players who – After June 1 brought blockbuster swaps—Myles Garrett to the Rams and A.J. Brown to the Patriots—teams are already circling a second wave of trade possibilities, from Anthony Richardson to key pass-rushers like Josh Sweat.
On June 1, the NFL’s usual trade quiet was punctured in a matter of hours. First, the Cleveland Browns traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Then, the Philadelphia Eagles sent A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots.
It was the kind of move that doesn’t just change a depth chart—it flips expectations. The Rams, after the dust settled, positioned themselves as a Super Bowl favorite next season. And if that’s what one swing looks like, it naturally leaves everyone else asking what comes next.
Some of the biggest names aren’t likely to be available much longer, but the league has plenty of players who could surface in the next wave—especially if training camp injuries or contract pressure shake things up.
The most obvious name on the move-or-wait list is Anthony Richardson, the 24-year-old quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. Richardson was given permission to seek a trade earlier this offseason, but nothing has come to fruition. He’s still considered an intriguing candidate because he has “all the tools” to succeed. The problem is results haven’t caught up, and he lost his starting job to Daniel Jones last offseason.
A fresh start is part of the appeal—new eyes, a different plan, a different rhythm. This kind of turnaround doesn’t happen in a vacuum, either. The other lever is timing: an untimely injury before Week 1 could force teams to move quickly when a depth chart gets scrambled.
Alvin Kamara’s situation has a different kind of urgency. The 30-year-old running back appears to have slipped down the New Orleans Saints’ depth chart this offseason. putting his future in question. He played in just 11 games last season and has missed at least one game every year since his rookie campaign in 2017.
New Orleans also signed Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency, a move that signaled a possible changing of the guard. Kamara has already spent time dealing with trade rumors. including a 2025 deadline moment when he threatened to “go drink a piña colada somewhere” if the alternative was relocating to another NFL city. Whether he still feels that way remains unclear—but the Saints’ actions suggest they may be ready to turn the page.
James Conner, the running back for the Arizona Cardinals, is another player who keeps coming up in trade talk. The Cardinals have been stocking their backfield through the draft and free agency—signing Tyler Allgeier and investing the No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Jeremiyah Love—which has left Conner looking like the odd man out.
The Cardinals’ situation also matters because training camp tends to create its own kind of market. Injuries shake rosters across the league, and that typically drives up the value of an experienced option like Conner.
Conner’s availability is complicated by a foot injury that ended his 2025 season after just three games. Still, he’s under contract next season at a reasonable $4.83 million cap hit. For teams looking for consistency at running back. that combination—proven work before the injury plus manageable cap impact—can make him difficult to ignore.
At wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk’s timeline is already narrowing. Aiyuk won’t be playing for the 49ers in 2026. and that certainty is tied directly to comments from general manager John Lynch. At an end-of-season press conference. Lynch told reporters. “safe to say he’s played his last snap with the 49ers. ” a line that further fueled trade rumors. Aiyuk also had his guarantees voided for failing to meet the requirements of the deal.
Instead of releasing him, the 49ers have been holding on with the hope of finding a trade partner. Lynch said after the 2026 NFL Draft that teams should, “give us a call,” to make a deal for Aiyuk.
But the door isn’t wide open everywhere. On May 31, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that two team executives told him that Aiyuk is “simply untradeable” right now. The Washington Commanders have been viewed as a logical fit. but motivation is one thing and execution is another—so it remains unclear if any trade actually happens.
The next domino could come from the pass-rush market. Josh Sweat. the edge rusher for the Arizona Cardinals. has been absent from the Cardinals’ voluntary offseason program. and reports have swirled that he is unhappy in Arizona. That kind of disconnect often becomes a signal to other teams. especially in an offseason when the franchise itself has been in transition.
Whether the unease ties back to the firing of head coach Jonathan Gannon is unknown, but the Cardinals aren’t positioned as a contender either—which can make “available” a more realistic status than “untouchable.”
Sweat is coming off a 12-sack season, a new career high. He’s also under contract for three more seasons with a $19.1 million average annual value (AAV). If the Cardinals decide to entertain trade discussions. Sweat’s production and contract structure make him the type of player other teams notice quickly.
The New York Giants have also built their roster with the future of their defense in mind. which leaves fewer obvious openings on their star pass-rushers. Over the last few years. they signed Brian Burns to a five-year. $141 million contract after acquiring him from the Carolina Panthers. They drafted Abdul Carter with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They also drafted Arvell Reese with the No. 5 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. though there are questions about whether the Ohio State star will play on the edge in the pros.
With so much investment already placed in pass-rushing, Kayvon Thibodeaux becomes easier to frame as expendable. He realistically doesn’t have to be traded—but the Giants could still recoup value if a team in need of a pass-rusher comes calling.
The sequencing of June 1 matters. Garrett to the Rams and A.J. Brown to the Patriots weren’t minor adjustments; they were full-on roster rewrites. Once teams see Super Bowl-level impact tied to aggressive trades. it becomes harder for everyone else to stay passive when they have players whose roles are uncertain. contracts are strained. or production needs a new setting.
For now, that second-wave market is more possibility than certainty. But the list is taking shape anyway: Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis. Alvin Kamara in New Orleans. James Conner in Arizona. Brandon Aiyuk in San Francisco. Josh Sweat in Arizona. and Kayvon Thibodeaux in New York—each for different reasons. each with a different kind of pressure building as the offseason moves toward training camp.
Myles Garrett trade Rams Browns A.J. Brown Patriots trade NFL trades Anthony Richardson trade rumors Alvin Kamara future James Conner trade rumors Brandon Aiyuk untradeable Josh Sweat unhappy Kayvon Thibodeaux trade