NFL trade deadline 2025: Why Ravens should still buy, Jakobi Meyers could move and more

It’s Week 8 in the NFL and the next big event on the league calendar — the trade deadline — is just around the corner on Nov. 4.

This is the second year for an early November deadline, to give teams one additional week to determine whether they might be playoff contenders before a potential roster shake-up. Nineteen players changed teams ahead of last year’s deadline, and the market has already been active in 2025. The biggest move came early, when the Dallas Cowboys traded star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just ahead of Week 1.

So who else might be buyers or sellers at the deadline? And which teams should probably just stand pat? The Athletic’s NFL writers weigh in on all 32 teams.

Arizona Cardinals: Stand pat

The Cardinals are in a tailspin, losers of five in a row. At 2-5, they are tied with the Giants for the second-worst record among NFC teams, behind the one-win Saints. They’ve had a chance to win all seven games, but that’s false hope. The organization really has one decision, and it involves Kyler Murray. With the quarterback sidelined the past two games with a foot injury, Jacoby Brissett has started and the offense has looked better than it has all season. Fans want Brissett to keep the job. That Arizona lost both games with Brissett shows how much trust fans have lost in Murray, who is under contract through 2028. Any decision on roster improvement should be put on hold until the organization decides what it wants to do with Murray. — Doug Haller

Atlanta Falcons: Stand pat

The Falcons could have convinced themselves to be buyers if they had won Sunday night in San Francisco, and they could really use wide receiver help, considering Darnell Mooney’s injury-hampered season and Tuesday’s release of Ray-Ray McCloud. However, this team is too inconsistent to give away any more future assets on what at this point is a blind hope that it will figure things out. Remember, the Falcons already are without their 2026 first-round pick because of the James Pearce Jr. trade. — Josh Kendall

Baltimore Ravens: Buyers (for now)

Despite being 1-5, the Ravens insist they can get back in the playoff mix, and general manager Eric DeCosta is typically aggressive when it comes to making deals. He already shipped out edge rusher Odafe Oweh to the Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman and a 2026 draft pick. That deal created $7 million in salary-cap space, which will allow DeCosta to make other moves. If the Ravens lose either of the next two games, they could become sellers real quick. For now, though, they’re in the edge rusher and interior defensive lineman market and they would probably be intrigued by a quality interior offensive lineman, too. — Jeff Zrebiec

Buffalo Bills: Buyers

You hear about quarterbacks throwing a receiver open. Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler on Sunday might’ve thrown Chris Olave onto another roster. The Bills gladly would find a locker stall for him. Raiders receiver Jakobi Meyers would be another popular addition. General manager Brandon Beane is a wheeler-dealer, acquiring five-time Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper last year under similar pressure to provide Josh Allen a difference-making boundary target. Separation abilities have returned as a substantial concern. Buffalo also needs secondary help, most glaringly at safety, where Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop have disappointed in multiple ways. This year, however, Beane is backed up hard against the salary cap. Buffalo is about $2.8 million below, with only Miami’s situation tighter. — Tim Graham

Carolina Panthers: Stand pat

The Panthers are riding the high of a three-game winning streak. But general manager Dan Morgan isn’t going to trade away meaningful draft capital for a team that is not a Super Bowl contender. After starting the season with seven games against teams that failed to make the playoffs last season, the Panthers know their schedule is about to get a lot more challenging — starting this week against Buffalo. The Panthers could use another edge rusher after Pat Jones underwent season-ending back surgery. And a veteran such as Bradley Chubb could make sense, as long as Morgan is only parting with a Day 3 pick. — Joseph Person

Chicago Bears: Stand pat

A four-game winning streak has become intoxicating, awakening Chicago’s imagination for what might be possible. Even in a loaded NFC North, the Bears are showing potential to hang around. That should give general manager Ryan Poles the opportunity to at least window shop, to browse trade street window fronts for sales that offer possible help for the backfield or defensive line. But 2025, the first season on Ben Johnson’s watch, was never the year to strike, more so a time to create direction toward a sustained run of success. The Bears should value their current draft capital above all else, retain long-term focus and continue to build a contender that can last. — Dan Wiederer

