Which NFL teams should make trades before the deadline? What Barnwell expects for 18 contenders

Should your favorite team be going all-in at the NFL trade deadline, which hits at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday? Should it be realistic about its strengths and weaknesses and stay put over the next week? Or is the best plan something in between? Today, I'm going to answer those questions for the 18 teams that reached Week 9 at .500 or better. Given their roster and play so far this season, I believe that four teams should stand down at the deadline and avoid sacrificing serious draft capital for any moves. Nobody is going to turn down a steal of a deal if one is available, but those four franchises shouldn't be prioritizing major additions. Subscribe: 'The Bill Barnwell Show' But as for the rest, I've split the other 14 teams into several tiers, ranging from organizations that should be extremely active at the deadline to ones that should be very selective and careful about making the right move for a very particular sort of player. I'll lay out each team's needs and current situation. I'll also name two possible trade candidates for each team. One will be a luxury trade addition, where the team would be adding a starter or even a borderline star to the roster and paying accordingly for the privilege. The other is a bargain deal, where the team would instead be looking for a rotational player or depth for the back of its roster. (Teams are listed alphabetically within each tier.) Jump to: BAL | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DEN DET | GB | JAX | KC | LV | LAR MIN | NE | NYG | PIT | SF | SEA Should be aggressively adding Let's start with the teams that should be most aggressive in seeking out talent before the deadline and work our way down to the ones that should put their phone on airplane mode. Buffalo Bills (6-1) Positions of need: OL, LB, S Was Buffalo's 36-10 victory over the Ravens a sign that defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was able to find the right mix of players and pressures during the bye week or a product of the Ravens being stuck playing Joe Fagnano at quarterback for most of the game? I'd lean more toward the latter than the former, but I also wouldn't be shocked if Leonhard's defense took a step forward after having a week to rest and reflect on what went wrong early in the season. Playing an early-season schedule that included the Lions, Patriots and Rams also didn't help matters for Buffalo, who will now get the Vikings, Jets and Dolphins over the next three weeks. That self-scouting might determine how aggressive general manager Brandon Beane wants to be at the deadline. The Bills believe in linebackers Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard, but adding a cover linebacker to rotate in wouldn't hurt. The Bills also just cut C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who started six games for them earlier this season, so landing a safety who can hold up in coverage would be a helpful move. Luxury target: I loved the idea of the Bills going after guard Quenton Nelson, which would have given them a difference-maker at their weakest spot up front, but that's no longer an option. Would the Cardinals ever be willing to trade safety Budda Baker, who has made eight Pro Bowls and continues to make an impact as a disruptive force in centerfield and along the line of scrimmage in his age-30 season? Baker is due more than $8 million over the remainder of this season and $17.8 million in 2027, which is the final year of his existing deal. Bargain target: If the Chargers are unloading, the Bills might call about cornerback Elijah Molden, who is due $3.3 million over the remainder of the season. The Colts could also be interested in moving 28-year-old Cam Bynum, a move that would save Indy nearly $6 million in cash. Buffalo doesn't have a ton of cap space, but it could restructure Greg Rousseau's contract or ask the Cardinals or Colts to retain some money by sending a better pick as part of either deal. Detroit Lions (5-2) Positions of need: DL, LB, CB The Lions have seen their rivals in Chicago make a huge move in trading two first-round picks for Jeffery Simmons, and the Packers are also going to get Micah Parsons back from a torn ACL. Yes, the Lions have welcomed Brian Branch back into the lineup and will hope to get Kerby Joseph on the field in the weeks to come, but even with those two safeties in the lineup, the Lions have real questions about their defense. Those issues were sadly exacerbated by the neck injury suffered by star linebacker Jack Campbell in the win over the Vikings on Sunday. Campbell's health is more important than any football situation, and it seems callous to talk about replacing him in the lineup. But as one of the better linebackers in the league, the Lions will have to adjust without one of their best players on the field. Detroit is fielding the league's fourth-best offense by points allowed per possession, so anything general manager Brad Holmes can do to help the defense would go a long way to getting the Lions to the top of the NFC North. The good news is virtually anything would be of use. A rotational edge rusher to work in with DJ Wonnum across from