The 2026 NFL trade deadline is on Nov. 10, and this year, there are tons of teams that will want to add talent. There are teams that have been perennial contenders who will need to add the talent that can ensure their path to the Super Bowl. There are also other teams that have shocked the football world to put themselves in the playoff picture despite not entering the season as threats. So, which teams must be NFL trade deadline buyers this year?
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions, and despite lingering around .500, they still have ambitions of repeating as champions. Seattle's championship run last season was kicked off by the team's trade deadline acquisition of Rashid Shaheed.
The receiver is one of the best deep threats in the NFL, and his speed really helped unlock Seattle's offense. An additional WR was the Seahawks' clearest need last season. This go-around, they have a need in the backfield. Zach Charbonnet has been sidelined with an ACL injury suffered in the playoffs last year, and the team's first-round rookie running back, Jadaraian Price, has also struggled with injury and productivity issues.
There is a chance that Seattle's rushing attack can improve even without external additions. Price still has sky-high potential, and the team likes what they have, especially in the red zone, with Charbonnet. Still, the running game seems like a letdown considering what Kenneth Walker has done with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Walker won Super Bowl MVP honors for the Seahawks but bolted in free agency. He has been arguably the best ball carrier in the NFL ever since. Jonathan Taylor is one name who has been linked to Seattle, but considering the Seahawks' first-round investment in Price, adding a running back rental may make more sense. Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans are both on expiring contracts.
Kansas City Chiefs
Hopefully fans didn't think the Kansas City Chiefs were through. The team established a dynasty by winning three Super Bowls and appearing in two more. However, they had a gap year of sorts last year, as they won just six total games. Through just six matchups so far this season, the Chiefs are already back to a 5-1 record and firmly in the championship picture yet again.
A perennial contender like Kansas City should always look to be NFL trade deadline buyers. Now, the first position that everyone mentions for what Kansas City should pursue is a receiver; specifically a speed threat. Tyquan Thornton is the Chiefs' best burner, but he suffered an ankle injury that will keep him out for three-to-four months, and it would come as no surprise if Thornton wasn't able to return to action until next season.
Rashee Rice has been sidelined for the last couple of weeks, too, and while Xavier Worthy has 4.2 speed, he has only proven himself to be a gadget option, not a true deep threat. While a proven veteran pass catcher like Stefon Diggs would make some sense to add in the trade market, the Chiefs actually shouldn't look to give up assets for a receiver. Instead, the team needs to make the obvious free agent signing and reunite with Tyreek Hill.
If the Chiefs did that, they could instead focus on adding secondary depth. Derwin James is a playmaker at the safety position who can do a little bit of everything. He hits hard, can wreak havoc in the passing game deep down the field, and has the versatility to guard tight ends or even get after the passer. A defensive mastermind like Steve Spagnuolo would have a field day using a chess piece like this. The only problem would be trying to conduct business with a divisional rival, but the good news is that the Los Angeles Chargers are clear-cut trade deadline sellers. Plus, James might be out of Kansas City's price range. If the Chiefs can make a big move, though, they are going to do so.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos keep winning, but they win ugly. It is hard to say exactly where the Broncos need additions. The defense is stacked. Patrick Surtain, Talanoa Hufanga, and Riley Moss lead arguably the best secondary in the NFL, and the pass rushing group that features Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, and Zach Allen is one of the best in the NFL. Last year, the team brought opposing quarterbacks down 68 times.
Offensively, the team has an impressive offensive line; they already traded for a star receiver in the form of Jaylen Waddle in the offseason, and there are three backs the team wants to give carries to. Even so, the Broncos will likely look to add at the NFL trade deadline.
One player the Broncos could pursue is Cody Barton. The linebacker used to play in Denver, and now he is with a Tennessee Titans team looking to sell. Barton was a ball magnet during his time in Denver. He likely wouldn't steal Justin Strnad or Alex Singleton's spots, but he'd be a great depth piece for a position group that doesn't have the best backup rotation right now.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars do have one of the biggest-name superstars on the trading block. Brian Thomas Jr. has struggled since a fantastic rookie season, and the team may look to trade him. Even so, the Jaguars are still set to be trade deadline buyers, not sellers.
The Jaguars are 4-2 and have a clear-cut lead on their divisional opponents. They also rank third in defensive points per game (17.3). They should do whatever it takes to continue separating themselves from the pack, though, and ensuring that a good defensive unit is great would be smart.
Daron Payne is one player who has been rumored to Jacksonville. The defensive tackle has 38 career sacks and 446 total career tackles. Josh Sweat is a player who'd make sense too. The edge rusher has been disgruntled with the Arizona Cardinals for quite some time now, and a pass rushing duo of him and Josh Hines-Allen would be truly elite.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have been the NFL's surprise team this year. After trading away Myles Garrett, arguably the best player in the NFL, the Browns were expected to struggle this year. Especially because the quarterback competition of Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders left a lot to be desired.
Instead, the Browns are 5-2. At this point, the team is committed to winning, but they have far from an easy path to securing the AFC North. Every other team in the division has four or five wins. It'll likely take some reinforcements for Cleveland to to maintain their status as the divisional leaders.
While perhaps unlikely, it would be fascinating to see the Browns trade for Maxx Crosby. The Las Vegas Raiders tried to deal the defensive end in the offseason before a failed physical returned him to the only team he has ever known. The Raiders are less desperate to trade away talent now, considering they've found some success in the win-loss column. If the team did decide to deal Crosby, though, Cleveland would make a lot of sense.
As mentioned above, it was just months ago when the Browns traded away Garrett. Garrett's replacement, Jared Verse, will be a contributor for a long time, but he needs pass-rushing help.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have spent years being one of the best teams in the regular season, just to fall short in the postseason. Josh Allen and company need to take that championship step forward at some point, and the easiest way to do so would be to be NFL trade deadline buyers this year. After all, the Bills are 5-1 already.