Cincinnati Bengals: Stand pat

The Bengals made their move. In acquiring Joe Flacco, they pumped new life into the season and might be good enough to hang around until Joe Burrow (potentially) returns in late December. They aren’t good enough to warrant giving up any more assets to hang around. The defense is not one player away. The only way the defense improves is development from the young players already in significant roles. There will be groundswell to trade Trey Hendrickson from the outside. It won’t happen. They never trade away a player who can help them win that season for future assets unless that player intentionally napalms his way out of town (Carson Palmer, Carlos Dunlap), and that won’t happen here. — Paul Dehner Jr.

Cleveland Browns: Sellers

Much to Mike Tomlin’s chagrin, the Browns might not even be done selling within the AFC North. This is not to insinuate that a full fire sale is coming or that the Browns will aggressively try to shop their best players. But it’s long been clear that the focus in Cleveland is on the future, and with so many players in the final year of their current contracts, the Browns will listen when the phone rings. Most likely to go are defensive end Alex Wright, tight end David Njoku and running back Jerome Ford (for pennies), but the Browns also would likely at least entertain potential trades involving their veteran interior offensive linemen. Teams looking for pass-rush help should check on Wright, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Cameron Thomas. Myles Garrett remains close to untouchable unless a team offers three first-round picks (at least), and that’s just probably not going to happen. — Zac Jackson

Dallas Cowboys: Buyers

Dak Prescott is playing at an MVP level with an elite group of weapons around him in CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, Javonte Williams and KaVontae Turpin. If they all stay healthy, there’s potential to be the NFL’s best offense. The defense, on the other hand, is arguably the league’s worst. And while linebacker DeMarvion Overshown will return in the next few weeks, that’s not enough. More help is needed on that side of the ball at all three levels. At least one defensive addition needs to be made. Trading Micah Parsons gave Dallas plenty of draft picks and salary-cap space. The Cowboys have everything needed to make a notable move … or two. — Jon Machota

Denver Broncos: Buyers

Denver has seen two of its guards, including starter Ben Powers, land on injured reserve in the past two weeks. Alex Palczewski is holding down the left guard spot for now, but the depth is getting pretty thin on the interior behind him. The Broncos may not be willing to pay the price necessary to convince the Browns to part with Joel Bitonio, but they should be diligent in searching for offensive line help. The Broncos should also monitor the wide receiver market. Sean Payton likes the group of young targets behind Courtland Sutton — Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, rookie Pat Bryant — and he has typically scoffed at the notion of needing a defined No. 2 receiver. With as inefficient as Denver’s offense has been in stretches lately, though, the Broncos should at least explore the possibility of adding another playmaker. — Nick Kosmider

Detroit Lions: Buyers

The Lions are 5-2 heading into their Week 8 bye, and there’s a lot to like about where they’re at. They rank second in the NFL in point differential and have proven capable of overcoming the loss of former coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. That said, the Lions should be looking to acquire depth at the deadline. Their secondary depth has been hit hard. They’ve played the majority of the season without oft-injured starting edge rusher Marcus Davenport. And while the Lions have gotten by with the pieces in place, some insurance depth could help them down the road and avoid a repeat of last year, when they went 15-2 in the regular season but lost their only playoff game. — Colton Pouncy

Green Bay Packers: Stand pat

The Packers already made their splash acquisition before the season started, trading for Micah Parsons. His three sacks in a Week 7 win over the Cardinals were a career high in a single game. The Packers dealt to the Cowboys their first-round pick in the next two drafts, along with defensive tackle Kenny Clark, so I’m not sure how many more moves general manager Brian Gutekunst can make. I don’t expect any of significance since they’ll fill holes on the defensive line and at wide receiver through key players returning from injuries in the near future. — Matt Schneidman

