Five NFL teams that need to make moves the most before 2025 trade deadline

The NFL trade deadline is only days away, set for Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

With the majority of the league's teams still hopeful for a playoff run, one move could be the difference from a disappointing end to the season and playing deep into January. Below are five teams that need to make a move the most.

Buffalo Bills (5-2)

Position: Wide receiver | The Bills have failed to identify a go-to wide receiver since trading Stefon Diggs following the 2023 season, putting an enormous strain on quarterback Josh Allen. He was strong enough last season to earn league MVP honors, but for the Bills to have more team success and finally win their first Lombardi Trophy, they can't be a one-man show in the pass game. Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Buffalo has inquired about New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave, and while the Saints are reluctant to part with their 2022 first-round pick, other wideouts could be available. Russini also noted that the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to field calls on second-year receiver Brian Thomas Jr. It would likely take a 2026 first (and then some) to land either, but both would be worth the price tag for how much they'd help Buffalo's Super Bowl odds.

Dallas Cowboys (3-4-1)

Position: Defense | Dallas can use help wherever it can find it, whether along the defensive line, at linebacker or in the secondary. Otherwise, it risks wasting a sensational season from the Cowboys offense, which ranks second in the NFL in scoring (30.8 points per game) and total offense (384.1 yards per game). Dallas is No. 31 against the pass and No. 29 against the run, and opponents are scoring on 49.4 percent of their drives, the league's highest rate.

The Cowboys also aren't the only NFC playoff contender seeking defensive help, with Russini sharing that the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions are among the teams perusing the trade market, making it crucial for them to add talent before others widen the gap.

Indianapolis Colts (7-1)

Position: Cornerback | "The Colts need corners," Russini wrote of the surprise AFC contender. Indianapolis is thin at the position, with rookie third-rounder Justin Walley (torn ACL) and offseason free-agent addition Charvarius Ward (concussion) on injured reserve. Rookie undrafted free agent Johnathan Edwards has started the past three games at outside corner along with third-year pro Mekhi Blackmon, and the Colts have allowed 310.3 passing yards per game.

Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)

Position: Offensive line | Per Pro Football Focus data, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been pressured on 41.6% of his dropbacks, the league's third-highest rate among 33 quarterbacks who've faced at least 50 pressures. Injuries have hit Los Angeles hard up front, with starting left tackle Rashawn Slater suffering a season-ending ruptured patellar tendon during the preseason. Right guard Mekhi Becton, a 2025 free-agent signing, joined Slater on the injured list most recently with a knee injury, putting his status for Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans in jeopardy. It could be difficult to find a starting-caliber option on the trade market, but Los Angeles can't accept the status quo for the rest of the season.

Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)

Position: Edge-rusher | Eagles edge-rushers have combined for 4.5 sacks through eight games. That's fewer than 15 players have individually. Philadelphia was able to blow out the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX thanks to a robust effort from its defensive front, and that same kind of production has eluded the unit so far this season.