What makes this NFL trade deadline uniquely special is that so many teams have skirted the line of being bad enough to sell, with this weekend serving as a kind of tipping point for teams deciding whether they should punt on this season. And then came more chaos. Will Levis had a stunning NFL debut, vaulting the Titans closer to .500. The Vikings have gone on a tear without Justin Jefferson. And, all of a sudden, the pathway to a high pick is not as clearly paved as we once imagined.
It is easy for us to sensibly declare a team not good enough, or simply a vehicle of spare parts for sale. It is much harder to tell a group of coaches and players on tenuous contracts the same thing.
And so, we celebrate a more robust group of “buyers” at this time of year than we normally would. Similarly, the sellers list will look different than it might have a few weeks ago. That is ideal. Parity is good. Tanking, at least in the NFL, doesn’t really work. Unless you are in the very rare situation of having a good coach and head of player personnel but a bad roster, there are fewer reasons to sell.
I think that while this season started with some obvious contenders, there is an opportunity for teams willing to invest at the midseason point.
Should there be some talented players on the market before Halloween’s trade deadline, here’s who should be buying based on what happened Sunday.
AFC
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Jets
Why they should buy: My thoughts on the Jets (4–3) are two-tiered. They should be trying to make the playoffs this year, and they should also be flooding the trade market for 2025 free agents in order to bolster their roster for the following season, which should carry all the hype and expectation initially brought by the 2023 season. The Jets are likely not going to have a good enough draft position to find themselves a difference-maker in late April and are drifting into this territory where the team could make the playoffs and hand the ball back to a miraculously recovered Aaron Rodgers in time for the end of the season. So, it’s time to make some economically wise decisions and build the roster into a more fortified entity for January, but more importantly, beyond.
What does New York need: Offensive line help, not only on the outside, but after seeing the roster dwindle to its third-string center Sunday, just about everywhere. Robert Saleh needs a constant hockey rotation of pass rushers. The Jets also need another receiver to compliment Garrett Wilson. Zach Wilson is still developing into a win-with quarterback, but a weapons overload is one way to accelerate that process.
Dolphins
Why they should buy: The Dolphins improved to 6–2 Sunday with a win over the AFC East rival Patriots. They are a next-level offensive team built around blistering speed and the ability to force teams to make impossible, quick-trigger decisions. They are adequate at worst in most spots, but in order to compete with the upper echelon of the conference, they will need to add a defensive playmaker and layer their roster with depth, a process they already started by taking a flier on linear speedster Chase Claypool from Chicago.
What does Miami need: The Dolphins are getting reinforcements back at the running back position, but anything to bolster the rushing attack would be a major boon for Mike McDaniel. This could mean offensive line depth, ancillary offensive backfield players who can help diversify the formational looks the Dolphins can feed opponents, or increased depth when it comes to their reserves of speed. I had previously pitched Saquon Barkley because, while Miami does have one of the NFL leaders in yards after first contact in De’Von Achane, they do not have a back with more than six broken tackles. Running through opponents, as well as by them, is a need for late in the season.
Bills
Why they should buy: The Bills are one of the least celebrated 5–3 teams in the NFL, thanks to a handful of uneven stretches and uncharacteristic losses. However, this team has no choice but to invest in the moment. While I may argue that the team’s Super Bowl window closed a year ago, allowing Buffalo to remain dormant while in the thick of a season that could end with another division title seems foolish. So long as Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Ed Oliver, Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are healthy, it’s time to go for it.
What does Buffalo need: The fantasy inclined are quick to say wide receiver, and while I don’t think Buffalo’s interest in DeAndre Hopkins was a red herring this offseason, I do think cornerback is a far more pressing need. Bringing in Josh Norman and throwing up the white flag on Kaiir Elam are as obvious a tell as there is in the NFL. Similarly, a deeper and more robust set of players up front. The Bills tried, for years, to generate the kind of pass-rusher depth that could overwhelm the likes of Patrick Mahomes in big games. The result has been some fairly inconsistent gambles. Buffalo is 21st against the run and 26th against the pass in terms of EPA per play surrendered since Week 5.
