahead of him. If he hasn’t changed his mind about leaving, then teams should line up to try and get him.
3. Kareem Hunt
Kareem Hunt requested a trade before the start of the season, yet the Cleveland Browns respectfully declined. They believe that a one-two punch with Nick Chubb can make them a legit contender, and, truth be told, it’s hard to argue with that logic.
But then again, Deshaun Watson will be back soon, so their passing game should be more of a factor. Also, Hunt will be a free agent, and they have plenty of depth at the RB spot. They need to move him, or he’ll leave for free.
2. Jerry Jeudy
All of a sudden, Jerry Jeudy is headlining most of the rumors ahead of the trade deadline. Once expected to be a focal point in Nathaniel Hackett’s offense, it seems like the Alabama product is unhappy at Mile High and could find himself on a different team soon.
Jeudy is an elite prospect. He can create separation in the blink of an eye, is a solid route-runner, and big-play threat on every snap. However, he’s had some questionable drops and has zero chemistry with Russell Wilson.
1. D.J. Moore
The Carolina Panthers have already given up on the season. They traded Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey, so, naturally, D.J. Moore currently sits at the top of the NFL trade deadline targets. Truth be told, he’s worth every single penny that’s still left in his contract.
Moore has topped the 1,000-yard plateau multiple times in his career despite playing with some god-awful quarterbacks. So, imagine what he could do with, say, Aaron Rodgers.
