Biggest Need For 17 Playoff Contenders At The Nfl Trade Deadline

The NFL is much wide unfastened than astatine immoderate clip successful caller memory. And pinch nan waste and acquisition deadline connected Nov. 4, it could shingle up earlier we deed nan agelong drive. 

Coming into Week 8, a whopping 16 teams person either four aliases 5 wins, while nan Colts person a league-leading six victories. The database of teams that could scope nan playoffs is long, while the group that could triumph nan Super Bowl without a occurrence occurring is importantly shorter. That could alteration successful nan coming days if a fewer wide managers make immoderate fierce moves.  

To beryllium included successful this conversation, there’s 1 qualifier: A squad must beryllium complete nan .500 mark. 

So, what does your squad request astatine nan NFL waste and acquisition deadline? Let’s examine.

AFC

The Bills person a fewer needs, including information and receiver. However, uncovering different walk rusher should beryllium astatine nan apical of wide head Brandon Beane’s list. 

Buffalo invested successful Joey Bosa connected a one-year deal, but he’s produced only constricted results. Despite staying healthy, Bosa has 2 sacks and 5 backmost hits done six games. It’s not unspeakable production, but for a subordinate getting 68% of nan snaps connected a squad typically starring by a people aliases two, it’s not ideal. 

The Bills besides gave Greg Rousseau a four-year, $80 cardinal hold this offseason, but haven’t seen awesome results. The 25-year-old has 1.5 sacks and 4 backmost hits, leaving Buffalo ray connected players it tin dangle connected getting location with. 

In nan playoffs, nan Bills request to get much retired of their walk unreserved than successful erstwhile years. In their 5 postseason losses to Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, they’ve totaled six sacks, obscurity adjacent capable to triumph a Lombardi Trophy.

Denver Broncos: Wide receiver

The Broncos person an elite defense, ranking first successful yards per play, reddish area ratio and third-down conversions. Unfortunately, nan discourtesy isn’t arsenic potent. 

Bo Nix has been inconsistent successful his 2nd year, throwing for 6.1 yards per effort while ranking 20th successful EPA per play, down Mac Jones and Kyler Murray. Part of nan problem is nan deficiency of skill-position talent, arsenic only Courtland Sutton has much than 270 receiving yards done 7 games. 

General head George Paton could beryllium fierce and effort to onshore different walk catcher connected nan outside, giving nan discourtesy immoderate punch erstwhile Sutton isn’t open. If nan Ravens judge they’re retired of nan title complete nan adjacent fewer weeks, making a play for seasoned DeAndre Hopkins for meager draught compensation could beryllium an option.

The Colts are nan highest scoring squad successful nan NFL, truthful immoderate summation would person to travel connected defense for coordinator Lou Anarumo. 

If Indianapolis is going to make a move, support an oculus connected nan cornerback position. The Colts invested heavy this offseason successful nan secondary pinch nan signings of erstwhile All-Pro area Charvarius Ward and information Cam Bynum. Still, Indianapolis is classed 13th successful yards per completion (10.5) and 18th successful yards per effort allowed (7.0). 

That said, nan walk defense isn’t a glaring weakness. The Colts are ninth successful EPA per dropback against (0.029), though that has to do much pinch a walk unreserved that’s seventh successful sacks (19) and 5th successful backmost hits (54).

Jacksonville Jaguars: Cornerback

The Jaguars are a reliable squad to size up, considering their semipermanent position and nan moves they made earlier this season. 

First-year wide head James Gladstone traded area Tyson Campbell to nan Browns for Greg Newsome II, a switch of corners he believed made for a amended strategy fit. Would Gladstone waste and acquisition for different area to subordinate Newsome and slot area Jourdan Lewis, aliases does it make much consciousness to target different area of weakness?

If nan Jaguars spell successful different direction, watch for a walk rusher. Despite ranking 10th successful unit complaint astatine 22.2%, Jacksonville is dormant past pinch 8 sacks done 7 games. Although Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen are a terrific duo, an interior rusher tin beryllium acquired to complement them.

The Chiefs are starting to return off, but they could still usage immoderate thief on nan protect line.

Kansas City’s discourtesy has been awesome complete nan past 4 weeks, averaging much than 411 yards per crippled while scoring astatine slightest 28 points successful each outing. While nan defense is classed 5th successful yards and 3rd successful points against, nan walk unreserved is simply a middling 14th successful sacks (15), 22nd successful unit complaint (18.3%) and 12th successful backmost hits (38).

With rookie protect tackle Omarr Norman-Lott done for nan twelvemonth pinch a torn ACL, nan Chiefs should beryllium looking to adhd a subordinate alongside Chris Jones, who contempt having only 2 sacks, is playing elite football. One target could beryllium Calais Campbell pinch nan Cardinals, who astatine 39 years old, has posted 3 sacks and 9 backmost hits connected nan interior.

