The NFL trade deadline 2026 arrives with front offices facing a familiar fork: buy, sell or stand pat. Some teams are already active — Chicago sent two first-round picks to acquire defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons — while others are weighing whether a single move can alter their trajectory. Below is a ranking of 20 players who have surfaced in trade chatter, ordered by the impact they could deliver if dealt.
The headliners
1. Kirk Cousins, QB, Raiders — Las Vegas has reportedly received no calls about Cousins and is not interested in moving him. That could change, especially with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza waiting behind him. If the Raiders decide Mendoza is ready, Cousins becomes a fascinating trade chip. A reunion with Minnesota — where he played from 2018 to 2023 — would give the Vikings an upgrade over Kyler Murray, who is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring injury, and pair him with the league’s best defense.
2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts — Taylor managed just 46 yards on 13 carries in Indianapolis’s Week 9 loss to Dallas, but his track record as a complete back is well established. With the Colts at 2-7 and seemingly headed for a reset, Taylor no longer fits their timeline. He could deliver a Christian McCaffrey-style jolt to a contender.
3. Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Raiders — Las Vegas already tried to trade Crosby once, sending him to Baltimore this offseason before the deal was voided over his physical. He remains one of the league’s premier pass rushers and would be an all-in move for any team chasing a championship. Signed through 2028, Crosby won’t come cheap.
Risky but rewarding
4. Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets — Wilson missed New York’s Week 9 loss to Kansas City with a concussion, so any acquiring team must be comfortable with his health. Despite uneven quarterback play, he has three 1,000-yard seasons. The Jets have reportedly shown no interest in moving him, but a massive offer could force a conversation.
5. Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles — Philadelphia is reportedly not looking to deal Barkley, though the right offer could change that calculus. He turns 30 this offseason and injuries are mounting, but a healthy Barkley would completely alter how defenses approach any offense.
6. Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens — Baltimore is not expected to trade Henry, but the Ravens sit last in the AFC North at 4-5. Henry turns 33 in January and has no guaranteed money left beyond 2026. A substantial offer could prompt a serious discussion.
7. Daniel Jones, QB, Colts — Jones signed a two-year, $88 million extension with Indianapolis, yet the Colts are 2-7 and recently fired GM Chris Ballard. If they can shed his contract and gain assets, it could be worthwhile. Minnesota, where Jones spent time in 2024, is a logical landing spot given Murray’s injury.
8. Khalil Mack, EDGE, Chargers — The Chargers have reportedly been unwilling to engage in trade talks despite a last-place start. Mack is on a one-year deal and would be far more valuable to Los Angeles as a trade chip than as a veteran edge defender on a sinking team.
9. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars — After a 1,200-yard rookie season in 2024, Thomas has fallen off dramatically and played just 19 snaps in Week 9. Still only 24, he could rediscover his form with a change of scenery and shift the balance of power for a team like Kansas City or San Francisco.
10. Budda Baker, S, Cardinals — Signed through 2027 and turning 31 in January, Baker is a versatile playmaker who could fetch future draft capital for a last-place Arizona team. Despite four All-Pro selections, he has played in just one career playoff game.
Mid-tier options
11. Josh Sweat, EDGE, Cardinals — Sweat recorded 12 sacks in 2025 and has no guaranteed money remaining after this season on a deal that runs through 2028. Arizona, under .500, may prefer to move him rather than sign a soon-to-be 30-year-old pass rusher to a revised contract.
12. Josh Downs, WR, Colts — Downs has requested a trade and could be one of the names actually moved. The 2023 third-rounder out of UNC showed separation ability and could thrive with better quarterback play. He is set to be a free agent after the season, making him an affordable rental.
13. Amani Hooker, S, Titans — Hooker is having a career year with five interceptions through seven games, including a three-pick performance against Cincinnati in Week 8. His contract — cap hits of $13.1 million and $16.3 million over the next two seasons — could temper the market, but his playmaking is undeniable.
14. Breece Hall, RB, Jets — The Jets have insisted they won’t move Hall, but at 2-7, inquiries will continue. Braelon Allen shined while Hall missed five games with an injury, making Hall expendable at the right price. He would be a bellcow back for most other teams.
15. Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles — Goedert signed a one-year, $7 million extension in March and is set to be a free agent. If Philadelphia can get more now than the compensatory pick he would eventually yield, a deal makes sense. He has 13 playoff games and 56 postseason catches on his résumé.
16. Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, Chargers — The 2023 second-round pick recorded 13 sacks in 2025 and is only 24, but he is set to hit free agency. If Los Angeles has no plans to re-sign him, a trade could be logical.
17. Tony Pollard, RB, Titans— Pollard has rushed for 246 yards on 5.3 yards per carry with five touchdowns over his past two games. The 29-year-old is set to be a free agent, so he could be an affordable rental for a
18. Riq Woolen, CB, Eagles — Woolen is playing on a one-year, $15 million deal and is allowing a 51% completion rate with a career-high 99.9 passer rating against. A change of scenery could help him recapture his 2024 form in Seattle, when he allowed a 73.6 passer rating.
19. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Browns — Jeudy has been buried behind rookie Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion but has flashed when targeted. He is signed through 2027 with a base salary of just $1.5 million, making him a cheap depth piece.
20. Landon Dickerson, IOL, Eagles — With Philadelphia at 2-7, everything should be on the table. Dickerson has struggled this season, allowing a sack in each of his four games, and his cap number rises to $13.7 million and $17.7 million over the final two years of his deal. Still, a guard of his caliber could be a game changer for a playoff hopeful.
