Kirk Cousins, George Pickens among 7 trades to watch for after NFL Draft

Teams didn’t fix all their needs in the draft, opening up room for a deal.

The work never stops as we approach training camp opening in the NFL. All 32 teams had the chance to fill gaps and shore up positions in the NFL Draft, but there’s always something that has to fall through the cracks as boards don’t break as teams hoped, and need positions get left by the wayside.

This could be a fascinating period in the trade market with numerous players either asking to be dealt, or finding themselves on the verge of being cut due to their cap figures. This makes the time between now and camp vital to fill those final holes and get ready for the regular season.

There are some deals that were rumored about before the draft, but now simply make too much sense now it’s in the books.

George Pickens to the Cowboys

If there’s one constant in football it’s the receivers will get dropped in an instant if they become a pain in the ass for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It doesn’t matter how much you produce, the organization just doesn’t have the energy for it.

This happened with Antonio Brown, then Diontae Johnson, now it’s seemingly George Pickens’ time. His effort has come into question in the past, as well as his maturity — something Mike Tomlin puts as premium on as a coach. The decision to trade for D.K. Metcalf and give him a massive extension makes it highly possible we don’t see Pickens in a Steelers jersey again.

Enter the Dallas Cowboys, who were unable to get help at WR in the draft. The team was strongly linked to Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan, but when Carolina taking him with the No. 8 overall pick it became difficult for Dallas to find a guy who can complement CeeDee Lamb.

McMillan’s size is what drove him to become a top pick, which means it’s something Dallas is looking for. The 6’3 Pickens seems like an ideal fit as a No. 2 receiver who can catch outside his frame and contest jump balls, which adds another element to the offense.

It’s possible the Steelers will elect to keep Pickens, but right now it seems like the Cowboys could get a deal done.

Kirk Cousins to the Steelers

Pittsburgh has a lot of work to do on offense if they want to achieve anything this season. Right now nobody has a worse quarterback room in the NFL — which consists of Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Skylar Thompson.

At some point this team needs to cut bait with the idea of signing Aaron Rodgers and go in a different direction, and Atlanta is the perfect partner to make a deal. Kirk Cousins showed at the start of last season that there’s gas left in the tank, and his arm strength makes him a better match with D.K. Metcalf than Rodgers would be.

There were two main blockers to getting a deal done prior to June 1st. Pittsburgh wanted to keep its draft picks in a deep class like 2025’s, and the Falcons didn’t have much leverage with Cousins’ immense salary. Now this becomes a possibility for Atlanta to get something in return.

Jalen Ramsey to the Rams

A potential trade between Miami and Los Angeles was rumored during the draft itself, but never came to pass. Now that there’s a Rams’ class without a cornerback it makes sense to pull the trigger.

Ramsey has said he wants out of Miami, and honestly, Mike McDaniel doesn’t have the personality needed to keep the team together with an outspoken, unhappy star on his roster. It will likely necessitate a deal to be done, and the Rams are a very likely partner.

Los Angeles amassed more picks in 2026 thanks to their deal with the Falcons, allowing Atlanta to move up for James Pearce Jr. That makes a 3rd or 4th round pick extremely expendable for the Rams.

Other potential players to watch

While these three players seem to be the most likely to be on the move, there’s a handful of guys to keep a watch on as we approach training camp.

Jaire Alexander, CB — Green Bay Packers

Everything is on the table when it comes to Alexander, and while the Packers want to try and lock him up to a deal long-term, they’ve balked at his agent’s asking price. If that process drags out he could be on the trade block.

Tyreek Hill, WR — Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill might be looking for new scenery, but it’s unclear who might be interested. Hill took a mammoth step back in 2024, which could be attributed to Tua Tagovailoa missing six games — but there’s a risk in a team making a deal for a 31-year-old WR with a cap figure as big as Hill’s.

Trey Hendrickson, DE — Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals addressed some of their pass rush needs in the draft, but still need to try and keep Hendrickson in the fold if possible. The team seems loathed to trade him away, but could have their hand forced if he remains unhappy into training camp.

Adam Thielen, WR — Carolina Panthers

There’s suddenly a massive log jam at wide receiver with Carolina working overtime since Dave Canales arrived to overhaul the position. There simply aren’t enough reps to go around with rookies Tetairoa McMillan and Jimmy Horn Jr., paired with second-year receivers Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. Throw the recent signing of Hunter Renfrow into the mix and it’s a lot of guys looking for the ball. Carolina has talked about how important Thielen is to mentoring the young receivers, but he would be an elite 3rd option on a contending team like Buffalo — which could facilitate getting him on a team where he could win a championship in what’s likely to be his final season.