Houston Texans: Buyers

The Texans should be buyers. They made moves to try to fix their offensive line, but left guard certainly remains a pressing need. A quality guard could help improve a run game that ranks 16th in the league and, in the two previous seasons, was among the worst in pass protection. — Mike Jones

Indianapolis Colts: Buyers

Colts general manager Chris Ballard has made only one in-season trade through the first eight years of his tenure, when running back Nyheim Hines requested one during a tumultuous 2022 campaign. It may be time for Ballard to break his typically conservative mold in Year 9, especially considering the Colts’ potent offense — the kind that can take them to the Super Bowl. Defensively, however, Indianapolis still needs pass rush and cornerback help if it truly wants to maximize its shot at being a contender. So, I’d say it’s time to go shopping. — James Boyd

Jacksonville Jaguars: Stand pat

The Jaguars should stand pat unless they see opportunities for low-cost culture moves that fit the new regime. They already gave up a couple of first-round picks to move up in the draft for Travis Hunter, so the Jaguars shouldn’t get too reckless with their future assets. Plus, they have to be realistic about their start. Yes, they’re an improved group, but they’re also flawed and shouldn’t sacrifice the rebuild to chase a playoff win or two this year. I wonder if someone like Giants receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who was with Liam Coen at Kentucky, could be a budget-friendly addition. — Jeff Howe

Kansas City Chiefs: Buyers

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has never hesitated to make trade-deadline moves to improve his contending teams, with the most recent example coming last season when he acquired veteran DeAndre Hopkins to help a depleted receivers room. Though the Chiefs are one of the few super-healthy teams in the NFL, a defensive-line upgrade would make sense, with our Dianna Russini reporting last week that’s the position the Chiefs have been targeting. — Jesse Newell

Las Vegas Raiders: Sellers

The Raiders are 2-5. They aren’t quite out of the playoff picture, but they look lifeless. The offense has been a major disappointment. Their best player, tight end Brock Bowers, has missed three games and has been hobbled since Week 1, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for how ineffective they’ve been. They have young receivers to develop, so Jakobi Meyers should be on the trade block, and he can help a playoff team. The Raiders reportedly will hang on to defensive end Maxx Crosby because of everything he means to them on and off the field, but if they get a godfather offer, they should consider it. This franchise looks like one that is years away from competing. — Ted Nguyen

Los Angeles Chargers: Buyers

The Chargers already made one trade earlier this month, sending safety Alohi Gilman and a 2026 fifth-round pick to the Ravens for edge rusher Odafe Oweh and a 2027 seventh-round pick. They bolstered their edge room, to a degree. They lost a valuable leader and communicator on the back end. The Chargers still have needs they should be looking to address, considering their injury situation. They could use offensive tackle help, though functional pieces at that position are hard to find on the trade market. The more likely position to target is running back, with Omarion Hampton (ankle) and Najee Harris (Achilles) both on injured reserve. Harris is done for the season. Hampton is expected to return at some point. The Oweh trade ate up a little more than $7 million of the Chargers’ remaining cap space. As a result, their options will be limited unless they restructure some existing contracts to create additional space. — Daniel Popper

Los Angeles Rams: Buyers

The Rams came into the season expecting to be contenders and are 5-2. Matthew Stafford has thrown 17 touchdown passes to just two interceptions, and the last time he was playing at this level, in 2021, the Rams famously went all-in with in-season trades for Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. I don’t expect the same push this year, partly because the Rams will want to keep their two first-round picks to chase a quarterback of the future next spring. But I think they’ll realize the limited window they have with Stafford and could look for help at outside cornerback or on special teams. — Nate Atkins