Jets moving backmost Breece Hall has rushed for 448 yards connected 99 carries this season. / Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Los Angeles Chargers: Running back

The Chargers seemed loaded astatine moving backmost heading into nan season, pinch first-round rookie Omarion Hampton and seasoned Najee Harris starring nan way. However, things person changed. 

Hampton is connected injured reserve pinch an ankle wounded for astatine slightest 2 much games, while Harris is done for nan twelvemonth pinch a torn Achilles. This has near nan rushing load to Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal, who person 145 NFL carries betwixt them. 

The bully news? Los Angeles should person immoderate options. Depending connected really overmuch nan Chargers are consenting to springiness up successful a trade, they could make calls to nan Saints, Jets and Dolphins astir Alvin Kamara, Breece Hall and De’Von Achane, respectively. Hall is group for free agency successful 2026, while Kamara and Achane are signed until 2027. Any of nan 3 would springiness run-heavy coordinator Greg Roman a bully action to person successful nan backfield alongside Hampton upon his return.

Add nan Patriots to nan agelong database of teams that would emotion to adhd different walk catcher to nan operation earlier nan deadline. 

New England has been thriving astatine 5–2 pinch Drake Maye playing for illustration an MVP campaigner pinch 1,744 passing yards and 12 touchdowns connected 8.6 yards per attempt. Still, location are questions connected nan outside. Stefon Diggs and Kayshon Boutte person produced 812 yards and 4 touchdowns betwixt them, but nan next-best receiver is Mack Hollins pinch 11 receptions and 119 yards. 

If nan Patriots could find different important limb to abstraction nan section alongside Boutte and Diggs, that would make them a much vulnerable threat travel January. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Wide receiver

Looking astatine nan Steelers, there’s a lawsuit to beryllium made for nan defense. After all, Pittsburgh ranks 28th successful yards allowed per game. Still, there’s nary bigger weakness connected nan roster than nan receivers down DK Metcalf. 

Metcalf has been coagulated successful his first play pinch nan Steelers, totaling 406 yards and 4 touchdowns. However, each different wideout has grounded to scope moreover 200 receiving yards done six weeks, pinch Calvin Austin III ranking 2nd pinch 139. 

If Pittsburgh wants to beryllium much than one-and-done successful nan playoffs for nan first clip since 2016, nan beforehand agency should beryllium targeting different playmaker other Metcalf. Maybe that’s personification specified arsenic Chris Olave aliases Rashid Shaheed from nan Saints, some of whom are connected rookie deals.

NFC

The Panthers could target seasoned Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers earlier nan Nov.. 4 waste and acquisition deadline. / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

If you sewage nan Panthers’ beforehand agency successful an honorable moment, they mightiness admit they astir apt didn’t expect to beryllium 4–3 and a crippled retired of first spot successful nan NFC South. 

Yet, Carolina is successful contention, and to that end, nan Panthers person to beryllium reasoning astir adding immoderate firepower to a squad that moved disconnected seasoned Adam Thielen this offseason, leaving them pinch prima rookie Tetairoa McMillan and 2024 first-round prime Xavier Legette. 

If Carolina wants to make a move, it mightiness beryllium considering a semipermanent addition, fixed nan timeline of nan roster. The aforementioned Olave would beryllium intriguing. Then location are immoderate cheaper options, including 28-year-old Jakobi Meyers from nan Raiders, who is group to deed free agency aft this season.

Chicago Bears: Cornerback

Nobody could person thought nan Bears would request a area coming into nan season. Chicago had a prima successful Jaylon Johnson and an emerging slot area successful Kyler Gordon, some of whom signed caller extensions. 

However, pinch Johnson retired for nan season, wide head Ryan Poles could beryllium trying to adhd different stalwart successful nan protect backfield. Through six games, Chicago ranks tied for 16th successful walk defense and 18th successful yards per completion against. While different walk rusher would besides beryllium terrific, that’s made harder by already paying Montez Sweat $100 million. 

Riding a four-game winning streak, Chicago is hoping to break done and scope nan postseason for nan first clip since nan 2021 season. Adding a area to nan injury-plagued secondary would thief that cause. 

The Lions are loaded offensively, pinch Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta. 

The defense is different story. 

While nan secondary is hit up, that portion should beryllium getting healthier successful nan coming weeks. The bigger semipermanent rumor is nan walk rush, which, extracurricular of Aidan Hutchinson, doesn’t person galore threats. Through 7 games, Hutchinson has six sacks and 13 backmost hits. Al-Quadin Muhammad is besides blossoming successful his age-30 season, pinch 5 sacks and 10 QB hits, but will that continue? His way grounds suggests it mightiness not. 

Yet location isn’t overmuch other connected nan edge, making it worthwhile to adhd a 3rd walk rusher who tin consistently unit nan quarterback. For wide head Brad Holmes, it makes consciousness to telephone nan Bengals astir Trey Hendrickson, who would apt costs a Day 2 pick. Over nan 2023 and 2024 seasons, Hendrickson posted 35 sacks.

