The 2026 NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and many contenders are looking to add talent to their rosters and gear up for potential Super Bowl 61 runs.
Already, NFL fans have seen a few major moves take place. The Indianapolis Colts offloaded a couple of their top veterans, left guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, while the Baltimore Ravens
traded for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett after Lamar Jackson suffered a significant thumb injury.But still, there promises to be more trades before the deadline passes at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10; and some of the biggest potential chips that could move are at the running back position.
surprise?
The prize jewel among potential deadline acquisitions is Jonathan Taylor, who the Colts are considering trading, but there are many other productive backs who could find themselves on the move before the deadline.
Here's a breakdown of the six best running backs who could be on the market ahead of the trade deadline.
NFL RB trade candidates 2026
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
If any big NFL fish is going to move ahead of the trade deadline, it will likely be Taylor. The Colts have signaled they are willing to trade the star running back amid their fire sale, and there are plenty of contenders that could use a dynamic, three-down running back to bolster their offenses for the stretch run.
Taylor has logged 812 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns while serving as a catalyst for the struggling Colts. The second-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft has posted at least 1,500 scrimmage yards three times in his career and twice led the NFL in total touchdowns and rushing attempts.
Taylor's workhorse capabilities between the tackles along with his strong pass-catching skills make him one of the league's best and most versatile running backs. The Colts are seeking a high price for Taylor, who is still just 27 and under contract through the 2028 NFL season, but teams like the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks could all consider paying the price for the dual-threat star.
Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are a team that seems rudderless at the moment. They have lost four consecutive games to drop to 4-5 in the uber-competitive AFC North, and they also lost Jackson to a thumb injury that may prove to be season-ending.
Will the Ravens consider trading Henry with that in mind? Probably not, if their pre-deadline deal for Brissett is any indication. Baltimore may just try to stand pat and see if Brissett can provide steadier play at quarterback and lead the team to a playoff berth.
Still, the Ravens should probably consider dealing Henry, as Brissett has just a 23-50 record as a starter and has never made the playoffs. Henry remains one of the NFL's most bruising runners and is simply hard to tackle thanks to his 6-3, 252-pound frame and penchant for throwing powerful stiff-arms at his opponents.
Henry also has struggled without Jackson in the lineup, averaging 63 yards per game since Week 5, and is 32, which is long in the tooth for a running back. Henry will likely continue to buck the trend of decline for older running backs given his unique style, but if the Ravens can get commensurate value for the big-bodied back, it may behoove them to take advantage of that opportunity before he eventually does start to slow down.
Both the New England Patriots and New York Giants could use some depth at talent at running back, so reuniting Henry with Mike Vrabel or John Harbaugh could be an amicable solution for all parties.
Breece Hall, New York Jets
Trading Hall so soon after signing him to a three-year, $43.5 million extension may seem odd, but the emergence of Braelon Allen has given the Jets depth at the running back position.
Hall has missed the last five weeks of action, and during that time, Allen has averaged 100.8 rushing yards per game. Allen is still just 22 years old, so the Jets could decide to entrust him as their running back of the future as they continue to try to shape their roster into that of a playoff contender.
Such a decision would allow the Jets to dangle Hall and try to add to their already strong stash of draft capital, which includes three first-round picks in 2027. Hall is still just 25, so the explosive runner would likely draw a solid price on the open market.
The only question is whether Hall's quad injury would depress his trade value. If so, the Jets would probably be better served to hold onto him until the offseason, where they may be able to get better deals for him if he's fully healthy. His value could also rise if he can improve upon the paltry 3.2 yards per carry he has averaged early in the 2026 season, so holding him may be the most prudent move for the Jets.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Pollard is a pending free agent playing for a Titans team that has posted a 1-6 record to open the 2026 NFL season. The 29-year-old doesn't fit the Titans' window for contention, so offloading him for a 2027 draft asset could help accelerate Tennessee's ongoing rebuild.
Pollard is on pace to log his fifth consecutive season with at least 1,000 rushing yards. He is a steady producer who is averaging 4.5 yards per carry this season and just had a two-game stretch during which he totaled 246 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 46 carries.
Pollard would be a great fit for any team that needs a running back but isn't able to land Taylor. The Broncos, Giants and Patriots stand out as the best potential options for the veteran.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Pollard isn't the only running back the Titans could consider trading. Spears never emerged as a lead-back for the Titans but he remains an explosive weapon and a quality receiver who can play the role of a third-down back for a contender.
Spears is set to be a free agent after the season and has missed time in recent weeks while battling a knee injury. As such, it wouldn't cost too much to land the 25-year-old, who could be revitalized by a change of scenery.
Vrabel coached Spears during his rookie year in 2023, when the Tulane product posted career-best marks in carries (100) and rushing yards (453). The Patriots could use some extra explosiveness and pass-catching depth at running back with TreVeyon Henderson battling a mysterious illness, so buying low on Spears could be a prudent move.
Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers' running game was supposed to be a three-headed monster in 2026 under Mike McDaniel. Instead, it has been a monster disappointment, with Omarion Hampton struggling badly and touches between him, Vidal and Keaton Mitchell varying widely from game to game.
Los Angeles may keep all three backs since they are relatively young, but the Chargers could also consider dangling one as trade bait to lower the number of cooks in the kitchen. Hampton was a first-round pick in 2025, so he won't likely be on the move, so that would leave Mitchell and Vidal as potential trade candidates.
While both would have appeal on the trade market, Vidal's tough-minded running style may make him the perfect player to dangle to teams needing a backup on the back-end of a strong one-two punch. The 5-8, 215-pound back is averaging 4.6 yards per carry this year and racked up 779 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns last year while starting in place of Hampton while the first-round pick was injured.
The Green Bay Packers could be a perfect spot for Vidal. They don't have much in the way of proven depth behind Josh Jacobs, and Vidal's presence would protect the team against any potential additional suspension Jacobs could face from his offseason arrest.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL RB trade options include Jonathan Taylor – and possibly Breece Hall?
