There are more than a few NFL franchises that will be on the hunt for wide receiver help this offseason. Teams like the Bills, Ravens, and 49ers all have needs at the position entering 2026, and they figure to be the biggest players on the WR free agent market this spring.
3 NFL Wide Receivers Who Should Be Traded This Offseason
Which players should be considered trade targets for the teams looking to add a veteran? We take a look a three potential pass catching trade candidates:
Keon Coleman — Buffalo Bills
Coleman’s tenure in Buffalo has unraveled quickly, and the warning signs were impossible to ignore during the 2025 season. Once viewed as a physical mismatch who could grow into a regular role alongside Josh Allen, Coleman instead became a sporadic contributor whose snap counts and involvement steadily declined. He struggled to carve out consistent playing time early in the year, and was then benched for disciplinary reasons in the latter half. And based on comments from the team’s owner, the Bills could be looking to part ways this spring.
From a contract standpoint, Coleman remains a low-risk option for any team willing to take a chance. His remaining rookie deal is affordable, and the guaranteed money limits the financial downside. Buffalo, meanwhile, may prefer to clear the slate entirely as it transitions into a new era on offense. A mid-round pick feels like a realistic return, with another franchise betting it can unlock the traits that made Coleman the 33rd overall pick in 2024.
AJ Brown — Philadelphia Eagles
Brown’s situation is far more complex and far more explosive. Still one of the league’s most efficient receivers on a per-route basis, Brown remains capable of dominating games when fully engaged. The issue in Philadelphia isn’t talent. Instead, it is tension. Frustration boiled over repeatedly in 2025 as the Eagles’ offense struggled for consistency, and the relationship between Brown and the coaching staff appeared increasingly strained by season’s end.
Financially, moving Brown would be painful but not impossible. The Eagles would absorb significant dead money in a pre–June 1 trade, yet the projected 2026 cap provides some cushion. Does Philadelphia believe the current core can still contend with Brown as a centerpiece, or is it time to reset before his contract and age further complicate matters? Any trade would bring meaningful draft compensation, even if it falls short of a first-rounder.
Xavier Legette — Carolina Panthers
Legette hasn’t created waves in Carolina, but that may be precisely why his name belongs in this conversation. The Panthers entered the 2025 season hoping he would develop into a complementary weapon, yet he struggled to separate himself from the pack. Inconsistency, drops, and limited impact kept him from climbing the depth chart, even as Carolina searched for reliable pass-catching options.
Carolina’s roster construction also works against him. Younger receivers have leapfrogged Legette in both usage and trust, and the front office has shown it won’t hesitate to move on from recent draft investments if upgrades are available. His guaranteed money over the next two seasons makes him an easy evaluation piece for another team, especially one looking for athletic upside without a long-term commitment.
