NFL Trade Deadline 2026: 9 Trades We’d Love to See, from Jonathan Taylor to Amani Hooker

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NFL Trade Deadline 2026: 9 Trades We’d Love to See, from Jonathan Taylor to Amani Hooker

Doug Farrar · Athlon Sports

Mon, November 2, 2026 at 12:55 PM UTC ·

18 min read

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The NFL used to be a stay-put league when it came to major trades, but that has obviously changed in recent years. Per a study by Daniel Popper and Mike Sando of The Athletic , NFL teams executed 53 in-season trades from 2004 to 2014. From 2015 to 2025 — the next 11-year span in the study — there were 155.

That's a 192% increase.

It helps that the league has extended the trade deadline from Week 6 to Week 8 to Week 9 in the last few years (the current deadline is November 10 at 4:00 p.m. EST), but it's also true that teams have seen these in-season deals work out to everybody's advantage. Contending teams get the players they need to do the most down the stretch, and teams far away from contention get the draft picks (and/or players) they need to rebuild.

The 2026 season has already seen its share of big deals. The Dallas Cowboys traded a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., the Seattle Seahawks traded a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick for Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson , and then, the Chicago Bears traded 2027 and 2028 first-round picks, and a 2027 fourth-round pick for Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick .

We have a pretty good idea which teams want to get aggressive to maximize their Super Bowl chances, and which teams are ready to look to the future beyond 2026. With that in mind, here are 9 trades we'd love to see before the deadline.

(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and SumerSports unless otherwise indicated).

QB Marcus Mariota from the Commanders to the Ravens

Oct 4, 2026; Tottenham, ENG; Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to pass against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The 2025 Baltimore Ravens missed the playoffs with an 8-9 regular season record, and their response was to fire longtime head coach John Harbaugh. New head coach Jesse Minter may be feeling an equivalent bit of heat after Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens' 4-4 record has them at the bottom of the surprisingly competitive AFC North, and with both Lamar Jackson and Tyler "Snoop" Huntley out with various injuries (Jackson was placed on injured reserve Sunday with a thumb injury, and Huntley has a toe injury that needs further diagnosis), things don't look very good for Baltimore's passing game. Rookie Joe Fagnano came in to try his best, but completing 10 passes in 21 attempts for 91 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 40.0 isn't going to get the job done.

So, why not go after a veteran quarterback who could succeed in any system to a point? After all, the Ravens are on a short week — they play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night — and Fagnano isn't going to be up to the rigors of the NFL by then.

In relief of Jayden Daniels and his injured elbow this season, Mariota has completed 33 of 51 passes for 340 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 110.2. Making tracks against the defenses of the Colts and the Dallas Cowboys is one thing, but when Mariota completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 110.2 against the Seahawks in Week 3 , that raised a lot of eyebrows.

Mariota is a 12-year veteran who has played for five different teams, so there isn't an offense he hasn't seen and run. He would be an estimable stopgap, and the Commanders need to rebuild from the ground up at several positions.

RB Jonathan Taylor from the Colts to the Vikings

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) takes off on a run Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Now that the Minnesota Vikings have lost their first game of the season — a 19-15 near-miss against the Detroit Lions — it's time once again to talk about head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense. Because without what defensive coordinator Brian Flores has done this season, O'Connell's team would not be competitive at all. The Vikings lead the NFL with -0.21 EPA per play allowed, but only the Los Angeles Chargers, the Tennessee Titans, and the Philadelphia Eagles have a lower EPA per play this season than Minnesota's -0.14. The difference in performance on both sides of the ball could not be much more stark than it is.

This is not sustainable. As W.B. Yeats once wrote, "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold/Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world." And it's not just about quarterback Kyler Murray. Right now, the Vikings have a lower EPA per rush (-0.17) than EPA per pass (0.14), which is the real issue. Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones have not gotten it done, and when you have a defense that is as dominant as Flores', you had better make the most of it, because such defenses don't tend to be this great from year to year — the variance is what it is.

So, it's time for the Vikings to think about a better running back, and there's no better back on the market than Jonathan Taylor, whose 2-6 Colts are in full fire sale mode, especially after their 42-7 Sunday loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Taylor, who is signed through 2028 with the Colts on the two-year, $44 million contract extension with $39 million guaranteed he signed this year, has 601 yards, 8 touchdowns, 20 forced missed tackles, and 18 runs of 10 or more yards on 148 carries this season, and he could easily become the epicenter of a Vikings offense in desperate need of clarity.

