Everything You Need to Know Ahead of the NFL’s 2025 Trade Deadline

NFLNFLWhich teams should be looking to deal? Which players could get moved by Tuesday afternoon? What are the dream trade scenarios? We’ve got it all covered.

The NFL trade deadline is quickly approaching, with all transactions needing to be completed by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. But some deals have already been made, as several playoff teams aren’t waiting until the deadline to patch holes in their roster. We have seen the Rams and Eagles make trades to bolster their cornerback depth, with Los Angeles adding Roger McCreary from Tennessee and Philadelphia acquiring Michael Carter from the Jets and Jaire Alexander from Baltimore New England has also been active—as a seller—sending safety Kyle Dugger to Pittsburgh and edge rusher Keion White to San Francisco.

We’re far from done, though. There are several big names who could still get dealt by Tuesday afternoon, and with so many teams still in playoff contention, there could be plenty of activity. Which teams should be looking to improve their rosters by adding players, and which teams should be in sell mode? And which high-profile players could find themselves on the move—and what are some dream landing spots? We’ve got it all covered in this trade deadline primer.

Teams That Could Be Buyers

There are no strict qualifications for which teams should be buyers, but generally the clubs that are most active are those jockeying for position in the playoff race. Whether a bona fide championship contender like the Eagles or teams in tight division races like the 49ers and Patriots, the trade deadline is a chance to gain an edge.

Philadelphia Eagles

If any team meets the criteria for “buyer,” it’s the Eagles. Philadelphia has acquired two cornerbacks by trade in the past week. Addressing the secondary has clearly been Philadelphia’s biggest priority in recent months, and the hope now is that one of the newly acquired players, either Carter or Alexander, can step into the no. 2 cornerback spot, which has been a weakness for the team during the first two months of this season.

The Eagles also could stand to add a pass rusher to improve the defense’s ability to generate pressure, especially when Vic Fangio isn’t blitzing. There were recent reports about Philadelphia’s interest in Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, and while we should never ignore Howie Roseman’s persistent hunt for star talent, I wouldn’t expect a deal of that magnitude to come together. Instead, the Eagles will likely have to settle for a trade that brings in an edge rusher such as Miami’s Jaelan Phillips or Bradley Chubb.

Dallas Cowboys

Remember when Cowboys owner Jerry Jones traded away his best defensive player to [clears throat] improve Dallas’s run defense? About that. Through the first eight weeks of the season, the Cowboys are dead last in success rate against the run and give up the fourth most rushing yards before contact.

Dallas has to do something about its front seven at the deadline. That group is simply unwatchable and is on pace to be one of the worst run defenses in league history. We’ve spent plenty of time snickering at Jones for trading edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Packers, but the situation is more sad than funny now. The worst-case scenario for Dallas has come to fruition—the offense is better than anyone could’ve imagined under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and it’s going to waste because of this horrendous defense. Dak Prescott would be a legitimate MVP candidate if his defense could simply get a stop. 

Back in late August, right after trading Parsons, Jones spoke at length about how now owning four first-round picks over the next two drafts would give the team the ability to acquire “top Pro Bowl–type players,” and hinted the team could use some of that future draft capital right away. “Nothing says we can’t use some of those picks right now to go get somebody right now. Don’t rule that out,” Jones said. And in late September, before Parsons’s return to Jerry World with his new team, Jones said the team would trade picks if a “special” player were available. “If you’ve got the currency to do it, which in this case would be draft picks, we’ll do it,” Jones said. 

But last week, Jones seemed to pump the brakes on the idea that his team would make a blockbuster move at the deadline for a defender. “Could one better player—if we didn’t pay too big a price to have a better player on defense to possibly help? I’m not trying to be cute, but that’s why you’d go get him because you think that you could go help your defense. Are we one player away on defense? I think we’re not,” Jones told reporters after his team’s 44-24 loss to the Broncos.

