The 2026 NFL trade deadline is set to pass on Tuesday, Nov. 10. There has already been plenty of movement ahead of that date.
It began before Week 6, when the Arizona Cardinals officially traded Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans after reaching an agreement ahead of their Week 5 games.
It continued entering Week 8, when the Indianapolis Colts began a fire sale of their top pieces. The Colts traded stalwart left guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers on the same day, signaling they're starting the rebuilding process before the 2026 campaign ends.
Plenty of players could still be moved before the deadline, especially with teams like the Colts and Los Angeles Chargers
looming as potential big-time sellers. That will put players like Jonathan Taylor, Khalil Mack and Quentin Johnston on the market, among others.
Plenty of teams and fan bases will covet these players, but which potential deals would actually be the best for all involved? Here's a look at eight trades we'd love to see happen before the 2026 NFL trade deadline.
Minnesota Vikings trade for Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
The Vikings enter Week 8 as the NFL's last remaining unbeaten team, but they still haven't performed consistently on offense despite their hot start.
Minnesota ranks 28th league-wide in offensive EPA per play, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats, and a lackluster running game has contributed. Aaron Jones has posted solid, surface-level numbers this season, but his average of -0.6 rushing yards over expected per play ranks 35th among 40 qualified running backs.
Taylor would be a significant upgrade over Jones, who is also dealing with a knee injury, and Jordan Mason and could help give Minnesota's offense a true identity. Kevin O'Connell could turn the unit into a ground-dominant attack that would pair well with Brian Flores' aggressive, playmaking defense.
Taylor would also be a long-term fit for the Vikings, as the 27-year-old is under contract through the 2028 season. That could convince new general manager Nolan Teasley to spend some premium capital to bring Taylor into the fold.
Kansas City Chiefs trade for Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
The Chiefs have relied heavily on Kenneth Walker III to carry their offense during their strong start to the 2026 season. The Seattle Seahawks proved that by limiting Walker on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 7 and thrashing the Chiefs in a 20-3 mauling.
Part of the reason the Chiefs' offense struggled badly when Walker was held in check? They lack depth and talent at receiver with Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton injured and Xavier Worthy continuing to struggle despite being given ample opportunities to prove himself.
Brett Veach has never been shy about trading for wide receivers, swinging deals for Kadarius Toney (2022), Mecole Hardman (2023) and DeAndre Hopkins (2024) ahead of recent trade deadlines. Taking a similar approach with Thomas – who has fallen out of favor in Jacksonville but is just two years removed from posting 87 catches, 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie – could provide a nice buy-low opportunity to upgrade Kansas City's receiving corps.
Chicago Bears trade for Los Angeles Chargers edge Khalil Mack
Mack spent four seasons with the Bears from 2018 to 2021. Could the 35-year-old return to Chicago as he looks to make a Super Bowl run in the twilight of his NFL career?
The Bears rank a respectable 12th in pressure rate this season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats, and have produced 19 sacks. Even so, Chicago could stand to add more depth to its pass rush since Montez Sweat has missed time due to a suspension while Dayo Odeyingbo has been hurt.
Mack has played 71.3% of the Chargers' snaps in 2026, so he can still be a full-time player if needed. That said, if the Bears can relegate him to a part-time role in rotation with Sweat, Odeyingbo and sack leader Austin Booker, that may unlock some of the veteran's remaining explosiveness.
Either way, Mack would be a nice piece for Dennis Allen to add to a defense that is blitzing at the fourth-highest rate league-wide.
New England Patriots trade for Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard
Do the Patriots need a running back? Maybe not, and it might be preferable to add another player to an edge-rush rotation that is only three deep, with Harold Landry still out of commission.
But also, it wouldn't hurt the Patriots to add another reliable running back to their room. Rhamondre Stevenson is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry this season while TreVeyon Henderson has dealt with injuries that have limited him to 3.9 yards per carry.
Pollard is averaging 4.3 yards per carry despite playing for a lowly Titans team and is on pace to record his fifth consecutive season with 1,000 rushing yards. Having him work in tandem with Stevenson, with Henderson as a change-of-pace option, could go a long way toward the Patriots helping support Drake Maye as they look to return to the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills trade for Arizona Cardinals edge Josh Sweat
Gregory Rousseau has been a revelation for the Bills this year, racking up six sacks and 31 pressures – tied for the seventh-most in the NFL entering Week 8, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats – across just six games.
Despite that, the Bills rank second-to-last in pressure rate, as they haven't consistently generated pressure across from Rousseau. Bradley Chubb ranks second on the team with 1.5 sacks and 15 pressures, so adding a player like Sweat – who leads the lowly Cardinals with 17 pressures and had a career-best 12 sacks last season – could go a long way toward improving Buffalo's pass-rushing depth and talent.
Sweat also has experience winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. That would be a welcome addition in the Bills' locker room.
Los Angeles Rams trade for Los Angeles Chargers WR Quentin Johnston
The Rams were already thin at wide receiver before losing Davante Adams to a long-term hamstring injury. Now, the team has Konata Mumpfield and Jordan Whittington as its top complements to Puka Nacua, something Sean McVay and Les Snead may try to rectify before the trade deadline.
Los Angeles should have interest in several receivers, including Thomas and Josh Downs, but looking at their cross-town rival could be an option as well. Johnston has never been consistent since being a first-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he averaged 53 catches for 723 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024 and 2025.
If anyone can help Johnston reach his full potential, it's McVay. The 40-year-old coach should be intrigued by the TCU product's combination of size (6-2, 208-pound frame) and athleticism, something the Rams could use to balance their top-heavy receiving corps.
San Francisco 49ers trade for Indianapolis Colts WR Josh Downs
Downs requested a trade away from the Colts after they sent Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and DeForest Buckner to the 49ers.
Could Indianapolis swing another deal with San Francisco to fulfill Downs' request? It would be a sensible fit, as the 49ers are supremely banged-up at receiver with Mike Evans facing a plethora of injury issues, Ricky Pearsall out for the season with a knee injury and Deebo Samuel battling a hamstring problem.
Downs, a smaller-sized slot receiver, would pair well with the physical, 6-5 Evans and give Brock Purdy a reliable target out of the slot as the 49ers look to make a Super Bowl run.
Green Bay Packers trade for Los Angeles Chargers RB Kimani Vidal
Is this the sexiest trade in the world? No, but it would fill a major need for a Packers team that struggled badly to run the ball with Josh Jacobs out of the lineup.
Vidal hasn't gotten many opportunities to shoulder the load this season, working behind Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell, but he is averaging 5.2 yards per carry on 21 totes and showed off a nice combination of physicality and elusiveness in an extended role during the 2025 season.
Vidal could immediately become the top backup behind Jacobs and serve as an upgrade over MarShawn Lloyd (2.6 yards per carry) in that role. And in the event that Jacobs gets hurt or faces further suspension from his offseason arrest, Vidal has proven capable of being a backfield leader, just as he was while totaling 643 yards and three touchdowns on 155 carries last season as an injury replacement for Hampton.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brian Thomas Jr. to Chiefs? 8 trade deadline deals we'd love to see
