The NBA is known for its dramatic player movements, especially during the summer’s free agency, and this year is no exception with high-profile trades like Kevin Durant’s move to the Houston Rockets in a record seven-team trade. This raises the question: what if NFL teams took cues from the NBA’s style of trades? Here are five imaginative yet unlikely trade proposals that blend the excitement of basketball deals with the NFL’s franchise dynamics.

The Shanahan Shakeup

49ers get: QB Kirk Cousins (Falcons), 2026 second-round pick (Dolphins), 2026 third-round pick (Saints)
Dolphins get: QB Brock Purdy (49ers)
Saints get: QB Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins)
Falcons get: C Matt Hennessy (49ers), 2026 fifth-round pick (Saints)

The Wideout Whammy

Bengals get: WR Justin Jefferson (Vikings), DE Julian Okwara (Browns)
Vikings get: WR Tee Higgins (Bengals), CB Greg Newsome II (Browns), 2026 first-round pick (Bengals), 2026 third-round pick (Lions)
Lions get: EDGE Trey Hendrickson (Bengals)
Browns get: 2026 fourth-round pick (Lions)

The Florida Flip-flop

Buccaneers get: QB Trevor Lawrence
Jaguars get: QB Baker Mayfield, conditional 2026 third-round pick

The Green Bay Gamble

Packers get: CB Sauce Gardner
Jets get: OG Sean Rhyan, LB Quay Walker, 2026 second-round pick

The Canales Connection

Panthers get: QB Kyler Murray
Cardinals get: QB Bryce Young, 2026 third-round pick

These deals are purely speculative and illustrate just how exciting (yet unlikely) the NFL could be if it adopted a little of the NBA’s bold trading mentality.