The 2022 NFL season might go down as the year of the trade. Star players like Russell Wilson, Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper were all traded in the offseason. Standouts like Christian McCaffrey, Roquan Smith and Bradley Chubb were dealt during the campaign.

Not every trade worked out, but trade acquisitions helped the Baltimore Ravens (Smith), Miami Dolphins (Hill, Chubb) and Los Angeles Chargers (Mack) reach the postseason. The San Francisco 49ers reached the NFC title game with McCaffrey leading the way.

The Kansas City Chiefs used the draft capital from the Hill trade to reload a roster that's headed back to the Super Bowl.

With franchises seemingly more willing to make blockbuster trades than ever before, we can expect similar movement in the 2023 offseason. Some trades could reshape the league just as a few from the past calendar year did.

With this in mind, let's examine five hypothetical trades that would make sense—based on factors like team needs, past performance, roster construction and any relevant buzz—and could help lift teams to contender status in 2023.

Derek Carr to the Indianapolis Colts

Colts Get: QB Derek Carr

Raiders Get: 2023 Third-Round Pick

Newly-minted Pro Bowler Derek Carr has reached the end of his Las Vegas Raiders tenure. According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, the Raiders began "the process" of evaluating Carr's trade market, and he'll either be traded or released in the coming weeks.

Carr's base salary hit of $32.9 million in 2023 will become guaranteed on February 15—along with $7.5 million of his 2024 salary.

Las Vegas cannot expect to get much in a deal because Carr—whose contract carries a no-trade clause—holds all the leverage. Teams know that if Carr doesn't agree to a deal, he'll likely be released outright.

This won't stop teams from making a bid, though, in the hopes of jumping the market. The Indianapolis Colts are a franchise that needs a steady quarterback like Carr, and they're in a situation that could entice him.

Granted Indianapolis hasn't settled on a new head coach yet, and that could alter things for Carr. However, Indy has building blocks like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., the fourth-overall pick in the 2023 draft and a defense that ranked 15th in yards allowed last season.

The Colts also reside in the AFC South, a division the Jacksonville Jaguars won with a 9-8 record. Carr should have a relatively clear path to the postseason in Indianapolis.

While Indianapolis is projected to have just $11.9 million in cap space available, that number will grow once quarterback Matt Ryan is released. The Colts can clear $17.2 million off the books by cutting Ryan, meaning they'd only need to generate a little more room to absorb Carr's contract as written.

Brandin Cooks to the Buffalo Bills

Bills Receive: WR Brandin Cooks

Texans Receive: 2023 Fourth-Round Pick

Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks has no interest in being a part of the franchise's rebuild in 2023, and he's looking to land elsewhere.

"That's why I trust my camp and my representation to be able to get a map from here to there and to see what that looks like to be a part of something that has a trusted plan," Cooks said, per ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime.

While the Texans can't expect a ton for a player who doesn't want to be there, it can get $18.5 million in cap relief by trading Cooks. The Buffalo Bills should be very interested in making a deal work.

Buffalo got blown out in the divisional round after it couldn't stymie the Cincinnati Bengals pass rush or keep pace with the Bengals' offensive stars. This is something general manager Brandon Beane acknowledged after the loss.

"Yeah, I mean I'd love to have the perfect line and I'd love to get as many weapons," Beane said, per Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News.

Cooks missed time with a calf injury in 2022, but he was a 1,000-yard receiver in a bad Texans offense in 2021. He'd be a very valuable complementary receiver next to Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in Buffalo.

The challenge for the Bills would be clearing some cap room and convincing Cooks to restructure his contract upon arrival—Buffalo is set to be $20.5 million over the cap. A shot at a Super Bowl, though, could be enticing enough for Cooks to agree.

Cameron Jordan to the Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Get: Edge Cameron Jordan

Saints Get: 2024 Second-Round Pick

The New Orleans Saints will have to make some tough decisions this offseason, and they may have to part with a few key pieces. The Saints are projected to be a whopping $57.4 million over the salary cap, and they're not particularly close to title contention.

Trading star pass-rusher Cameron Jordan in a deal earmarked for after June 1 could save $14.9 million off the salary cap.

Jordan, who will turn 34 in July, remains arguably the Saints' best trade chip, though his age could prevent New Orleans from landing a first-round selection. Still, he logged 8.5 sacks and 17 quarterback pressures in 2022 and would be a fine addition to a playoff contender.