Khalil Mack is a player who would make tons of sense to trade for. For starters, the former Defensive Player of the Year played his college ball at Buffalo. If the Bills traded for him, he'd be a hometown favorite who everyone would be rooting for to win a championship before ridding into the sunset. Plus, playing in Buffalo yet again may just give Mack the extra motivation to be at his best.
Mack isn't quite the player he once was, but he is still a productive pass rusher and one of the best sack artists of a generation. The three-time First-Team All-Pro has 116 career sacks. Mack would join Bradley Chubb and Greg Rousseau as Buffalo's lead pass rushers, and he'd surely help better the team's chances of finally winning the Super Bowl.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots made the Super Bowl last year. Despite that, the team was expected to be even better this year. Drake Maye was fresh off nearly winning the MVP as a sophomore, so more internal development was expected. Plus, the team made some great moves in free agency.
Romeo Doubs and A.J. Brown were brought in to revamp the receiving corps, and Kevin Byard was signed to one of the best value deals among all free agents. However, New England got off to a slow start. They lost two of their first three games, including a blowout loss to the Jaguars. Maye, in particular, really struggled to begin the season.
The team has since gotten back on track and can again be viewed as championship contenders. The Patriots are going to have to overcome injury woes, though, and they've had a surplus of players land on the injured reserve. With Greg Van Roten and Alijah Vera-Tucker as two such players on the IR, the Patriots could use interior offensive line reinforcements more than anything else.
With the Philadelphia Eagles' Landon Dickerson slated to return from the injured reserve in his own right, the Patriots should consider trading for the guard. Philadelphia already lost Lane Johnson to retirement and Cam Jurgens to a pre-deadline trade. They may very well just continue unloading offensive line talent. Dickerson is a three-time Pro Bowler who would ensure Maye has ample time to throw.
Minnesota Vikings
The lone undefeated team in the NFL? The 6-0 Minnesota Vikings. Few would have considered the Vikings a top 10 team in the NFL coming into the season. In fact, even now, there are still plenty out there who doubt the team. Regardless, it is clear that the only team without a loss should be all in on adding more talent, especially because, despite their early-season success, the Vikings still play in one of the best divisions in football.
The defense really doesn't need any help. Minnesota has allowed a league-leading 12.3 points per game. The offense, meanwhile, has left a lot to be desired. The team ranks 29th in yards per game (281.7) and passing yards per game (162.3). It is safe to say that Justin Jefferson hasn't produced at quite the elite level that he is supposed to over the last two seasons.
Ddding an additional pass catcher could actually help, rather than hurt, the receiver nicknamed Jettas reach his potential. Opposing defenses have been able to focus their attention on Minnesota's best player. Jordan Addison is the only other receiver of note, and even he has just 13 catches.
Adding another pass catcher could really open up the offense, and Stefon Diggs just may be the perfect player to add. Of course, Diggs started his career in Minnesota. His Minneapolis Miracle went down as one of the most famous plays in Vikings history. A homecoming would be quite poetic for the aging receiver. Plus, Diggs has plenty of experience joining new teams and finding success right away. Diggs has played for four teams in as many years, and he'd surely be comfortable going back to the Vikings team that has yet to lose a game this season.
Article Continues BelowChicago Bears
Last year was a breakout season for the Chicago Bears. A star-studded offense, which includes Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland, broke out in a big way. Furthermore, the defensive talent far exceeded expectations, illustrated by the team leading the league in interceptions.
However, the Bears lost a lot of defensive talent in the offseason, and they are still trying their best to replace it. Kevin Byard, Tremaine Edmunds, Jaquan Brisker, Nahshon Wright, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all found new homes. Considering offseason addition Coby Bryant has only played one game for the team, the Bears are still looking for more defensive help.
Riq Woolen is a highly aggressive cornerback who could fit the Bears' defensive system. He'd help the team get back to their interception numbers of last season, and he likely shouldn't cost too much in a trade package.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are in a great position to make a huge trade deadline splash. The team leads the NFC West with a 6-1 record, but they also have more cap space than any other team, meaning they are one of the few teams with a realistic path toward adding a superstar.
A high-priced, but high-value defensive tackle like DeForest Buckner would make a lot of sense to add. Buckner is 6-foot-7, giving him the ability to bat balls down at the line of scrimmage. He is also elite at getting after the quarterback, though, evidenced by his 75.5 career sacks. The team could make calls on other pricy veterans, too, such as Zach Sieler, Khalil Mack, or Josh Sweat. Depth at receiver or safety could be considered, too.
An even bigger splash would be a trade for Jeffrey Simmons. The Tennessee Titans star is arguably the best player on the trading block. Vita Vea is another DT trade candidate. Clearly, this is a buyer's market for teams in need of front seven help, so the 49ers should be all in.
Cincinnati Bengals
The story has been the same for years in Cincinnati. The Bengals' offense is elite on a yearly basis, as Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase form one of the best pass catching duos in the league, and Joe Burrow is an MVP-caliber quarterback. The defense has often held the team back, though.
The team's secondary, in particular, could use a boost. Budda Baker just may happen be on the trading block. Since being drafted in 2017, Baker has spent his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals. With Arizona again struggling, it may be time for that tenure to come to a close.
Baker is a playmaker who would single-handedly improve the Bengals' defense. He'd provide run stopping reinforcements and be able to create turnovers. A star secondary player would really give the defense the potential to play at an elite level. After all, the team traded for Dexter Lawrence in the offseason and added fellow defensive linemen Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen. With Baker, or another NFL trade deadline addition, there could finally be balance in Cincinnati.