Jones is right: This defense can’t be fixed by the addition of one player. Still, we know Jones can be an unreliable narrator at best, and a mercurial decision-maker at worst. There’s a history of Jones trying to wash away one transaction with the next one—just look at how he’s handled his receivers over the years. After trading away Amari Cooper in 2022, he brought in Brandin Cooks in 2023, then Jonathan Mingo last year to fill in for an injured Cooks. Then he traded for George Pickens ahead of this season. Maybe Jones won’t find a star player by Tuesday’s deadline, but I expect him to do something to add to a disappointing defense.

As far as attainable pieces go, Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson recently asked to be traded, and he’d be a good scheme fit with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who needs his linebackers to show up against the run without having to blitz them often. Or the Cowboys could call the Falcons about veteran edge rusher Leonard Floyd. He’d be a reliable option who can give Dallas some value on early downs and keep its smaller edge players from being targeted in the run game.

But I want Jones to think big, and use that future draft capital to try to get Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Tennessee would be silly to deal him for anything less than a first-round pick (plus another player). Maybe Titans teammate Sebastian Joseph-Day would be a consolation if Tennessee refuses to deal Simmons. He’s another early-down player who can rotate in to stop the run. Frankly, anything would be better than what Dallas is currently doing.

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco could use help on both sides of the ball at the deadline, but adding players to an injured defense should be the priority, particularly after rookie defensive lineman Mykel Williams suffered a potentially serious injury on Sunday. The defense is already without edge rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, and while their absences have given young defenders a chance to play, it hasn’t worked out very well. While I am not suggesting that San Francisco should totally abandon the youth movement, bringing in a couple of guys with a bit more starting experience could keep the 49ers on their playoff pace. 

One name San Francisco should consider is Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., who’s fallen out of Minnesota’s rotation in the last few weeks. Pace is no replacement for Warner in coverage, but he would help a thin linebacker group. In the secondary, Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is a young defender who isn’t seeing much of the field right now, and his raw athleticism is tantalizing. He could step in and push current starter Renardo Green, and at age 26 there’s still long-term upside despite Taylor-Britt’s inability to find a role in Cincinnati.

San Francisco has already acquired former Patriots edge rusher Keion White to help its front four, but it might also be worth making an offer to the Bengals for veteran Trey Hendrickson. A low-risk, more attainable option would be Buccaneers defensive lineman Logan Hall, a tweener type like White who can align in several spots and help out against the run.

Detroit Lions

It would be hard to argue with Detroit’s logic if it decides to stand pat after its 5-2 start. There aren’t many holes on the roster, and not every player is a good fit in Detroit’s schemes, especially on defense.

The Lions just signed star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a massive contract extension, but they have consistently had trouble finding a talented no. 2 rusher. If there’s a spot to address, that’s it—but the market is short on ideal answers. Trey Hendrickson is an easy name to throw in here (I half expected Detroit to push for him in the offseason), and this is exactly where he’d make the most sense: as a short-term option on a Super Bowl contender.

If Detroit doesn’t make a splashy move for Hendrickson, I have a more unconventional name the team could consider: Cardinals edge rusher Zaven Collins. Collins hasn’t lived up to his potential as a former first-rounder, and he’s seeing less time on the field for Arizona this season. On film, you still see glimpses of the raw ability that made him such an interesting prospect in 2021, and Detroit’s scheme could allow him to cut loose as a pass rusher. If anything, he’s a low-cost player still on his rookie deal who could be worth trying to develop in 2026.

New England Patriots

Even with the caveat that New England’s schedule has been relatively easy in the first half of the season, the Patriots have shot past everyone’s expectations. Now there’s an opportunity to make some additions on offense to give Drake Maye more help in the back half of the season. 

New England needs a dependable running back and a field-stretching receiver. Current RB1 Rhamondre Stevenson has fumbling problems, and head coach Mike Vrabel clearly doesn’t trust rookie TreVeyon Henderson enough to give him the starting job just yet. Carolina would be a good place for New England to look for a stable veteran back. The Panthers have been splitting the running back workload between Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle, and I think now would be a good time to make an aggressive move for Dowdle. He’s on a one-year deal, so there’s no risk that he’d block Henderson’s development long term or even make Stevenson’s current four-year deal wasteful spending, and he can make an impact on all three downs thanks to his combination of power and speed.

