One Trade All 32 NFL Teams Must Make This 2026 Offseason
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The 2025 NFL season is in the books. The Seahawks are Super Bowl champions. And now? It’s time for the rest of the league to figure out how to catch up. The 2026 NFL offseason is shaping up to be one of the wildest in terms of trades in recent memory.
We have teams in full-blown rebuild mode. We have Super Bowl contenders desperate to reload. And we have got cap casualties everywhere… Plus, we have front offices ready to swing for the fences.
Every single team in this league has holes to fill. Some need quarterbacks. Some need pass rushers. And some just need to stop the bleeding before their championship windows slam shut forever.
So today, we’re breaking down one trade that each of the 32 NFL teams absolutely MUST make this offseason.
Which trades need to be done by each NFL team in the offseason?
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals just went 3-14 with Kyler Murray missing most of the year. New head coach Mike LaFleur is walking into a mess… and Murray’s $52.7 million cap hit makes him virtually untradeable… but when there is a will, there is a way, and Arizona needs to move on.
Mac Jones makes perfect sense. He went 5 and 3 as a starter in San Francisco with a 97.4 passer rating and is still on the cheap.
LaFleur’s brother Matt helped develop Jones in Green Bay’s system. The fit is obvious. Send a third-round pick to the Niners and give LaFleur a quarterback he can actually work with while the rebuild continues.
Atlanta Falcons
If Michael Penix Jr. is the guy that the Falcons are desperately hoping him to be, Atlanta needs to build a defense that can actually support him.
Budda Baker has been one of the best safeties in football for years, but Arizona is clearly rebuilding. The 30-year-old still has elite range and instincts. Pair him with Jessie Bates, and suddenly Atlanta has one of the best safety duos in the NFC.
Baltimore Ravens
This one has been brewing for months. A.J. Brown is clearly unhappy in Philadelphia. The Eagles are expected to entertain trade offers from other NFL teams. And Baltimore desperately needs another weapon for Lamar Jackson.
Derrick Henry has been publicly campaigning to reunite with his former Titans teammate. The Ravens ranked 25th in defense this year, and their passing game needs a jolt. Send a second-round pick and Rashod Bateman to Philly and watch this offense become truly unstoppable.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills have made it to the doorstep of the Super Bowl so many times… and they keep falling short. One reason? Josh Allen still doesn’t have a true number one receiver. Khalil Shakir is nice. Keon Coleman hasn’t developed. They need more.
DJ Moore is available in Chicago. The Bears have Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and Colston Loveland emerging as their future. Moore’s $28.5 million cap hit is steep, but he’s two years removed from a 1,364-yard season.
Carolina Panthers
Carolina backed into the playoffs last year, but let’s be real… they need a lot more firepower to compete in 2026. The pass rush especially needs work.
Harold Landry just helped New England reach the Super Bowl, but the Patriots have a young, cheap defense emerging. Landry is 29 with two years left on his deal at roughly $14 million per year. He’s posted at least 8.5 sacks in each of the last three healthy seasons.
This could be a win-win NFL trade, as New England needs to start restocking draft assets and clearing some cap space.
Chicago Bears
The Bears need to trade for an edge rusher.
Chicago might just have enough draft capital to make a big move and snake Maxx Crosby from the Raiders—as they did with Khalil Mack a few years back.
This team would be BIG scary if they can pull that off.
Cincinnati Bengals
Gervon Dexter just put up a career-best seven sacks for the Bears, and he’s only 25. The problem? He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal, and Chicago is strapped for cap space with extensions looming for Caleb Williams’ weapons—Cinci may be able to ink a deal.
Cleveland Browns
It’s time to stop the charade. Myles Garrett just broke the NFL single-season sack record with 23 sacks… and the Browns still went 5 and 12. He requested a trade last February, which was big news around the NFL. Cleveland talked him into staying with a four-year, $160 million extension, and then proceeded to fire Kevin Stefanski and watch Jim Schwartz walk out the door.
Garrett has a no-trade clause, so he controls where he goes, but Cleveland needs to find a way to sell high at this point… The Lions, Bears, Eagles, and 49ers have all been linked to him. Cleveland needs to accept reality: they’re not winning anything meaningful anytime soon.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys need to trade for a starting cornerback.
