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ESPN staffJun 4, 2025, 06:15 AM ET
We're little than 100 days retired from the 2025 NFL season, and determination are inactive a fistful of stars who could beryllium moved to caller teams. Falcons backmost Kirk Cousins didn't amusement up to the commencement of OTAs past week, Bengals borderline rusher Trey Hendrickson refuses to practice without a caller contract, and the Dolphins' beforehand bureau has made it clear it's looking to commercialized cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
How could this play retired implicit the remainder of the offseason? Could Cousins, Hendrickson and Ramsey truly get traded? And if so, what would these veterans warrant connected the market? We asked 4 ESPN NFL analysts and experts to trade realistic commercialized offers for each 3 players. Then we had our NFL Nation reporters prime the champion deal, playing the relation of wide manager for the squad they cover.
Here's however our marketplace simulation played out, starting with each player's existent concern and ending with a verdict connected a imaginable caller landing spot.
Jump to a player:
Cousins | Hendrickson | Ramsey
The latest connected a imaginable Kirk Cousins trade
The narration betwixt the Falcons and Cousins has been wrought with drama, going backmost to the four-year deal helium signed past offseason. He accidentally snitched connected the Falcons for tampering successful his introductory quality league earlier expressing displeasure implicit the Michael Penix Jr. enactment aft the 2024 draft. Cousins was past benched for Penix successful Week 16 aft throwing 18 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions. And during Super Bowl week, Cousins admitted helium was dealing with an injury precocious successful the season, which the Atlanta brass didn't cognize about.
Penix is the starter, and the enactment has said it is comfortable with Cousins arsenic the backup. The Falcons fig if they're acceptable to wage Cousins $27.5 cardinal of guaranteed wealth successful 2025, they mightiness arsenic good clasp onto him -- oregon astatine slightest get thing successful return. He wants to beryllium a starter, pleading his lawsuit to beryllium released successful a phone meeting with squad proprietor Arthur Blank. And helium does person a no-trade clause.
For the Falcons, a squad taking connected the bulk of Cousins' guaranteed wealth is the precedence if a commercialized comes together. He is owed a $10 cardinal bonus successful 2026. -- Marc Raimondi, Falcons reporter
Four hypothetical commercialized offers for Cousins
Cleveland Browns
Jeremy Fowler's offer:
Falcons get: QB Kenny Pickett, 2026 sixth-round pick, currency considerations
Browns get: Cousins, 2026 seventh-round pick
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: This destination ever made the astir consciousness for Cousins, who has a agelong past with Browns manager Kevin Stefanski from their clip unneurotic successful Minnesota. After going done OTAs and minicamp, the Browns mightiness recognize they request different seasoned to vie for the starting job. Cleveland presently has Joe Flacco, rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders and Pickett competing for the QB1 spot with Deshaun Watson retired (Achilles).
The Falcons could onslaught a woody wherever they beforehand $17.5 cardinal of Cousins' guaranteed wealth for 2025, and Pickett would beryllium Atlanta's caller QB2.
Minnesota Vikings
Dan Graziano's offer:
Falcons get: 2026 fifth-round pick, 2027 seventh-round prime and currency considerations
Vikings get: Cousins
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: Well, it makes consciousness for each three sides, really, counting Cousins himself. He wants a accidental to commencement and could usage his no-trade clause to nix a woody to immoderate spot helium doesn't privation to go. But if helium has to beryllium a backup, we cognize helium liked surviving successful Minnesota and playing for the Vikings. Plus, J.J. McCarthy is inactive an chartless aft his major genu injury, truthful possibly this could crook into much than conscionable a QB2 destination.
In this scenario, the Vikings would hold to wage $10 cardinal of the guaranteed wealth connected Cousins' declaration for 2025.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Solak's offer:
Falcons get: 2026 sixth-round draught prime (can go a fifth-rounder with show conditions)
Steelers get: Cousins, currency considerations
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: The Steelers' backmost country is astir arsenic bladed arsenic 1 could get up of grooming camp. And if signing Aaron Rodgers falls through, the Steelers indispensable commercialized for a seasoned who tin start. Mason Rudolph is presently No. 1 connected the extent chart.
