5 Cardinals players the NY Jets can trade for in a fire sale

The NY Jets could be very active in the trade market over the next few months, even more so now that they've freed up an additional $10.5 million in cap space following Corey Davis' surprise retirement.

The Jets now have just shy of $20 million in cap space to utilize, and given the team's small Super Bowl window, it would make sense for them to be aggressive. One team that could offer opportunities is the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals recently traded away former draft picks Isaiah Simmons and Josh Jones, leaving many to speculate that the organization could be undergoing a fire sale sooner rather than later.

If that is the case, which Cardinals players should the Jets look to target? Let's take a look at five potential trade candidates.

5. The NY Jets could trade for S Budda Baker

The best and also least likely player on this list to be traded is probably star safety Budda Baker. Baker has made five Pro Bowls in six NFL seasons, being named a first-team All-Pro on multiple occasions.

He's one of the best safeties in football, and at just 27 years old, he should be a part of the Cardinals' future. An offseason trade request and contract dispute put that future in question, however.

The Cardinals reworked Baker's contract to give him a pay raise in 2023 and 2024, which would seemingly put this saga to bed. That said, if Arizona wants to go all-in on a tank of sorts, trading Baker could be a possibility.

The Jets would obviously jump at the opportunity to land a game-changing safety like Baker. This one is more of a pipe dream, but it's worth monitoring if the Cardinals start selling more players.

4. The NY Jets could trade for WR Greg Dortch

Greg Dortch actually began his career with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2019. The undersized, undrafted rookie failed to make the roster and had just three catches entering the 2022 season.

That was before he broke out as a key part of the Cardinals' offense. Dortch saw an uptick in playing time due to injuries and went on to finish the year with 52 catches for 467 yards and two touchdowns.

That said, the former Wake Forest standout finds himself on the roster bubble this summer. The Jets could be looking for wide receiver help following Corey Davis' shock retirement, and Dortch is a low-cost option who could make some sense.

Dortch isn't the best fit stylistically, but he could make sense as a backup slot receiver and return man if the Jets don't want Mecole Hardman handling that role. He's a realistic and affordable target.

3. The NY Jets could trade for LB Krys Barnes

The Cardinals signed former Green Bay Packers linebacker Krys Barnes to a one-year contract this offseason with the expectation that he would compete for a starting job, but the emergence of Josh Woods has put that in question.

Barnes is a former undrafted linebacker who started 24 games in three years with the Packers. Of course, it needs to be pointed out that he spent the first three years of his career with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

The Jets could really use some additional veteran linebacker depth, and even if Barnes wouldn't be brought in to start, he could serve as a reliable backup behind Jamien Sherwood.

His experience with Rodgers certainly helps, as does the fact that he very well could be on the trade block at some point this season. This is another one that makes a ton of sense.

2. The NY Jets could trade for OT Kelvin Beachum

Much like Greg Dortch, Jets fans are likely very familiar with former offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum. Beachum spent three years as the Jets' starting left tackle between 2017 and 2019 before departing to join the Cardinals.

Since then, he's started 48 games over three years in Arizona and remains a very capable starting-caliber offensive tackle. Unfortunately for Beachum, he doesn't seem to have a starting job entering the 2023 season.

The Cardinals drafted Paris Johnson Jr. and will return D.J. Humphries, leaving Beachum without a starting role. The Jets could definitely upgrade their tackle depth, and Beachum could serve as an important contingency plan behind Duane Brown and Mekhi Becton.

You aren't going to find a better swing tackle option at this stage of the summer than Beachum. The Jets should be making calls here.

RELATED: 7 wide receivers the NY Jets can trade for after the Corey Davis retirement

1. The NY Jets could trade for WR Marquise Brown

If the Cardinals are ready to enter fire-sale mode, perhaps they would consider parting ways with their No. 1 wideout, Marquise Brown. Brown is set to be a free agent at the end of the season and could be on the move if the Cardinals don't see him as part of their future.

The speedy former first-round pick recorded his first 1,000-yard campaign with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 and was on pace for 1,000 yards again in 2022 before an injury shortened his season.

Brown has field-stretching ability and would give the Jets a legitimate No. 2 wide receiver to pair with Garrett Wilson. At the moment, the team doesn't really have a true WR2 opposite their star wideout.

Again, it takes two to tango, and there's no guarantee the Cardinals are open to moving Brown. But if he becomes available at any point, the Jets shouldn't hesitate to insert themselves into the conversation.