Ranking the NFL's Best Trade Pieces of the 2023 Offseason

Can you believe we're already in December? It feels like the 2022 NFL season just started, and we're in the stretch playoff run. Believe it or not, we're just a little over three months away from the start of the 2023 offseason.

If this past year is an accurate indication, the 2023 offseason will involve plenty of trades. We saw legitimate stars such as Russell Wilson, Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper moved during the offseason.

We also saw standouts Bradley Chubb, T.J. Hockenson and Roquan Smith dealt at the trade deadline.

Things shouldn't be much different in 2023. As franchises look to reload rosters, manage the salary cap and jockey for draft positioning, notable pieces will be on the move.

The following 10 potential trade chips have either already been the subject of trade chatter or will be in logical trade scenarios next spring. We've ranked them based on factors such as proven production, upside, health and projected trade value.

New York Jets wide receiver Denzel Mims was the topic of trade chatter this past offseason. According to Connor Hughes of SNY, multiple teams inquired about the 2020 second-round pick, though they weren't willing to meet New York's price of a fourth-rounder.

Mims didn't play early in the season, and while he has seen the field over the past six weeks, he hasn't been a big-time contributor. In his five appearances, he has seven catches for 138 yards.

Next offseason, the Jets could be willing to take much less for Mims, who is slated to be a free agent in 2024. If so, other teams should still be interested in the Baylor product, who flashed potential during his rookie campaign.

In 2020, Mims caught 23 passes for 357 yards in nine games.

He won't command the trade attention of Hill or Adams, but he's still a second-round pick on a rookie deal who New York should easily be able to move ahead of the draft.

Projected Trade Value: 2023 fifth-round pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars have not gotten a stellar return on investment from cornerback Shaquill Griffin.

In March 2021, the Jags signed him to a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency. While Griffin did start 14 games last season, he started only five this year before landing on injured reserve with a back injury.

Griffin has allowed an opposing passer rating above 109.0 in coverage in both of his Jacksonville campaigns. Moving on from him in 2023 would make a ton of sense.

Jacksonville is projected to be $24 million over the salary cap. Griffin, meanwhile, is scheduled to carry a cap hit of $17.5 million with just $4 million in dead money on the deal.

Instead of releasing Griffin, the Jaguars should be able to find a taker on the trade market. He's still just 27 years old, plays a premium position and had two strong seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before he landed in upstate Florida.

Griffin was a Pro Bowler in 2019 and notched an impressive 12 passes defended and three interceptions the following season.

Projected Trade Value: 2023 fifth-round pick, 2024 sixth-round pick

The Houston Texans are 1-9-1 and about to enter the next stage of a significant rebuild. Veteran defensive end Jerry Hughes, who will turn 35 next summer, may want no part of another losing season.

"Anytime you get me to play anything, I mean, football, basketball, checkers, even hopscotch, I want to win," Hughes said, per Deepi Sidhu of the Texans' official website.

If Hughes wants to play for a contender, the Texans could be inclined to make a deal. Doing so would save Houston $5 million in 2023 cap space and would undoubtedly bring something of value in return.

Given his age, Hughes won't command a massive trade package. However, teams looking to win now will be interested.

Despite playing in a struggling 29th-ranked Texans defense, Hughes has been prolific. He has already tallied eight sacks to go with an interception, a forced fumble and 14 quarterback pressures.

Even as a one-year rental, Hughes would be a coveted defender. Good pass-rushers are hard to find, and Hughes remains productive in the back half of his career.

Projected Trade Value: 2023 fourth-round pick

This one comes with a caveat. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are unlikely to move starting left tackle Donovan Smith if quarterback Tom Brady returns for the 2023 season. However, there's a real chance that the 45-year-old signal-caller does not.

Brady could finally retire, or he could look to land with a team more ready to chase a title. Jeff Howe of The Athletic recently ran down a list of potential landing spots that includes the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders and, yes, the New England Patriots.

If Brady does move on, the Bucs could look to rebuild, and they could use cap space. They're projected to be $49.6 million over the cap in 2023. Smith, who will be a free agent in 2024, is set to carry a cap hit of $17.9 million with $8 million in dead money remaining.

The Bucs could save nearly $10 million in cap space by parting with a tackle who hasn't played particularly well this season. Smith has been responsible for seven penalties and six sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.

With Smith set to turn 30 next offseason, Tampa could look to flip him and target a younger, cheaper tackle in the draft.

While Smith isn't an elite left tackle, he's a starting-caliber one who could be coveted by teams severely lacking at the position.

Projected Trade Value: 2023 third-round pick

While many players are on this list for financial and performance motives, Baltimore Ravens safety Chuck Clark is a trade chip for an entirely different reason.

Baltimore has 2022 first-round pick Kyle Hamilton waiting behind Clark at strong safety. With free-agent addition Marcus Williams also at safety—though he's on injured reserve with a dislocated wrist—Clark could be viewed as expendable.

If so, he would be a prime trade candidate for Baltimore. He's scheduled to be a free agent in 2024 and has played well this season. The 27-year-old has played 100 percent of the defensive snaps and has racked up 63 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

However, Clark has been less effective in coverage, allowing an opposing passer rating of 110.7.

Still, young, starting-caliber safeties don't hit the trade block often, and Baltimore should be able to get a decent return if it wants to roll with Williams and Hamilton as its 2023 starting duo.

With a modest 2023 cap hit of $6.3 million, the Ravens should have no shortage of takers if it makes Clark available.

Projected Trade Value: 2023 third-round pick, 2024 fourth round pick

The Texans came close to moving wide receiver Brandin Cooks at the 2022 trade deadline.

