June 2 is an important day for the NFL, even if it’s stuck in the doldrums of the offseason. That’s when teams can spread out the salary cap hits of released or traded players over two seasons, lessening the blow of losing them and creating the spending room to fill the void they’ve left.
The biggest example for 2026 is Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. The three-time All-Pro seems destined to be dealt, especially after Philly used its first round draft pick on USC wideout Makai Lemon a month earlier. The New England Patriots, who notably did not select a Day 2 wideout destined to be released after two seasons (as is tradition), appear to be his most likely destination. However, he’s not the only big name who’s more likely to clear out his locker now than he was a week prior.
Who else could join Brown as an offseason headline generator via trade?
EDGE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Garrett showcased his loyalty by signing a four-year, $160 million contract extension with nearly $89 million guaranteed last year. Then he showcased his frustration as the Browns remained very much the Browns last fall. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year remains in his prime, but his clock is ticking as his age-31 season approaches.
Dealing Garrett would bring a rebuilding Browns team an epic haul of draft considerations. Trading him before June 2 would have incurred a $41 million dead salary cap charge for Cleveland. Moving him after the cutoff date reduces that to a more manageable $15.5 million, per Over the Cap. Garrett has more than $72 million in guaranteed money coming over the next two seasons, which will scare some suitors away. Even so, the future Hall of Famer would generate interest from the majority of the league if the Browns put him on the trading block.
EDGE Josh Sweat, Arizona Cardinals
Anyone missing out on a potential Garrett sweepstakes could instead turn their attention to the southwest. Sweat had his most productive season in his Arizona debut, racking a career high 12 sacks alongside a 13.6 percent pressure rate despite playing less than half the team’s defensive snaps. But the 29-year-old may not be the right man for another year of rebuilding — the Cardinals quarterback rotation at the moment is Carson Beck, an injured Gardner Minshew II and a holding-out Jacoby Brissett.
Thus, Arizona may opt to deal away one of its most accomplished players for inexpensive draft picks to set the table for a 2027 reload. Sweat’s dead money drops from $22 million to $5.5 million after June 1. With less than $10 million in guaranteed money left on his contract — all due in 2026 — an acquiring team may have to hammer out an extension, but he should remain a commodity as training camps approach.
LB Jordyn Brooks, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have a handful of veterans who could be new links in a chain of 2026 departures. Offensive line stalwarts Austin Jackson and Aaron Brewer fit the bill, but the addition of Malik Willis, extension of De’Von Achane and utter lack of reliable wideouts following the release of Tyreek Hill and trade of Jaylen Waddle suggest blocking will be a priority. Defensive lineman Zach Sieler’s production dropped sharply in his age 30 season as his pressure rate was cut roughly in half from his 2023-2024 peak.
Brooks, however, is 28 years old and coming off a breakthrough, All-Pro season in the middle of the defense.
The cost of dealing the reliable inside linebacker drops from about $8.3 million to $2.5 after June 1. That’s money the Dolphins could have absorbed before the draft if they were truly keen on selling high. But Brooks will likely remain part of trade discussions for a team looking to move on from the Mike McDaniel era and build the franchise’s first playoff winner since Dave Wannstedt was head coach.
QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Richardson’s dead cap won’t be affected by the calendar flipping to June 2. He’s currently staring down the opportunity to rebuild his value as a potential starting quarterback in Daniel Jones’ absence. And Jones, despite signing a two-year, $88 million extension this offseason, can be released after the 2026 campaign while accelerating less than $9 million onto the Colts’ salary cap for 2027.
This all boosts the value of the former fourth overall pick in Indianapolis. It also may not be enough to keep him with the franchise that’s backed him through three tumultuous seasons. Richardson’s talent is massive but his inconsistency — ranging from his passing accuracy to his ability to stay healthy — may have told the Colts everything they need to know about his future. Indianapolis will be content to keep a player it gets limited financial relief from decoupling from, but the right deal could make the former Florida star someone else’s lottery ticket.
EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants
New York has drafted an edge rusher with a top five selection three of the past five seasons. With Abdul Carter and now Arvell Reese in the fold, Thibodeaux could be the odd man out in a rotation that also includes All-Pro Brian Burns.
Thibodeaux’s breakthrough 11-sack 2023 was a bit of a mirage — it came on a 9.2 percent pressure rate, his lowest in four seasons as a pro. He played only 10 games in 2025 due to injury and tallied only 3.5 sacks. His 11.2 percent pressure rate last year didn’t crack the top 50 when it came to full-time edge rushers. Still, he maintains the potential that made him the fifth overall pick of 2022. Dealing him would clear nearly $15 million from the Giants’ 2026 salary sheet.
RB James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
Unlike Sweat, there’s minimal financial benefit in moving on from Conner. But like the dynamic edge rusher, Conner is a veteran presence on a team in the midst of a youth movement. This was made abundantly clear when the Cardinals selected Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, weeks after signing Tyler Allgeier to a free agent contract.
Conner is 31 years old, which is ancient for a running back. He played only three games last season due to injury and averaged a woeful 3.0 yards per carry and a career-worst -0.6 rush yards over expected (RYOE) per touch. But he slapped together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024 and remains a pile-moving monster between the tackles. A modest Day 3 pick could deliver him to a new backfield platoon in need of steady veteran leadership.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL trades: 7 players who could still be dealt, including Myles Garrett