With less than one month remaining until the trade deadline, a number of players could soon be on the move. The receiver position in particular is set to see notable deals over the coming weeks. 
Davante Adams’ name was mentioned in trade talk before the 2023 deadline with an Aaron Rodgers reunion being a possibility. Once again, the Jets are in the running and they represent the former Packers All-Pro’s preferred destination. The Saints also loom as a serious contender, though, and playing once again with Derek Carr would be a situation Adams is amenable to. New Orleans has aggressively pursued a trade agreement with the Raiders over the past several days.
The Raiders have remained consistent in their asking price of a second-round pick plus other compensation, however, and no suitor has come close to meeting it at this point. Vegas also prefers not to retain salary on the 31-year-old’s deal, one which runs through 2026. Without any guarantees remaining after the current campaign, Adams will either be a rental or a player who works out a restructure upon arrival with a new team.
Rehabbing a hamstring injury, he could of course remain with the Raiders if no trade agreement is worked out. The team sits at 2-3 on the year, and struggles on offense have resulted in Aidan O’Connell taking over at quarterback. Selling Adams or other veterans over the coming weeks would aid Vegas’ long-term goals while allowing him to aid a potential Super Bowl run elsewhere. The Fresno State product has five 1,100-yard seasons on his resume.
Aside from Adams, several wideouts could offer a considerable boost to a contending team down the stretch. Pending free agents are often the names to watch ahead of the deadline, but some receivers with term remaining on their deals may also get dealt soon.
One of those is Christian Kirk, whose availability will be tied to the Jaguars’ record over the coming weeks. At 1-5, Jacksonville does not have a clear path to the postseason and questions have been raised over the job security of head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke. Owner Shad Khan, for his part, remains confident in the team’s decision-makers.
The Jags are not currently interested in adopting a sellers’ standpoint, but Kirk has drawn interest from potential suitors. The 27-year-old is under contract through 2025, although he is not due any guarantees that season. Near the front of one of the receiver position’s recent financial waves, Kirk inked a four-year deal averaging $18MM per year; that figure has since been surpassed many times over, and his production to date in Jacksonville (which includes a career-year in 2021 and a 13.2 yards per catch average) has been notable. The former Cardinal could provide relatively cost-effective play at or near the top of a new WR depth chart.
DeAndre Hopkins represents a pure rental, as his contract will expire after the 2024 campaign. The three-time All-Pro had a strong debut Tennessee season (75-1,075-7 statline), but with the team facing a steep path to postseason contention he could be offloaded. The Titans made a big-money investment in Calvin Ridley this offseason, also adding Tyler Boyd on a one-year deal. If Hopkins is not in the organization’s long-term plans, adding draft capital could pave the way to a younger receiving option being added. 
To little surprise, Tennessee has received calls about the 32-year-old’s availability. Any number of teams could stand to add him to their receiving corps, and the Chiefs could be a team to watch on this front. Kansas City – or any other contender – would need to take on a prorated portion of Hopkins’ $8.27MM salary, a figure which could fit into the cap structure of at least some playoff-bound teams.
Likewise, Diontae Johnson is attached to an expiring contract; his base salary sits at $7MM and the Panthers have paid a notable portion of that out through the first six weeks of the campaign. Acquired via trade from the Steelers (after he requested to be moved), the Pro Bowler did not immediately find himself on the extension radar for Carolina. Given the team’s struggles, moving on before a potential free agent departure would allow the Panthers to recoup draft capital.
At the age of 28, Johnson represents one of the younger wideouts who figures to be available at the deadline. Bills head coach Sean McDermott recently spoke about the inexperienced nature of their post-Stefon Diggs WR setup, with Johnson being named as a potential target. Buffalo ranks near the bottom of the league in cap space, though, which could complicate a deal for any pass-catching help.
Trade speculation is not new to the likes of Amari Cooper (Browns) or Darius Slayton (Giants). Neither veteran expects to be dealt in the near future, but both are on expiring deals. Cleveland and New York entered Sunday’s action with three combined wins, so either or both teams considering a sale of experienced players would not come as a surprise. If the top receivers on the market move soon, interest could pick up for at least one member of the Cooper-Slayton pair. Given their 1-4 record, meanwhile, the Bengals could (at a minimum) give thought to a Tee Higgins trade since the franchise-tagged wideout is widely expected to depart during the spring.
With respect to receivers on their rookie deals, Tyquan Thornton is known to be available. The 2022 second-rounder is being shopped by the Patriots, although his value is not particularly high with just 37 receptions to his name. Romeo Doubs is also playing on the third year of his initial pact, and questions about his future arose in the midst of his team-induced, one-game Packers suspension for Week 5. No trade is believed to have been contemplated by Green Bay, though, and Doubs, 24, is back with the team.
With a multitude of receivers to keep an eye on, several options exist for teams looking to make a splash for the second half of the campaign. How do you see things playing out? Which wideouts will ultimately be moved, and which contenders will pay the price to acquire them? Have your say in the comments section below.
Packers by far have the deepest WR room. Doubs already scored today. They may not have a clear Alpha #1 but don’t seem to need one and don’t see them trading Doubs unless he really is that much of a distraction.
Cooper would make the most sense for Buffalo and I can’t see why Cleveland wouldn’t deal him based on the current state of their offense.
Without Cooper, the Browns may not win another game this season. Just having Cooper on the field forces defenses to stay somewhat honest despite Deshaun Watson’s practiced incompetence this season.
On a side note, it looks to my non-expert but attentive eye that Watson is hoping to be cut and just collect the rest of his bag. What he wants to do with the rest of his life is a bit of a mystery. So there’s only so many massages in a day… Might be wearing the NFL uniform interferes so much how he conducts his private life that he wants his freedom and doesn’t care if he ever plays football again.
Very short-sighted, tunnel-vision. I would have thought by age 29, he’d be able to think with the head on this shoulders.
Id take Slayton for late round swap.
Problem is, I think KC could use him too.
If the Browns lose next week , I try to get both Cooper and Slayton.
But Im out on Adams. And Im very lukewarm on Dointe Johnson.
Fellow Bills fan here.. if the WR getting separation is one of the biggest issues right now, and Diontae’s elite skills are route-running and getting separation, why so lukewarm?
He would presumably cost much less draft capital than Davante, would be easier for Beane to work cap gymnastics with lower remaining $, and he would allow Shakir and Coleman to settle into possession roles with YAC, while Kincaid beats slower DBs in the secondary.
Seems like a decent, cost-effective, short-term solution IMO.. hey may have drop issues from time to time, but Shakir and Coleman generally won’t, and the separation ability should outweigh that.. and he’s never played with a QB as good as Josh (yes, this logic isn’t working for Samuel, but should hopefully work here)..
Both Slayton and Dionte both become the second best Bills receiver.
I just think the price is right for Slayton.
Dionte probably has a bigger reputation than his actual ability.
Though, Id probably bite if he was cheap too. The Bills should have probably been sniffing around for him in the offseason.
Marcedes Lewis caught a pass yesterday so I know his trade value just went through the roof 🙂
Davante Adams may not have a market at all on his high-priced salary and with his injury issues. Perhaps for a receiver-short team with lots of salary cap which is on the edge of Super Bowl run. Can’t think of any Super Bowl contender with that much cap space available.
The Commies might pick him up for a low draft pick as a one-year rental (the Commies have other players to pay, starting next year). That would at least get Adams salary off of the Raiders’ books. Whoever picks Adams up could probably give up a legitimate WR3 back to the Raiders as Adams will take the one pushing, existing WR1 and WR2 to WR2 and WR3 respectively.