Aidan Hutchinson? A cover linebacker to help fill in for Campbell? A cornerback -- or even two -- to push Roger McCreary, Rock Ya-Sin and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., none of whom have looked like they are ready to start for a playoff team this season? The Lions don't want to mortgage their future, but finding the right trade would go a long way toward topping their rivals in the division. Luxury target: In my column suggesting trades a few weeks ago, I argued for the Lions to swoop for Khalil Mack and Donte Jackson in a deal with the Chargers to address both edge and cornerback. That would cost Detroit nearly $8 million over the remainder of the season, a not insignificant amount for any team to take on in the middle of the season. The Lions could trade more draft capital to get the Chargers to pay that total down, but the picks should be more important to Holmes than the cash at the moment. Bargain target: Veteran cornerback Mike Hughes was with a very different version of this Lions team in 2022 before leaving for the Falcons in free agency. He has started most of his time there, but after A.J. Terrell Jr. returned from injured reserve, Hughes has been in a reserve role, including a season-low eight defensive snaps during last week's loss to the Buccaneers. He wouldn't be an obvious upgrade on any of the options in Detroit, but the 29-year-old has been a reliable low-end starter at corner for most of his time in Atlanta. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) Positions of need: OT, DT, CB, S The Jaguars could be one of the few competitive teams to deal away players at the deadline if they decide to move on from wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. But most of their calls should be about adding talent to the roster. A swing tackle would be helpful with Anton Harrison expected to miss the remainder of the season and Patrick Mekari -- who can play either guard or tackle -- on injured reserve after undergoing back surgery before the season. General manager James Gladstone might also have to address the defense, which lost defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton and safety Eric Murray to season-ending injuries last week against the Colts. Cornerback might also be a concern, given that Travis Hunter's offensive role has expanded, which could lead to some series off on defense. Montaric Brown was having a rough season before suffering a hamstring injury, too. The Jags don't need to add a star on defense, but another solid contributor or two would be big as they enjoy a three-game lead atop the AFC South. Luxury target: Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo could be set to follow Milton Williams' path toward a big contract in free agency. Ojomo's path to the starting lineup in Philadelphia has been buried by the presence of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, both of whom are on long-term contracts for significant money. But in 740 snaps last season, Ojomo managed six sacks and 12 knockdowns, although he hasn't been quite as productive as a pass rusher this season. Ojomo is a free agent after the season, so the Jaguars would need to sign the 25-year-old to an extension if they want to make this something more than a short-term option. With Arik Armstead's contract expiring after the season, though, Ojomo could take the role as the lead interior disruptor for Jacksonville in the long term. He also makes just $2 million over the rest of the season. Bargain target: Commanders utility lineman Andrew Wylie can credibly play both guard and tackle and has 17 playoff starts on his résumé. The 32-year-old hasn't been needed in Washington this season, even after Laremy Tunsil's preseason injury, with Wylie playing just 17 offensive snaps so far. Given that Walker Little and Cole Van Lanen have played left tackle for the Jags over the past 12 months, Wylie could be a backup at guard and a potential replacement at right tackle if one of those two go down. Los Angeles Rams (4-4) Positions of need: K, WR, LB The Rams were all-in to win a title while Matthew Stafford was still playing at an MVP level. But Stafford hasn't hit those heights this season and made too many mistakes early in Sunday's game against the Chargers. Both he and the rest of the Rams' offense settled down as the game went along, scoring touchdowns on either side of halftime and turning two short fields from Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert into 10 points. It wasn't the prettiest victory, but the Rams won't care. The kicker issues that have plagued the Rams led coach Sean McVay to carry two of them on the roster Sunday. Brandon McManus was needed for only a chip-shot field goal, but returning to the roster, Joshua Karty was used as a kickoff specialist and flagged twice for placing his kickoffs short of the landing zone. Nobody wants to trade for a kicker, but general manager Les Snead should be trying to find a player who can fill both roles, which would open up a spot on the bottom of the roster for a player who can help on special teams coverage. With Davante Adams (hamstring) sidelined for at least another month and Puka Nacua playing at less than 100%, adding another wideout would also be logical