At receiver, the Pats could keep shopping in the NFC South. New Orleans has some decisions to make on the long-term futures of receivers Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave, and either one would make for a great deep threat in this New England offense. Because Olave’s fifth-year option is on the books for the Saints, Shaheed would be the easier of the two for New Orleans to move—and New England would pay less to sign him to an extension. If Maye is as good as his play in the first half of the season suggests, it’s in the Patriots’ best interest to make moves now to speed up the rebuilding process and ensure they get a spot in the postseason.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills can borrow from several of the trade strategies we’ve gone over regarding the other buyers on the list. Before the season-ending biceps injury to defensive tackle Ed Oliver, I would have said that this team should make receiver a bigger priority than its defense at the deadline, because there’s no one move that would’ve fixed all its problems on that side of the ball.

Beating Kansas City was quite a statement for the Bills, but contending for a Super Bowl without Oliver means the offense would have to operate at a league-best level, with zero margin for error. If GM Brandon Beane wants to maximize Buffalo’s chance to win it all this season, I’d suggest bringing in a run-stopping force to fill Oliver’s role; someone like Joseph-Day would be a good idea.

There are other moves Buffalo could make along the margins, particularly at safety after a rash of injuries has left that group very thin, or the Bills could lean totally into its offensive strengths and acquire a player like Shaheed, but any trade would be tricky. Buffalo is right up against the salary cap, and would probably need to make a player-for-player swap to improve the team. I expect Buffalo to turn over every rock before the deadline, but don’t be shocked if the team stands pat.

Teams That Could Be Sellers

These teams are already out of the race for a playoff spot (let alone a spot in the Super Bowl) and have either pricey veterans or players on expiring contracts who could fetch draft capital that will help these teams build for the future. In a top-heavy AFC, there are a number of teams that could be busy off-loading talent by Tuesday. 

Cleveland Browns

Growing up in San Diego, I loved a commercial that promoted a humongous used-car sales event at Qualcomm Stadium. Whether it was a 20-year-old hatchback with 250,000 miles or a 3-year-old Mercedes-Benz that barely left its garage, everything was on sale—for whatever value the seller could get. That’s how I see the Browns right now, who might as well be flying a blimp with a sign saying, “OPEN FOR BUSINESS, PLEASE CALL.” 

Painful as it may be for fans to see Cleveland hit the reset button again and plan for 2027 (after Deshaun Watson’s deal ends) and beyond, it seems like the Browns’ only shot to turn things around. No one on this roster should be untouchable—even edge rusher Myles Garrett. General manager Andrew Berry should at least survey the league to see if anyone is willing to trade multiple first-rounders for Garrett by Tuesday. 

Cleveland’s three interior offensive linemen (Joel Bitonio, Ethan Pocic, and Wyatt Teller) are all 30 or older, and at this point in their careers, they could be valuable contributors to playoff-caliber teams. Tight end David Njoku is in the last year of his contract, and Cleveland already has his replacement in rookie Harold Fannin Jr. Even a star cornerback like Denzel Ward could be traded for high draft picks; though, as with Garrett, it’d be hard for Cleveland to part with an All-Pro-caliber talent at a premium position. 

The Browns own a pair of first-round picks in next year’s draft and will need even more resources in the years to come to dig themselves out of the hole created with Watson’s contract. Don’t be shocked if multiple players are on the way out before the deadline.

New York Jets

Like Cleveland, the Jets should be considering a fire sale. Head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey kept most of this roster intact last offseason, but this franchise needs a fresh start at multiple positions, if only to make sure their tenures aren’t anchored to players they had no hand in choosing.

So far, the Jets have dealt away slot corner Michael Carter II, but the deals shouldn’t stop there. Edge rushers and former first-round picks Will McDonald IV and Jermaine Johnson II haven’t exactly panned out, and it would make sense to deal one for whatever draft capital New York can get in return. 

