It wouldn’t be NFL Draft season without some good, juicy wide receiver trade rumors.
And it’s not unreasonable to consume, enjoy, and savor said rumors, even if nothing ends up happening. Because they do happen sometimes. Eagles receiver A.J. Brown (more on him later) went to Philly during the 2022 draft, when the Titans swapped him for first- and third-round picks. We’re going way back in the Patriots time machine now, but the Pats famously traded for Randy Moss during the 2007 draft, and that move largely worked out.
Wide receiver trades have become a relatively common occurrence in recent years, when you consider the level of talent switching teams. The Raiders went and got Davante Adams. The Dolphins brought in Tyreek Hill. These guys tend to move around, in large part because only certain teams are willing to pay the exorbitant price required to keep them around long-term.
So, it remains to be seen which clubs actually want to pony up for their elite receiver talent, and which ones would rather trade them for draft capital and reset at that position. The 2024 NFL Draft is shaping up to be an event in which we see at least one big-name wideout change teams.
NFL Wide Receiver Trade Rumors: The Latest
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 28: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass that was tipped by Kindle Vildor #29 of the Detroit Lions during the third quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The most smoke around the fire goes to the San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk. He may not be the most talented wide receiver of those involved in recent trade rumors, but on the Patriots, he’d immediately become the clear No. 1 option. Aiyuk is a savvy separator with strong hands who can make tough catches down the field, the kind any winning team could use.
Anyway, Aiyuk first started to create some intrigue when he unfollowed the 49ers on social media. An eye-roll is acceptable, but this is also the reality of professional athletics these days. Following and unfollowing on social media often means more than nothing.
MORE: Exploring trades the Patriots can make at the draft
Rumors began to surface that Aiyuk, who is reportedly talking contract with the Niners, requested a trade. His agent shot that down. Who’s more honest than agents?
That aside, the real smoke came when Aiyuk said on Instagram, “Brother said we got 6 days and it’s fireworks,” ostensibly referring to draft night. So, although there are more talented receivers that could possibly be traded around the draft, Aiyuk seems like the safest bet to actually happen. We shall see.
A.J. Brown
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 18: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles catches a pass in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 18, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Brown has already been traded during the draft once in his career. Could it really happen for the second time in three years?
The Eagles star wideout caused quite a stir in the New England area over the past week, when he made some social media plays that were worthy of an eyebrow raise. He followed Patriots players Jacoby Brissett and K.J. Osborn on Instagram, then, most publicly, changed his Twitter avatar to Tom Brady in a Pats uniform.
Brown heard so much about these things that he felt the need to throw water on the fire after the fact, saying that Brady is his “off-season quarterback” before he gets back to work with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia (that alone seems like a notable story, anyway). And for what it’s worth, NFL insider Albert Breer said on NBC Sports Boston that the Eagles have shot down all recent trade inquiries for Brown.
He’s an obvious name to continue to monitor amid all the wide receiver trade rumors heading into the draft.
CeeDee Lamb
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 24: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown during a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Lamb has made headlines in recent days for holding out of the Cowboys’ voluntary workouts. He’s up for a new contract, as he’s set to play on his fifth-year option for $17.9 million.
This is after Lamb completed a First Team All-Pro season, in which he caught 135 passes for 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns. It would not be unprecedented if the Cowboys shelled out the money to keep him. Dallas signed both Dez Bryant and Amari Cooper to lucrative contract extensions in recent years, and Lamb no doubt deserves it.
But the Cowboys also traded Cooper, after signing him. So even if Lamb is signed and isn’t traded this year, that wouldn’t close the book on those trade rumors entirely.
Justin Jefferson
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 10: Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)
It’s a similar story for Jefferson in Minnesota, where he also sat out the team’s recent voluntary off-season workouts. Despite the big names already mentioned on this list, Jefferson might be the most purely talented of all of them.
Jefferson deserves the richest contract ever given to a wide receiver, or something close to it. Will the Vikings give it to him? Reports have persisted that they have no intention of trading him and plan to sign him to that long-awaited extension, and yet it hasn’t happened yet.
As long as Jefferson isn’t inked by draft night, the trade ideas will continue to flow. Because if the two sides can’t agree on a new contract, the Vikings would be obligated to get themselves a major haul for their superstar receiver.
Courtland Sutton
Dec 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Myles Bryant (27) deflects a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) in the first quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Sutton is firmly a tier or two below the other receivers mentioned above. But he’s coming off a 10-touchdown season for the lowly Broncos and would make for a valuable addition for a new team.
The Broncos have already traded Jerry Jeudy, and could really hit the reset button at wide receiver if they were to move Sutton. He’s reportedly holding out of voluntary workouts, as well. A sure sign he’s not satisfied with his current situation.