RB Tony Pollard from the Titans to the Packers

Oct 25, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (20) runs with the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

While Taylor is rightly regarded as one of the NFL's best backs, Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans is not as well-known. This is probably because the Titans have been a tough watch over the last few seasons, but that's not Pollard's fault. Only Pollard and Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens have gained at least 1,000 yards in each of the last four full seasons, and while Pollard isn't quite on Henry's or Taylor's level, he's not too far off.

This season for the 1-7 Titans, Pollard has accumulated 595 yards, six touchdowns, 23 forced missed tackles, and 13 runs of 10 or more yards on 133 carries.

The 5-3 Packers have a dynamic passing attack ( when receiver Matthew Golden holds onto the football ), and their defense under Jonathan Gannon has been one of the NFL's most pleasant surprises this season. But the rushing attack has not kept up, and with Josh Jacobs' legal situation becoming more and more complicated , it's time for Matt LaFleur's offense to see if the Titans would let the Packers pry Pollard loose.

WR Josh Downs from the Colts to the Seahawks

Oct 18, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) catches the ball against Tennessee Titans linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (53) during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Yes, the Seahawks have issues with their run game, but with the returns of backs Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price from injury to the roster, there are better tidings there, and the acquisition of Quenton Nelson will add a serious kick up front. Just as pressing is the need for receiver production behind the amazing Jaxon Smith-Njigba. JSN has the highest target share for any NFL receiver at 33.2%, and through Week 7, he had more receiving yards (867) than the rest of Seattle's pass-catchers combined (646).

So maybe it's time for the Seahawks to see if the Colts are ready for more dealing. Receiver Josh Downs might be an ideal candidate for what ails Brian Fleury's offense. This season, Downs has 30 catches on 46 targets for 330 yards and a touchdown, but as Indy's passing game has been less than spectacular with the "Water always finds its own level" version of Daniel Jones, go beyond the metrics to the tape.

Certain receivers get the nuances of the position better than others, and Downs is one of those receivers. Seattle needs someone to pick up the slack around the NFL's best receiver, because if anything happens to slow JSN's pace, this team will be in major trouble without reinforcements.

WR Brian Thomas Jr. from the Jaguars to the Chiefs

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) celebrates a touchdown catch in the second quarter of the NFL Week 4 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026.

When Liam Coen became the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coach before the 2025 season, who knew that 2024 first-round receiver Brian Thomas Jr. would find long-term lodging in Coen's doghouse? Because Thomas was dynamite in his rookie season under Doug Pederson, and since then, he's been far less than that.

Per SumerSports:

Period	Plays	Targets	Carries	EPA/play	Total EPA
2024	143	137	6	+0.410	58.69
2025/2026	124	120	4	+0.188	23.30

Whatever the reason, things haven't worked out, and Thomas has been rumored to be on the trade block for a while now. This would be a trade between two contenders, as the Jaguars are 5-2 at the top of the AFC South, and the Kansas City Chiefs are also 5-2 after their agonizingly close 28-24 Sunday loss to the Denver Broncos.

But the Chiefs are in desperate need of receiver help right now. It showed up in their 20-3 Week 7 loss to the Seahawks , and it showed up once again versus the Broncos. Running back Emmett Johnson and future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce did most of the work for Patrick Mahomes, while Rashee Rice led Kansas City receivers with 53 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Rice has had issues staying healthy, and Tyquan Thornton suffered a bad ankle injury in Week 4 after putting up the game of his life .

I've made the point that Thomas may be at his best and most productive as a slot receiver, but the Chiefs just need someone whose attributes they can maximize. Maybe Andy Reid would give Thomas that opportunity.

Edge Khalil Mack from the Chargers to the Bears

Sep 20, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) sacks Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Bears already made a massive trade for Jeffery Simmons, so why not make it Old Home Week with Khalil Mack, who played in the Windy City from 2018 to 2021 after he was the subject of a rather large trade of his own ? The Chargers aren't going anywhere but down this season, and the 35-year-old Mack is on a one-year, $18 million contract, so he won't be around anyway when Jim Harbaugh's squad figures it out.

Currently, Austin Booker leads all Bears edge-rushers with 4 sacks, and Dayo Odeyingbo leads all Bears edge-rushers with 14 pressures. More is clearly needed here, and Mack — who has 3 sacks and 16 pressures this season — has the stuff to do that. Not at a Defensive Player of the Year level, but with the 0-7 Chargers in a ridiculous tailspin, why not see what can be done?