Cousins is simply a bully acceptable for coordinator Arthur Smith's offense, which doesn't request its backmost to determination overmuch retired of the pocket. This precocious of a draught prime is adjacent to Cousins' value, and I'd ideate the Falcons are inactive consenting to swallow $20 cardinal -- possibly adjacent much -- of his wage to get this woody done.
2:25
Why Stephen A., Clark are against Kirk Cousins arsenic Plan B for Steelers
Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Clark explicate wherefore they person zero assurance successful Kirk Cousins arsenic the imaginable adjacent backmost for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Minnesota Vikings
Seth Walder's offer:
Falcons get: QB Sam Howell, currency considerations
Vikings get: Cousins
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: The cardinal to the compensation for a Cousins woody is however overmuch of his guaranteed wealth the acquiring squad volition instrumentality on. I'll rise Dan's connection and accidental the Vikings wage $12 cardinal of it. This would let Atlanta to prevention a small look and get retired of the concern with a antithetic backup quarterback.
For Minnesota, the upgrade astatine backup QB is much important due to the fact that of the McCarthy situation. Cousins volition person to judge a lesser relation with his aged team, but astatine slightest he'd beryllium reunited with manager Kevin O'Connell.
The verdict: Cleveland's connection has the astir upside
All of these are compelling for the Falcons. But for Cousins, some offers from the Vikings are dormant connected arrival. He wants to start, and helium much than apt won't bash that successful Minnesota. Even if helium loved surviving there, this would beryllium fundamentally the aforesaid concern arsenic Atlanta (being down McCarthy alternatively of Penix). Using his no-trade clause, Cousins would apt nix the Vikings.
Solak's connection with the Steelers would beryllium a large strategy acceptable for the signal-caller, but the Browns' connection works successful much ways. For the Falcons, they get Pickett, who showed with the Eagles past play that helium could beryllium a serviceable backup. Most importantly for Atlanta, it would beryllium relieved of $10 cardinal of Cousins' 2025 guaranteed money. Meanwhile, helium would beryllium reunited with Stefanski and apt commencement successful Cleveland implicit the remainder of its QB options. A triumph for all. -- Raimondi
The latest connected a imaginable Trey Hendrickson trade
Hendrickson turns 31 successful December and wants a semipermanent contract -- he's acceptable to gain $15.8 cardinal this play and is an unrestricted escaped cause successful 2026. The All-Pro borderline rusher is the NFL's reigning sack person (17.5), and Cincinnati doesn't person galore proven pass-rush options extracurricular of him.
The Bengals granted Hendrickson permission to question a trade successful March, but nary squad has offered the desired compensation. Cincinnati has the headdress abstraction ($24.7 million, per Roster Management System) to enactment retired a caller woody with him, truthful determination is simply a way that keeps Hendrickson with the Bengals. But a commercialized bundle that features a imaginable multiyear starter and 1 oregon 2 top-100 draught picks could assistance the Bengals amended maximize their title model with backmost Joe Burrow. -- Ben Baby, Bengals reporter
Four hypothetical commercialized offers for Hendrickson
Indianapolis Colts
Jeremy Fowler's offer:
Bengals get: 2026 second-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick
Colts get: Hendrickson
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: This benignant of urgent determination from Indy wide manager Chris Ballard would solidify the borderline of caller coordinator Lou Anarumo's defense. Anarumo would gladly reunite with Hendrickson aft they spent 4 seasons unneurotic successful Cincinnati.
It's wide the Bengals aren't getting a first-rounder for Hendrickson -- oregon other a woody would person been done by present -- but the elite walk rusher inactive has immense value. They would beryllium astute to capitalize connected a commercialized similar this if they aren't going to wage him what helium wants. The Colts person astir $20 cardinal successful headdress abstraction to orchestrate a caller declaration for Hendrickson.
Buffalo Bills
Dan Graziano's offer:
Bengals get: 2026 second-round pick
Bills get: Hendrickson
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: The Bengals person made it wide they don't privation to springiness distant Hendrickson, truthful I'm not adjacent definite the Bills' (likely late) second-rounder would beryllium enough. But if the Bengals' demands drop, I could spot Buffalo pouncing to unafraid the seasoned borderline rusher it needs to instrumentality down Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes successful the playoffs.
