2025 NFL trade deadline: One smart move every team should make

The NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and across the league, contenders, pretenders and full-on rebuilders are all weighing their next move. 

With a little more than half the season left, teams have a narrow window to address glaring weaknesses, bolster playoff pushes or build for the future. Below, Yardbarker NFL writers pitch a trade each team should make before the deadline.  

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS (2-3-1) | Deal for secondary help | The offense is great, but it doesn’t matter if opponents can move the ball at will against you. Dallas has allowed the most passing yards (1,719) and most touchdown passes (15), so it must focus on its porous secondary. With safety Malik Hooker (toe) on the IR, safety is where the Cowboys should start looking.

NEW YORK GIANTS (2-4) | Get WR help | With rookie QB Jaxson Dart playing well even without injured star wide receiver Malik Nabers (out for season), the Giants must add a WR. New York won't contend this season, so any move they make must have the future in mind. They should consider dealing for New Orleans' No. 1 receiver, Chris Olave (342 yards), who’s paid through 2026 but will command a sizable extension in 2027.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-2) | Trade for a pass-rusher | The pass rush is stagnant, and DE Za’Darius Smith recently retired. For Philadelphia to defend its title, it needs another effective pass-rusher on the edge. GM Howie Roseman could shock the NFL with a blockbuster trade for Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson, who’s in the final year of his contract, but at this point, even an average rusher would be an upgrade.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-3) | Trade for defensive line help | Washington rebuilt its defense last season, blending a mix of veterans and young players, aiming to stay competitive now while building a foundation for the future. However, the building part of their plan requires more effort because the D-line is battered, and the team's depth behind team-leading rusher Dorance Armstrong Jr. (5.5 sacks), who is dealing with a hamstring injury, is thin. Washington should consider at least one low-cost trade to add depth at this crucial spot. — Conor Killmurray

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS (2-4) | Acquire offensive line help | The offensive line has allowed the fifth-most sacks (18) and struggled with run-blocking. QB Kyler Murray is dealing with a foot injury that prevented him from playing in the Week 6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The addition of a vet such as Browns guard Wyatt Teller could give Murray more time in the pocket and open running lanes.

LOS ANGELES RAMS (4-2) | Trade for a defensive lineman | The Rams have a middling run defense that allows the 15th-most yards per game (107.8), so finding a force on the D-line is key. With a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 85.3 (seventh of 192 qualified interior defenders) and a league-high 27 pressures, Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is a perfect fit, but he'd be costly. 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-2) | Find pass-rush help | With star linebacker Fred Warner (fractured/dislocated right ankle) and defensive end Nick Bosa (torn right ACL) out for the season, the 49ers desperately need a defensive reinforcement. It would be an exorbitant move, but Hendrickson would be a massive improvement for a defense that has recorded the third-lowest sack rate (3.5%) on dropbacks, only ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars (3.45%) and Carolina Panthers (2.60%).

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-2) | Help for the secondary | The Seahawks are allowing the ninth-most passing yards per game (235.5) and getting inconsistent play from CB Riq Woolen — ample signs that a trade could happen. If one does, look for a deal for Titans CB L'Jarius Sneed or an even bigger splash — Jets CB Sauce Gardner. — Colby Colwell

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS (3-2) | Add depth in the secondary | Cornerback Jaylon Johnson (core muscle) is out indefinitely for the Bears, who have the second-worst completion percentage allowed (73.6 percent). The offense is playing well enough to lead Chicago to the playoffs, potentially, but GM Ryan Poles must upgrade the secondary to give his team a better chance.

DETROIT LIONS (4-2) | Trade for a CB | The Lions have surrendered 508 passing yards and six passing touchdowns in their past two games, mostly because cornerbacks D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, Avonte Maddox and Khalil Dorsey are injured. Detroit can’t rely on this group to stay healthy, so it should call up the Seahawks and gauge their interest in dealing Woolen. 

GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-1-1) | Deal Romeo Doubs | Doubs leads the Packers in receiving touchdowns (four) and ranks second on the team in receiving yards (234), but he is in the last year of his rookie deal and hasn’t done enough to merit a second contract. This team has wide receiver depth with Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath and Savion Williams, so the Packers should deal Doubs for a draft pick or two before he hits free agency. 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-2) | Acquire offensive line help | Minnesota’s offensive line is struggling to stay healthy — starting center Ryan Kelly is on injured reserve after suffering his second concussion of the season and fifth of his NFL career. So the Vikings should call up struggling teams (Jets, Saints or Titans) who might be eager to make a deal. — Jack Dougherty

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS (3-2) | Trade for linebacker | The Falcons might be ready to contend after a statement win over the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football” in Week 6. To make the most of their momentum, they’ll need to fortify a rush defense that allows 3.58 yards after contact per carry, fourth most in the NFL, per NFL Pro. One potential trade option would be Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb, who's playing on an expiring contract and has fallen out of the defensive rotation in Pittsburgh, where he has played a career-low 24 percent of his available defensive snaps (h/t Pro Football Reference).

CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-3) | Trade for an edge-rusher | The Panthers, riding a two-game win streak, have more life than they’ve had in years, but to stick the landing and crash the NFC playoffs, Carolina must fix a pass rush that is last in the NFL in sacks (five). Hendrickson might be the biggest fish available, but Miami Dolphins edge Jaelan Phillips would be a much more affordable option.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-5) | Acquire draft capital | With a promising rookie class led by first-round offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, safety Jonas Sanker and cornerback Quincy Riley, New Orleans has a future much brighter than when the season began. In full rebuild mode, the Saints should deal assets for draft picks, allowing them to bolster their roster with young, cheap talent.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-1) | Trade for offensive line depth | Suspect offensive line production has only amplified QB Baker Mayfield’s MVP candidacy, but to remain in the Super Bowl conversation, the Bucs must get more consistent play from the unit. Tampa Bay's offensive line is No. 23 in ESPN’s pass-block win-rate rankings, and it allows pressure at the second-fastest rate in the NFL (2.49s), according to NFL Pro. —  Eric Smithling

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS (4-2) | Acquire DT Shelby Harris | Owners of the NFL’s third-worst rushing defense, the Bills should do whatever it takes to get Harris, Pro Football Focus' 12th-best run-stuffer among interior defenders. Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns are open to trading the pending free agent, especially now that Mike Hall, the team’s second-round pick in 2024, appears ready to play after missing the team’s first six games with a knee injury.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-5) | Trade QB Tua Tagovailoa | With Mike McDaniel likely the next NFL head coach to be fired, the Dolphins should get the rebuild rolling by dealing their most valuable asset. An offseason trade is more likely and would save the team $43M against next year’s cap, but Tagovailoa may find the locker room uncomfortable after calling out teammates for missed meetings during Sunday’s postgame news conference.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-2) | Acquire WR A.J. Brown | The Patriots were rumored to have interest in Brown last season, but given the progress of Drake Maye, the NFL’s fifth-leading passer, now would be a perfect time to add the three-time Pro Bowler, who has been critical of the Eagles’ 29th-ranked passing game (179.2 YPG). Brown spent three years with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel when both were with the Titans, and he’d look great alongside Stefon Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler with two 100-yard receiving performances already this season.

