4. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Lockett agreed to a restructured deal with the Seahawks back in March. It looks like it was an actual restructure, not alternate wording for a big pay cut or cutting a year off the two years he had left. The move will ostensibly keep him on the team in 2024, and most likely in 2025 too.
Lockett is getting up in age a little, entering his age-32 season. He's also coming off a down year (79 receptions for 894 yards and five touchdowns). That 894 yards is his lowest yardage total since 2017. Seattle also has Jaxson Smith-Njigba lined up for a bigger role in his second season, which would naturally diminish Lockett's role. He won't make any stink about a lesser role, publicly or behind the scenes, but in some sense he may welcome a change of scenery.
Last season, Lockett was the 24th-highest graded wide receiver in the NFL by Pro Football Focus (78.1 overall), with solid grades as a receiver and a run blocker. Over the last three seasons, according to PFF, he has just eight drops on 337 targets (2.4 percent drop rate).
The Seahawks don't appear set to entertain trading Lockett. But they have a surplus of capable receivers they could deal from, and of the top trio he's by far the likeliest trade candidate.
3. Darius Slayton, New York Giants
Not showing up for voluntary offseason being as meaningful as it is (not very), Slayton did not show to the start of Giants' voluntary offseason work last week as he seeks a new contract. General manager Joe Schoen acknowledged there have been no contract talks, as he also noted Slayton signed a two-year deal last offseason and it's "his prerogative to not be here."
Slayton's absence from the start of OTAs has naturally fueled a bit of trade speculation. He has largely overcome the ineptitude of the offense around him in New York, topping 720 yards and averaging at least 15 yards a catch in four of his five seasons. Last season, he accounted for 25 percent of the team's touchdown receptions (four).
It's interesting to think about what Slayton could do in a good offense, with a capable quarterback and more than one or two good pieces around him. He also shouldn't cost much in a trade...