Miami Dolphins: Sellers

Mike McDaniel hasn’t taken too kindly to all of the trade speculation around his team, calling the rumors “baseless.” But whether the coach-on-the-hot-seat wants to admit it or not, the Dolphins should be sellers. This team isn’t going anywhere as currently constructed, and securing future draft capital for players on expiring deals (Jaelan Phillips and Rasul Douglas, among others) feels like a necessary place to start. Moving on from some high-priced veterans (Bradley Chubb, Jaylen Waddle) should be on the table, too, if the price is right. McDaniel is coaching for his job right now, so he won’t like it, but that shouldn’t matter. The Dolphins are likely staring at an offseason teardown; might as well start now. — Jim Ayello

Minnesota Vikings: Stand pat

You do not spend $344 million in cash on a roster — the most in the NFL for 2025 — and punt on a season. Especially when you have the two leading decision-makers, coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, in their fourth seasons despite not having won a playoff game. The Vikings are in a precarious position. They rolled the dice by pairing an older roster with a young quarterback in J.J. McCarthy who had never played an NFL game. It’s hard to imagine the Vikings pushing more chips into this season, barring a serious injury to a key player. It’s also difficult to think the Vikings could move off an aging player they hoped would contribute. It feels like Minnesota should play this out. — Alec Lewis

New England Patriots: Buyers

This would’ve been a shock to write two months ago, but, frankly, it’s not even a question. The Patriots are 5-2, atop the AFC East, and get to take advantage of the NFL’s easiest schedule. Drake Maye has developed better than even the most optimistic among us thought, and Mike Vrabel’s team has won four straight. Expect them to search for help at edge rusher as the deadline nears. — Chad Graff

New Orleans Saints: Sellers

The expectations surrounding this Saints team started low once Kellen Moore took over as head coach. And they remain just as low following a 1-6 record to open Moore’s tenure. It’s almost a given that teams will be calling general manager Mickey Loomis, with capable veteran players such as running back Alvin Kamara, linebacker Demario Davis and defensive end Cam Jordan on New Orleans’ roster. Given the Saints’ loyalty to players in the past, though, it’s possible none of them are moved if they don’t want to be moved. Still, making any trade that could help the Saints beyond this year would be wise since this season seems lost already. — Larry Holder

New York Giants: Stand pat

The Giants went into a Week 7 matchup with the Broncos with plenty of buzz about trading for a top receiver. A win in Denver would’ve only increased that chatter. But the Giants dropped to 2-5 after blowing a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter in a wild 33-32 loss. Offensively, it wasn’t all bad, and rookie Jaxson Dart found his tight ends for plenty of help. We don’t know yet if the Giants will watch the trade deadline craze from afar or if the loss will prompt selling considerations, but they were at least competitive until the end. — Charlotte Carroll

New York Jets: Sellers

This one isn’t that hard to figure out. The Jets are 0-7, so which players are they willing to trade? The obvious candidates are the players not under contract beyond this season, including running back Breece Hall, linebacker Quincy Williams, safety Tony Adams and guard John Simpson. Same for cornerback Michael Carter II, who will likely be a cap cut in the offseason anyway. The big question is whether they’ll actually be open to trading their top players with contracts beyond this season who might net more on the trade market, like defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, defensive end Jermaine Johnson and defensive end Will McDonald. — Zack Rosenblatt

Philadelphia Eagles: Buyers

The Eagles are Super Bowl contenders with perhaps the NFL’s most aggressive general manager. Those are perfect ingredients for a deadline buyer. The Eagles will try to upgrade at edge rusher and/or cornerback. There are internal reinforcements upcoming in both of those areas — Nolan Smith and Jakorian Bennett will return from injured reserve next month — but these are also spots at which the Eagles could use help. Edge rusher should be a priority over cornerback. Howie Roseman has already made six trades since the start of training camp, so it’s not as if he has been sitting on his hands. He still has 10 projected draft picks in 2026, giving him flexibility. Pay attention to Dolphins edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, both of whom have experience under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. — Zach Berman