Green Bay Packers: Defensive tackle

The Packers looked for illustration nan champion squad successful nan convention done 2 weeks, beating nan Lions and Commanders pinch ease. Then, aft a nonaccomplishment to nan Browns and a necktie pinch nan Cowboys, things looked murky. But pinch 2 wins since past against nan Bengals and Cardinals, Green Bay seems to beryllium backmost connected track.

That said, nan Packers request to find different talent connected nan protect interior aft trading distant erstwhile Pro Bowler Kenny Clark successful nan woody to onshore Micah Parsons from Dallas. Green Bay doesn’t person overmuch astatine protect tackle alongside Devonte Wyatt, pinch Karl Brooks having conscionable 7 tackles and a half-sack arsenic nan different starter. 

General head Brian Gutekunst is hamstrung by nan draught superior he surrendered to onshore Parsons, but he whitethorn portion pinch a Day 3 prime for a rental. 

If nan Rams could footwear nan ball, they would beryllium 7–0 and indisputably nan champion squad successful nan convention done 7 weeks. Alas, they’re 5–2 and successful a three-way necktie for nan NFC West lead. 

Los Angeles could make nan unsocial move of trading for a kicker, but it’s much apt this squad will return a bigger plaything by uncovering a area who tin play successful beforehand of prima information Kamren Curl. Currently, nan Rams are relying connected nan starting trio of Cobie Durant, Darious Williams and Quentin Lake successful nan slot to clasp up successful nan secondary. 

Thus far, Los Angeles ranks 2nd successful sacks (26) and seventh successful unit complaint (25.2%) but only 13th successful passing yards allowed per game. If nan Rams tin find a top-end area to travel their walk rush, they could look arsenic nan NFC favorites. 

Philadelphia Eagles: Pass rusher

Philadelphia is 5–2, but nan Eagles haven’t been crisp connected either broadside of nan shot overmuch of nan year, ranking 26th offensively and 23rd defensively. 

If there’s immoderate area to reside supra each else, though, it’s connected nan protect line. Philadelphia mislaid Josh Sweat and Milton Williams this offseason, watching 13 sacks and 25 backmost hits locomotion retired nan door. The reply was to motion Azeez Ojulari, Josh Uche and Za’Darius Smith.

Through 7 weeks, that trio has mixed for 2.5 sacks and six backmost hits, and now Smith has retired. Even aft Brandon Graham’s caller return from retirement, wide head Howie Roseman has nan luxury of looking astatine some separator rushers and interior presences. As mentioned above, location are ample options available. 

The 49ers person myriad needs because of each their injuries. 

At 5–2, San Francisco has a stock of first spot successful nan NFC West alongside nan Rams and Seahawks, but nan team’s business is tenuous. That’s particularly existent successful nan beforehand seven, wherever All-Pro separator rusher Nick Bosa and early Hall of Fame linebacker Fred Warner are some retired for nan season. 

General head John Lynch can’t switch Bosa aliases Warner, but he should see making a large move to astatine slightest easiness nan load of their replacements. The 49ers could telephone Cincinnati astir Hendrickson to spot what it would return to get him connected an expiring deal. If thing else, make nan Bengals bent up nan phone. 

Seattle Seahawks: Guard

Seattle has nan top-ranked discourtesy successful DVOA done 7 weeks and for bully reason. Sam Darnold has thrown for 1,754 yards and 12 touchdowns. Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads nan convention pinch 819 receiving yards, pinch cipher other supra 630. The defense is 10th successful yards and sixth successful points. 

Still, nan Seahawks do person a weakness: They struggle to tally nan ball. Despite having Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, Seattle has averaged conscionable 3.7 yards per transportation to rank 27th successful nan league. 

While it’s tempting to see personification for illustration Kamara aliases Hall, nan reality is that Walker and Charbonnet are some value backs. The Seahawks request to reinvest again up beforehand aft solving near defender pinch first-round rookie Grey Zabel. Seattle could make a telephone to nan Titans for seasoned Kevin Zeitler, who is connected a one-year deal.

If location were a squad going into nan play cipher would ever ideate needing a receiver, it would beryllium nan Buccaneers. Yet, present we are. 

Chris Godwin continues to rehab his dislocated ankle, Mike Evans has a surgery clavicle and Jalen McMillan has missed each crippled done 2 months pinch a preseason cervix injury. All that’s near is prima rookie Emeka Egbuka and a big of extent pieces.

With nan Buccaneers making a legit tally astatine nan Super Bowl this year, wide head Jason Licht should beryllium scouring for immoderate upgrades connected nan perimeter to thief Baker Mayfield, who has MVP aspirations pinch 1,767 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 2 interceptions successful 7 games.

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