The NFL trade deadline is next Tuesday at 4 PM ET. With teams coming to terms with which side of the buyer/seller line they’re on after Week 9, we look at trade candidates, what their current cost may be, and three teams who could be interested. It is important to note that over the last five years we have seen 51 trades in the final days leading up to, and on, the deadline — an average of 10 per year.
The Colts have fired General Manager Chris Ballard and traded away All-Pros (and team captains) OG Quenton Nelson and DT DeForest Buckner. This franchise is in full-blown rebuild mode and Taylor is the most attractive asset on the roster. Playoff-bound teams who need a boost to their backfield will see the NFL’s second-leading rusher since 2021 as a piece that makes winning in January a lot easier. The 27-year-old is signed through 2028 with about $34 million owed from the acquiring team if traded.
Potential trade candidates: MIN, NYG, CLE
Potential cost: Multiple second-rounders, or one first-rounder
We already know the front office is willing to move on from the third all-time leading sack artist in franchise history. He was literally traded to Baltimore this past offseason, but medicals canceled the deal. He remains in Las Vegas, healthy, and is third in the NFL with 42 pressures, making an impact every down. Whoever takes the 29-year-old with questionable long-term knee health will be committed to over $60 million over the next three years. With that said, he is widely considered one of the top impact players at the position in the NFL.
Potential trade candidates: TB, DAL, NYG
Potential cost: First-rounder + 2028 third-round pick
The Eagles have two of the top ten most expensive tackles in the game. Add in the big extension they gave to edge Jonathan Greenard after trading two picks to get him, and there won’t be much left in the piggy bank for Ojomo, who arguably has been the team’s best defensive lineman this season. Just 25 years old, the 2023 seventh-round pick has taken a slow and steady progression to the point where he is tied for the team lead in pressures this season and plays multiple positions at a high level. His free agency this upcoming offseason will net him $15+ million per year in all likelihood, so an acquiring team would be smart to have a long-term play ready for him.
Potential trade candidates: KC, NE, JAX
Potential cost: Fourth-round pick + conditional Day 3 2028 pick
The market for game-changing defensive tackles has erupted in recent years, whether it is the trade market or free agency. Three high-profile players at the position have been traded since April, and with Miami clearly looking years down the road when it comes to being competitive again, the 31-year-old with a hefty contract signed in the 2025 offseason is dispensable. Among interior defensive linemen, he ranks 11th in pressures since the start of 2023 and offers the ability to two-gap at multiple spots along the defensive line.
Potential trade candidates: NYG, DAL, PIT
Potential cost: Fourth-round pick
Derrick Henry. Jonathan Taylor. Saquon Barkley. Josh Jacobs. Tony Pollard. Those are the five leading rushers since 2021. While the fifth name on that list does not exactly belong in the same tier as the others, there is no denying just how consistently productive the 29-year-old is. He is not a true bell cow, but for teams that need an injury fill-in or reliable rotational weapon, the former college wide receiver can help in every component of the offense.
Potential trade candidates: CIN, DET, GB
Potential cost: Fourth-round pick
Baker has spent all ten years in the league with Arizona, but the Cardinals have finished above .500 just once (in 2021) and the team is heading toward another rebuild. At age 30, he still has enough juice to impact the game from all levels. He has already set a career high with 3.5 sacks, which leads the NFL at the position. In 2027 his base salary is the fourth-highest in the league among safeties, and he will hit free agency in 2028.
Potential trade candidates: MIN, BUF, ATL
Potential cost: Fourth- or fifth-round pick
Stephens has been the best corner for the Jets this season, but the 28-year-old may not be an ideal fit for the long-term future. He is signed through 2027 and capable of playing multiple spots in the secondary with quality run defense. He is a unique blend of size and speed to pair with his ball skills that will fit into physical schemes looking for a starter.
Potential trade candidates: DET, HOU, CIN
Potential cost: Fourth-rounder
With the club in full-blown rebuild mode, Downs is the second most attractive asset remaining on the roster. The 25-year-old has been a steady, consistent slot receiver with reliable hands since coming into the league in 2023. The fact that he is in the final year of his rookie contract and has limitations stemming from his frame should keep the cost low enough to attract all suitors looking for an upgrade in the slot. But he is not a game-changer, and Indianapolis will likely need the money elsewhere.
Potential trade candidates: MIN, SF, KC
Potential cost: Fifth-rounder