Wednesday’s George Pickens trade to the Dallas Cowboys reminds us that the NFL roster-building process is a yearlong cycle and more trades will likely follow over the summer.

Pickens joining the Cowboys is a pretty big move for Dallas’ contention chances, but could any other NFL teams make moves to help their odds this fall to make the playoffs and contend for a title?

We’ve gone through 10 players and team fits that we like via trades. While no major draft capital gets thrown around in these proposed trades, we’re all more intrigued about these players and teams with these moves.

While it’s very possible none of these moves happen, speculation in May is the name of the NFL offseason game. Let’s break down these possible trades and why we like them.

CB Jalen Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams

Ramsey heading back to Los Angeles makes so much sense. The Rams are in a definite contention window, and Los Angeles has won a Super Bowl with the Miami Dolphins cornerback on the field before. Ramsey finishing out his career where he once won a title just makes so much sense. It’d be a seamless fit, and Miami could recoup some draft capital for next year in the process. We like this move for both sides.

Trade details: Ramsey to Los Angeles for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick

Okay, the Steelers need to just drop the Aaron Rodgers pursuit already and just trade for Cousins. While the second half of his 2024 season didn’t pan out well with the Atlanta Falcons, he was pretty steady and productive throughout the first half. Pittsburgh can secure a reliable starter for 2025, one who should be able to guide them to the playoffs if he’s fully healthy. The Rodgers drama can finally come to a close, too. If Atlanta is willing to take on some of Cousins’ salary, it can add back the 2026 fifth rounder it traded away in the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s a win for both sides, as Cousins gets a starting job and the Falcons add back a draft pick.

Trade details: Cousins to Pittsburgh for a 2026 fifth-round pick

The Chargers have a decent tight end room, but nobody on the roster quite has what Andrews has. The Harbaugh brothers do each other a solid here, as the Ravens send Andrews to the West Coast to be the de-facto starter for a contending Los Angeles team and reunite with his former Ravens offensive coordinator in Greg Roman. The Chargers send tight end Will Dissly and a conditional Day 3 draft pick back to Baltimore to give the Ravens good depth behind new starting tight end Isaiah Likely. Seems like a win-win to us!

Trade details: Andrews to Los Angeles for Dissly and a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick

The Lions need a veteran left guard, and the Browns need to add draft picks for the future. Cleveland added Teven Jenkins in the offseason, so it has a left guard ready to go if it traded the veteran Bitonio. Detroit could flip a couple of Day 3 picks Cleveland’s way to secure Bitonio for its offensive line. It’d be a great landing spot for the veteran Bitonio to contend for a Super Bowl with the Lions before his playing days are over.

Trade details: Bitonio to Detroit for a 2026 sixth-round pick, 2027 seventh-round pick

Look, this partly for comedic value. The Eagles can cement how they fleeced the Titans in the A.J. Brown trade by adding the player Tennessee took with that Philly 2022 first rounder for cents on the dollar. Burks has to stay healthy, but the Eagles could use more wide receiver depth. This would mean general manager Howie Roseman would add two 2022 first-round draft picks and Brown in the end. The Titans can recoup their losses with a draft pick for 2026 and give 2025 fourth rounders Chimere Dike and Eric Ayomanor more run at widout.

Trade terms: Burks to Philadelphia for a 2026 sixth-round pick

WR John Metchie III to the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers need to supplant depth at wide receiver, and not adding Rodgers means they don’t have to add one of his old running buddies. Houston’s receiver room is quite crowded, and Metchie has starting potential. Pittsburgh, flushed with 2026 draft capital, sends its a conditional 2026 fifth rounder the Texans’ way to add Metchie to the mix. Getting Cousins and Metchie for the 2026 offense feels nice for May.

Trade details: Metchie to Pittsburgh for a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick

OLB Samson Ebukam to the Washington Commanders

The Commanders could really use more veteran edge depth, and Ebukam might be the perfect veteran flier to add to its pass-rushing arsenal. He posted 9.5 sacks in 2023 for the Indianapolis Colts before tearing his Achilles in 2024. He will probably need time to round back into form, but Washington could deploy him as a designated pass-rusher until he’s ready for more snaps. For a Super Bowl contender, this is a smart move. The Colts could add draft capital for 2026 and give rookie edge JT Tuimoloau more snaps this fall.

Trade details: Ebukam to Washington for a 2026 sixth-round pick

RT Andrew Wylie to the Seattle Seahawks

Speaking of the Commanders, they would be wise to go ahead and get 2025 first-round tackle Josh Conerly Jr. onto the field this fall. Wylie is a quality starter, but he doesn’t have Conerly’s upside or draft status. Washington could send Wylie up to Seattle to give him a chance to push Abraham Lucas for the right tackle job in training camp. Lucas is a good player, but he’s missed substantial time in the last two seasons. The Seahawks might struggle to find a player of Wylie’s caliber if Lucas gets hurt in the season too. Seattle could throw a sixth-round pick back to D.C. to add its potential starting right tackle or an excellent swing tackle.

Trade details: Wylie to Seattle for a 2026 sixth-round pick

OLB Bryce Huff to the San Francisco 49ers

Huff never took off with the Eagles as hoped, as Philly made him inactive during its Super Bowl win back in February. A change of scenery would likely benefit all parties, as Philly could recoup some draft capital for 2026 and the 49ers could add a guy who thrived coming off the bench for the New York Jets. Returned San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh would know how to utilize Huff’s strengths as well as anybody after the two were together in New York, and Philly could also take a flier on yet another former Georgia defender in outside linebacker Robert Beal Jr. as part of the deal.

Trade details: Huff to San Francisco for a 2026 fifth-round pick and Beal

QB Will Levis to the New Orleans Saints

If the Saints really won’t have quarterback Derek Carr for the 2025 season, New Orleans will lean on a quarterback battle between 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough and former fifth rounder Spencer Rattler. Honestly, New Orleans might as well throw another guy into the mix and see how it goes. Levis pairing with new Saints offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is intriguing, as it’d give the Saints another option at the most important position on the field. Levis has a big arm and is still pretty young, and we could easily see New Orleans having to kick on the quarterback carousel this fall if Shough struggles. Levis might have his flaws and lost his Tennessee job for a reason, but Moore might be the guy to help Levis reach more of his ceiling. The Titans could add quarterback Jake Haener in return to contend for their backup job.

Trade details: Levis to New Orleans for a 2026 sixth-round pick and Haener