Running back Breece Hall’s name has been swirling around the rumor mill, too, but he’s one player I’d be hesitant to deal if I were Mougey. Hall is one of the best players at his position this season, and he’s just 24 years old. Hall can be the engine for a viable offense, and given the investment the Jets have made in their offensive line, keeping Hall would be smart. The question for Mougey is whether New York intends to re-sign Hall to a large contract after his rookie deal expires this offseason. If not, then they should consider dealing him now when his value is high. 

Cincinnati Bengals

I thought it made sense to move on from defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo after last season, but that was when I still believed the Bengals defense couldn’t get much worse than it was. I was wrong—it could get worse, and it has, and now several players on Cincinnati’s defense are ready to move on with their careers. The exodus started defensive tackle Mike Pennel, who was released, and defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson, who’s requested to be traded or released. Linebacker Logan Wilson requested a trade and has lost his starting job. The decrease in playing time for cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is a sign he could be on his way out soon, too. 

The biggest name is still Trey Hendrickson, though. Cincinnati has been adamant that he won’t be moved, but I’d take that with a grain of salt. There’s still plenty of time for interested parties (like San Francisco, Dallas, or Detroit) to drive up the draft compensation—maybe high enough for the Bengals to reconsider their position.

Miami Dolphins

The vibes around the Dolphins suggest that this is a roster full of players who need to see less of each other. There are so many holes that Miami and longtime general manager Chris Grier decided to “mutually part ways” in the wake of a 2-7 start to the season. The Dolphins reportedly plan to let head coach Mike McDaniel finish the season, but it feels like he’s also on a slow march to the end of his time in Miami, no matter how things play out. It’s time to turn this whole operation over, and with things fully off the rails now, Miami is at a bit of a crossroads regarding how it wants to shape its future. 

Teams had reportedly made calls about receiver Jaylen Waddle and been rebuffed before Grier left. Maybe those conversations will resume if Miami doesn’t mind taking on some major dead money in exchange for a high pick. Edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb could also be dealt if Miami goes all in on resetting the roster—especially if Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby aren’t available. 

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are in the trickiest position among these potential sellers. New Orleans recently made the decision to bench Spencer Rattler and start rookie quarterback Tyler Shough for the rest of the year, and that introduces a conflict of priorities for a rebuilding team. 

If New Orleans knows that this team is heading nowhere and can squeeze some value out of the little talent it has, it’d be foolish not to make a move now. But trading away quality players comes at the cost of evaluating Shough. Nothing in his expansive college career showed that he’s the type of quarterback capable of elevating teammates with limited talent to a high level of play.

I’d expect the Saints to participate in the trade market, but they should be judicious about what moves they make. Receiver Chris Olave could be traded, but he’s been one of the league’s most efficient receivers since he entered it—exactly the type of player who could help Shough—and there’s a shot he could get extended instead. We’ve also talked about Rashid Shaheed (who can fit in any offense), and running back Alvin Kamara could be a surprise name in trade talks, despite Kamara saying he wants to finish his career in New Orleans. 

Players Who Could Be on the Move

From quality pass rushers like Hendrickson and Phillips to skill-position guys like Olave and Hall, we’ve already mentioned a handful of players who could be in demand ahead of the trade deadline. But when looking at the players who have expiring contracts or diminished roles on their current teams or those who might be flat-out unhappy and ready to move, the list of trade targets is long. We’re grouping them here by the players who should keep their phones on throughout Tuesday, the players who might not get traded but should be, and the long shots.

On Alert

Edge Jaelan Phillips, Miami Dolphins

It feels like everything is building to a Phillips trade by Tuesday afternoon. He’s in the last year of his deal, the general manager who drafted him has left the team, he’s playing on one of the league’s worst defenses, and he’s one of the few young Dolphins players who can potentially command a high draft pick in a deal. 

