3 NFL stars desperate for a trade in offseason ft. Stefon Diggs
Each NFL season features a fair amount of trades, for a variety of different reasons. The trades involve players of different calibre who are usually exchanged for NFL Draft picks and other future assets.
Star players are most often traded when a team either needs to free up salary cap space or is looking to stock up on draft picks in anticipation of a rebuilding phase.
Another reason superstars are sometimes traded to a new team is when they become unhappy with their situation on their current team. This could be a result of their contract situation, role within their scheme, or frustration with the direction of the franchise relative to their place in their own career.
Whatever the reason may be, here are three elite players who could be on the move during the 2023 NFL offseason.
#1 - Darius Slay
The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2023 NFL offseason in a difficult salary cap situation. They lack sufficient cap space while also looking to potentially reward Jalen Hurts with a long-term contract. This has resulted in key players like James Bradberry and Miles Sanders likely to become free agents.
The Philadelphia Eagles have allowed Darius Slay's agent Drew Rosenhaus to seek a trade, per sources. The Eagles are still hopeful to find a solution where Slay remains an Eagle.
The Eagles are also in danger of losing star cornerback Darius Slay after they reportedly gave permission to his agent to seek potential trade partners. Slay is apparently seeking a new contract extension himself and the Eagles probably don't have the resources to give him what he's looking for.
#2 - Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs has been one of the top wide receivers in the entire league since being acquired by the Buffalo Bills via trade with the Minnesota Vikings.
He and quarterback Josh Allen appear to have elite chemistry. This has helped the Bills make it to the NFL Playoffs in each of the last three years since Diggs joined the team.
Their team's success makes it surprising that Diggs is involved in NFL trade rumors during the 2023 offseason. He was noticeably frustrated in their final game of the 2022 season. It was a playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and his outburst included yelling at Allen on the sidelines and storming out of the locker room after the game.
He also voiced his frustrations during a recent interview, further fueling rumors that he could be looking for a change.
Bills WR @stefondiggs is frustrated with Buffalo's lack of playoff success. (@HBOTheShop)
“It doesn’t make sense. I’ll rack my brain with this sh-t at this point. Why sh-t ain’t coming together?"
https://t.co/naPN7eWVVW
#3 - DeAndre Hopkins
DeAndre Hopkins was intended to help the Arizona Cardinals make a run at the Super Bowl when he was acquired from the Houston Texans via trade. It hasn't quite worked out that way as the Cardinals have made just one playoff appearance and recorded zero postseason wins since his arrival.
Hopkins will be 31 years old when the 2023 NFL season begins and is one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league. The superstar just doesn't seem to fit in with the Cardinals, who appear to be heading towards a rebuilding phase.
Hopkins has been open about the idea of being traded, acknowledging that it seems likely to happen this year. He hopes to join a legitimate contender.