Dallas had the worst scoring defense in franchise history last season. Thirty-two million over the cap… but they need to spend resources on the secondary. Trade for Jets CB D.J. Reed. New York is in full teardown mode, and Reed has one year left on his deal. A fifth-round pick gets it done.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos were one game away from the Super Bowl. Now they need to add a true number one receiver via trade in the NFL offseason.
The 49ers voided Aiyuk’s guarantees after a rift over his ACL rehab. He’s available for a reasonable price. A fourth-round pick should get it done. When healthy, Aiyuk is a legitimate 1,000-yard receiver. Pair him with Courtland Sutton, and this offense becomes scary.
Detroit Lions
The Lions missed the playoffs after winning 15 games the year before. Injuries decimated them. But even healthy, that defensive interior needs more push.
Hargrave is 31 and entering the final year of his contract in Minnesota. He’s played in similar systems and still has juice as a pass-rushing three-technique. A fifth-round pick is fair value. Add him to the rotation and watch Aidan Hutchinson feast even more.
Green Bay Packers
Baltimore might release Marlon Humphrey to save cap space, but if he’s available via trade for a late-round pick in the NFL draft, Green Bay should pounce. He’s still capable of being a CB1 when healthy. This defense needs proven veterans, not projects.
Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud took 31 sacks in 2025. The offensive line was improved from the year before, but something has to change.
Dion Dawkins is still playing at a high level in Buffalo, but the Bills need cap relief. His $16.8 million cap hit is manageable for Houston. Protect your franchise quarterback before it’s too late… otherwise, he’s going to continue to unravel!
Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones proved he can be a legitimate starter before his Achilles injury. Now the Colts need to build around him. The defense needs a tone-setter.
Roquan Smith has been a three-time All-Pro in Baltimore, but the Ravens have young linebackers emerging and need cap space. A second-round pick lands one of the best inside linebackers in football over the past few years. Pair him with the young defensive talent already in Indy, and this defense takes a massive leap.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence had a breakout season under Liam Coen… 29 passing touchdowns, 38 total touchdowns, which is a franchise record, and he finished as an MVP finalist. This is finally the guy we expected when Jacksonville took him first overall.
Now the Jags just need to rebuild that defense via a trade in the NFL… and Gervon Dexter Sr., who is entering the final year of his deal, could make a whole lot of sense if the Bears are looking to sell high on a guy that they probably can’t afford to hang on to long-term.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs went 6-11, Mahomes tore his ACL, and the running game averaged under 4.0 yards per carry.
Rough year in K.C. — but at least one of those problems is addressable for this offseason.
Both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are free agents. Kansas City needs a proven back who can carry the load while Mahomes recovers.
David Montgomery is reportedly available—and you have to think that he’d be a scary option in their offense once Mahomes is back from injury.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have Fernando Mendoza at pick one. But what if they want competition? What if they want insurance?
Anthony Richardson is available for almost nothing. The Colts aren’t picking up his fifth-year option. He’s still just 23 with elite physical tools. A sixth-round pick gets him. Let Klint Kubiak see if he can unlock what Indianapolis couldn’t, and then they can flip him once Mendoza is ready to go.
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert has never had a legitimate tight end threat… and after what we saw him cook up with Oronde Gadsden down the stretch this year, it feels like a button well worth pushing.
L.A. should see if it can wrangle Cole Kmet away from the Bears.
He is a proven middle of the field threat, and Chicago could use the cap relief—and he is redundant on that squad with Colston Loveland rounding into form.
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford is still playing at a high level. The Rams made the playoffs despite major injuries. But they need receiver depth behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams via a trade this NFL offseason.
Darius Slayton is buried on the Giants’ depth chart. The Rams could likely get the proven deep threat who can stretch defenses for a couple of mid-rounders. Simple, low-cost, high-upside move.
Miami Dolphins
It is time… Trade AWAY Tua Tagovailoa to another NFL team. Full stop.
This is happening one way or another. Tua was benched for Quinn Ewers. The new regime with Jeff Hafley wants a fresh start. The $56.4 million cap hit is brutal, but keeping him is worse.
Find a team willing to absorb even half the contract. Get a mid-round pick back. Move on and start the rebuild properly.
Minnesota Vikings
Kevin O’Connell knows Cousins better than anyone.
