The 2025 NFL season unofficially kicked off with a monster trade, sending Micah Parsons from the Cowboys to the Packers. Seven more swaps have gone down since, including the ultra-rare intra-division quarterback trade involving Joe Flacco.
The Nov. 4 trade deadline is quickly approaching, and more fireworks could be on the way. A fervent market requires two things: supply and demand. I suspect with several August front-runners starting the season slowly -- and some surprise contenders emerging -- you could see more clubs than normal seeking to add help.
Likewise, with 10 teams at two or fewer victories, nearly one third of the NFL has remote playoff chances. Some could seek to unload salaries and beef up their 2026 draft capital. There should be deals to be made.
While that doesn't guarantee there will be a hot trade market, the conditions are there for it to happen. The record for most in-season trades is 19, which happened in both 2019 and 2022, per NFL Research. It's possible that we approach that trade number -- or possibly even blow past it -- in 2025.
Here's a look at which teams could be buyers, which ones might be sellers and which could maybe consider some of each.
Sellers
Their situation screams sellers, with the team sitting at 1-6 and led by an interim head coach. But what is for sale? The Titans are not teeming with tradable assets, especially if Pro Bowl DT Jeffery Simmons isn’t available. L’Jarius Sneed and Calvin Ridley have recognizable names, but injuries, pricy salaries and sub-par play have muddled their value and desirability.
More likely players to move include edge rushers Dre’Mont Jones and Arden Key, LB Cody Barton and CB Roger McCreary. The Titans remain a ways away from contending. They could use more draft assets and fewer big contracts. The other goal would be to find pieces that can help QB Cam Ward, who has had his share of struggles, even with some encouraging moments.
Mike McDaniel has bemoaned several of his players’ names being dragged into trade speculation, calling them "baseless" rumors, but also adding a key qualifier -- "currently." McDaniel said that prior to the Dolphins losing their third straight game -- a 31-6 drubbing by the Browns -- with the season slipping farther into the abyss at 1-6. Also, I don’t know how much say he’ll have in the matter, with McDaniel facing questions about his job security.
It’s hard to imagine Miami wouldn’t listen to calls on Bradley Chubb or Jaelen Phillips, and they’d probably be thrilled to offload Matthew Judon if possible. There also has been some Jaylen Waddle chatter, although that feels far less certain to happen. The Dolphins are badly in need of shedding salary with 2026 in mind, and they could always use the draft picks in return to help replenish a flawed roster.
Any 0-7 team should listen to offers for its players, and the Jets are currently missing third- and fifth-round picks next spring. This season has been a wash, and New York must assure it’s positioned to be a player in free agency and maximize the draft till, needing a franchise QB and a lot more.
Pending free agents such as RB Breece Hall, LB Quincy Williams and WRs Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard would figure to be available. Trading CB Michael Carter II also would make sense. Another player to potentially keep an eye on is edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II, who hasn’t built on his promising 2023 season and might not be a fit going forward.
Any warm vibes leftover from the Titans win were quickly doused by last week’s listless shutout at Kansas City. At 2-5, the Raiders must be realistic about their situation. Even if Maxx Crosby isn’t going anywhere, pretty much everyone else should be available for the right price.
The headliner is WR Jakobi Meyers, who previously requested a trade and still appears open to going elsewhere. With several teams seeking WR help, Meyers -- a 2026 free agent -- could be an instant upgrade for someone, although he missed last week’s game. Malcolm Koonce and Zamir White are two other prospective free agents who could be dealt. It’ll be interesting to see how active GM John Spytek will be in his first trade deadline in the captain’s chair.
They might not be dangling Myles Garrett, but the Browns figure to be active. They’ve already dumped Joe Flacco (ask Mike Tomlin how he feels about that deal) and Greg Newsome, with more pieces potentially on the move. The Browns already have eight picks in the first five rounds of next year’s draft, but that doesn’t mean they will turn down additional draft assets.
Among the players who should be available: OL Wyatt Teller (or Joel Bitonio?), DL Shelby Harris (an accomplished kick blocker, too) and edge rushers Alex Wright, Cameron Thomas and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. The most interesting movable piece might be TE David Njoku, if they can find a buyer. Big moves or small, the Browns feel like a team ready to make a deal.
The Saints are 1-6, and they once again have salary-cap issues looming in 2026. The prudent move would be to make some players available and start shifting resources toward next season. There is no shortage of big-name possibilities, too, with WR Chris Olave, RB Alvin Kamara, LB Demario Davis and edge rusher Cameron Jordan among the candidates.
GM Mickey Loomis has made some in-season trades in the past, but he’s typically not been overly aggressive, and the Saints have sometimes erred on the side of loyalty, keeping many of their longer-tenured players in place -- at times to a detriment.
Olave is the name with the most heat right now, and he might net the most in return. Shipping him out would weaken the weaponry for QB Tyler Shough, whom the Saints figure to start at some point this season, but it might be a tax worth paying.
