- A perfect fit for the Colts at edge rusher: Trey Hendrickson playing for Lou Anarumo could make Indianapolis a Super Bowl frontrunner.
- A massive upgrade to the Seahawks‘ offensive line: Peter Skoronski could fortify one of the few weak spots on a contending Seattle team.
Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
The 2025 NFL trade deadline (Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. ET) is only one week away. After an initial flurry of moves, action has quieted on the transaction front. So far, a total of four deals has manifested in October — but that doesn’t mean some blockbusters aren’t in store.
For certain contenders, adding a prized piece at one position could be the difference between hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and missing the playoffs altogether. And for those squads, landing an All-Pro talent may not have a strict capital limit.
Below are 10 trades that would be near-perfect fits between elite players on underperforming teams, and squads in at least some position to make the postseason. Even though these transactions are generally rather unlikely — mostly because several of these players are virtually untouchable — they aren’t outright impossible based on team, contract and other circumstances.
Note: Not every player (e.g., Patrick Mahomes, Myles Garrett, Justin Jefferson, etc.) is available in this hypothetical exercise.
Dl Jeffery Simmons to the Buffalo Bills
Simmons on the Titans feels strikingly like the meme of the luxury sports car near a smaller house. The Tennessee defensive lineman has been one of the best at his position this season, if not among the better defenders in football. He leads qualified interior defenders in PFF pass-rushing grade (91.1) and pass-rush win rate (19.3%), with both figures in the top 11 among all qualified defensive linemen.
A team like the Bills could sorely use a player like Simmons, especially in light of Ed Oliver’s season-ending biceps injury. This season, Buffalo interior defenders rank 23rd in pass-rush win rate and 15th in PFF pass-rushing grade. Considering injuries to DaQuan Jones and rookie T.J. Sanders, Buffalo’s interior is still a weak point, as no Bill has produced more than 11 pressures this year.
All reports indicate that the Titans aren’t inclined to move their three-time Pro Bowl stud — but the ransom fetched for Simmons would be tremendous, likely worth at least one first-round pick. Although this trade isn’t extremely probable, it’s one that could render the Bills the best team in the NFL.
WR A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots
Brown’s 2025 season has been a bizarre one to say the least. One of the league’s most formidable skill-position players hasn’t been quite that so far, producing a 77.2 PFF receiving grade with only 1.70 yards per route run. His efficiency has trended upward over the last few weeks, but disgruntled social media posts have followed after questionable usage in the season’s initial weeks.
Adding Brown to the Patriots could legitimately put New England’s burgeoning offense over the edge. The Patriots already rank fifth in team PFF receiving grade this season thanks to the addition of Stefon Diggs (79.1 PFF receiving grade) and elevated play from Kayshon Boutte (78.3). Still, adding a true WR1 in Brown could form one of the league’s better quarterback-receiver pairings with how well Drake Maye has fared in his sophomore season.
Would the division-leading Eagles really distribute their top wideout? Almost definitely not, even if the pulse around the situation doesn’t feel perfectly normal. Still, this is a fun transaction for New England fans to dream of.
EDGE Trey Hendrickson to the Indianapolis Colts
An offseason fraught with contract strife hasn’t deterred Hendrickson’s phenomenal play this year. His 90.9 PFF pass-rushing grade is the seventh-best among qualified edge rushers, and his 21.5% pass-rush win rate sits sixth in that same group. Playing on a redone one-year deal, Hendrickson’s long-term future in Cincinnati is tenuous at best.
There would hardly be a more seamless fit for the All-Pro than in Indianapolis, reuniting with former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Even though Laiatu Latu has broken out in his second season, Indianapolis only ranks 20th in PFF pass-rushing grade among edge rushers. Aside from Latu, no other Colts edge defender to play 100 or more pass-rushing snaps has reached a 65.0 PFF pass-rushing mark.
At 3-5 with a 13% chance to make the playoffs, the Bengals aren’t finished quite yet — especially if they can stay alive into December for Joe Burrow’s anticipated return. Cincinnati seems hesitant to trade Hendrickson and wave the white flag, but the Colts could offer a lot for a rental this exceptional to build on their 7-1 start.
Dl Dexter Lawrence to the Baltimore Ravens
As part of one of the league’s most disruptive defensive lines, Lawrence has remained a stellar interior game-wrecker. His 83.1 PFF pass-rushing grade is third among qualified interior defenders. Also, Lawrence ranks as the NFL’s third-most-valuable defensive lineman over the last three years, per PFF’s Wins Above Replacement metric.
Part of the Ravens’ poor defensive start stems from significant injuries along their defensive interior, including to Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington. In their stead, Baltimore ranks 22nd in overall PFF grade and 25th in PFF run-defense grade at the position.
Now 2-6, the Giants’ flame of youthful energy has quickly extinguished, especially after an unfortunate ankle injury to Cam Skattebo. The team figures to be a seller at the deadline, but Lawrence feels too valuable to ship away. Yet if there were any ideal suitor, the Ravens — now the favorite to win the AFC North — would be near the top of the list.
EDGE Maxx Crosby to the San Francisco 49ers
The story of the last few years has remained the same for Crosby: Elite individual play on a bad overall team. Crosby’s 78.0 overall PFF grade slots 17th among qualified edge defenders, and his 75.0 PFF run-defense mark is the 11th-best. Indeed, Crosby is one of four edge players with a 73.0-plus grade as a pass rusher and run defender this year.
San Francisco was already thin at edge rusher going into this season, and those concerns have only been exacerbated following Nick Bosa’s Week 3 ACL tear. Since Week 4, the 49ers are 30th in pressure rate, and the team’s edge rushers possess the same standing in PFF pass-rushing grade. Bryce Huff (85.4 overall grade) has been better than expected, but even he suffered potentially a multi-week hamstring injury.
