Analysis
10/25/23
9 min read
8 NFL Teams Under Most Pressure to Improve at 2023 Trade Deadline
We’re less than a week from the NFL trade deadline, and teams have completed a number of deals. Several teams are thinking about the playoffs and Super Bowl. Those teams would be well served by pulling off a significant trade to bolster their chances.
I’m not including the two teams who played in last year’s Super Bowl and have the league’s best records at 6-1 because the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are good enough that they are not under as much pressure to add talent.
Plus, the Eagles traded for Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard, and the Chiefs brought back WR Mecole Hardman with neither trade costing more than later-round picks.
Here are eight teams — four in each conference — who should be under the most pressure to get a deal done by the Halloween deadline.
NFC Teams
Dallas Cowboys
Deadline Add: More Pass Catchers
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says the Cowboys are “upper echelon,” and he won’t initiate talks but is willing to trade. After the Cowboys’42-10 drubbing by the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5, Jones should be more proactive in seeking additional weapons in the passing game for Dak Prescott. That's if he wants his team to make a run at the Eagles in the NFC East and be a threat in the postseason.
Neither Brandin Cooks (13 catches, 109 yards, one TD) nor Michael Gallup (18 receptions, 204 yards, no TDs) are having productive years supporting Prescott and CeeDee Lamb.
One of the top wide receivers potentially on the market — Jerry Jeudy (if he’s motivated) — Marquise Brown or Darnell Mooney could be solid upgrades over Cooks and Gallup, and the cost should be a mid-round pick.
Minnesota Vikings
Deadline Add: Pass Rush Help, CB Marcus Peters
Most NFL observers felt the Minnesota Vikings were dead in the water after their 0-3 start. Still, they’ve rallied with three wins in their last four games and have a reasonably favorable schedule ahead. At 3-4, the Vikings are a half-game out of a wild-card spot and two games behind the Detroit Lions in the NFC North. The Lions look vulnerable after being crushed 38-6 by the Baltimore Ravens.
The Vikings pulled off a big trade deadline deal last year for Pro Bowl TE T.J. Hockenson, who helped them get to 13 wins, so they’re not afraid to make a move to improve the team. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores runs the heaviest blitzing unit in the league. Still, he could use some help for the NFL’s leading sacker in Danielle Hunter (9 sacks), especially with the inability of Edge/OLB Marcus Davenport to stay healthy (currently on IR with a high ankle sprain).
A low-salaried addition like Carl Lawson (seven sacks last season), who is a backup with the New York Jets, would be a good fit. The compensation is likely a late-round pick. Tennessee’s Denico Autry (four sacks this season) also would be a great addition for similar compensation on a player who will be a free agent in March.
The cornerback group is also questionable with many young players, so sending a late-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders (who are unlikely to be playoff-bound) for a savvy vet in Marcus Peters would be helpful.
Los Angeles Rams
Deadline Add: Brian Burns
Like the Vikings, the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams also are in the NFC’s middle class, only a half-game out of a wild card spot. They would love to prove that last season’s fall from Super Bowl glory was a one-year hiatus primarily due to significant injuries to stars Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald. All three are back in the lineup and playing alongside many youngsters.
For the Rams to return to the playoffs, they need to improve significantly in pressuring and sacking the quarterback. The Rams have only 12 sacks, which ranks 29th, and Donald needs more help.
Carolina Panthers Edge/OLB Brian Burns is a great fit, who the Rams have pursued in the past. It would be wise to again offer a couple of high draft picks to the team that traded their 2024 first-round pick to the Chicago Bears in the move-up for QB Bryce Young.
Atlanta Falcons
Deadline Add: Chase Young
The NFC South is up for grabs between the Atlanta Falcons (4-3), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) and the New Orleans Saints (3-4). The Falcons have an inconsistent QB in Desmond Ridder, but they are staying competitive with a good running game (No. 8 in the league) and a much-improved defense that has made a jump from No. 27 last season to No. 3 thus far.
For the Falcons to win their division for the first time since 2016, they need to improve their pass rush, which has generated only 13 sacks (24th ranked). Chase Young would be a great addition, and even though he is a 4-3 defensive end in Washington. He’s a good enough athlete and fits size-wise to adjust to the 3-4 as an Edge/OLB rushing the passer.
The Washington Commanders won’t be able to fit both Young and Montez Sweat under the cap when they are free agents in March, and Sweat is likely their choice to stay as the more productive and durable player.
