1 Trade That Would Put NFL Fringe Contenders Over the Top

Following Sunday's slate of exciting Week 4 games, seven NFL teams found themselves sitting at .500 and on the fringes of contending.

While one of these 2-2 programs is a reigning powerhouse in the Kansas City Chiefs—an organization that shouldn't have too much trouble making an eighth consecutive postseason appearance with Patrick Mahomes at the helm—the other six don't have the same track record of consistent success in recent years.

Glaring roster holes are one of the key reasons behind each of these clubs' polarizing performances. Every one of these playoff hopefuls has a clear need for some help at a key position, voids that can only be filled at this point in the year via trade.

With that in mind, let's highlight one blockbuster deal each of these Super Bowl hopefuls could make to ensure their 2025 season ends with a punched playoff ticket.

Atlanta Falcons: Get Jakobi Meyers

AP Photo/David Becker

Atlanta Falcons receive: WR Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders receive: 2026 fourth-round draft pick

While Atlanta is back in contention following a Week 4 victory and has momentum heading into a Week 5 bye, there is still work left to do if it's going to make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

One of the more glaring issues is a lack of weapons for second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to work with. The team has been leaning heavily on Bijan Robinson to generate much of its offense, evidenced by the superstar back leading Atlanta in both rushing and receiving yardage over the first four contests.

With Drake London and Kyle Pitts being the only other Atlanta players to record at least 200 receiving yards this season—not to mention the only other Falcons to record more than seven catches or 16 targets or 79 receiving yards or a touchdown reception in 2025—there is a clear need for a higher quality WR2 to round out the passing attack.

Darnell Mooney hasn't been playing up to par, having recorded a pedestrian 7/79/0 line on 16 total targets since making his 2025 debut in Week 2. Rather than hope for an improvement, the Falcons should be aggressive and make a run at one of the league's best complementary receivers in Jakobi Meyers.

Meyers has been moonlighting as a WR1 for the Las Vegas Raiders following Davante Adams' departure and leads the club with 21 catches for 258 yards and 33 targets.

While those are strong marks, he'd make for an excellent No. 2 option behind London in Atlanta and has the ability to instantly elevate the Falcons receiving corps to one of the league's best.

It would also oblige the trade request Meyers made this offseason, clearing up any potential contractual issues that could be on the horizon.

With Penix needing to find consistency in order to make the leap and take the Falcons into contention, the team shouldn't hesitate to give up some valuable Day 2 capital to make this deal happen.

Chicago Bears: Land Breece Hall

AP Photo/Marta Lavandier

Chicago Bears receive: RB Breece Hall

New York Jets receive: 2026 third- and sixth-round draft picks

The Bears may be .500 but they have some major issues to sort out in the backfield, an area that didn't see any notable offseason additions outside of seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai.

D'Andre Swift remained the team's RB1 after a disappointing 2024 performance and hasn't fared much better despite the schematic shift ahead of his second year with the club.

Swift is averaging an abysmal 3.3 yards per carry through the first four games of 2025, regressing from the already-concerning 3.8 YPC he posted last season. With his receiving work (13 catches for 85 yards) also failing to move the needle, there's a real need for a change to Chicago's backfield platoon.

With Monangai averaging a modest 3.6 yards per carry and Roschon Johnson failing to garner even a single touch in 2025, it doesn't appear the Bears have an in-house option to usurp Swift.

The organization will instead have to hit the trade market before the deadline to shore up its backfield deficiencies.

Breece Hall could be available with the Jets off to a dismal start under new head coach Aaron Glenn.

The team lost its first three games and has quickly fallen out of contention, opening the door for players on expiring contracts such as Breece Hall to be dealt.

NFL Network's Maurice Jones-Drew recently highlighted Hall as the back who stands at the most for his chances of being dealt prior to the 2025 trade deadline.

Hall has declined in recent years after making a massive splash as a rookie. He's now averaging a career-low 4.1 yards per carry and could be expendable with both Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis pushing the fourth-year veteran for touches.

A change of scenery may be exactly what Hall needs to revive his career. He averaged an impressive 5.1 YPC in his first NFL season and clearly has the talent to be a playmaker in the league.

Pairing him with Johnson in Chicago could rejuvenate the slumping back and help turn the Bears into a much more consistent contender.

Minnesota Vikings: Add Evan Neal

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Minnesota Vikings receive: OL Evan Neal

New York Giants receive: 2026 seventh-round draft pick

The Vikings' makeshift offensive line continued to implode in Week 4 when right tackle Brian O'Neill and center Ryan Kelly went down with injuries.

The unit was already featuring backups at three starting spots and could hardly afford to lose more talent within the offensive trenches.

While the team has a chance to get healthier heading into a much-needed bye following a 24-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Minnesota's brass should also use the downtime to work the phones and find some O-line help.

Considering O'Neill's injury is an MCL issue that will reportedly keep him out for "some time," per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings will need to unearth a replacement in short order.

Evan Neal may be the perfect answer, even though he's yet to see the field for the New York Giants in 2025.