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Jaguars
Why they should buy: The Jaguars (6–2) have developed into a class-of-the-AFC team with a victory over the notoriously prickly Steelers on Sunday. As we mentioned at the top, there is space for more teams to exist among the NFL elite, but it is going to require some talent-hoarding. Jacksonville has a quarterback on his rookie contract and 11 draft picks in total for next year, including four picks in the first three rounds. Doug Pederson is a veteran coach who can handle importing a few stars.
What does Jacksonville need: The Jaguars could use pass-rushing help and should be active on the edge market. I thought adding a bookend rusher, as the Florida Times-Union suggested here, is an investment in bettering the defense and opening up the door for Travon Walker to aid different areas of the defense. Similarly, any team serious about getting involved in the AFC should be in the market for additional cornerback help, not only to guard against attrition, but to be able to present more versatile coverage types deeper into the playoffs.
Chiefs
Why they should buy: Kansas City dropped a sloppy, out-of-character loss to the Broncos on Sunday. The team is 6-2 heading into a critical stretch against the Dolphins and Eagles. The Chiefs’ future depends on an ability to allow its younger players to rise and, thus, form an affordable core around its starting quarterback. However, a strategic infusion of veteran help around the deadline is sensible if they are interested in keeping pace with the rest of the conference.
What does Kansas City need: The Chiefs need offensive line depth, they need a veteran wide receiver option, and they need to build out their defensive line. Imagine an interior game-wrecker who could stunt with Chris Jones and create the kind of internal havoc reminiscent of Aaron Donald and Greg Gaines during the Rams’ Super Bowl run. So much of this postseason will be about stopping diverse run schemes and being able to create consistent interior pressure, or at least complement that interior pressure with speed off the edge.
Browns
Why they should buy: The Browns lost to the Seahawks, 24-20, on Sunday as their chief competitors in the AFC North continue to surge. Cleveland’s window to win has always been now, and a yearslong process has culminated in a promising defensive season absent a complementary offense. Without some upgrades, Cleveland leaves itself vulnerable to what we saw on Sunday: a great defense that, without scoring some points, cannot hold the dam enough to compensate for a middling offense prone to mistakes. Cleveland was a dropped pick-six away from beating Seattle on the road, but then again, cannot depend on such moments.
What does Cleveland need: A dependable quarterback. Jacoby Brissett should be available. Ryan Tannehill, if healthy, should be available. Leaving the offense in the hands of either PJ Walker or Deshaun Watson would be such a massive misunderstanding of what made the Browns successful early in the year and how sustainable that model is. I also think more rotational pass-rushing help and, more obviously, a running back capable of taking on bulk carries effectively later on in the year.
Ravens
Why they should buy: The Ravens are now two games up in the AFC North, which feels significant but is less so considering they face both the contending Browns and Bengals in the next month. Baltimore’s efficient offense has been the story of this season, but in a win over the Cardinals on Sunday, it showed an ability to still grind it out with a Lamar Jackson-free (or less involved) running game.
What does Baltimore need: Baltimore doesn’t really need anything, but top-end running back help would only ease the concerns with its offense moving forward. The Ravens should also be a destination for rotational pass rushers. This team is so good at generating stress on the offense, with Justin Madubuike and Jadeveon Clowney both logging 10 or more pressures so far this year. Clowney, at age 30, is having another great season but is better with stylistic complements. I recently suggested Danielle Hunter for Baltimore in a dream trades post.
NFC
49ers
Why they should buy: The 49ers dropped their third consecutive game Sunday, falling to the Bengals and trudging into the bye at 5–3. While I think this is simply a blip on the radar, we have seen the first prolonged period of struggle from Brock Purdy, whose percentage of ill-advised throws has spiked along with opposing teams’ pressure rates over the past three weeks. While this was especially true against the Browns, the Bengals hit Purdy seven times Sunday. The recent dip has spotlighted the 49ers’ defensive struggles as well as some thinness on the offensive line.