for the Rams. Konata Mumpfield has caught 43% of the passes thrown in his direction this season, Jordan Whittington has just four targets all year, and Tutu Atwell hasn't been able to command more than the occasional target during his time as a pro, even if he had 52 receiving yards against the Chargers. There's no like-for-like replacement for Adams or Nacua available on the trade market, so the Rams will have to decide whether they want to add a player who could identify as another WR2/WR3-caliber option to run ahead of the guys they already have. Trading for someone such as the Colts' Keenan Allen might be useful, but the Rams need backups who can also contribute on special teams. Luxury target: The exciting trade would be for Brian Thomas Jr., who would be a major short-term upgrade on Atwell as the downfield threat and the potential replacement for Adams as the X receiver after the veteran's contract expires this season. We know James Gladstone has Snead's number, given that Jacksonville hired its general manager out of the Rams organization, but the Jags also might not want to enrich a potential Super Bowl opponent. Bargain target: Jets wide receiver Isaiah Williams isn't going to be the focal point of the offense, but the 5-foot-10 Illinois product did manage 34- and 73-receiving yard games for the Jets earlier this season. Perhaps more importantly, he's a capable return man who can contribute for the Rams on special teams, meaning he can be active on game days when Adams and Nacua are in the lineup. The Rams could also look at Joey Slye of the Titans as a veteran kicker who has missed just one of his 25 attempts this season. Minnesota Vikings (6-1) Positions of need: QB, RB, IOL, P Would the Vikings really make a midseason move to replace quarterback Kyler Murray, who has struggled as their starter? Murray's 44.9 QBR through Week 8 is 26th, with his raw numbers adjusting for what has been a remarkably easy slate of opponents. Murray threw an interception before being knocked out of the game against the Packers to start the season and had a tough matchup against the Bucs in his return in Week 3, but his past four starts were against the Dolphins, Saints, Colts and Lions, all of whom rank 22nd or worse in EPA per dropback so far this season. Bringing back Daniel Jones might appeal after he failed to take a single snap during his brief time with the Vikings in 2024, but Jones has actually been worse than Murray this season, ranking 29th in QBR. And while Murray is making the veterans minimum this season, the Vikings would be on the hook for at least $3.3 million in 2026 and a potential $10 million in injury guarantees in 2027 if Jones gets hurt down the stretch. That's a lot for a player who hasn't looked effective since returning from a torn Achilles. It might be more realistic to upgrade the infrastructure around Murray. Upgrading at running back would be a logical place for the Vikings to go, given that their rushing attack led by Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason ranks 27th in success rate (33.7%), 28th in EPA per rush (minus-0.27) and 30th in yards after initial contact per attempt (2.5) on designed runs this season. A more subtle move might be upgrading the interior of the offensive line, where left guard Donovan Jackson is out for the season and right guard Will Fries has been a disappointment since joining the team on a five-year, $87.7 million deal in 2025 free agency. Adding a guard who can step in on the left side this season and take over on the right side for Fries if he's a cap casualty after 2026 would make sense. Even adding a depth option would work. Luxury target: You can probably guess that the big addition would be acquiring Jonathan Taylor from the Colts, a move that would get the Vikings the sort of explosive, versatile running back they don't currently have. Taylor is owed $4.4 million this season and $16 million next season, so getting a year and a half of Taylor at something close to $13 million per campaign would be in line with what solid backs are earning in free agency. Signing Taylor would take some of the load off the passing game, too, and Murray's legs could help create running lanes for Taylor. The Colts back is also a very viable receiver out of the backfield, which would offer Murray an easy checkdown option when he is under pressure and/or wants to get the ball out quickly. Bargain target: Jackson Powers-Johnson hasn't had a great pro career with the Raiders, who benched the 2024 second-round pick earlier this season. Powers-Johnson has spent most of his time as a pro at guard, a curious choice for a player who was so good as a college center. Trading for Powers-Johnson would get the Vikings some depth on the interior, and if Minnesota likes him as a center long term, it could move Blake Brandel to guard next offseason. Should be selectively adding These teams have multiple needs and a path to making a deep run through the postseason, so they should be making calls to try to add players at the deadline. For various reasons, though, they shouldn't be quite as desperate as the teams in the tier above. Is this a young team that needs to evaluate its own talent? Is it unlikely to find a difference-maker at its biggest