Trade Match-Maker 2023: Perfect Fits for Potential Stars on the Move

 Last off-season, we did a 'trade match-maker', predicting big name vets who could be traded and deciding where they might go and for what value. Today we will do the same, but for 2023 candidates! We correctly predicted 4 players who would go on to be traded and we got one perfect fit as well (picking Khalil Mack to the Chargers). We will hope to do even better today!

DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals
→ Chicago Bears for a 2023 3rd rounder

One of the biggest names that is surely on the trade block this off-season is none other then DeAndre Hopkins! I cannot wait to see where he does go. I'm predicting that Hopkins will be a Chicago Bear. The Cardinals are entering rebuild mode, and with Hopkins making a fair amount of money and reaching 30 years of age, it makes sense for the team to part ways with him. Hopkins HAD a no-trade clause in his contract, but his PED suspension got that voided, so now the Cards can move him wherever they want. With that recent news, I think the Bears will aggressively enter the sweepstakes and throw a 3rd from this year to get him. With an insane amount of picks and cap space, the Bears can easily afford to bring in Hopkins and start to build their team around young QB Justin Fields. This move makes a ton of sense and would be a great add for the Bears. 

Michael Thomas, Wide Receiver, New Orleans Saints
→ New England Patriots for a 2023 5th rounder

Another huge name wideout I expect to see on the move. Michael Thomas won Offensive Player of the Year in 2019, which was so recent, but it feels so long ago. Since that ridiculously good season, Thomas has been nothing. He has played in just 10 total games since then, in two seasons. The injury-prone Thomas is quickly becoming not worth the price for a rebuilding Saints team. I also believe there is tension between the two sides. A fresh start is needed for Thomas and feels inevitable here. The Patriots are a team that makes a lot of sense to take a shot at him. Given his injury history, it shouldn't cost them much at all, I project just a 5th rounder from this year. New England is in desperate need of a WR1 and Bill Belichick has a history of taking chances on superstar talents when others have given up on them. See Randy Moss. His contract still has some real money on it, but the Pats can afford it. If not traded, Thomas could be a real cut candidate as well. I think Hopkins has a chance to land in New England, but Bill O'Brien being the OC makes me think they could go for Thomas here instead.

Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
→ New York Jets for a 2023 1st rounder (13th overall), 2024 1st rounder + QB Zach Wilson

This is my predicted blockbuster trade of the off-season. I had Rodgers getting traded to Denver in my article last off-season, and that didn't end up happening, but a trade out of Green Bay feels really inevitable this time around. Both sides are truly fed up with one another, and it is a good time for the Packers to get value out of Rodgers and press on with promising young buck Jordan Love. The Jets have been public about their interest in Rodgers, and I think they will offer more than anyone else. With a very high first this year (13) and throwing in an ADDITIONAL one next year, they will be setting up the Packers big time. I think they also throw in former no. 2 pick Zach Wilson as a sweetener which the Packers could be interested in to compete with Love. The Titans are my dark-horse to acquire Rodgers as well, but I'm picking the Jets here. 

Jalen Ramsey, Cornerback, Los Angeles Rams
→ Detroit Lions for 2023 1st rounder (6th overall) 

Okay, another BLOCKBUSTER! The Rams could be heading for a retool and without having picked in the first round in years, they trade seemingly disgruntled All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey to the ascending Lions for their original first rounder back. Jalen Ramsey has not slowed down at all, and is still in the midst of his prime at 28 years old. He is coming off another elite season with double digit pass breakups and multiple INTs. The Lions are in major need of CB help, and with GM Brad Holmes from the Rams, he will be very inclined to do whatever it takes to bring in the superstar to help solidify an iffy defense on a team that could be a Super Bowl contender in 2023. This would be an elite move for the Lions, and one they could easily do with their cap space and multiple firsts in this year's draft.
*I think this trade could involve their other first (20th overall) instead of 6th, but I'm just taking a shot in the dark here with the original prediction above*