And 2025 showed us that there are real reasons to doubt that J.J. McCarthy is ready. And Cousins is about to be released by Atlanta for essentially nothing.
Atlanta is paying Cousins regardless. Minnesota could sign him for the veteran minimum. But if the Falcons want even a seventh-round pick to trade him before the release, pay it.
That gives them the protection that they were in desperate need of this season when Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer were under center for a roster that was otherwise ready to contend for the Super Bowl.
New England Patriots
If Philadelphia is trading Brown, New England should be in the mix. They have cap space and draft capital. A second-round pick and one or two rotational pieces might just get it done. Give Maye a true alpha receiver and watch this offense transform.
Plus, the stories that come out of that locker room with Brown and Diggs would be something else!
New Orleans Saints
This one may not be popular with Saints fans, but it is time to trade their best offensive player, who is coming off a monster year in the NFL!
New Orleans is in perpetual cap trouble… and Chris Olave is their most valuable trade chip. He is young, talented, and under contract. A receiver-needy team like the 49ers would pay a premium in spite of the injury concerns.
Sell high. Get a first-round pick and let the rebuilding rage.
New York Giants
The Giants have Jaxson Dart at quarterback—and some nice young pieces on that side of the ball with Malike Nabers and Cam Skattebo set to return from injury. Now they need to build a defense around him. The linebacker corps is thin.
Patrick Queen hasn’t lived up to his contract in Pittsburgh, but he’s still talented. The Steelers might want to clear cap space under Mike McCarthy. A fifth-round pick gets a former first-rounder who could thrive with a change of scenery and a young team ready for his veteran presence.
New York Jets
The offense was a mess last year… It is clear Justin Fields isn’t the answer—and while it feels like an adjacent move… Kyler Murray makes a lot of sense.
They need a quarterback who can make plays, and Murray is several clips above Fields.
Murray wants out of Arizona. The Jets have $80 million in cap space and nine picks in rounds 1-3 over the next two drafts. Package a first-round pick and absorb the contract. Murray with Garrett Wilson and the Jets’ weapons could finally break this franchise’s curse.
Philadelphia Eagles
While the whispers were loud all season and the team fought it… It is time… The Eagles should absolutely trade Brown if the right offer comes from another NFL team.
The relationship is fractured. Brown was visibly unhappy all season. Trading him after June 1st saves $7 million in cap space. Get a second-round pick and a quality wideout to slot in, retool around DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley, and move on.
Pittsburgh Steelers
If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return, the Steelers need a quarterback. Mike McCarthy needs someone who can run his system.
San Francisco doesn’t want to trade him, but everyone in the NFL has a price… And Mac Jones makes a lot of sense. A second-round pick might just do it. Jones to McCarthy reunites a quarterback with a coach who loves veteran pocket passers.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers got embarrassed.
A 41 to 6 Divisional Round loss to the Seahawks exposed every crack in this roster. Granted, there were injuries all over, but they need to retool outside.
Shanahan should call his buddy KOC and see if he can make a deal for Jordan Addison to add big-play speed to their wideout room again.
Seattle Seahawks
Dynasties are built in the offseason, and Seattle has one weakness: the interior offensive line.
Center Jalen Sundell was the weakest link up front. The Seahawks need an upgrade to protect Sam Darnold and open running lanes for Walker. They should pick up the phone and see if they can trade for Alijah Vera-Tucker from a Jets team that is in major rebuild mode in the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After their collapse in 2025, it is clear that the Buccaneers need to retool on defense. Especially with the loss of Lavonte David looming…
Look for them to make a deal for an edge rusher… a proven one, like Rashan Gary to help bolster Bowles’s blitz-heavy defense.
Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward needs weapons… and the Titans have cap space and draft capital to make a splash.
If Dallas does the tag-and-trade, Tennessee should be aggressive. Give up a second-round pick, sign Pickens to an extension, and give Ward a true number one receiver. This is how you build around a young quarterback.
Washington Commanders
Jonah Elliss is buried on Denver’s depth chart behind Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. He’s only 22 with legitimate pass-rush upside. Washington desperately needs to improve their defense, and all the signs are there that this is the kind of guy that is meant to be a regular contributor, not a rotational piece. Develop him into a starter and watch this defense grow.
