The NFL trade deadline is soon upon us. While the Philadelphia Eagles jumped the line by acquiring former All-Pro Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans, they won’t be the only contender to add veteran talent before the books are closed on 2023’s deals.
Recent deadline deals have seen a relative flurry of activity compared to previous seasons. In 2022 alone, we saw Christian McCaffrey, Calvin Ridley, TJ Hockenson and, sigh, Chase Claypool change teams via in-season trade. With a wide open playoff race and 14 slots available, there will be plenty of buyers looking for help as the 4 p.m. ET deadline approaches on October 31.
But only a handful of the teams involved will be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. While clubs with postseason hopes can fill holes in flawed rosters, 11 teams have shown the ability to seize their destiny this winter and bring a Super Bowl parade to their hometowns. And with a robust market of players working through the waning years of contracts with teams outside the realm of contention, there are season-changing moves to be made.
Here are those teams, with first dibs given to the ones lowest on this week’s power rankings (which, spoiler alert, don’t technically come out until tomorrow, but this thing’s got a shelf life, you know). Which tradeable veterans could be the missing piece to a Super Bowl run?
12
Honorable mention: Teams that just missed the cut
These franchises are playoff contenders, but likely to fall short in their quest for the Lombardi Trophy compared to the other teams on this list. They are, in no particular order:
- Los Angeles Chargers: untrustable head coach, general Chargers-ness
- Pittsburgh Steelers: too much Kenny Pickett
- New York Jets: we all saw Week 8, nothing good can come of this
- The entire NFC South: not enough firepower
- Cleveland Browns: an overpowering vacuum of pass game production
11
Buffalo Bills: WR Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Why they can win the Super Bowl: A potential crescendo of chaos made possible by years of proper roster building (and possibly undone by injury. Again).
If the Bills are content to out-score opponents rather than plug holes in a defense crushed by injuries, there’s no better way to do it than by giving Stefon Diggs a reliable running mate. That could manifest in a low-wattage deal like a trade for Hunter Renfrow. Or Buffalo could bet on Jeudy’s upside and bring the former first round pick north.
Jeudy is the kind of intermediate-deep threat who could thrive under Josh Allen (average target depth as a Bronco: 12-plus yards downfield) who has struggled through coaching changes and poor quarterback play in Denver. He was on pace for a 1,000-yard season with broken Russell Wilson in 2022 and could revive his value as the fifth and final year of his rookie contract approaches.
10
Jacksonville Jaguars: EDGE Montez Sweat, Washington Commanders
Why they can win the Super Bowl: A rising tide of young players on both sides of the ball and a Super Bowl-winning head coach.
The Commanders show up here a lot — that’s the consequence of another lost season and a new team owner who may be eager for a fresh start. Sweat has been the subject of trade rumors throughout October and with his team sitting under .500 the productive pass rusher may be first to go.
Jacksonville has gotten a career year out of Josh Allen but has yet to get expected returns out of 2022 top overall pick Travon Walker. Adding Sweat may stunt Walker’s growth, but it would add another big, productive pocket-attacker who can create chaos with his hand on the ground or coming from the second level.
9
Dallas Cowboys: RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
Why they can win the Super Bowl: Immense talent able to overcome the presence of Mike McCarthy.
Tony Pollard, playing against compressed defenses in the red zone, has 23 carries from inside an opponent’s 10-yard line in 2023. He’s turned that into 14 rushing yards and only four touchdowns.
It’s clear there’s a need for a bruiser who can push forward through contact; who better than the guy who has never seen an eight-man box he didn’t like? Henry may not be entirely available after the Titans showed signs of life in Week 8, but he’d be a boon for a Dallas team whose 11 touchdowns in 29 trips to the red zone ranks 29th in the NFL through roughly half the season.
8
Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE Chase Young, Washington Commanders
Why they can win the Super Bowl: Joe Burrow’s healthy again and the defense is beginning to gel.
Hell yeah, let’s get wild. Trey Hendrickson has eight sacks, but those come with only 11 quarterback hits — one fewer than fellow end Sam Hubbard, who only has four sacks this year. That number’s likely to come down, leaving room for an upgrade along Cincinnati’s front four.
Young would be a luxury pickup, but a useful one in an AFC loaded with quarterback talent. The former No. 2 overall pick would be a boon in a pass rush where there’s been a significant dropoff behind Hendrickson, Hubbard and tackle DJ Reader. He has five sacks in seven games this fall, and while half that total came against bad offensive lines (Giants, Bears), he’d give the Bengals a vicious three-man rotation at defensive end.
7
San Francisco 49ers: CB Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Why they can win the Super Bowl: Kyle Shanahan finally, maybe(?) has a quarterback who can lead a comeback postseason victory.
It’s nearing panic time in San Francisco after three straight losses, and the trade deadline doesn’t offer much breathing room for measured introspection. There may be some value to offensive line upgrades along the right side — maybe Broncos’ tackle Garrett Bolles? — but the fact remains this team has gotten carved up by Kirk Cousins and Joe Burrow in consecutive weeks.