According to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, Houston and the Dallas Cowboys discussed a Cooks deal at the deadline, but the receiver's $18 million guaranteed 2023 salary was a sticking point.

The financials would still be tricky for Houston to work through, as Cooks will have $34.3 million in dead money remaining on his contract after this season. However, if he is traded with a post-June 1 designation, the Texans could prorate that money and still save $18.5 million on the 2023 cap.

While Houston might not land a massive return because of Cooks' large salary, it should have no trouble finding a trade partner.

Cooks is still only 29 years old and is coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He's a speedy field-stretching receiver who isn't being maximized in Houston's 27th-ranked passing attack. However, he could return to being a star elsewhere.

Houston marks the fourth team Cooks has played for after already being traded three times. Don't be shocked if he lands with team No. 5 before next season.

Projected Trade Value: 2023 third-round pick, 2024 third-round pick

New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson is another potential trade chip who comes with a caveat. The Jets may not be willing to pull the plug on the 2021 second overall pick just yet. However, they could easily be ready by season's end.

Wilson was benched in favor of backup Mike White in Week 12, and the Jets offense surged. Wilson (4 TDs, 5 INTs, 72.6 QB rating) had struggled for much of 2022. White came in and went 22-of-28 for 315 yards and three touchdowns—albeit against a bad Chicago Bears defense.

White will continue to be the Jets starter until New York feels Wilson is the better option.

"Mike's got an opportunity to go stack another great day up this week," Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters. "When we feel like Zach is ready to roll, he’s gonna roll."

If White continues to play well down the stretch, Wilson may never get another chance to roll with the Jets. If that happens, New York could believe it is better off without him and end the experiment before year three.

While Wilson hasn't shown much as a pro, he's still a second overall pick with a lot of physical upside. It's not hard to imagine at least a few coaches believing they can tap into his potential where the Jets could not.

Projected Trade Value: 2023 second-round pick, 2024 fifth-round pick

The 4-8 New Orleans Saints are eying a full-on rebuild in 2023, and they're going to be desperate for cap space. No other team is facing a worse financial situation, as the Saints are projected to be $63.6 million over the cap.

New Orleans will have to put in work to get under the spending limit, and that could mean parting with quality players such as pass-rusher Cameron Jordan. The seven-time Pro Bowler is scheduled to carry a cap hit of $25.6 million next season.

While Jordan is slated to have $23.5 million in dead money remaining on his contract, a post-June 1 trade could still save New Orleans $14.9 million on the cap.

And the Saints could expect a sizable return for Jordan, who will turn 34 in July. He's having a down season but has still logged 5.5 sacks to go with 43 tackles and 12 quarterback pressures.

It's not hard to envision a team with Super Bowl aspirations making a run at Jordan, as the Los Angeles Rams did with Von Miller last season and the Los Angeles Chargers did with Khalil Mack this past offseason.

The Bears got second- and sixth-round picks for Mack, and that is probably a reasonable ballpark for the Saints if they move Jordan.

Projected Trade Value: 2023 second-round pick and 2024 fifth-round pick

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, and you may be surprised that he isn't No. 1 on this list. However, Rodgers—who has been playing through a thumb injury—hasn't been great this season (92.9 QB rating), and he has a very undesirable contract from a team perspective.

Rodgers is due to carry a cap hit of $31.6 million in 2023, which isn't terrible. The problem is that his contract will have $99.8 million in dead money remaining. The Packers' willingness to trade Rodgers would almost certainly hinge on another team's ability to take on the bulk of that.

If a team does pick up Rodgers' guarantees, Green Bay could save $15.8 million on the cap in a post-June 1 trade.

After watching the Russell Wilson trade become an early bust for the Denver Broncos, teams may not be eager to take on the full financial commitment of Rodgers' deal.

Given the fact that Rodgers is 39 and the Packers appear to be eying a rebuild, they could be open to moving him. However, Rodgers would also have to be open to playing elsewhere. He doesn't have a no-trade clause in his contract, but he could always threaten retirement.

If an otherwise playoff-ready team believes it is a quarterback away, though, it could entice Rodgers to play and be willing to bet that he can return to MVP form. Given the financials involved, the Packers might not get the sort of return Seattle got for Wilson.

Projected Trade Value: 2023 and 2024 first-round picks

The biggest 2023 trade chip of all could be an early first-round pick. Next year's draft class is expected to be loaded with quality quarterback prospects, which can create an active trade market.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department ranked four quarterbacks—C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson—among its top 34 prospects in an early 2023 big board. It doesn't take an active imagination to envision a team trading up even before the draft to try to land one of the top QB prospects.

In 2021, for example, the San Francisco 49ers traded 2022 and 2023 first-round picks and a 2022 third-rounder to move from No. 12 to No. 3 in the first round. That was before San Francisco even knew which quarterbacks would be available at its pick.

There are a couple of teams that could be candidates to flip early first-round selections for massive trade hauls. The Bears would own the No. 2 pick if the season ended today, and they appear to have a rising quarterback in Justin Fields. The Seahawks would hold the fourth pick—from Denver in the Wilson trade—and they could look to re-sign surprising breakout Geno Smith instead of drafting a quarterback.

Teams projected to pick in the middle of Round 1 such as the Indianapolis Colts (14th) and Atlanta Falcons (15th) could be realistic trade partners in this scenario.

Given the lack of above-average starters in the NFL and the demand for the next big thing, it will be a surprise if we don't see at least one team make a big jump up in 2023 for its quarterback of the future.

Projected Trade Value: Dependent on draft positioning, but likely multiple first-round picks.

Salary-cap and contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.