NFL trade rumors: Eight players who could move before Week 1
DIRECT ANSWER: NFL trade rumors could heat up again before Week 1, with CBS Sports naming eight players who may change teams as 2026 training camp nears — including Maxx Crosby, Brandon Aiyuk, Alvin Kamara and Josh Sweat. The market has been quiet since June blockbuster moves for Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown.
The NFL summer opened with colossal post-June 1 trades. The Rams acquired Myles Garrett, and the Patriots secured A.J. Brown. Since then, the trade market has been almost entirely silent. With training camp approaching at the end of July, injuries, contract disputes and depth-chart shakeouts could push several high-profile names onto the move before the 2026 season kicks off.
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Key Takeaways
- CBS Sports lists eight Week 1 trade candidates: Brandon Aiyuk, Anthony Richardson Sr., Kayshon Boutte, Josh Sweat, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Maxx Crosby, Alvin Kamara and James Conner.
- Last Word On Sports flags Kayshon Boutte as the top training-camp target, with Spencer Rattler, Rashod Bateman and Xavier Legette also drawing interest.
- Maxx Crosby's failed Ravens deal over medical concerns has chilled his market until he proves health at Raiders camp.
- FanSided notes every NFL team holds a valuable trade chip — including Crosby for Las Vegas and Richardson for Indianapolis.
- Contract restructures on Alvin Kamara and James Conner have made both running backs easier to move before the season.
Which eight players could be traded before Week 1?
According to CBS Sports, the headline names span both sides of the ball. Brandon Aiyuk appears destined to leave San Francisco after the 49ers voided his 2026 guarantees and he publicly campaigned to join Washington and Jayden Daniels — though his trade value has never been lower.
Anthony Richardson Sr. remains on the Colts despite permission to seek a trade since February. Indianapolis declined his fifth-year option while extending Daniel Jones, signaling Richardson is backup material unless a suitor emerges as quarterback battles settle league-wide.
On defense, Josh Sweat and Kayvon Thibodeaux headline the edge-rusher watch. Sweat posted 12 sacks in Arizona but faces a rebuild under new staff, while the Giants drafted pass rushers in consecutive top-five picks and may move Thibodeaux before his contract expires.
Maxx Crosby nearly went to Baltimore until medical concerns over his meniscus repair killed the deal. If he proves healthy at Raiders camp and still commands first-round-level compensation, Las Vegas may revisit a trade during its rebuild.
Why has the NFL trade market gone quiet since June?
After the Garrett and Brown blockbusters, only Falcons tackle Wanya Morris changed teams in the following month. Front offices typically pause between mandatory minicamp and training camp, but that lull rarely lasts.
FanSided argues every franchise still holds a negotiable trade chip — from Denzel Ward in Cleveland to Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis. Blockbuster moves, the site notes, are always a day away even when headlines go quiet.
Contract restructures also signal pending moves. The Saints reworked Alvin Kamara's deal and signed Travis Etienne Jr., making Kamara easier to trade. Arizona reduced James Conner's cap hit after drafting Jeremiyah Love, leaving the 31-year-old as potential trade bait once he shows he has recovered from ankle surgery.
Which names should fans watch as training camps open?
Last Word On Sports ranks Kayshon Boutte as the crown-jewel training-camp target after the Patriots added A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Boutte wants out, and New England may prefer dealing him to address offensive-line or edge-rusher needs.
Spencer Rattler, Rashod Bateman, Xavier Legette and Trey Benson round out that outlet's top-five list. Rattler lost the Saints starting job to Tyler Shough, while Bateman faces competition from rookie Ja'Kobi Lane in Baltimore.
Training camp injuries and contract flare-ups historically trigger late-summer trades. With less than two months until the 2026 opener, these nfl trade rumors are worth tracking from the first padded practice through final roster cuts.