It was a winding road for Phillips to become a high-value edge rusher, as he dealt with several injuries in college and the pros, but he has Pro Bowl potential when he’s healthy. Entering Week 9, Phillips ranked top 10 in third-down pressures per game. He shows up when his defense needs him to affect the quarterback, and while his injury concerns might keep him from securing a long-term deal right now, he can certainly be a major addition for a contender in the short term.

Dream destination: Philadelphia

Philadelphia can’t hide its edge rushers’ lack of production because of its problems at cornerback, and it can’t hide its cornerback problems because it doesn’t get enough pressure. The Eagles could end this vicious cycle by adding a player like Phillips, who is able to consistently win his matchups, assuming he can stay healthy.

Quarterback Russell Wilson, New York Giants

Wilson looked borderline unplayable for the Giants before he was benched in late September, but quarterback scarcity can drive up the market for a veteran who has as much starting experience as Wilson does. 

Wilson would be a pretty cheap addition for a new team, with $8 million of the $11 million left on his contract stuck on the Giants’ books. On the field, you know what you’d be getting: an aging deep-ball passer who is prone to taking sacks. There certainly will be times when Wilson actively hurts his offense with inaccurate passes and bad decisions, but the potential ceiling should be high enough for a QB-needy team to give him a shot. After all, that’s how he ended up starting for New York in the first place. 

Dream destination: Minnesota

Cleveland and Minnesota were two obvious options here, but the Vikings would be the better landing spot. The Vikings are in a tough spot with quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who looked overwhelmed in his first few starts and is still nursing an ankle injury. His backup, Carson Wentz, is now on injured reserve. The Vikings are running out of guys and need a new veteran option in case McCarthy’s ankle continues to bother him.

Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders

Meyers’s time is probably finished in Las Vegas. His initial trade request came after contract negotiations broke down in August, and he’s since doubled down on his desire to be moved.

The Raiders don’t have much reason to keep him, either. The offense has been mired in turnovers and poor offensive line play, and Meyers hasn’t seen as many targets as I expected this year despite the injury to tight end Brock Bowers and the talent issues elsewhere on this roster. 

Meyers’s versatile skill set would make him an ideal fit as a no. 2 receiver, and he can work in the slot or out wide. For offenses that lean on the run game and are just looking to move the chains when it’s time to pass, he’d be an ideal player to acquire.

Dream destination: Pittsburgh

This feels like a no-brainer. Trading for a player like Meyers wouldn’t just give quarterback Aaron Rodgers another dependable option; it would allow other Steelers receivers to take on a more fitting role behind WR1 DK Metcalf. 

Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants

When he entered the 2022 NFL draft, I thought Thibodeaux had all the tools to become a star edge rusher in the pros. We’ve seen flashes of that talent over his first four seasons, but it’s never come all the way together. Still, he doesn’t have many weaknesses in his game, and his blend of size and athleticism should make him a good fit in any defensive scheme. That’s probably why the Giants are reluctant to trade him, even though his rookie contract is expiring and his younger replacement (Abdul Carter) is already on the roster.

Dream destination: Tampa Bay

There are several playoff hopefuls, particularly in the NFC, that could use a player like Thibodeaux in their pass-rush rotations. And if I were Buccaneers manager Jason Licht, I’d be laser-focused on trying to get a deal done with New York. Though Tampa’s injured offense could use some help, Thibodeaux would give the Bucs’ pass rush a short- and long-term boost. If the price is below a first-round pick, I think the move is worth it.

Tight end David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

Njoku has still got some juice, he can play as an in-line tight end or as a slot, and he can fit into multiple roles in an offense. He might be the best low-risk, high-reward player available at the deadline. 

Dream destination: Seattle

While I like Seattle’s AJ Barner as an option in the red zone, a tight end like Njoku, who is more savvy as a route runner, would be a nice addition to the offense. With Njoku as a receiving tight end, Seattle would be able to punish defenses for trying to double-cover receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and find more yards underneath on dump-off passes from Sam Darnold.