Crosby is in a similar boat to Simmons, a top talent being stranded on a dysfunctional team. The Raiders don’t seem to have plans to trade Crosby, who’s under contract through 2029. However, it would be tough to draw up a franchise that needs Crosby’s well-rounded acumen more than the 49ers.
WR Jaylen Waddle to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Even though Miami’s offense has plummeted this season, sitting 23rd in EPA per play, Waddle hasn’t been affected much. His 82.0 PFF receiving grade is the eighth-best among receivers with 35 or more targets, and his 26 first downs gained are tied for 10th. On top of that, Waddle has hauled in eight of his 12 contested targets.
Despite their two-game skid, the Steelers still lead the AFC North and have a 45% chance to make the postseason. Among their calamities is a receiving corps that’s done little outside of D.K. Metcalf. Pittsburgh sits 23rd in team PFF receiving grade, and their 806 yards by wide receivers are the second-fewest in the league.
Miami could be one of the biggest facilitators in the next week, boasting several appealing pieces to help accelerate what seems like a looming rebuild as questions pervade the entire organization. Waddle doesn’t feel especially likely to be dealt given that he’s under contract for three additional seasons, but the odds are also higher than many other names on this list. The Steelers feel like a plausible destination, especially considering their multi-year history doing business with the Dolphins — including for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith this summer.
EDGE Chase Young to the Philadelphia Eagles
It’s been a sinuous journey, but Young has finally begun to live up to his enormous potential — even if it’s for the 1-7 Saints. After being hampered by a calf injury to start this season, he’s produced a prodigious 91.2 PFF pass-rushing grade and 21.3% pass-rush win rate in his three games in 2025. His 71.7 PFF run-defense mark is also his highest since 2022.
Few were skeptical of the Eagles’ defensive line going into their Super Bowl-defending campaign, but it’s yet to match last season’s disruptiveness. Edge rusher has been a particular problem, especially with Nolan Smith sidelined since Week 3. Philadelphia’s edge defenders rank 16th in overall PFF grade and only 19th in pressure rate in 2025, with Jalyx Hunt (52.9 PFF pass-rushing grade) yet to bloom and Za’Darius Smith retiring.
The Saints re-signed Young to a three-year, $51 million deal this offseason, which wouldn’t make his trade odds especially high. At the same time, he’s one of few bright spots on a roster dotted with long-term question marks and could net solid draft compensation. Young feels within range for Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who always swings for the fences.
RB De’Von Achane to the Houston Texans
Achane, like much of the rest of Miami’s offense, hasn’t been quite as effective this season. His 73.2 overall PFF grade is the lowest of his three-year career, although his 75.2 PFF rushing grade is still 13th among qualified rushers. Since he debuted in 2023, too, Achane’s 83.9 PFF receiving grade is the third-best among running backs with 25 or more targets.
Although there are several teams who could desire Achane, the Texans feel especially needy. Houston ranks 19th in team receiving grade, with Nico Collins (72.3) yet to hit his usual stride. Meanwhile, the Texans also sit 23rd in rushing grade by running backs this year while tying for the fewest first downs gained by backs.
In light of the fact that Achane is only under contract through 2026, his probability of being traded is higher than Waddle’s — and other players on this list. Still, he’s an essential asset to Miami’s offensive foundation despite the uncertainty shrouding other positions. The 24-year-old would likely be expensive if he were to be traded, although that cost may be worth it for the Texans in a tight AFC South.
G Peter Skoronski to the Seattle Seahawks
If Simmons is the most decorated star on a poor Tennessee team, then Skoronski might be the most unsung. The third-year guard has played like one of the best at his position this season, as evidenced by his 78.8 overall PFF grade. In fact, Skoronski has notched 76.0-plus grades in both pass- and run-blocking.
Seattle’s offense line has improved this year, helping catalyze an offense that places 13th in success rate and 12th in scoring drive rate. Still, the Seahawks need more along their interior, as the team places 29th in overall PFF grade among guards and centers. First-round left guard Grey Zabel, center Jalen Sundell and right guard Anthony Bradford are all below a 58.5 overall mark thus far.
Skoronski has exclusively played left guard in the NFL, which wouldn’t necessarily fit cleanly in Seattle. Still, his ability to occupy all five offensive line slots was touted in his pre-draft evaluations, and Zabel also suited up at right guard during portions of his college days. Skoronski seems too good and young to realistically be on the market, but the Northwestern product could solve one of few holes on a powerhouse Seattle squad.
CB DJ Turner II to the Detroit Lions
Even though the Bengals have languished defensively — placing 31st in EPA per play and 25th in team PFF coverage grade — Turner has been outstanding. Turner’s 80.0 PFF coverage mark is the third-best among qualified cornerbacks, and his nine pass breakups lead the NFL. Altogether, Turner has been responsible for 0.14 Wins Above Replacement, tied for the most among corners in 2025.
The Lions assuredly felt great about their cornerback room going into September, but the injury bug has bitten yet again. D.J. Reed is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, while Terrion Arnold is out with a shoulder problem. Even when on the field, Arnold hasn’t been effective, churning out only a 44.4 PFF coverage grade through five games. All told, seven Lions corners — Reed, Arnold, Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, Arthur Maulet, Avonte Maddox and Nick Whiteside — have all played at least 40 snaps this year.
Like Hendrickson, Turner doesn’t seem likely to leave Cincinnati before next week — with one more year on his contract and still only 25, he’s a definite extension candidate. Yet if the Bengals decide to shop their star edge rusher, then their standout corner probably isn’t entirely off limits. Adding Turner to a strong Lions defense could potentially form the league’s best secondary when healthy.
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