What does San Francisco need: With three third- and sixth-round picks, the 49ers should be considered dangerous heading into this deadline. They should be after pass-rush help. While GM John Lynch has done his best bookending Nick Bosa, there will be better players available, allowing Randy Gregory and Clelin Ferrell to fall back into more of a complementary role. Depth along the offensive line, which was underlined in the team’s performance sans Trent Williams, is also a necessity. The 49ers have the 19th-best dropback EPA in the NFL, and outside of Charvarius Ward, lack the ideal size and coverage ability one would expect from a Super Bowl contender who does not have an alien quarterback.
Seahawks
Why they should buy: The Seahawks notched a critical win over the Browns on Sunday, putting them in first place in the NFC West. Seattle lacks the kind of albatross contract that could throw the team out of good financial health, and have a winner at quarterback who is on a relatively cheap deal for the position. This offense is not perfect with Geno Smith, who has thrown five interceptions over the past three weeks. The defense is not perfect, either, but has the best dropback EPA in the NFL over the past four weeks. Players such as Jamal Adams seem to be more at home in this iteration of the scheme.
What does Seattle need: That said, Seattle should be a haven for pass rushers with as much talent as the Seahawks have at cornerback. An organic pass rush not dependent on blitzing (which Seattle doesn’t do a great deal of, anyway) will serve this ball-hawking defense well. This trade deadline could be particularly rich at the position, and give Seattle a chance to acquire a level of talent that it would not be able to access with a bottom-15 pick next year.
Eagles
Why they should buy: The Eagles may be the best team in the NFL as it stands right now. What do we mean by that? There aren’t many teams playing football as consistently. There aren’t as many teams with commensurate depth to be able to handle various injuries. I think the Eagles are one league-shifting trade away from securing a No. 1 seed and taking advantage of San Francisco’s momentary stretch of mere mortal play.
What does the team need: Philadelphia doesn’t need anything. They could add another cornerback to buttress the secondary. Like Howie Roseman did last year with the defensive tackle spot, he could similarly add at the wide receiver position to de-stress the building workload on A.J. Brown, who has been as close to unstoppable as any receiver in the league over the last month. The target drop-off after Dallas Goedert, who is third on the team, is steep. This is not unusual, but the Eagles are consistently striving to be a class-of-the-NFL team. Another receiver with position versatility could make this offense even more of a juggernaut.
Cowboys
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Why they should buy: The Cowboys defeated the Rams handily on Sunday, producing the need for a pair of surrender backup quarterbacks. This has been consistent with Dallas’s modus operandi this year: blow out opponents with the utilization of back-breaking turnovers, or wilt. Dallas is aspiring to be a power player in an increasingly talent-rich NFC, which will stress the team’s ability to defend some of the league’s more versatile offenses.
What does Dallas need: For a team that has had so many convincing wins this season, Dallas is somewhat rich in what I would consider “needs.” Dallas needs help at linebacker and cornerback. Offensively, as we’ve been saying all season, they need a legitimate counterpunch to Tony Pollard. This defense, when paired with a possession-sapping running game, could be uniquely suited for the postseason. Similarly, their receiving options are fine, but unserious if we’re stacking up the current lineup against other weapon sets in the conference.
Lions
Why they should buy: The Lions go into Monday Night Football against the Raiders, having lost their last game to the Ravens, 38–6. No matter what happens, they will maintain a strong lead in the NFC North, with the Vikings as their most serious competition. Still, Detroit has larger aspirations as the division flounders around it. The Lions are a good team that could get much better with a strong deadline. They should be considered a destination, with many components that are attractive to mercenary veterans: a great offensive line, two skilled coordinators, a dominant young edge rusher and a player-friendly head coach.
What does Detroit need: In a perfect world, the Lions come out of this deadline with more pass-rushing help. Being able to further free Aidan Hutchinson will help Detroit feast on an incredibly bad end-of-season schedule and better prepare it for the rigors of a playoff run against the likes of Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott and Purdy. I feel like I’m putting cornerback for every team because it’s true: Every team needs more depth at the cornerback position, and Detroit is no different. While the Lions would love to see Jameson Williams come on and tip the way defenses are covering the Lions, perhaps a veteran wideout who could do some hand holding would be valuable, as would more David Montgomery insurance. We’ve seen Jahmyr Gibbs’s potential, but also his limitations.