position of need? Has it already dealt away significant draft capital or recently acquired a standout player? These teams shouldn't be all-in, but they shouldn't be folding, either. Chicago Bears (6-2) Positions of need: CB, OT, TE The Bears made a big swing for a defensive tackle last week, trading two first-round picks to the Titans for Jeffery Simmons. And just like their move for Khalil Mack in 2018, the initial returns are spectacular. Simmons excelled against the interior of the Seahawks' line in a 34-17 victory, picking up a sack and helping to create pass-rush opportunities for Montez Sweat and Austin Booker. General manager Ryan Poles is unlikely to sacrifice significantly more draft capital after sending so much to the Titans in the Simmons trade, but if the Bears see themselves as Super Bowl contenders this season, it's reasonable to try to plug other holes on their roster. Cornerback continues to be an obvious liability, with Tyrique Stevenson Sr. allowing two touchdown catches against the Seahawks. Coach Ben Johnson would also love to add an inline tight end after Cole Kmet suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Patriots. Luxury target: There's a way the Bears could add without needing to give up much draft capital. Alontae Taylor played under Dennis Allen with the Saints, and while he struggled during Allen's final half-year as head coach in 2024, he generally looked like an above-average cornerback for much of his time with New Orleans. The Titans agreed, signing Taylor to a three-year, $58 million deal this offseason. That relationship has quickly grown sour. The Titans made Taylor a healthy scratch after five games, then sat him for the entirety of another game despite activating him the following week. Taylor returned to the lineup as a nickel cornerback last week against the Bengals, but the Titans very clearly have buyer's remorse. You can also imagine that Taylor might prefer to be somewhere else, too. Taylor is guaranteed $5.5 million over the remainder of 2026 and $21 million in 2027. It's fair to say the Titans would prefer to have someone else pay out that deal. Taylor might be best in the slot, where Kyler Gordon plays for Chicago when healthy, but he would be better on the outside than Stevenson or Malik Muhammad II. If the Bears are willing to pay what Taylor is owed, the Titans should be happy and willing to trade him to Chicago for a swap of late-round picks, which would satisfy Chicago's need for a corner without having to give up much draft capital at all. Bargain target: What about a different sort of reunion? Nahshon Wright was a surprise starter for the Bears a year ago owing to injuries ahead of him on the depth chart, and while the 2021 third-round pick took some risks in coverage, the good outweighed the bad. Wright picked off five passes and earned a Pro Bowl nod before signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Jets. New York hasn't been as impressed with Wright, who has been limited to special teams duties without playing a single defensive snap. There's no sense in leaving Wright on the bottom of the roster for the remainder of the season, given that he'll be a free agent in 2027. The Bears didn't seem too committed to the idea of keeping Wright as a long-term option on the outside themselves, but he might be better than Stevenson or Muhammad. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) Positions of need: TE, LB, CB The Bengals would mostly be looking to replace injured players throughout the roster. They're down two tight ends after Erick All Jr. and Tanner Hudson hit injured reserve, so any replacement they add would be rotating in alongside Drew Sample and Mike Gesicki. Cornerback Jalen Davis is on injured reserve, so while DJ Turner II's heel injury thankfully appears to be relatively minor, the Bengals could look for more options at cornerback. Linebacker remains a weak spot for Cincinnati, where second-year starters Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter have flashed but also struggled for consistency. Knight's missed tackle rate has improved dramatically, but a pass defense that's eighth against standard dropbacks by QBR drops to 19th with play-action. The Bengals are also 31st in yards allowed per carry (5.1) on the ground since Week 3. Upgrading at linebacker could address both weaknesses. Luxury target: The Eagles might not be dealing all of their veterans, but I wonder if Howie Roseman could be talked into a move for Zack Baun, who has been one of the league's best linebackers since moving to the position on a full-time basis in Philadelphia. Baun is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons and has allowed a 72.8 passer rating in coverage this season, but he's also about to turn 30, and the Eagles might need to devote resources toward positions Roseman values more consistently. Baun would cost the Bengals only $607,500 over the rest of 2026 before $17 million in salary in 2027, which is the final year of his current contract. The Eagles might also be interested in supplementing their defensive line depth by taking a shot on 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart, which would reduce the amount of draft capital the Bengals need to send to get a deal done. Bargain target: Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders got off to a promising start as a rookie, but he managed just 190 receiving yards over 13 games in 2025 and has been a healthy scratch for the entirety of the 2026 season so far. He needs a change of scenery, and while the Panthers have clearly soured on him, Sanders' athleticism and ability after the catch played up in 2024. He would be an interesting receiving tight end option for the Bengals as a replacement for Hudson. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) Positions of need: WR, CB General manager Brett Veach will be looking to address the passing game on both sides of the ball at the deadline. Rashee Rice has returned from his hamstring injury, but the fourth-year wideout has struggled to stay on the field during his Chiefs career, and his availability for the remainder of the season can't be treated as a guarantee. Tyquan Thornton will likely miss the rest of the season after dislocating an ankle, and Xavier Worthy is averaging 33 receiving yards per game. Unless running back Emmett Johnson is the second coming of Ricky Watters, the Chiefs need at least one more threat in their passing game for Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are also thin at cornerback. Mansoor Delane has missed time because of an ongoing shoulder issue. L'Jarius Sneed is on injured reserve because of a knee injury, and given how often teams were picking on him in coverage out of the slot before he left the field, I'm not sure the Chiefs want to count on Sneed in that role even after he's healthy enough to return. Finding a cornerback with inside-outside versatility would be a plus for Veach. Luxury target: Brian Thomas Jr. would be the dream addition for the Chiefs at wide receiver, but the Jaguars won't (and shouldn't) trade a potential long-term No. 1 receiver to their rivals in the AFC. Would the 3-5 Cowboys consider trading George Pickens, who is a free agent after the season and unlikely to be back on a long-term deal? Pickens would probably be a short-term fix for the Chiefs, but they don't have anyone who can win on the outside like him. Dallas might be willing to move forward with CeeDee Lamb and Ryan Flournoy at wide receiver and play more 12 or 21 personnel. If the Chiefs play free agency right, they should be able to land a fourth- or fifth-round pick for Pickens as a compensatory selection next offseason. Bargain target: Veach has preferred to take low-cost shots on young cornerbacks from other organizations in years past, trusting Spagnuolo to develop them into useful contributors. Struggling Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil would qualify as an opportunity to land a young contributor on the cheap. He was very good as a rookie before taking a step back in 2025 and another in 2026. Sainristil originally came into the league as a slot option before earning a starting role on the outside; could the Chiefs move Sainristil back inside and get more out of the 2024 second-round pick? New England Patriots (5-3) Positions of need: DT, OL, CB The Patriots have a pair of great pass-rushing defensive tackles in Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, but they could stand to add a nose tackle to their rotation alongside Cory Durden, who is playing the largest snap share (49%) of his pro career. The Patriots have done a solid job against the run, ranking 11th in success rate on the ground, but you have to go back to only last season's Super Bowl to recall a scenario in which struggles against the run made the difference in a key spot for the Pats. Injuries at cornerback have also exposed the Patriots to more Charles Woods than they would care to see, which could lead them to target a corner who can play in man coverage behind Carlton Davis III and Christian Gonzalez or fill in if one of those two are injured. Davis is also a potential offseason cap casualty, so Eliot Wolf could look to add a corner who could step in as a replacement for the veteran after the season if there's a higher-end option available. Luxury target: I'm not sure the Patriots will be in the luxury market, having already traded their 2028 first-round pick to the Eagles in the A.J. Brown deal. Bargain target: I pitched the Colts' Grover Stewart as a logical fit for the 49ers last month, but the Niners understandably made a splashier choice in reuniting with DeForest Buckner. Stewart is still a solid nose tackle in his early 30s, and the Colts will understandably want to get off the nearly $7 million Stewart is owed between now and the end of the season, which is also his final year under contract. Indy could eat some of that money to make a deal more palatable for the Pats. The Patriots could also look into reuniting with a longtime member of the organization in Jonathan Jones, who has allowed a 78.3 passer rating against while playing limited snaps as a backup cornerback in Philadelphia. Jones isn't the biggest cornerback on the planet, but he's a capable man coverage guy who can hold up outside in a pinch. He would be an upgrade on Woods as New England's fourth corner. New York Giants (4-2-1) Positions of need: RB, DT, LB John Harbaugh wants to do something. The Giants were reportedly in