Edge Josh Sweat from the Cardinals to the Browns

Oct 18, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) slips and loses the ball as he is defended by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10) in the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Browns' defense under first-year coordinator Mike Rutenberg has been nearly as good in 2026 as it was in 2025, which is not what anybody expected after losing legendary DC Jim Schwartz in the transition from Kevin Stefanski to Todd Monken as head coach (Schwartz wanted the job himself), and after trading Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Cleveland allowed an EPA per play of -0.14 last season (fourth-best in the NFL), and they've allowed an EPA per play of -0.08 in the new campaign (tied with the Atlanta Falcons and the Pittsburgh Steelers for fourth-best).

This surprising defense is performing well in just about every possible category, but the edge pressure has been a problem. The Browns got former Rams end Jared Verse in the Garrett trade, and after Verse put up nine sacks and 100 pressures in the 2025 season, people thought that would be… if not a like-as-like swap for Garrett, at least a nice move for a younger player with some potential. But it hasn't worked out as anybody imagined — this season, Verse has no sacks and just 13 pressures, and in Cleveland's 27-6 Sunday loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Verse's most notable play happened when he got suplexed by Steelers offensive guard Mason McCormick.

Adding Josh Sweat of the Arizona Cardinals would help a great deal, because Sweat has become fairly legendary for a lot of production with very little help around him. This was true in 2025 , when Arizona's pass rush fell off a cliff when Sweat was injured, and it's true in 2026. Sweat has 3 sacks and 15 pressures this season in just 186 pass-rushing snaps, and the technique is still all there at age 29.

The four-year, $76.4 million contract with $38 million guaranteed that Sweat signed in 2025 makes his next few years a bit pricey , but the Browns (or any other contending team in need of edge help) would be wise to kick the tires on Sweat's availability. The 3-5 Cardinals would likely listen for the right combination of picks.

CB Riq Woolen from the Eagles to the Lions

Oct 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) makes a catch for a touchdown as Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen (2) tackles during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Cornerback D.J. Reed had a nice game (one catch allowed on five targets, and an interception) against the Minnesota Vikings in Detroit's 19-15 Sunday win, but this was also against Kyler Murray and the Vikings' aforementioned toothless offense. And overall, when your primary cornerbacks are Reed, Roger McCreary, and Rock Ya-Sin, your pass defense will not be cooking with gas. The Lions' defense has allowed an opponent EPA per pass of +0.19 this season, which is the NFL's fifth-highest (and therefore, the NFL's fifth-worst). Safety Brian Branch was back in the fold in Week 7 after the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Week 14 of the 2025 season, and safety Kerby Joseph — who had a major knee injury in 2025 — is hoping to be back soon.

So, that would further help defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's squad, but the cornerback thing is still a problem. The Lions thought they would have Terrion Arnold as their primary corner in the 2026 season, but Arnold's off-field issues were far too much for them to bear, and understandably so . At 5-2 on the season, and with one of the better offenses in the league, the Lions should be looking for help at that position, and general manager Brad Holmes might be able to pry Riq Woolen away from the frustrating (and frustrated) Philadelphia Eagles.

This season, including Philly's 27-10 Sunday night loss to the Washington Commanders, Woolen has allowed 22 catches on 39 targets for 307 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions, six pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 116.1. Not great numbers, but when in press coverage through Week 7, Woolen allowed six completions on 14 targets for 6.1 yards per catch, and 1.6 yards of separation per target. Woolen can be maddening when it comes to situational awareness and penalties (he's got seven this season), but at his best, he can be a better than average press defender. That's what Sheppard would prefer to play, and Woolen would give him additional flexibility to do so.

Safety Amani Hooker from the Titans to the Bills

Oct 18, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker (37) after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Like Tony Pollard, Titans safety Amani Hooker is a grievously underrated player because his team is generally tough to watch, but that doesn't negate his impact when he's on the field. The 2019 fourth-round pick out of Iowa has been in Tennessee throughout his NFL career, and it may be time for that to change for the benefit of all potentially involved.

Before the Titans' 43-36 Week 8 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Hooker had allowed 16 catches on 22 targets for 179 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, 1 pass breakup, and an opponent passer rating of 70.1.

That was good enough, but what Hooker did to Joe Burrow was pretty impressive. On Sunday, he allowed five catches on seven targets for 44 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 87.8.

Hooker signed a three-year, $40.5 million contract extension with $24.86 million guaranteed with the Titans in 2025, so he's currently on the books through 2028. If the Titans think they'll be competitive before then, maybe they hold on to Hooker, but there would never be a better time to trade him for as much draft capital as possible. The Bills have a Super Bowl-level offense, but the defense has lagged behind, and the current safety rotation with Cole Bishop, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Damar Hamlin has been less than spectacular.

Hooker would immediately put a cap on the deep third for defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, and if any year is the year for the Bills to go all-out, it would be this one.

More NFL Essentials

This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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