The 2025 NFL Draft will showcase the future stars as they are chosen by their first franchises. While the spotlight is often on the rookies, there's a good chance we'll see a veteran player traded as well. This can happen due to a falling prospect or a front office missing out on a target. Veteran trades can be an overlooked aspect of the draft.

With most free agency moves settled, the most impactful talent left might be a high-priced veteran who has overstayed their welcome with their current team. The draft may also serve as a crucial deadline that prompts teams to accelerate their trade discussions. Occasionally, we see a star player, similar to AJ Brown, being dealt unexpectedly during the draft.

After reviewing roster needs, team direction, and salary cap situations, here are five players who might be traded during the 2025 NFL Draft.

2025 NFL Draft Trade Candidates

Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

Miami missed the chance to maximize a trade return for Tyreek Hill, but it's understandable why they wanted to see if he and Tua Tagovailoa could lead a playoff push after the quarterback's injury this past season. However, the Dolphins now face significant limitations with their salary cap and have an alarming number of roster needs, especially with seven players carrying cap hits of at least $10 million each. The sooner they recognize the need for a rebuild, the better.

Parting ways with Hill could impact an offense that aimed to recapture the success they had in 2022 and 2023, but the Dolphins should prioritize building a winning team over simply creating an entertaining spectacle. Hill, a future Hall of Famer who just turned 31 in March, still has plenty to offer, allowing Miami to seek a Day 2 pick in return.

While the Dolphins would incur a $28 million dead cap hit in 2025, they would also free up over $45 million in cap space over the next two years. Given that they can't keep him with a $51 million cap hit in 2026, trading him now benefits everyone involved. Hill could then potentially renegotiate his contract for more guaranteed money on a multi-year deal with a competitive team.

Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Cincinnati Bengals

In general, money can alleviate most tensions, but the Cincinnati Bengals don't appear to be focused on satisfying Trey Hendrickson. For some teams, committing to a 30-year-old pass-rusher might seem challenging, yet the two highest-paid defensive ends in the league are already over 30. Hendrickson warrants a contract of at least $34 million annually.

If Cincinnati isn't planning to extend Hendrickson, they should consider trading him. While this year's rookie class offers some promising pass-rushing options, it lacks elite prospects. The Bengals could potentially acquire a first-round pick for Hendrickson, allowing them to find a suitable replacement immediately.

At best, Cincinnati might benefit from one more strong season with Hendrickson before he departs via free agency next year. In that case, they would only receive a third-round pick in 2027, which isn’t a sufficient return to justify keeping him unless an extension is on the table.

James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills

Running backs are regaining their appeal, but there’s no denying the attention sparked by reports that James Cook is seeking $15 million per season on his first contract after his rookie deal. Cook has emerged as an explosive playmaker who complements Josh Allen effectively and fits into Joe Brady's offensive strategy. However, despite his impressive stats—averaging 4.9 yards per carry and accumulating 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024—the Bills might struggle to afford him.

Cook hasn't exceeded 54.5% of Buffalo's offensive snaps in any season, making him more of a dynamic, high-impact player rather than a workhorse that the Bills would rely on as a key component. With the 2025 NFL Draft offering a wealth of talent and depth, Buffalo’s most logical approach may be to trade Cook for whatever they can get and draft a rookie to team up with Ray Davis.

Despite ranking 16th in rushing yards and 19th in carries last season, Cook is undoubtedly talented. However, paying him as the second-best running back in the league would be unreasonable. While a trade for Cook may not yield significant returns, the Bills have the opportunity to restock their backfield during draft weekend.

Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay Packers

Regrettably, Jaire Alexander's career has been marred by injuries in three of the last four seasons. The standout cornerback has been sidelined for 34 games since the start of 2021, with only one season in that span featuring more than seven games played. While Green Bay might consider giving him another chance, it’s also reasonable to think they may want to move on from a player with a $24.6 million cap hit in 2025.

The financial relief from freeing him this year wouldn't be significant, and trading him now would mean taking a risk on his ability to stay healthy. Alexander possesses uncommon versatility and ball skills, making it possible that the benefits of keeping him could outweigh the costs. However, given that this year's cornerback draft class is relatively weak, a team in need might be willing to pay a premium for Alexander.

If Green Bay receives a compelling offer involving day 2 draft picks, they should seriously evaluate whether it's wise to part ways with an aging, costly, and injury-prone star. Regardless, their cornerback situation could benefit from adding more depth, and creating another gap in the roster could be challenging.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, New York Giants

The New York Giants may find themselves in a tricky situation if Travis Hunter goes second overall and they aren't inclined to choose Shedeur Sanders with their top pick. I believe concerns about bringing Abdul Carter into a pass-rush lineup featuring Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux are exaggerated. 

It could be wise for New York to explore trading Thibodeaux to move back into the first round. Ideally, they could exit Round 1 with Carter and a quarterback without sacrificing significant draft capital.

Thibodeaux has performed well over his first three seasons, but he hasn't reached elite status. With 21 sacks and average advanced pass-rush metrics, he looks set for a reasonable extension after 2025 if his performance remains unchanged. He hasn't developed into a key cornerstone player, and the Giants may want to proactively address their investment in him.

While his trade value might only be worth a Day 2 pick, the right team could find the idea of trading back from the middle of the first round to No. 34 while acquiring Thibodeaux as an immediate starter appealing.