Mac Jones, Quarterback, New England Patriots
→ Las Vegas Raiders for a 2023 2nd rounder + 2023 third rounder

With the Raiders cutting Derek Carr, they are going to need to get SOMEONE to replace him. I doubt they go for a lower tier vet like Jimmy Garopollo or Ryan Tannehill, so the next most logical option (other then maybe drafting a QB) is reuniting HC Josh McDaniels with Patriot QB Mac Jones. Jones had big-time success in 2021 with McDaniels as his OC, and he looked a lot worse this past season without him. The Patriots reportedly are willing to move him and don't think the gap between Jones and backup QB Baily Zappe is very big. I think the Raiders would be wise to take a chance on him here. I think they could spare their first but have to give up their 2nd and 3rd to bring in the former 15th overall pick. Jones could succeed in Vegas, with great weapons around him and McDaniels calling the shots. Plus, he has another two years + a 5th year option on his rookie deal for the Raiders to build a real contender around him! I'm not saying I think Jones is surely on the move, but if so, I think he would be a Raider. 

Cameron Jordan, Edge Rusher, New Orleans Saints
→ Seattle Seahawks for a 2023 third rounder + 2024 fourth rounder

With the Saints in cap hell another player they could deal is longtime franchise legend Cameron Jordan. Jordan is still productive as hell but is 32 years old and could be a cap casualty for New Orleans this off-season. Seattle is in win-now mode and with a need for pass rush and tons of draft picks and some cap space they could make a move. GM John Schneider is always in on everything and if Jordan does come available I could Seattle going all-in on landing him. 

Brandin Cooks, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans
→ Baltimore Ravens for a 2023 fourth rounder

Brandin Cooks has been flustered in Houston for awhile now and with the franchise heading down a new path with HC DeMeco Ryans it feels like Cooks could finally be traded. I could see Baltimore being in on Hopkins and Thomas, but it feels most likely that Cooks is the player they end up landing. If Lamar Jackson returns which he likely will then the Ravens need to add at WR and Cooks is the perfect option. 

Joe Mixon, Running Back, Cincinnati Bengals
→ Carolina Panthers for a 2023 second rounder

The Panthers have a new offensive minded HC in Frank Reich, and I expect them to be aggressive in their pursuit to become a contending team again in 2023. The Bengals have a few needs they will want to pursue (including finding a way to extend WR Tee Higgins) and so they will potentially have some tough decisions to make on other star players on the team. A guy that is rumored to be a potential trade/cut candidate is star running back Joe Mixon. Mixon is a multi-time 1000 yard rusher for the Bengals, but he is making a lot of money for an RB and he kind of disappeared in the 2022 playoffs making him potentially expendable. The Panthers have cap space and a lot of draft capital in this class. Having two second rounders makes the idea of trading one of them for a star player very possible. With CMC gone to SF, they could look to add Mixon for one of those second rounders should he come available. The Panthers are a run-first team and Reich loves to have a good back to rely on. This move could make a lot of sense for both sides and would satisfy aggressive Carolina owner David Tepper.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs
→ Cincinnati Bengals for a 2023 sixth round pick

It might not take long for the Bengals to replace Mixon in this hypothetical world. Even if they don't trade him, this is a move that I could see the Bengals making. CEH fell out of order with the Chiefs this past season, in part to injury and the emergence of rookie RB Isiah Pacheco. I could see CEH as a cut or trade candidate for KC in the off-season and the Bengals would certainly be interested in pairing the versatile back with Joe Burrow again (from their LSU days). He certainly wouldn't be worth anything more than a late round pick at this point, and the Bengals could love to add him to make the expensive Mixon more expendable. Again, even if they don't move Mixon, I could see the Bengals being eager to pounce on the inexpense Edwards-Helaire to reunite him with Burrow. This staff would be able to put Clyde to very good use. This is a predicted move that I could very very much see happening.