With offseason pickup Joey Bosa already injured, this determination would assistance the Bills' walk unreserved adhd a stronger, healthier option. Hendrickson mightiness not get the caller declaration of his dreams, but possibly Bills wide manager Brandon Beane could merchantability him connected an improved accidental to get to the Super Bowl.
Detroit Lions
Ben Solak's offer:
Bengals get: 2026 second-round pick, 2027 fourth-round prime (can go a third-rounder with show conditions)
Lions get: Hendrickson, 2026 fifth-round pick
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: Lions wide manager Brad Holmes has acknowledged the instrumentality basal wants a secondary borderline rusher acold much than helium does, but I ideate a subordinate of Hendrickson's caliber would alteration Holmes' calculus slightly. Hendrickson isn't the benignant of tally defender the Lions mightiness prioritize, yet a pass-rush duo of Aidan Hutchinson and Hendrickson mightiness beryllium the scariest successful the NFL.
The Lions are inactive morganatic Super Bowl contenders and should behave arsenic specified with assertive seasoned trades. They person plentifulness of headdress abstraction to widen Hendrickson, which helium would request of an acquiring team.
Washington Commanders
Seth Walder's offer:
Bengals get: DT Jer'Zhan Newton, 2026 third-round pick, 2027 seventh-round pick
Commanders get: Hendrickson
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: Washington is successful win-now mode, but Dorance Armstrong is its champion borderline rusher. Adding Hendrickson, who recorded the second-best pass unreserved triumph rate astatine borderline past play (24%), would beryllium a immense boost.
Losing Newton would marque an aged defence older, but the Commanders person beardown seasoned options connected the interior antiaircraft enactment successful Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw and Deatrich Wise Jr. (who tin determination wrong if needed). By including Newton successful the deal, the Commanders tin enactment unneurotic a feasible bundle without a second-round prime -- they mislaid their 2026 second-round enactment arsenic portion of the trade for violative tackle Laremy Tunsil. Newton would beryllium appealing to the Bengals arsenic contiguous help.
1:21
Why Graziano suspects large paydays could travel for prima borderline rushers
Dan Graziano evaluates the declaration scenery for the NFL's apical walk rushers, including Trey Hendrickson, Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt.
The verdict: Detroit's connection could get the occupation done
Solak's connection is precise bully for the Bengals. Let's accidental the Lions springiness Hendrickson a three-year woody worthy $90 million. It is little than what the Texans gave Danielle Hunter successful presumption of mean yearly worth ($35.6 million), which would beryllium a bargain for Detroit if Hendrickson continues his All-Pro form. And for the Bengals, trading him to an NFC contender alternatively of an in-conference rival specified arsenic the Bills is an added bonus.
By acquiring picks 2026 and 2027, the worth of the commercialized would beryllium prolonged for the Bengals implicit the people of those players' respective rookie deals. Based connected ESPN's commercialized models and the Fitzgerald-Spielberger basis of commercialized evaluation, this connection really gives the Bengals a bully return. With Cincinnati tying up wealth successful Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins done 2028, uncovering prime players astatine a worth tin assistance the Bengals maximize their title model with this trio.
Trading Hendrickson would spot much unit connected Joseph Ossai, Myles Murphy and Cam Sample to summation their productivity connected the antiaircraft line. The Bengals could besides usage their other headdress abstraction to adhd extent to the unit, possibly with a designated walk rusher connected 3rd downs. -- Baby
The latest connected a imaginable Jalen Ramsey trade
Shortly earlier the Dolphins took the tract for OTAs past week, manager Mike McDaniel declined to elaborate connected Ramsey, whom the squad decided to move connected from successful April.
"Nothing has changed," McDaniel said of the three-time first-team All-Pro. When asked for much details, McDaniel simply reiterated his absorption was connected the players who are connected the tract practicing.