Adding Johnson would bring a proven boundary cornerback to the lineup who can handle being left on an island in stretches. He and Charvarius Ward would be a rising tide, allowing Deommodore Lenoir to slide to slot coverage and reducing the strain on the secondary as a whole.
6
Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers
Why they can win the Super Bowl: A reloaded roster loaded with weapons that can sting you on both sides of the ball.
Seattle’s top two outside linebackers at the moment are Boye Mafe and Darrell Taylor — two talented young prospects who can’t match the proven production of a star like Burns. The cost won’t be cheap, but the Seahawks haven’t been shy about shipping out picks to add a defensive star in the past (though the Jamal Adams trade may make Pete Carroll wary about a similar deal).
Burns has 71 quarterback hits, 35.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles over his last 55 games in Carolina. Better yet, he’d reduce Carroll’s reliance on an aging Frank Clark and bring Seattle one step closer to its Legion of Boom glory days.
Edit: Seattle traded for Leonard Williams, which helps address its pass rush issues while draining its draft chest. But in case the Seahawks aren’t done, you know, Burns is still pretty dang good.
5
Detroit Lions: WR Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders
Why they can win the Super Bowl: A defense that plays like hungry goblins released from a cave and Ben Johnson’s offense.
Acquiring Samuel wouldn’t be a landscape-shifting move. In fact, Washington may be reticent to deal him given his connection with rising young quarterback Sam Howell. But Samuel has slid down the target list lately and will be a free agent next spring, making him a trade candidate for a Commanders team with little hope of an extended playoff run.
Detroit doesn’t need him, but Johnson’s offense thrives on weird looks and creating space for his playmakers. Having a versatile multi-tool like Samuel would introduce new pages to the playbook and utterly frustrate NFC defensive coordinators. This isn’t Detroit’s biggest need — that would be cornerback — but it would be the most fun one to fill.
4
Miami Dolphins: G Ezra Cleveland, Minnesota Vikings
Why they can win the Super Bowl: An offense capable of blinding opponents with luxury.
Let’s assume Jalen Ramsey’s return and moving Kader Kohou back to the slot can fix that problem for now. And let’s assume Terron Armstead returns to left tackle at full strength. That leaves concerns in the middle of the offensive line ahead of a quarterback whose 2022 injury concerns sank a similarly promising season.
It would be great if the Lions were willing to move one of Graham Glasgow or Halapoulivaati Vaitai from their embarrassment of OL riches, but Dan Campbell seems pretty comfortable with his depth there. Instead, let’s assume the Kirk Cousins injury means the Vikings are selling off pieces even if they aren’t older veterans.
Cleveland has been a steady piece of a solid offensive line who can slot in at left guard or kick out to tackle. He’s a proven run blocker who is reliable in passing situations as well. He’s not especially exciting, but the Dolphins don’t need a ton of help after their 6-2 start.
3
Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings
Why they can win the Super Bowl: Lamar Jackson is back on his MVP stuff (and has a top wideout again).
The Ravens rank first in the NFL with 31 sacks, but only 25th with a 17.0 percent pressure rate and dead last in QB hurry rate (2.3 percent). There’s a definite veteran presence in the pass rush thanks to Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy (6.5 sacks between them), but relying on two guys in their 30s to keep that pace over a whole season is a big ask.
Hunter isn’t much younger at 29 years old, but he’d be able to keep the team’s pressure intact on non-blitzing downs. That would give the rest of Baltimore’s finely-aged contributors a little extra rest en route to a potential AFC North title.
2
Kansas City Chiefs: WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Why they can win the Super Bowl: Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, a defense that (mostly) does not suffer fools.
Mooney isn’t a big name (unless you’ve been cursing him as a fantasy manager the past 1.5 seasons), but let’s assume some needier clubs out-bid Kansas City for the top tier wideouts on this year’s trade market. The oft-ignored Bear would be a worthy buy-low candidate from a franchise mired in a perpetual rebuild. It’s been nearly two years since his 1,000-yard breakout but Mooney is, at his best, a player with strong hands and great tracking skills who understands what his quarterback needs and busts his ass to deliver it.
That’s a balm for a burned Chiefs offense that’s light on trustworthy wideouts. Rashee Rice might get there, but the rest of the depth chart is littered with guys who aren’t quite clicking with Patrick Mahomes. The former Tulane star could be that guy — even if it might take him a few weeks to earn that trust.
1
Philadelphia Eagles: LB Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Why they can win the Super Bowl: They were close last year, now they’ve run it back (and have the NFL’s best record).
Let’s wrap up this list with a twist — and a player who may not be on the block. Philadelphia doesn’t have many holes and just patched one by trading for safety Kevin Byard. A need remains at inside linebacker, however, where 2022 third round pick Nakobe Dean has yet to live up to potential.
Landing White as a nine-game rental — he’s a free agent this offseason — is a big ask, but the Buccaneers may be willing to make a deal if they feel like he’s not likely to re-sign in Tampa. The former All-Pro hasn’t lived up to his early career standard, but he’s allowing only 5.3 yards per target in coverage this season. With 4.42-second 40 speed (albeit from 2019), he’d add some extra speed to the Eagles’ second level.