on Jeffery Simmons before the Bears completed a trade for the Titans star and have been linked to a trade for running back Jonathan Taylor. Of course, Big Blue already made an early-season move for quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who surprisingly beat the Texans in his first start for the organization. With the Ravens struggling, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Harbaugh give his old bosses a call to see whether there are any potential cap casualties or free agents who might shake loose before the end of the season, too. Part of the calculus has to involve self-scouting and goal setting. The Giants would love to win the NFC East for the first time since 2011, and at 4-2-1, they're well ahead of what appears to be an underwhelming pack of opponents. Is that worth possibly trading away future picks to shore up a team that's leaning on McCarthy and Jameis Winston at quarterback the rest of the way? Are Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen on the same page given that they have very different levels of job security? Luxury target: Taylor might cost too much for a Giants team that's already down its fourth- and fifth-round picks in the 2027 draft, but what about Derrick Henry? If the Ravens decide their season is up without Lamar Jackson on the field, Henry could be a potential trade candidate. He's owed only $650,000 over the rest of 2026 and $12 million in 2027. And while the future Hall of Famer has struggled for most of the season, playing with a more mobile quarterback in McCarthy might help create some running lanes. Bargain target: With the Chargers still winless, Harbaugh could call up former Ravens executive Joe Hortiz (and brother Jim Harbaugh) and attempt to make a move for Dalvin Tomlinson. The well-traveled defensive tackle has slipped as a pass rusher from his 2020-24 peak, but Tomlinson would be a rotational player for a Giants team that's barely getting by on the interior. San Francisco 49ers (6-1) Positions of need: Edge, WR, DT General manager John Lynch made his big move last week in trading a middle-round pick for DeForest Buckner, who offers the Niners a second disruptive pass rusher on the interior alongside Osa Odighizuwa. The 49ers also reportedly attempted to reacquire Jauan Jennings, only for the little-used Vikings wideout to prefer spending the winter in Minnesota. The 49ers could dip back into the wide receiver sweepstakes given how many injuries they have at the position, but I also think they could stand pat. Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel Sr. and De'Zhaun Stribling all return in the coming weeks from their respective injuries. The Niners still have one of the league's worst run defenses, so while Buckner is a very good two-way player, adding defenders who can help on early downs would go a long way. So much for this team relies on its stars staying healthy, and if any of them go down, there aren't many like-for-like replacements who would be able to play the same role in the same way and would be available on the open market. Luxury target: Let me go off the board for a spot that isn't an obvious need. San Francisco has intercepted just three passes this season, all of which have come from cornerback Renardo Green. We know this organization has no qualms about targeting high-end talent and what it perceives to be special football players without worrying too much about positional scarcity or even age. Finding one player who might be able to swing a playoff game with a big play could be a logical target for Lynch. The 3-5 Falcons are still in the thick of the NFC South race, but they can't have serious aspirations about making a deep playoff run. Jessie Bates III is a free agent after the season, and the 29-year-old safety has at least three interceptions in seven of his eight completed campaigns as a pro. He just made one of the plays of the season last week against the Buccaneers, forcing a Bucky Irving fumble on an impromptu speed option for a touchback. Bates is also familiar with Raheem Morris' defense, having played under the 49ers' defensive coordinator in Atlanta during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. If the Falcons aren't re-signing Bates, moving him at the deadline would net them draft capital. And while the 49ers would need to boot a safety out of the starting lineup, Bates' résumé earns him instant credibility as one of the league's best. Bargain target: It's unclear whether either the player or team would be willing to break up one of the longest-lasting partnerships in the NFL, but the Saints are unlikely to make it to the playoffs in what is likely to be Cameron Jordan's final season as a pro. Jordan's right on the precipice of the Hall of Fame, and after 16 seasons, the only thing left for him to do is win a Super Bowl. Jordan hasn't had much of an impact this season, but he did manage 10.5 sacks for the Saints a year ago. Should only be adding the right player These teams have to be careful. They should be looking for a very particular sort of player, either in terms of position or age range. Landing the right player could make these teams better, but they shouldn't be paying over the odds to improve their 2026 roster. Green Bay Packers (5-3) Positions of need: RB, OL, LB The Packers are already down draft capital as part of the Micah Parsons trade, and as he approaches a return to the field, the star edge rusher might instead be considered Green Bay's biggest "deadline acquisition." General manager Brian Gutekunst already imported a bunch of veterans to shore up the offensive line, the most expensive of which (Kevin Zeitler) hasn't played a single offensive snap. Gutekunst might be willing to drop into the trade market, but given his extreme focus on adding young talent, the Packers would be more likely to add a player who would help in the long term. Luxury target: Leaning into the idea of trading for young players on rookie deals, would the Packers consider trading for ... Ashton Jeanty? They've gone after Raiders players quite often over the past few offseasons, and Jeanty would be an opportunity to acquire a running back who had excellent pedigree coming out of college at a relatively low cost. Jeanty has struggled so far as a pro, but his pass-catching ability gives him a solid floor, and he would find it easier to access his explosiveness in a better offense. Jeanty could be part of a rotation alongside Josh Jacobs before taking over once the Packers decide to move on from their current starter. Bargain target: There has been a lot of chatter around Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat, but a more realistic trade option might be Zaven Collins, who is a free agent after the season. Originally drafted as a linebacker, Collins has settled in as a rotational player on the edge for Arizona, where his athleticism and bend have played up over the past few years. He's just 27 years old, and his ability to rotate in and get pressure could appeal to a Packers team that will want to ease Parsons into the lineup. Las Vegas Raiders (4-4) Positions of need: WR, OL, DT While the Raiders have plausible playoff aspirations, their real goal for this season is building the best possible team around first pick Fernando Mendoza, who remains waiting in the wings behind quarterback Kirk Cousins. We know that the Raiders will add some playmakers between now and the start of the 2027 season, so if there's a logical move to be made at the trade deadline, it would be for players who can help them both now and in the years to come. There are also young players the organization could trade whom I've mentioned for possible deals elsewhere in this column. Up front, Jackson Powers-Johnson hasn't been able to hold on to a starting job, and the Tom Telesco regime that initially drafted the college center is no longer in the building. And would the Raiders consider trading running back Ashton Jeanty, who was benched last week for Mike Washington Jr.? It would seem too soon to trade a recent top-10 pick, but the Browns traded Trent Richardson midway through his second pro season, so there's some precedent here. Luxury target: This would be the ideal, logical landing spot for Brian Thomas Jr. Getting a downfield threat with No. 1 receiver upside would be an upgrade on Tre Tucker, who is admittedly having the best season of his career in advance of free agency. Thomas' ability to run away from coverage would play up in Klint Kubiak's offense, and the Raiders would get the 2024 first-round pick for three seasons before free agency. Bargain target: The Texans dealt for receiver Kayshon Boutte before the season, but after the return of Tank Dell and the trade for Marvin Harrison Jr., Boutte's already-limited snap share is going to be squeezed. Boutte is a free agent after the season, so the Raiders would essentially be getting a trial run with a potential starting wide receiver before deciding whether they want to bring him back in 2027. Seattle Seahawks (4-4) Positions of need: QB, WR, CB, TE The Seahawks already made a surprising and potentially significant move last week when they traded third- and fifth-round picks to the Colts for guard Quenton Nelson, who should massively boost what has been a moribund Seahawks run game. The return of running backs Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price should also be an upgrade on Emanuel Wilson and George Holani in the backfield. The problem in projecting more trades for the Seahawks is that they're already mostly locked in to 2026 solutions at their biggest positions of need. Quarterback Sam Darnold hasn't been good enough when healthy, but the Seahawks aren't going to find a better answer on the market. Seattle's non-Jaxon Smith-Njigba receivers have collectively struggled to get open and make big plays, but the team is financially committed to Cooper Kupp and Rashid Shaheed and wants to evaluate Tory Horton. The Seahawks could use depth at linebacker and cornerback, but the move for Nelson is likely to be general manager John Schneider's biggest swing before the offseason. Luxury target: Adding another tight end to replace injured Elijah Arroyo and give Darnold (or Drew Lock) another reliable pass catcher would be one way to improve the offense. An Eagles team in a soft rebuild could move on from Dallas Goedert, who is on a one-year deal and due only $650,000 over the remainder of 2026. Goedert is one year removed from an 11-touchdown season, so having a second option