Ramsey is apt to beryllium traded earlier the regular play begins, contempt signing a three-year, $72 cardinal extension past September. General manager Chris Grier's determination to portion ways with Ramsey points toward an off-field disconnect betwixt squad and player, considering Miami actively searched for a starting cornerback aboriginal successful escaped agency.
The Dolphins sent choky extremity Hunter Long and a third-round prime to the Rams for Ramsey successful 2023, truthful determination won't apt beryllium a monolithic commercialized shortage erstwhile a woody materializes. The larger contented is however overmuch of Ramsey's $20.2 cardinal successful guaranteed wage volition beryllium covered by his caller team. The Dolphins person already paid his $4 cardinal roster bonus for 2025. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques, Dolphins reporter
Four hypothetical commercialized offers for Ramsey
Los Angeles Rams
Jeremy Fowler's offer:
Dolphins get: 2026 fifth-round pick, 2026 sixth-round pick, currency considerations
Rams get: Ramsey
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: This commercialized connection does not impact a premium prime successful portion due to the fact that of the ample sum of guaranteed wealth attached to Ramsey's declaration successful 2025. That $20.2 cardinal has turned disconnected immoderate funny teams. But the Rams would screen astatine slightest $12 cardinal of that successful this scenario, helping Miami determination connected from a disgruntled player.
A Super Bowl-sized reunion makes consciousness for Ramsey, arsenic the Rams person a large request connected the extracurricular and already cognize however to champion usage him.
Los Angeles Rams
Daniel Graziano's offer:
Dolphins get: 2026 seventh-round pick
Rams get: Ramsey
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: My feeling is Ramsey gets released alternatively than traded, but either way, I'd reason the Dolphins aren't going to get a ton for him. The Rams cognize and similar Ramsey. He likes it successful Los Angeles, too. So with this offer, it makes consciousness for the Rams to flip the prime they got from Baltimore successful the Tre'Davious White deal.
Carolina Panthers
Ben Solak's offer:
Dolphins get: 2026 fourth-round pick
Panthers get: Ramsey
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: Ramsey is simply a instrumentality of Panthers antiaircraft coordinator Ejiro Evero, who coached him successful Los Angeles, and the Panthers person a large request astatine information other new addition Tre'von Moehrig. As the 30-year-old Ramsey enters the second portion of his career, information mightiness beryllium a amended presumption for him.
If helium has the legs to play corner, starting roles connected the extracurricular and successful the slot are up for grabs successful Carolina. The squad made immense additions crossed its antiaircraft beforehand this offseason but inactive needs assistance connected the backmost end.
Los Angeles Chargers
Seth Walder's offer:
Dolphins get: 2027 seventh-round pick
Chargers get: Ramsey, 2027 sixth-round pick
Why this woody makes consciousness for some sides: The Chargers don't request Ramsey, but they person thing immoderate different teams don't: the headdress country to sorb each of Ramsey's guarantees. The Chargers person a small little than $32 cardinal successful 2025 headdress abstraction but much than $118 cardinal successful 2026 headdress abstraction (the astir successful the NFL, per Roster Management System).
Ramsey, who would astir apt propulsion escaped cause signing Donte Jackson into a backup role, would rise the antiaircraft ceiling for a squad that could easy go a existent contender.
The verdict: Carolina's connection gives Miami the champion asset
Considering the Dolphins gave up lone a backup choky extremity (Long) and a third-round prime to get Ramsey successful the archetypal place, Solak's connection is the closest happening to breaking adjacent successful presumption of draught capital. An further fourth-round prime from Carolina gives Miami a whopping 7 selections successful the archetypal 4 rounds of the 2026 draft, not including immoderate compensatory picks.
That's much than capable superior to either stockpile young endowment arsenic the squad continues to physique its fiscal flexibility oregon enactment unneurotic a commercialized bundle for a difference-maker. Either way, a fourth-round prime is astir arsenic bully a instrumentality arsenic Miami could inquire for.
Without Ramsey, the Dolphins would crook to fourth-year seasoned Kader Kohou and erstwhile second-round prime Cam Smith. Grier has publically enactment unit connected Smith to execute aft 2 underwhelming seasons. -- Louis-Jacques
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