Wishful Thinking

Cornerback Tariq Woolen, Seattle Seahawks

Woolen is in the final year of his rookie contract, and he hasn’t been much of a scheme fit since Mike Macdonald arrived in 2024. Add in some volatile play over the past couple of seasons and the fact that he was drafted and developed by a prior coaching staff, and we’re looking at a prime trade candidate. Still, I’m not sold on why Seattle would be in a hurry to deal him. He’s a starter on one of the league’s best defenses, and the Seahawks are positioned to be real competitors in the NFC. Even if there are no intentions to extend his contract, it would make more sense to hold on to him for the rest of the season—unless someone makes Seattle a very good offer.

Possible destination: Indianapolis

The Colts already have a pretty complete roster, but injuries have stripped their defensive backfield of its depth. Woolen’s a risk-taker at corner, and there will be moments when he causes breakdowns in coverage, but he also forces turnovers. This trade would work best for Seattle as a player-for-player swap, preferably to address a need on the offensive line or to add depth at wide receiver. 

Running back Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

It’s hard to watch an excellent player like Kamara spend the final years of his prime on a team that’s going nowhere. Since he entered the league in 2017, Kamara is third in yards from scrimmage (behind Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey), and he hasn’t had a chance to play in a postseason game since 2020. I want to see him get an opportunity to power an offense in big games later this season, and dealing him would allow New Orleans to focus its energy on its rebuild.

Possible destination: Kansas City

With how well Kansas City has been playing recently, it’s hard to find many players who could change the dynamic of its offense, but a Kamara trade is exactly the type of move that would make the rest of the league groan.

Kamara would be a fit for this offense that doesn’t have much speed or receiving skill from its tailbacks, and he could extend his career by sharing the load with Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco. The longer I think about it, the more I love the idea.

Edge Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

Hendrickson is more valuable to the Bengals as the centerpiece of a trade than the centerpiece of their defense. Cincinnati needs to accept that reality—and that there’s nothing it can do to salvage the 2025 season. The Bengals made a change at defensive coordinator before the season, and the unit has only gotten worse, allowing a higher rate of scoring drives now than at any other point in the Joe Burrow–Zac Taylor era. The defense needs to be addressed through the draft, and moving Hendrickson for a pick would be the first step in the right direction.

Possible destination: Detroit

The Lions defense would be close to complete if it had one more impact player on the edge or at corner. Hendrickson doesn’t have to be a long-term player for this defense, just someone to help it get over the hump from “pretty good” to “certainly at a championship level.”

Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, New York Jets

Williams is an elite talent with a tradable contract. He’s still an impactful run defender—and is playing some of the better football of his career—but that’s not translating into tangible success for the rest of the defense. What’s worse, because the Jets have been bad in pass coverage, he’s not getting enough opportunities to affect the quarterback in obvious passing situations.

He has only $5 million in contract guarantees after the 2025 season, and he’s only 28 years old. Because he’s been pretty healthy throughout his career and consistent when he’s on the field, any team trading for him should feel good about what it would be getting in the short and long term.

Possible destination: Baltimore

Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike is out for the year with a neck injury, and there could be concerns about his long-term health. Losing Madubuike totally exposed this defense’s lack of depth and talent on the interior defensive line, and Williams would be an instant solution. Baltimore needs to address edge pressure too, and that might be a bigger priority if you consider positional value above all else. But knowing how important controlling the line of scrimmage is for Baltimore, I think the better long-term play is to shoot for a star like Williams.

Cornerback Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys

Diggs’s relationship with the Cowboys is in a strange place. Dallas was displeased with Diggs’s choice to rehab his knee injury away from the team during the offseason and reduced his contract by $500,000 for missing team workouts. Now he’s on injured reserve, recovering from a concussion suffered at home. Diggs has struggled with injuries since signing his five-year extension in 2023, which is why his recent play hasn’t matched what we saw from him in 2021 and 2022. With the last of his guaranteed money being paid out this year, Dallas could move him now and not incur a large dead cap figure, but his current health means a deal would have to be at a discount.

Possible destination: Los Angeles Rams

Though the Rams already traded for a corner, the defense could still use one more possible starter—especially one with game-changing potential like Diggs.