Pittsburgh Steelers: Buyers

Steelers general manager Omar Khan has earned a reputation for wheeling and dealing, especially after he pulled off a pair of blockbuster trades this offseason to acquire DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. Given the strong 4-2 start to the season, Aaron Rodgers’ steady play and their early lead in the AFC North, the Steelers will be making calls in search of a wide receiver. Calvin Austin III has been a reliable WR2, but Roman Wilson is off to a slow start in his second season and the Steelers could certainly upgrade over role players like Scotty Miller and Ben Skowronek. There’s a feeling inside the Steelers building that they want to do everything in their power to give Rodgers a legitimate chance to make a run this year. It would almost be surprising if they don’t find a trade partner in some form or fashion. — Mike DeFabo

San Francisco 49ers: Stand pat

I know, I know … You want to help the players who are overachieving and winning games despite a ton of injuries. Get them some help. A pass rusher, a cornerback, maybe a guard. But what if the 49ers just double down with the players they have? They’re obviously close-knit, fight hard and believe in the coaching staff. Why mess with the chemistry that’s gotten them to 5-2? The bigger — i.e., real — reason not to make a trade is that it’s very, very hard to envision the scrappy Niners making the Super Bowl without Nick Bosa and Fred Warner (and who knows when Brandon Aiyuk is back), so hold on to all of next year’s draft picks and make your big push then. — Vic Tafur

Seattle Seahawks: Buyers

The Seahawks are 5-2 with the 11th-ranked offense and the fourth-ranked defense by points per drive. They’ve done this while dealing with a rotation at inside linebacker and an extended game of musical chairs in the secondary because of injuries. In theory, Seattle’s defense will be at full strength after its Week 8 bye with the return of Derick Hall, Devon Witherspoon and Julian Love. But banking on a clean injury report the rest of the way seems foolishly optimistic. Seattle needs depth at multiple spots and a potential new starting guard, and it has the money and assets to acquire both. There are even some names listed among the “seller” teams in this article that may be of interest to Seattle. — Michael-Shawn Dugar

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Stand pat

Barring the unlikely availability of a pass rusher — interior or edge — who could impact the defense without requiring too much compensation, the Bucs should stand pat. There are three reasons. One, they have shown that the players already on the team can compete with the best in the NFC. Yes, they lost to the Lions, but they have wins against the Seahawks and 49ers. Two, they await reinforcements as Chris Godwin, Luke Goedeke, Jalen McMillan, Bucky Irving and maybe even Mike Evans are expected back from injuries at some point. And three, draft picks are worth more to the Bucs than other teams because general manager Jason Licht uses them so well. This team probably would be better served using picks in the draft than in trades. — Dan Pompei

Tennessee Titans: Sellers

Big-time sellers. The problem for a team this bad is that it doesn’t have many quality veterans to offer, and for now at least, the Titans are making it known they don’t intend to trade Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. It makes sense to try to retain some talent, in case anyone can figure out how to get this franchise out of the gutter any time soon. But if someone offers a first-round pick for Simmons, the Titans should jump all over it. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is another possible option, but he’s been bad and just got hurt again. Calvin Ridley? He hasn’t produced much. He got hurt. Also, if you move him, how does that help in the primary goal this season of developing rookie quarterback Cam Ward? — Joe Rexrode

Washington Commanders: Stand pat

The Commanders made a splash by trading for cornerback Marshon Lattimore at the deadline last year. But they were 7-2 at the time and suddenly one of the hottest teams in the league. Their plan to rebuild was expedited, and they believed they had a chance to contend with some help on the back end. Much has changed since then. Washington is 3-4 this season with two prime-time games — a Monday night road game in Kansas City, then a Sunday night meeting with the Seahawks at home — before the trade deadline. The Commanders’ roster is in shambles because of injuries, and their defense is spiraling. Giving up more draft picks when they’re deficient in many areas wouldn’t make sense. And the players they might be willing to part with may not generate interest elsewhere. — Nicki Jhabvala