The NFL trade deadline is where expectations rarely meet reality.
It’s just the nature of the sport, but everyone usually walks away looking for more. Perhaps that’s a societal thing, where material items reign supreme and nothing is ever good enough. Maybe it’s sheer ambition or just pure selfishness.
Some teams will make an aggressive move ahead of the deadline, looking to acquire a game-changer that catapults them to becoming true Super Bowl contenders. Others will say they’re going for it, while their actions say otherwise.
The trade deadline might not stack up to the NBA or MLB version, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream of a more perfect world. Here are five trades that contenders should make ahead of the deadline.
NFL trade ideas for Super Bowl contenders
Bengals trade EDGE Trey Hendrickson to Eagles
Last season might’ve been magical for the Eagles, but this season has given us a peek behind the curtain. Teams aren’t falling for those tricks anymore and every game for Philly feels like a struggle. The passing attack has been inconsistent and the pass rush has been nonexistent.
For the most part, those solutions are in-house for the Eagles. The pass rush still needs work though and getting Brandon Graham to come out of retirement isn’t enough.
Trey Hendrickson wants to remain in Cincinnati on a long-term deal; however, history indicates that he has a better chance of landing on the moon than getting that contract from the Bengals. There is still time to work something out, but the more realistic move is to trade him before the deadline. Philly has a need for someone like Hendrickson and Howie Roseman is known for his aggressive moves.
Saints trade WR Chris Olave to Bills
As currently constructed, it’s hard to envision Buffalo as a Super Bowl contender. They have issues on defense and a desperate need at receiver. While Josh Allen and James Cook are enough to win in the regular season, that won’t be enough to get past the Chiefs – or even the Colts at this point. Keon Coleman hasn’t emerged as the WR1 that Buffalo had hoped for and they can’t afford to keep waiting around.
Jets trade RB Breece Hall to Chiefs
It doesn’t seem like the Jets are going to re-sign their star running back and Breece Hall’s need for a change of scenery remains evident. New York’s offense is designed to make players like Hall a focal point. Opposing defenses know that and the Jets don’t have enough talent elsewhere to keep them honest.
That wouldn’t be a problem for running back-needy Kansas City. It would give Patrick Mahomes a level of talent in the backfield that he hasn’t played with, forcing teams to defend a lethal passing attack and a much-improved running game. The Chargers also make sense, but the Chiefs’ offense could reach new heights with someone like Hall.
Raiders trade WR Jakobi Meyers to Buccaneers
The Raiders’ apparent plan for a competitive rebuild has failed miserably in a division already loaded with talent. Luckily for Vegas, they didn’t bet too much on this season being a success and now have a reason to tear it down to the studs. That starts with Jakobi Meyers, who requested a trade during the offseason after contract talks didn’t progress.
He has continued to express a desire to leave Sin City and Tampa might be the best fit. The Buccaneers can’t escape injuries at receiver this season, recently losing Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. It’s worth noting that the Raiders general manager, John Spytek, was hired out of the Buccaneers’ organization after being with the team since 2016. While many focus their attention on the more receiver-needy teams, this connection makes too much sense to ignore.
Saints trade WR Rashid Shaheed to Patriots
Timelines are a funny thing in the NFL. New England was supposed to take a step in the right direction in 2025, but instead, they are competing for the AFC East crown halfway through the season. That means the need for a receiver is moving up the priority list.
Drake Maye has been thriving with a core that doesn’t necessarily stack up against the other contenders. Stefon Diggs is a nice piece, but Rashid Shaheed would add some serious speed element to the room as one of the league’s best deep threats. Shaheed is also set to be a free agent after the season. New England can get ahead of some offseason work and solidify its receiver room for at least this season – and potentially beyond.