near the goal line and in the red zone beyond Smith-Njigba would be enough to justify Goedert's salary. Bargain target: The Jets have phased out well-traveled wideout Tim Patrick, who played just seven snaps against the Dolphins in Week 7 before sitting out as a healthy scratch against the Raiders in Week 8. Patrick only occasionally appears on special teams, which hurts his chances as a fourth or fifth wideout, but he's a crack blocker and had a 78-yard game as a receiver for the Jaguars last December. If the goal is to make life easier for the run game, Patrick can help. Shouldn't be adding There are four competitive teams that should stay quiet at the deadline ... Baltimore Ravens (4-4) With QB Lamar Jackson out indefinitely because of a thumb injury and backup Tyler Huntley done for the season because of turf toe, the Ravens aren't in position to contend in 2026. It wouldn't be a surprise if the defense took a turn for the better in the second half as Jesse Minter's unit coalesces, but the only move the Ravens could make was the one they did Wednesday, trading for quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who was the most qualified short-term solution likely to move at the trade deadline. If anything, the bigger question might be whether the Ravens should be moving on from talent and adding draft capital. While some of their veterans are struggling, I believe there would be a market for potential 2027 cap casualties Calais Campbell, Derrick Henry and Marlon Humphrey, especially if the Ravens are willing to eat money on the latter. General manager Eric DeCosta might prefer to try to stay afloat with Brissett, but the Ravens shouldn't be actively targeting more additions to try to salvage their 2026 team. Cleveland Browns (5-3) At 5-3, the Browns are ahead of schedule. It seemed realistic after a Week 1 blowout by the Jaguars to believe that Cleveland could be considering deals for veterans such as Denzel Ward and Jerry Jeudy at the deadline, but Todd Monken's team responded by winning five of its next six games. The Browns could plausibly be looking to add talent to a young team in the hopes of chasing down a wild-card spot, and it would be a major surprise if GM Andrew Berry decided to trade any key contributors from a team with a winning record after eight weeks. At the same time, the Browns might want to be realistic about their ceiling or true talent level. ESPN's Football Power Index ranks the Browns as the league's second-worst team, while DVOA has them up at 22nd. Their five wins have all come by four or fewer points. Two of those wins were against NFC South teams (Tampa Bay and Carolina), and a third was against the Titans. The Browns beat a Ravens team without Lamar Jackson, and while they topped the Steelers in primetime last month, Pittsburgh responded with a 27-6 win in last week's rematch. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about what the Browns are building with their past two drafts, and with nine picks in the first five rounds of the 2027 draft, Berry has plenty of draft capital if he does want to make a move. I would argue that any sort of move should be for a player who would make an impact in 2027 and beyond, though. Denver Broncos (6-2) The Broncos have their full complement of picks and should net a fourth-round compensatory selection in next year's draft for losing defensive end John Franklin-Myers, which could give Sean Payton some extra ammunition as Denver tries to make it back to the AFC title game. You could make a case that the Broncos are in win-now mode, given that they field the league's oldest roster and sent a first-round pick to the Dolphins in the offseason to acquire Jaylen Waddle. At the same time, you could argue that the Broncos should hold on to their picks to help refresh their roster with young talent next season. The biggest issue has been their quarterback play, and as Bo Nix has shown some signs of improvement in recent weeks, nobody the Broncos could add at the deadline is likely to be an upgrade on their existing signal-caller. An explosive tight end would be a worthwhile addition, but there's not really a realistic trade candidate on the market. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) The Steelers are already fully formed, for better or worse. Aaron Rodgers is going to get the ball out quickly, although he's throwing deep more often than he did a season ago. Receiver DK Metcalf is struggling, and offensive tackle Troy Fautanu hasn't been as good on the left side as he was at right tackle in 2025, but the rest of the Steelers' offense is playing at a high level. A good, sometimes great, front seven is doing its best to cover up the secondary. The Steelers are 6-2, but the only one of those wins that has come against a likely contender was against the Bengals in Week 3. You could make the case that the Steelers should consider adding a defensive back for depth purposes, but most of the places where Pittsburgh would want to upgrade are already occupied by veterans who aren't going to be moving out of the lineup, such as Rodgers, Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey. The guys who are going to get the Steelers out of the wild-card round, if they exist, are already on the roster.