10 NFL trade candidates during training camp as Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors intensify

Believe it or not, we're well underway with 2024 NFL training camp for all 32 teams in the league.

As teams figure out the best path forward for their 53-man rosters, it's very likely that we'll see some trades begin to bubble up as coaches and general managers get a better idea of what they have.

That means some league veterans could wind up as cap cuts or trade candidates, as is customary around this time of year. San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is the most obvious candidate, as trade rumors swirl about him joining a new team this week.

Who else might land on a new team as August training camp activities continue?

Outside of Aiyuk, we've identified 10 more NFL veterans who we think are solid candidates to be on the trade block this summer.

Commanders DT Jonathan Allen

The Washington Commanders are not expected to be playoff contenders in quarterback Jayden Daniels and coach Dan Quinn's first season together, particularly in a treacherous NFC East. It's not to say the team can't win games, but building the best possible offense around Daniels will be a key focus in the years to come. Paying two defensive tackles such lofty contracts might not be in the team's best interest going ahead, and Allen is older than his running mate Daron Payne and is on a shorter and much more tradable contract. He's not the most likely name on this list to get moved this summer, but he's easily one of the most intriguing. Washington saves more than $15 million on the cap with a trade. You can bet any number of contenders would be interested here.

Possible teams: Lions, Colts, Chargers

Patriots OLB Matthew Judon

Like the Commanders, the New England Patriots are not expected to be major postseason players this season. The AFC is just too tough a landscape for a rebuilding franchise like New England to navigate, particularly when it's still unclear if 2024 first-round quarterback Drake Maye will even play this fall. Trading a veteran pass-rusher like Judon would make a ton of sense, as the team could net a really nice draft pick for 2025 and save some money on this year's cap (a little more than $6 million). It'd also open up an avenue for younger pass-rushers to get some playing time. Judon still has gas left in the tank and could be an impact player for any number of contenders.

Possible teams: Ravens, Chiefs, Falcons

Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

Smith-Schuster was a 2023 Bill Belichick free agent signing that didn't ultimately pan out for the Patriots last season, which makes him a possible cut or trade candidate for New England. He's been a fairly prolific receiver throughout his career and won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs to close the 2022-23 season. The Chiefs bringing him back for a late draft pick would make a lot of sense, but other contending teams might also have some interest in helping Smith-Schuster back on track after a down season in New England (260 yards and a touchdown in 11 games). New England would save more than $7-and-a-half million with a trade this summer, too.

Possible teams: Chiefs, Eagles, Bengals

Panthers WR Adam Thielen

The Carolina Panthers will be doing everything they can to help quarterback Bryce Young succeed this fall, if only because the short-term viability of the franchise depends on it. The team added meaningful resources to its receiving core, which might put a veteran like Thielen on the chopping block. He's still a reliable weapon in the passing game and is probably best suited on a team trying to make a Super Bowl push rather than a team like Carolina that needs to give its younger receivers time to gel with Young. The Panthers save more than $8 million with a trade.

Possible teams: Chiefs, Lions, Bengals

Panthers RB Miles Sanders

Speaking of the Panthers, the team drafting Jonathon Brooks in this past NFL Draft might put a veteran runner like Sanders on thin ice with the franchise. The team would save more than $6 million with a trade, and it's very possible a contending team with a need at running back would send a pick Carolina's way to add Sanders to its backfield. With Brooks and running back Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart, Sanders might be the odd man out and an excellent trade candidate.

Possible teams: Raiders, Bengals, Giants

Jets WR Allen Lazard

The New York Jets feel like a team that could make an aggressive trade to add talent this summer to help maximize the remainder of quarterback Aaron Rodgers' career. With only about $6 million in cap space, that might make a player like Lazard expendable in what will be a crucial season for the Jets. While he joined Rodgers in the 2023 offseason, he's probably not going to start for the franchise this fall. Trading Lazard for a late-round pick would net New York $10 million in cap space, which could easily go to good use to add talent elsewhere on the roster.

Possible teams: Steelers, Lions, Eagles

Broncos WR Courtland Sutton

If the Denver Broncos view this upcoming season as a must-win for Sean Payton and his coaching staff, it's unlikely the team trades Sutton this summer. If Denver has a more patient approach to what life may look like starting quarterback Bo Nix this season, the front office may be open to trading Sutton to get as much in return as possible while he's still playing at a high level. While he might be a more likely candidate for the NFL trade deadline, we'll include him on this list as someone we're keeping an eye on as a possible candidate. He'd be a marquee name for any team that needs receiver help. For the Broncos, he could bring in a pretty nice draft pick.

Possible teams: Cowboys, Steelers, Patriots

Texans WR Robert Woods

The Houston Texans have a very deep wide receiver room, and Woods might be the odd man out with more youthful depth pushing for playing time. He'd be the perfect fit for a contending team that needs a veteran option on the outside, as he's got the experience needed to boost any passing game. He might not be the player he was in his prime, but he's still good. The Texans could save more than $6 million in a trade and open up a spot on the depth chart for its younger players.

Possible teams: Falcons, Cardinals, Lions

Saints RB Jamaal Williams

The New Orleans Saints are very unlikely to trade running back Alvin Kamara with so much riding on this season with coach Dennis Allen and quarterback Derek Carr. However, it's very possible the team could consider freeing up a little cap space (almost $4 million) and adding a draft pick for Williams, who didn't fit in with New Orleans last season quite like he did with the Detroit Lions in 2022 (1,066 yards, 17 touchdowns). Only 29, Williams could help a contending team in the red zone while the Saints could give 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller a bigger role in the offense.

Possible teams: Raiders, Cardinals, Vikings

Titans QB Malik Willis

The quarterback we're most curious about joining a new team is Willis, who could be the next 2022 NFL Draft class member at his position to land elsewhere. With Will Levis and Mason Rudolph entrenched as the QB1 and QB2 in that order, that leaves Willis as a possible backup quarterback candidate/reclamation project for another franchise. Another franchise could flip a late draft pick Tennessee's way and see if they could get the best out of Willis. Perhaps a change of scenery would help unlock more of the player we saw at Liberty and net the Titans draft compensation.

Possible teams: Giants, Ravens, Dolphins

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 10 NFL trade candidates during training camp as Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors intensify