NEW YORK JETS (0-6) | Deal RB Breece Hall | “I’m here, I want to be here, I love being a New York Jet,” Hall told the media during the team’s recent trip to London. But as a pending free agent on the NFL’s only winless team, he is a prime trade candidate. If New York can do better than the sixth-round pick Washington received from San Francisco for running back Brian Robinson in the offseason, the Jets should trade their leading rusher.  — Bruce Ewing

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS (4-2) | Get a WR | Second-year QB Bo Nix needs more firepower. Except for Courtland Sutton — who has three touchdown catches — no Broncos WR has more than one TD catch. Clearly, Denver should target another wideout before the deadline passes, perhaps Olave or Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-3) | Acquire a RB | QB Patrick Mahomes leads the Chiefs in rushing yards (222 in six games). Starting RB Isiah Pacheco, meanwhile, is averaging a career-low 35.7 rushing yards per game (214 rushing yards through six games). Adding Saints RB Alvin Kamara — who has 314 rushing yards in six games — could help solve the ground game’s issues.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-4) | Trade for draft capital | The Raiders have offensive and defensive holes, as they’re tied for 29th in the league in points per game (17.2) and rank 23rd in points allowed (24.8). With that in mind, Vegas should acquire more draft picks to build around rookie RB Ashton Jeanty, who has the ninth-most rushing yards (424 in six games) in the league.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (4-2) | Get O-line help | Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has said QB Justin Herbert is "taking too many hits," and he’s right. Per Pro Football Focus, Herbert has faced pressure on 92 of his 244 dropbacks, tied for the most in the league. With offensive tackle Joe Alt (ankle) and guard Trey Pipkins III (knee) battling injuries, the Chargers should consider targeting Browns guard Joel Bitonio, a seven-time Pro Bowler. 

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS (1-5) | Trade TE Mark Andrews | With the season starting to slip away and Isaiah Likely already on the roster as a long-term replacement for Andrews, this might be the time for Baltimore to make a move, get a draft pick and start looking toward the future. 

CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-4) | Deal edge Trey Hendrickson | When healthy, Hendrickson is one of the best defensive players in the league and by far the best defensive player in Cincinnati. But his re-worked contract before the season did not really do much to change his long-term outlook with the team. Now's the time to deal him.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-5) | Trade TE David Njoku | New season, same results for the Browns. With Cleveland residing at the bottom of the AFC North standings again, the trades have already started, with cornerback Greg Newsome (Jaguars) and QB Joe Flacco (Bengals) already getting moved. Njoku, a free agent after this season and a player who still has good value, is the next logical candidate to be dealt.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-2) | Acquire WR Jakobi Meyers | The offense is showing signs of improvement, especially as the tight ends get more involved in the passing game, complementing WR DK Metcalf. Pittsburgh could use another playmaker on the outside, and Meyers would seem to be one of the best trade candidates available. The Steelers have enough draft assets and salary-cap space to make this move.  — Adam Gretz

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS (2-3) | Trade for a top RB | Joe Mixon has not played this season as he rehabs from an ankle injury, and the Texans have provided no timeline for his return. Houston ranks near the middle of the NFL with 116.2 rushing yards per game, but Nick Chubb is not providing the same type of explosion that the offense had with Mixon last season. If Mixon is not going to play this season, the Texans should take a big swing at a proven playmaker such as Kamara or Hall.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-1) | Bolster the secondary | The Colts have exceeded expectations in almost every area, but they have struggled to defend the pass. Injuries and the sudden retirement of ex-Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard have left Indy with holes in a secondary that has allowed 232.8 passing yards per game (11th worst in the NFL). Trading for a shutdown cornerback would likely be too costly, but the Colts must find a way to add CB depth.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-2) | Acquire pass-rush help | The Jaguars have two solid pass-rushers in Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, but they need another player who can get after the QB (Jacksonville has just eight sacks overall). One avenue the Jaguars might want to explore is a reunion with veteran DT Calais Campbell of the Cardinals, but they could also aim even higher with Hendrickson.

TENNESSEE TITANS (1-5) | Sell whatever you can | The Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan on Monday and are in full rebuilding mode. The best way they can help QB Cam Ward long term is by stockpiling draft assets, so they should be willing to trade almost any player on their roster. Veterans who could generate interest include DT Jeffery Simmons, WR Calvin Ridley, CB L’Jarius Sneed and TE Chig Okonkwo. — Steve DelVecchio