Best Players that Should be Traded Before the NFL Trade Deadline

It’s already been an eventful NFL trade season with Quenton Nelson, Jeffery Simmons, and DeForest Buckner among the big names dealt in advance of the trade deadline.

As the cut-off for trades nears, though, there are plenty of other stars that should be dealt by teams out of contention.

Each of these players could have a significant impact on NFL picks going forward.

Jonathan Taylor, Colts

Indianapolis has already begun its fire sale. They reportedly aren’t desperate to trade Jonathan Taylor, but the Colts would be foolish to retain their star running back if they can get a second-round pick in the 2027 draft in return.

Taylor is under contract through the 2028 season, so the Colts might want to cling on in hope he can part of their next great team. He’s posting his lowest yards per carry of his career, though, so it might not be the worst time to move on.

Amani Hooker, Titans

Amani Hooker’s cap hit is just shy of $12 million, which complicates things for some teams. He’s also got an opt out after this season, or he’s owed almost $30 million over the 2027 and 2028 campaigns.

Tennessee may need to eat some money for Hooker to land on a cap-approaching contender. It’s a move the Titans should strongly consider, as this couldn’t be a better sell high. Hooker hit headlines with his three picks of Joe Burrow and he ranks sixth among all safeties, per PFF.

Tony Pollard, Titans

Tony Pollard is 16th in rush success rate and 18th in missed tackles forced (of players with over 50 carries). He’s done this despite being near the bottom of the league in yards before contact.

The Titans might want to keep Pollard around to aid Cam Ward’s development, but that desire should be outweighed by what they can get for Pollard on the trade market. Teams like the Broncos, Vikings, and Packers should be interested.

Will McDonald IV, Jets

Used sparingly so far this season, Will McDonald IV isn’t happy with his role and wants a trade before the deadline. He is also under contract through next season, so any team trading for him will be willing to give up more than they would for a rental.

Poor against the run, McDonald’s value comes as a pass rusher and he’s hardly set the world alight this season. A fourth-round pick might be enough for a contender to land McDonald.

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Saquon Barkley’s uncertain health status hampers his trade value. Tom Pelissero doesn’t think the Eagles will move their big names before the deadline, but surely it would make sense for Philadelphia to get what they can for Barkley?

The Eagles are 2-7. This is a completely lost year. Next season will be Barkley’s age-30 campaign – any draft return would be beneficial as Philly looks to retool.

Khalil Mack, Chargers

Khalil Mack isn’t the game-changing defensive player he once was. He’s outside the top 50 in pressure rate and pass rush win rate this year.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Mack is 18th among edge defenders in run stop rate, and he’s averaging his most tackles per game since 2023.

The 0-8 Chargers are apparently not keen on trading Mack. That is hard to justify, even if the trade return would be unspectacular.

Joshua Uche, Dolphins

Teams are going to pursue a $1.4 million pass rusher. Yes, Joshua Uche has declared he wants to remain a Dolphin, but what kind of draft pick return becomes too good to turn down for Miami?

Uche is having a decent season. He’s not a transformative player, but his presence would be a welcome reinforcement for leaky contending defenses like the Bills and Lions.

T’Vondre Sweat, Jets

T’Vondre Sweat isn’t the force he was last year. Among interior defensive linemen, he’s 69th in pass rush win rate and outside the top 80 in run stop rate.

A contender that needs help stopping the run could still take an interest in Sweat. The Jets shouldn’t be reluctant to have the last year of his contract taken off their hands.

Zaven Collins, Cardinals

A free agent to be, former first-round pick Zaven Collins has been effective off the edge for Arizona. Collins has missed two tackles all year and ranks 25th at his position in run stop rate.

The pass rush side of things has been more of a work in progress, but Collins is still a cheap trade candidate for teams wanting to fortify their edge defense. It might make more sense for contenders than Josh Sweat, given Sweat’s bloated contract.

Greg Dulcich, Dolphins

A good pass blocker with 20 targets over his last four games, the Dolphins might talk themselves into keeping Greg Dulcich. It’s not like he’s going to return a haul on the trade market.

The counterpoint is that a lot of teams could do with adding to their tight end room. Dulcich is on an expiring contract and Miami has a chance to sell high on the former third-round pick.

A’Shawn Robinson, Buccaneers

The 3-6 Buccaneers are still very much in the mix in the putrid NFC South. Tampa Bay’s defense is absolutely elite, but it’s fair to wonder whether their 30th-ranked (per EPA per play) offense is good enough to win even this division.

They can afford to subtract from the defense and still be a highly effective unit. A’Shawn Robinson is 25th among all interior defensive linemen in run stop rate, so he could be an option for the Bills, Packers, or Browns. Tampa Bay could even take that draft capital and add to its offense if they want to commit to winning this year.

Stefon Diggs, Commanders

Hilariously, the 2-5-1 Commanders might still think they can win their division. It’s not enough of a hope for Washington to buy at the deadline, however, so they might as well see what they can get for their veterans.

On a one-year deal, Stefon Diggs could be worth a flyer for a contender like the Chiefs. Diggs is at his lowest receptions per game since 2019, but he can still be a useful piece in a decent offense.