Buyers
The Eagles are always buyers, and the defending champs are contenders once again. They also appear well-stocked to make a trade, owning extra third- and fifth-round selections (the latter could become a fourth-rounder). Also, they are expected to receive three more compensatory picks. That is more than enough for GM Howie Roseman to make some calls. He’s made six trades since the start of August, so what’s another one or two?
Even with Nolan Smith and Jakorian Bennett expected back in November, and the recent re-addition of Brandon Graham, the Eagles figure to target defensive help -- with pass rusher perhaps the highest priority. Dolphins pass rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both have experience with Eagles DC Vic Fangio, although fitting them under the salary cap might be a challenge.
Then again, if Roseman wants something, he usually goes out and gets it.
In a perfect world, the Bills should be aggressive. They arguably need help at both cornerback and safety, as well as a wide receiver for Josh Allen. The WR need can’t be overlooked; their advanced metrics are pretty blah across the board at that position, and the offense hasn’t topped 245 net pass yards since Week 1.
They added Amari Cooper last year, which shows that GM Brandon Beane will attack needs, but Cooper didn’t necessarily deliver as expected. The other impediment to any deal is the lack of salary-cap space. The Bills are currently only $2.5 million under the cap, per Over the Cap. So, Beane will need to be creative in his approach.
Jerry Jones boasted recently that since trading away defensive superstar Micah Parsons, the Cowboys now have the "ammo" needed to make a deal to upgrade the defense. (Please supply your own punchline.) The extra first-round pick received from the Packers in exchange for Parsons certainly opens up the possibilities, but will the Cowboys suddenly go big-game hunting?
With Dak Prescott playing at an MVP level, the offense looks like a top-five unit. The defense might be at the other end of the spectrum. Even with DeMarvion Overshown in line to rejoin a group that has shown marginal improvement recently, Dallas arguably could use help on all three levels of the defense. We'll see if Jones puts his money where his mouth has been.
I highly doubt the Rams will go all-in and dangle the extra 2026 first-round pick they acquired on Draft Day this year. That one feels earmarked for a possible down-the-road Matthew Stafford replacement. But you know GM Les Snead has not held "them picks" too dearly in general, and he's been a riverboat gambler at the deadline before, landing Von Miller to help power a Super Bowl push in 2021, so you can't rule anything out, especially with Stafford balling and the end of his playing days on the horizon.
Cornerback would figure to be the position the Rams need most, but they're in the same boat as several other teams. The good news is that the Rams are in line to have additional Day 3 picks in 2026 and might not need to dip too deeply into their trove of selections.
The Lions' secondary reserves stepped up in a major way in their statement Week 7 victory over the Bucs. It might be too much to ask them to continue performing at that level going forward, however, and the way last year's 15-2 Detroit squad went one-and-done in the playoffs is a good reminder of what can happen when a team is hit hard by injuries.
GM Brad Holmes is always seeking ways to improve his roster, and he's made smaller deadline deals each of the past two years. The Lions are in decent shape, draft picks-wise, and cap space isn't an issue. A defensive back or pass rusher would figure to be the highest-priority targets, but they'll have to get in line behind a lot of other teams seeking help at those positions, too.
Sometimes, you need to change the way you operate. In-season trades have been a rarity under GM Chris Ballard, who obviously cherishes his draft picks. But the Colts are so far enjoying a dream season, presenting an opportunity to strike while the iron is hot.
Indianapolis sits atop the AFC with a 6-1 mark, while several teams that looked like prime contenders have stumbled out of the box. The Colts also have clear needs. The offense is a top-three unit, yet the defense could use a cornerback or pass rusher, maybe one of each. You don't get these kinds of chances very often, so the Colts have to be ready to pounce if the right player(s) should be made available.
Once swathed in success, the Patriots haven't won a playoff game in nearly seven years. Similar to the Colts, though, they changed the arc of their season dramatically this year, especially in recent weeks. With Drake Maye, the Patriots might have a chance to not only reach the playoffs but possibly make a little noise.
No team is better equipped to take on salary at the deadline; New England is currently sitting more than $50 million under cap, and the Pats are currently set to have three additional Day 3 picks at their disposal in next year's draft. And it wouldn't be shocking to see LB Anfernee Jennings dangled.
Pass rush and secondary help figure to be atop the needs list, although certain receivers might also tempt them. Mike Vrabel having recent ties to (and familiarity with) the Titans and Browns could make those teams natural trade partners.
Wait, what? A 2-5 squad buying? Yes, I think the Giants could target receivers who can help further Jaxson Dart's already accelerated development, especially with Malik Nabers on the shelf. Jaylen Waddle is the name some Giants fans are pining for, but they might need to set their sights a tad lower.
They also must be prepared for Big Blue to possibly sell, with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston likely available for a song. CB Deonte Banks is another player to monitor, although an offseason trade is maybe more likely.
The gap between where the Giants stand at now with their current record and where they would have been if they'd beaten the Broncos to go to 3-4 feels significant. What happens in Week 8 against the Eagles might determine the team's vector, even as some folks in the organization could be feeling immense pressure to strengthen the team now.
