Cowboys, Chiefs Linked to Bills WR Palmer in Trade Speculation

Josh Palmer's name has begun circulating through NFL trade speculation as the 2026 season approaches, with the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs emerging as the most frequently mentioned potential destinations. The Buffalo Bills wide receiver, signed to a three-year, $30 million deal in free agency, has not been officially shopped by his current team, but the contract structure and Palmer's modest production last season have created an opening for the kind of rumor that tends to gain traction in the weeks before training camp.

Palmer caught 22 passes for 303 yards in 2025, a quiet season that has done little to anchor him as a cornerstone piece of Buffalo's receiving corps. The contract he signed carries an $8 million signing bonus and $18 million guaranteed, with a $9.66 million base salary due in 2026 and an $11.75 million cap hit. What matters most for trade speculation, though, is the out clause: Buffalo could move on after this season with roughly $4.8 million in dead cap, giving the front office genuine flexibility if the receiver room reshapes itself during camp.

The speculation began with Bleacher Report's Moe Moton, who suggested the New Orleans Saints might have interest in Palmer given his prior connection to Saints head coach Kellen Moore, who worked with Palmer during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers. Moton, however, questioned whether New Orleans would actually part with draft capital for a receiver coming off a quiet year. Last Word on Sports expanded the conversation by naming Dallas and Kansas City as more realistic landing spots if Buffalo decides to move him.

The Cowboys have reasons to monitor the situation. They have invested heavily in their passing attack around Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, but adding another experienced receiver could deepen the bench and provide insurance against injury. Palmer's ability to line up inside or outside the numbers gives him positional flexibility that teams value. Kansas City, meanwhile, continues to search for reliable receiving options to pair with Patrick Mahomes. While Palmer would not be the primary target in Kansas City, his veteran presence and understanding of route concepts could add depth to a receiver room in transition.

Neither the Cowboys nor the Chiefs has made an official offer, and there is no indication that a trade is imminent. The Bills have not signaled they are actively shopping Palmer, and the team faces no pressure to move him. What will likely determine his future is how the receiver competition unfolds during training camp. If younger players establish themselves and create a logjam, Buffalo's front office may decide that Palmer's contract and experience make him expendable. If he remains a reliable option, the rumors will fade. For now, Palmer sits in that uncertain middle ground where a player is valuable enough to keep but not so essential that a team would resist the right offer.