Action began early at the NFL trade deadline with the Colts trading two franchise cornerstones — DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers and Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks. During this time, general managers are more willing to make deals. Last season, we saw one of the most active trade deadlines in history, and that trend should continue this season. In-season trades helped push contenders over the top. The Seahawks’ acquisition of Rashid Shaheed before the final day of the season gave their offense an occasional deep threat opposite Jaxon Smith-Njigba while also bolstering their special teams. We’ve already seen some activity from the 49ers and Seahawks, and other contenders are expected to respond as well. Here are some potential trades that could shake up the top of the league.
1. RB Jonathan Taylor to the Bengals
Compensation: Second and fourth round picks
Looks like the Colts aren’t done with their fire sale yet. Ian Rapoport reports that ownership doesn’t want to trade Jonathan Taylor and views him as part of their “turnaround,” apparently posturing to regain a first-round pick (they currently don’t have one due to the Sauce Gardner trade). I’m sure Taylor is a great presence in the locker room, but he’s 27 and has a lot of wear and tear, and he’s a few years away from the dreaded 30-year-old mark of a running back. The Colts’ rebuild looks like a multi-year project. They won’t get a first for Taylor; a second and some changes are reasonable, and they need draft capital.
The Bengals tried to go underneath more, but Joe Burrow wasn’t effective, so they reverted to a shotgun-heavy offense. Taylor is one of the league’s best shotgun runners and a dangerous receiver. The Bengals are invested in their offense, but Taylor can make their boundary unstoppable.
2. WR Josh Downs to the Chiefs
Payoff: Fourth-round pick
The Seahawks’ defense shut down the Chiefs’ run game and none of Kansas City’s receivers could create separation. They rely on Xavier Worthy as their man-beater, but nickel Nick Emmanwori easily covering Worthy on a slot fade should tell you how reliable he is in that role. The Chiefs are in dire need of a receiver who can separate against man coverage. George Pickens would be a dream trade for the Chiefs, and they should be willing to trade big capital for him if the Cowboys put him on the market, rather than potentially lose him in free agency next year, but Jerry Jones is unpredictable. The next best option is Downs, who could be more productive in the Chiefs’ offense.
3. WR Brian Thomas Jr. at the Rams
Compensation: Third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick
The Rams tried to play it too cute in the draft and live in two timelines, taking quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th pick when the best option this season was a receiver. Davante Adams is 33 years old and had hamstring problems last season — it’s not hard to predict he’ll miss games this season. Puka Nacua has had injury and off-field issues. How will KC Concepcion — who I rate higher than Makai Lemon — look in their offense? They could correct that mistake by trading for Thomas Jr. The Jaguars should be more than willing to trade Thomas Jr. in the NFC, rather than an AFC opponent. Thomas Jr. will provide much-needed speed to the offense, while his vertical route tree will complement Nacua, who thrives in the middle of the field.
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4. DT Moro Ojomo to the Bills
Payoff: Third-round pick
After losing Buckner, the Bills could make a splash for a young defensive tackle with a lot of potential. Last season, when Ojomo started nine games, he finished with six sacks. He’s only 25, and he could be more effective in a system like Jim Leonhard’s that gives him the freedom to get upfield more often. The Eagles have already given big extensions to Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, so they will likely let Ojomo walk after the season. With their season collapsing, the smart move would be to trade Ojomo, who could be a game-changer for the Bills as a run stuffer and interior pass rusher. He also fits Buffalo’s 3-4 scheme. Pairing Ojomo with budding star Deone Walker is a step forward for this season and the future.
5. S Budda Baker on the Bills
Payoff: Fourth-round pick
The Bills must be aggressive here. Their window was open now, and Josh Allen was playing in his mind. They lead the league in points per game, but also allow the most points per drive. They need defensive help badly. Ojomo will help up front, and Baker will give Leonhard his safety to work in the back. While Leonhard was with the Broncos, he saw Talanoa Hufanga’s impact firsthand. Baker was out of the limelight in Arizona, but with the Bills, the world will see how special he is on the big stage. He’s likely to be a fourth-round pick because he’s 30 and has just one year left on his contract after this season.
6. LB Khalil Mack to the Bears
Payoff: Fifth-round pick
A Mack and Bears reunion seems inevitable. The Chargers should be selling, and in the twilight of his career, Mack deserves to play with a contender. The 35-year-old still plays at a high level as a run defender and pocket pusher. The Bears could use an ace on the sideline, but no one just traded them away at the deadline. Mack could upgrade to a decent rotation on the side with Austin Booker and Montez Sweat, who returned from suspension this week. Maybe Mack will be good enough to have a signature postseason game and remind us all that he is a future hall-of-famer.
7. CB Tariq Woolen to the Bears
Payoff: Sixth-round pick
Woolen was only signed to a one-year deal, and a team trading for him was only on the hook for less than $1 million. Dennis Allen likes to play man, but he doesn’t have the corners to do so at a high rate. Jaylon Johnson and the Bears’ cornerback room have struggled this season. Woolen, 27, is an imperfect player, but his upside is substantial, and his floor isn’t much lower than what Chicago has. Like the Bills, the Bears’ offense makes them contenders, but they need defensive help even if the defense is punching above its weight right now.
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8. DT Grover Stewart to the Packers
Payoff: Seventh-round pick
The Packers rank 25th in rushing defense and desperately need help inside. Stewart isn’t the sexiest name, but he could add some meat to Jonathan Gannon’s 3-4 scheme and help against the run. The 33-year-old can line up in all three interior spots. While the Packers will get a shot in the arm when Micah Parsons returns, you have to earn the right to rush the passer by stopping the run on early downs. In the NFC North with the Lions and Bears, you can never have enough run-stoppers.
9. QB Mac Jones to the Vikings
Compensation: Third- and fifth-round picks
This one is a stretch, but bear with me. Despite Kyler Murray being so close to a breakthrough — he’s still in the early stages of Kevin O’Connell’s offense — what if he has another unproductive game in Week 8 and the Vikings brass is nervous? Murray is on a one-year deal, and they didn’t invest much to get him. Jones is another former first-round pick who already has a year of Shanahan rehab under his belt and has shown he can play at a relatively high level in the right environment.
Brock Purdy had the second-lowest sack rate this season and wasn’t sacked until the fifth week of the season, so that probably eased some of the injury concerns. The Vikings could tempt the 49ers with a third-round pick and one of their three fifth-round picks or even include Jauan Jennings in a package. Kirk Cousins could also be an option, but I don’t think the Raiders want to trade him, and Jones could help this season and possibly be a long-term option.
10. WR Adonai Mitchell to the Seahawks
Payoff: Fifth-round pick
The Seahawks bolstered their run game with the Nelson trade, but they still need someone who can open opposite Smith-Njigba. Shaheed has special teams value and wins the occasional deep ball, but he’s too volatile to be a No. 2 recipients. The Jets are unlikely to trade Garrett Wilson, and with the emergence of their first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr., Mitchell could be expendable for the right price. Mitchell looked like a better player before he injured his finger. The 24-year-old is a big man who can win deep and get open in the intermediate part of the field. The Seahawks are hoping for two fifth-round compensatory picks this year, so they can use their own fifth in a trade. They exchanged a 2028 fifth-round pick as part of the Nelson trade.