He was relegated to backup guard work this season despite making 27 starts since the G-Men drafted him at No. 7 overall in 2022. He's most experienced at the tackle positions and could slot in to replace O'Neill immediately, becoming the latest reclamation project in the Twin Cities under head coach Kevin O'Connell.

While Neal has been a draft bust for Big Blue, he's playing out the final year of his rookie deal and is certain to exit New York after the 2025 campaign.

Rather than lose him for nothing after the season, the Giants should be open to trading him Minnesota's way for a Day 3 pick—a move that will help both clubs.

New England Patriots: Bring in A.J. Brown

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

New England Patriots receive: WR A.J. Brown

Philadelphia Eagles receive: 2026 second-round draft pick, 2027 second-round draft pick

The Patriots may have looked great in all three phases of their 42-13 thrashing of the Carolina Panthers, but there's still a clear need for this 2-2 squad to add some receiver help to unlock Drake Maye's vast potential.

Despite making the Pro Bowl as a rookie, Maye has been inconsistent as a passer throughout his short tenure in the pros. After completing 14 of his 17 throws for 203 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4, the second-year signal-caller is still seeking the first 300-yard game of his career.

While Stefon Diggs' breakout six-catch, 101-yard outing inspires confidence that the veteran might become the WR1 this unit has long lacked, the Patriots don't have a single pass-catcher with 20 catches on the season. The rushing attack hasn't made up for it, either, averaging a lowly 101.3 yards per game.

Rather than hope Diggs can remain healthy and productive while rekindling his superstar status, the Pats should instead trade for a true lead wideout in A.J. Brown.

Brown has been struggling to find his footing in 2025, catching just 14 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. Despite the slow start, the 28-year-old isn't too far removed from a series of world-class campaigns such as his 2023 Pro Bowl season in which he posted a 106/1,456/7 line on 158 targets.

Even last year, while missing four contests due to injury, Brown racked up 1,079 yards and seven scores on 67 receptions.

With the Eagles still managing to get off to a 4-0 start despite Brown's shortcomings, they may be amenable to dealing him to New England. His services won't come cheap, but the Pats shouldn't hesitate to create a standout, veteran-laden receiving corps led by Diggs and Brown.

Doing so will help Maye reach his ceiling and allow him to lead this organization back to the playoffs.

Washington Commanders: Trade for Riq Woolen

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Washington Commanders receive: CB Riq Woolen

Seattle Seahawks receive: 2026 sixth-round draft pick, 2027 seventh-round draft pick

The Commanders made a surprise run to the NFC Championship Game last season, but they won't make it back in 2026 if they continue to struggle against quality foes.

While Washington picked up convincing wins over the lowly New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders, losses to the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons have left this club looking like a fringe contender at best.

The eventual return of star quarterback Jayden Daniels will help the Commanders get back on track, but there are some defensive woes that must be addressed if Washington is going to have any real hope of making a Super Bowl trip.

The Packers exploited Washington's poor coverage abilities in Week 2 by utilizing a variety of pre-snap motions to create mismatches and force the Commanders' slower defenders to try to cover speedier wideouts and running backs in space.

The Falcons deployed similar strategies on Sunday, including this passing play in which Bijan Robinson torched aging linebacker Bobby Wagner.

One way the Commanders could bolster their flailing coverage abilities is by bringing in Riq Woolen.

Per the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Woolen is on the trade radar due to his reduced role with the Seattle Seahawks coupled with his contract-year status.

While the 2022 Pro Bowler may not be thriving in 2025, he's still only giving up a respectable 61.1 percent completion rate in coverage and should have plenty of tread left on his tires at the age of 26.

If Seattle is willing to move on from Woolen, the Commanders should capitalize and bolster one of the weakest areas of their roster. It could be the difference between a deep playoff run and missing out entirely.

Arizona Cardinals: Call For Romeo Doubs

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Arizona Cardinals receive: WR Romeo Doubs, 2026 seventh-round draft pick

Green Bay Packers receive: 2026 fifth-round draft pick

The Cardinals suffered a tough defeat in Week 4, a loss to the rival Seattle Seahawks that dropped them back to .500 following back-to-back wins to open 2025.

One of the biggest reasons Arizona has sputtered out is a lack of offensive production, an issue that may not be fixable without some outside help.

Quarterback Kyler Murray is overseeing an offense that rates No. 28 in passing with a lowly 164.8 yards per game average. The team also failed to create any gains longer than 18 yards in Week 4, evidence that a playmaker like Romeo Doubs may be exactly who the Cardinals need to get back on track.

Although he's not an elite superstar who can single-handedly change a game, Doubs is a quality No. 2 WR who can be a perfect complement to up-and-coming No. 1 option Marvin Harrison Jr.

Doubs' value went up in Week 4 after posting one of the most productive performances of his entire career, helping earn a draw against the Dallas Cowboys by catching six of his eight targets for 58 yards and a whopping three scores. The sizzling outing brought him to a respectable 179 yards and four touchdowns on 13 catches for the season.

Despite the breakout game, Green Bay's roster is brimming with complementary wideouts and Doubs is playing out the final year of his current contract. The Cardinals certainly shouldn't hesitate to make this call, as they are running out of chances to remain a contender.