The Cincinnati Bengals, who came close to returning to the Super Bowl, should be interested in adding a pass-rusher of Jordan's caliber. The Bengals had the league's sixth-ranked scoring defense this season, but struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks consistently.

Cincinnati logged a mere 30 sacks in the regular season.

With the Bengals, Jordan could reunite with former Saints teammate Trey Hendrickson and help give Cincinnati the sort of pass rush it needs to remain among the AFC's top contenders.

The timing of the deal could be the biggest challenge for the Saints, as they need to be under the cap by March 15 and would only save $2.2 million by trading Jordan in the spring. However, this would be a logical deal for both sides if New Orleans could make it work.

For the Bengals, who have $35.7 million in projected cap space, it would be a financially feasible trade as well.

Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets

Jets Get: QB Aaron Rodgers

Packers Get: 2024 First-Round Pick, 2024 Second-Round Pick, 2025 First-Round Pick

This is admittedly the trickiest trade on our list because of the financial implications and the timing. The New York Jets are already slated to be $3.1 million over the cap, while Aaron Rodgers' contract will be difficult to move early in the offseason.

Rodgers has $99.8 million in dead money remaining on his deal, though a chunk of that can be traded. Because of how Rodgers' contract is constructed, trading him after June 1 would save Green Bay $15.8 million off of the 2023 cap.

While Rodgers is due a $58.3 million roster bonus in 2023, that doesn't have to be exercised until the end of the offseason. That's the cap hit the Jets would inherit, so a trade after June 1 is entirely feasible.

Could the Jets clear enough cap space by then? Perhaps. Would they be willing to give up the draft capital necessary to make it happen? Again, it could happen. New York appears to be a quarterback away from contention, and franchise owner Woody Johnson is eager to make a deep postseason run possible.

"And I'll try to get [the fans] wins," Johnson said, per The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt. "I'm going to do everything I can to make it happen for them. No stone unturned."

The Jets are loaded with talent and likely would have made the playoffs if not for inconsistent quarterback play—their quarterbacks had a collective passer rating of just 73.0. Rodgers (91.1 passer rating) wasn't spectacular in 2022, but he'd be an upgrade. With weapons like Garrett Wilson, Tyler Conklin and Corey Davis at his disposal, he might just return to Pro Bowl form too.

There's no guarantee that Rodgers would be willing to play in New York—though, the Jets' recent hire of his former offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, could sway him—the Packers appear willing to sign off on such a trade.

"League sources believe the franchise prefers to move on from Rodgers, just as it once did with Brett Favre," ESPN's Adam Schefter wrote last week. "Those sources also believe that Rodgers is well aware of the Packers' feelings on the situation."

A lot would have to unfold for this trade to happen, but it's hard to argue that putting Rodgers in the AFC East wouldn't reshape the NFL in 2023.

Donovan Smith to the Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals Get: OT Donovan Smith

Buccaneers Get: 2023 Third-Round Pick

The Bengals fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game for two main reasons. Their pass rush couldn't do enough to rattle Patrick Mahomes, and their offensive line couldn't adequately protect Joe Burrow.

It's worth noting that the Bengals were without right tackle La'el Collins (torn ACL), left tackle Jonah Williams (knee) and guard Alex Cappa (ankle) in that game. However, it's also worth noting that Cincinnati's line wasn't particularly good when it was healthy.

Burrow was sacked 41 times in the regular season, and Williams was a particular liability. The former Alabama star was responsible for 12 sacks surrendered, according to Pro Football Focus.

Prying left tackle Donovan Smith away from the cap-strapped Tampa Bay Buccaneers could help upgrade Burrow's protection in 2023. While Smith isn't a Pro Bowl talent, he allowed six fewer sacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Buccaneers are projected to be $55.7 million over the cap, and they're firmly in rebuilding mode. With quarterback Tom Brady retiring (again) on Wednesday, the Bucs are now officially starting over at quarterback—he was set to be a free agent anyway, but Tampa can no longer hold out hope for a return.

Trading Smith would save Tampa $10 million off the 2023 cap. While the Buccaneers wouldn't get a premium pick back for a soon-to-be 30-year-old above-average tackle, the cap savings would be significant.

The Bengals, meanwhile, would get a steadier starter and a proven vet to help bolster the line.

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.