Los Angeles has done a great job of pressuring quarterbacks and not giving up explosive plays this season, but it hasn’t forced many turnovers against the pass. Assuming Diggs will clear concussion protocol in the coming weeks, he could step in and give this defense a necessary boost on the perimeter.

The Long Shots

Quarterback Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons

There is still nearly $120 million in cash left on Cousins’s contract with the Falcons, and trading him away would saddle Atlanta with dozens of millions in dead money. While it’s not Cousins’s job to hand back money that he negotiated, that contract is prohibitive for both the Falcons and any team looking to bring him in. Because there’s been no scuttlebutt from Atlanta suggesting that a restructure is coming, it’s probably safe to assume he’ll spend at least the rest of 2025 there.

Theoretical destination: Cleveland

The only place I can imagine Cousins could get a starting job this season is Cleveland, a team in desperate need of a veteran presence to keep the operation functional. The irony of this move is not lost on me, since the Browns already traded away Joe Flacco earlier this season to create an opportunity for rookie Dillon Gabriel. But now that we’ve had a few weeks of tape to evaluate, it’s clear that Gabriel is not ready. If Cousins were willing to forfeit the vast majority of his potential earnings to go to Cleveland, he could be a fit in Kevin Stefanski’s scheme. 

Edge Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

For his entire career, Crosby has been the one player Raiders fans can look forward to watching on a weekly basis, but his individual excellence clearly isn’t enough to turn the Raiders into a winner. But a deal would only happen if he requested a trade (he hasn’t) or if the Raiders received an offer they couldn’t refuse. The price to trade for Crosby would be significant—potentially two first-round picks—because he’s on a team-friendly, five-year deal with no guaranteed money after 2027. 

Theoretical destination: Dallas

The Patriots and Cowboys both have the cap space to add Crosby, but only Dallas has the extra draft capital to make such a move. Crosby is dependable, productive, and excellent against the run (which is a skill Jerry Jones covets in his defenders). Still, I’m not holding my breath for it to happen.

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

I can’t imagine a worse time for the Dolphins to be considering trading Waddle, because the real money on his four-year, $84 million contract extension just kicked in. That contract is backloaded, so moving on from Waddle would cause more cap pain than relief over the next couple of seasons.

For a Waddle trade to make sense, the Dolphins would have to receive premium draft capital in return. He’d be a great fit for a team with a young and ascending quarterback, but the market for speedy receivers is competitive this year. There will be several teams interested in Waddle, but it’d be more cost-effective to call New Orleans about Olave and Shaheed first. Unless those two are moved quickly and for major value, I think it’s likely that Waddle will remain in Miami.

Theoretical destination: Tennessee Titans

The Titans took an expensive chance on veteran receiver Calvin Ridley being the top option in their passing game. Ridley’s play has been a disappointment the past couple of seasons—and he could also get traded in coming days. If the Titans want to bring in a veteran receiver to pair with rookie Cam Ward, Waddle would give this offense a stable contributor on deep and intermediate passes, and his contract would align with Ward’s rookie deal.

Quarterback Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Murray as a midseason trade target is a case of right idea, wrong timing. Eventually, the Cardinals will have to make a sobering evaluation of what Murray’s game will look like when he’s in his 30s, and decide how much longer he can be a franchise quarterback.

I think that time may come as early as this offseason, with no guaranteed money left on his deal after 2026. As of now, there aren’t even enough quarterback-needy teams with cap space necessary to bring him in.

Theoretical destination: Carolina Panthers

Making a deal for a quarterback who makes $46 million a year is a tricky proposition, especially midway through the season, so any potential deal for Murray would require either multiple players in return—or an agreement by Murray to reduce his base salary. Carolina is one of the few teams with a need for a long-term franchise quarterback, enough cap space to add a player with Murray’s salary, and players it could send to Arizona. A deal like this would be costly to Carolina’s defensive core—because players like Derrick Brown, D.J. Wonnum, and A’Shawn Robinson would probably have to be on the table, but it would give the Panthers its first difference-maker at the position since Cam Newton left.