With an expiring contract, they could probably acquire Young (the second overall pick in the 2020 draft) for a third-round pick, or the Falcons could look to Lawson or Autry for lesser compensation.
>> READ: Ridder Can Push Falcons to Playoffs
AFC Teams
Buffalo Bills
Deadline Add: CB, ILB, WR Help
The 4-3 Buffalo Bills were a Super Bowl favorite after beating the Miami Dolphins 48-20 in Week 4, but it’s been tough times since. They could use a jolt after losing two of their last three games (to the Jacksonville Jaguars and lowly New England Patriots), with the lone win in that stretch an ugly 14-9 home win over the New York Giants.
The defense has fallen from sixth last season to 14th, with season-ending injuries to CB Tre’Davious White and LB Matt Milano a key factor. Peters or the Giants’ Adoree Jackson could be a good addition at corner, and Devin Bush or Josey Jewell are potential fits at inside linebacker. None of those players should cost more than a mid to late-round pick to acquire.
Gabe Davis had one catch for six yards last week against the Patriots, and third WR Deonte Harty has only 13 catches for 113 yards (one TD) this season. It would be worth it for the Bills to give up a mid-round pick for a receiver such as Mooney, Brown or Jeudy to help Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs.
Miami Dolphins
Deadline Add: Budda Baker or Jeremy Chinn
The Dolphins are a prolific offensive team. Still, they have fallen short defensively in losses to playoff-caliber teams this season, including Buffalo and Philadelphia. They allowed 48 and 31 points in those games.
To hold off the Bills and possibly the Jets in the AFC East, the Dolphins need to add reinforcements to improve their 21st-ranked defense.
Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey is expected back in the next week from his knee injury. He’ll be a big help in the secondary opposite Xavien Howard. Still, safety is a position they could upgrade as the Dolphins’ starting safeties — Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones — have no interceptions. The Dolphins have only three picks this season (among only seven takeaways).
Five-time Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker would be a pricey addition salary-wise and could cost as much as a second-round pick. He has asked to be traded in the past from the Arizona Cardinals.
He had his contract adjusted this year to avoid a hold-in, and he’s under contract through 2025. Baker came off IR last week from a knee injury to play well (6 tackles, 1 TFL) in a loss to the Seahawks. The Panthers’ Jeremy Chinn is another possible target at safety, and he has an expiring contract, so he could be less costly in trade compensation.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Deadline Add: Pass Rush, DB Help
The 5-2 Jaguars should cruise to the AFC South title, and they are a sleeper Super Bowl contender after falling by just seven points in the divisional playoffs at Kansas City last season. The Jaguars have a good enough offense led by Pro Bowl QB Trevor Lawrence.
To make it to their first Super Bowl, they could use another impact pass rusher alongside Josh Allen and Travon Walker. The team has only 13 sacks through seven games (24th ranked), and the defense overall is ranked 26th (and 31st against the pass).
Lawson or Autry could be a good fit at a low-cost salary and draft pick-wise. Or perhaps the Jaguars could trade for another proven pass rusher in Carolina’s Justin Houston. Houston had 9.5 sacks for the Ravens last season but has only a half-sack in five games this season. His contract ends in March, so the compensation would be a late-round pick.
Secondary help is also needed and could come from the group already mentioned — Peters, Baker and Chinn or possibly safety Jalen Mills from the Patriots. His contract is up after this season and is playing limited snaps so far.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Deadline Add: Derrick Henry or Dalvin Cook
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the thick of the AFC North and wild-card race at 4-2, but they don’t look like traditional Steelers teams in their running game. Pittsburgh ranks 28th in rushing with 81 yards per game, a drop of 41 yards from last season.
Najee Harris leads the team with 300 rushing yards (3.9-yard average). Second-year QB Kenny Pickett (81.3 passer rating, which ranks 25th) and the team’s 31st-ranked offense would be helped immensely by adding a quality back to split snaps with Harris.
Tennessee’s Derrick Henry, who has 425 rushing yards this season, or Dalvin Cook who is seeing limited duty with the Jets behind Breece Hall, are good options. The Steelers could acquire either back for a mid to late-round pick since they’re both free agents in 2024.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year after the Vikings’ 15-1 season in 1998. He now works for the NFL agent group IFA based in Minneapolis. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffdiamondnfl.
