Five offensive players who are ready for a new team in 2025
By Tom Clapham
With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, we are beginning to get an idea of what the lay of the land will be for the 2025 season. This is also the time of year where we tend to see a few noteworthy names land in new spots.
This got me thinking about which other players may benefit from a chance of scenery.
Which players are ready for a fresh start, to chase Super Bowl glory, or to become a key player for a franchise heading in a new direction? I’ve picked out five offensive players who fit the bill.
Will Levis to the Los Angeles Rams
Let’s address the elephant in the room, Matthew Stafford’s time in the NFL is nearly over. The Rams signal caller flirted with retirement this offseason before deciding to come back for at least one more year. However, as he ages and injuries accumulate, the pull of the LA beaches will only become stronger.
His current backup and potential replacement is Jimmy Garoppolo. He has had chances in New England, San Francisco and Las Vegas, but has never proven himself to be much more than a game manager and high-priced backup.
Levis’ career is effectively over with the Titans. As soon as they announced Cam Ward as the number one overall pick in 2025, Levis had to have had one eye on the door. He is easily the most talented backup in Tennessee but Cam Ward is now the face of the franchise.
For these reasons, LA should bring Levis in. His contract is fairly cheap and with both Stafford and Garoppolo ahead of him, he could learn valuable lessons while awaiting another starting opportunity. The Rams could do significantly worse taking a flyer on a player who could still be a starter if given the chance to learn from one of the best in the league.
Breece Hall to the Baltimore Ravens
Running back is a challenging position to predict, as most teams appear to be set for at least the upcoming year. Many have invested in highly-touted rookies, while others, like the Baltimore Ravens, boast strong veteran starters. Derrick Henry, for instance, seems ageless, having rushed for nearly 2,000 yards last season at 30 years old. Even the most durable running backs eventually face a decline though and the Ravens need to be alive to that risk.
Justice Hill hasn’t demonstrated the potential to be Baltimore’s next lead back, and the rest of their depth chart consists of late-round picks. Taking a chance on a player like Breece Hall, especially while Henry is still productive, presents a favorable scenario.
While Hall would likely prefer a starting role, moving to a run-heavy offense with a good coaching staff and learning from one of the greatest running backs of all time could be a very beneficial situation for him.
The Jets drafted Breece Hall in 2022, and then followed up in 2024 by drafting Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis. All of the discussion surrounding the unit this season suggests that the Jets are looking to build a committee backfield. If Hall remains in New York, he’ll be playing under his third offensive coordinator. Given that the Jets appear to be rebuilding it would make sense to trade Hall while he still has some value, especially if they don’t see him as a feature back moving forward.
John Metchie to the Arizona Cardinals
I was initially torn between the Cardinals and the Giants as a potential new home for John Metchie. However, with the Giants having 14 wide receivers on the roster heading into training camp, that option became less appealing. Metchie’s problem in Houston, through no fault of his own, has been getting lost in a crowded receiver room.
The Cardinals therefore make a lot of sense. They possess a true number one receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr., but beyond him, the depth chart is wide open. Zay Jones and Michael Wilson are currently at the front of the queue, but Wilson has yet to prove he can be a consistent complementary piece to Harrison. Jones, on the other hand, has had multiple opportunities throughout his career but has never truly solidified a long-term starting role.
Metchie’s entry into the league was very unfortunate; he sat out his rookie season battling leukemia. By the time he returned, Nico Collins had established himself as the Texans’ top receiver, and the team had added Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson. With the recent drafting of two more receivers and the signing of Christian Kirk, Metchie desperately needs a change of scenery. A short trip to Arizona feels like the perfect new beginning for a receiver who simply needs a fair chance to shine.
Cole Kmet to the Minnesota Vikings
T.J. Hockenson is one of my favourite players in the NFL. When healthy, he’s a dynamic playmaker capable of single-handedly changing a game for his team, a trait both the Lions and Vikings have greatly benefited from. However, he has battled with injuries throughout his career and has never broken the 1,000-yard receiving mark. This statistic is surprising, and at 27 with a history of injuries, I’m concerned about his longevity.
His most likely replacement currently on the Vikings roster is Josh Oliver, a player who is one year older than Hockenson and who has no history as a starter. Sixth round rookie Gavin Bartholomew and a pair of undrafted free agents round out the rest of the tight end room.
Cole Kmet has been a solid, if not spectacular, contributor in Chicago. Now entering his sixth year, following a season shortened by injury, he has officially been supplanted by first-round pick Colston Loveland. The Bears are going in a new direction with Ben Johnson and it feels like Kmet is on the outside looking in. A fresh start with a division rival could be just the new beginning he needs.
Trevor Penning to the Detroit Lions
“We’re going to kick you in the teeth, and when you hit us back, we are going to smile at you.” These immortal words from Dan Campbell were initially met with skepticism by many, including myself. However, Campbell has not only proven everyone wrong but has quickly become one of the league’s best coaches, instilling a tough and physical team mentality.
The bookends on the Lions’ offensive line are Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, both excellent players, so a trade for Trevor Penning wouldn’t be for him to start immediately. Sewell is the established star in Detroit, and while Decker is older at 31, he’s still a capable veteran. This trade would offer Penning the refresh I believe he needs. He has already shown he’s more than capable as a run blocker, but his pass protection has often been an issue.
Moving to Detroit would provide him with the opportunity to hone his craft. He’s a huge man, and his run-blocking prowess could allow him to contribute immediately if the Lions want to get creative with jumbo sets. He also gives them valuable depth in the event of an injury to one of their starters, with the potential to develop into Decker’s long-term successor.
TOM CLAPHAM
NFL CONTRIBUTOR
Tom has been writing about sports since 2016, previously contributing a wide variety of different disciplines, however he always returned to his first love, the NFL. With an opinion on everything that goes on in the league you can find him on X @TommyClaps