Every NFL Team's Most Valuable Offseason Trade Chip

There will be no more trading in the NFL until March.

However, with the 2025 trade deadline complete and the home stretch around the corner, let's look ahead at potential trade candidates for the 2026 offseason. 

Here's one per franchise. 

Contract and salary-cap information courtesy of Spotrac

AFC East

AP Photo/Doug Murray

Jaylen Waddle

Buffalo Bills: CB Taron Johnson

Maybe we can talk about Greg Rousseau if they plan to draft an edge defender early and re-sign Joey Bosa and/or A.J. Epenesa, but those are some big "ifs" and Rousseau's contract would be tough to move. Johnson, 29, is an experienced slot corner, and Buffalo has a lot of talent—young and old—elsewhere in the secondary.

Miami Dolphins: WR Jaylen Waddle

There's just too much up in the air with Tyreek Hill, leaving Waddle as the most attractive veteran under contract beyond 2025. He could arguably stay on as part of a rebuild/reload. However, he turns 27 this month and is on track to become very expensive beyond 2026.

New England Patriots: RB Rhamondre Stevenson

The 27-year-old still has his moments, which should be enough to draw some interest. Meanwhile, rookie second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson has emerged as the clear-cut top dog in the New England backfield. 

New York Jets: DL Harrison Phillips

They may have something in the younger and less expensive Jowon Briggs, and it makes sense to address the interior defensive line in the draft. Phillips has a good track record, but he would have more value with a 2026 contender in his age-30 contract year.

AFC North

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Roquan Smith

Baltimore Ravens: LB Roquan Smith

It's possible the emergence of intriguing youngsters Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson will make Smith expendable for a Ravens team that could save oodles of cap space by dealing the 28-year-old to a linebacker-needy squad. 

Cincinnati Bengals: RB Chase Brown

It's slim pickings considering how thin the roster is and how many key players are either untradeable or slated for free agency. Brown is having a down year and could be seen as an enticing option with a minimal financial commitment by a team hoping a change of pace could help him in a contract year. Samaje Perine has outperformed Brown this season. 

Cleveland Browns: CB Denzel Ward

The four-time Pro Bowler will turn 29 this offseason, and thus might not make much sense as part of Cleveland's continued rebuild. Tyson Campbell and Myles Harden aren't going anywhere, and the team can save some cap space with a deal to a contender that needs a proven cover guy. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Edge T.J. Watt

Hear me out here. Pittsburgh may be entering at least a mini rebuild, especially if Aaron Rodgers retires, and Watt is probably beyond his prime at 31. The team can save at least $12 million by dealing him away, and the Steelers have plenty of other younger edge-rushing weapons in Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer. 

AFC South

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Jeffery Simmons

Houston Texans: RB Joe Mixon

It appears the Texans have something in rookie Woody Marks, who has compiled 219 scrimmage yards on 41 touches the last three weeks. With Nick Chubb also potentially in the mix and the draft back in play, dangling the 29-year-old Mixon makes sense. He was a Pro Bowler in 2024 but has missed all of 2025 to date due to a foot injury. Trading him would save Houston $8.5 million. 

Indianapolis Colts: QB Anthony Richardson

Daniel Jones has almost certainly done enough to return to the starting role in 2026, so it's an ideal time for the Colts to move on from the 23-year-old Richardson. Somebody should be willing to see if a new setting will unlock something in the 2023 No. 4 overall pick. He'd also be relatively cheap in a walk year in 2026, while saving the Colts more than $5 million in cap space.

Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

We may be witnessing the emergence of Parker Washington for a team that also recently acquired veteran Jakobi Meyers. Travis Hunter has to be expected to take another step when he returns to health next season, and Thomas just hasn't taken off in Year 2. There was talk of a potential deadline deal, so that could easily pick up again in the spring. 

Tennessee Titans: DL Jeffery Simmons

Simmons is a great player, but he may have plateaued for a Tennessee team that is several years away from contending. By then, there's a good chance he won't be worth the $28.5 million he's owed in 2027. The rebuilding Titans should try to get considerable draft capital now for a guy who will turn 29 in July.

AFC West

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Maxx Crosby

Denver Broncos: CB Riley Moss

We worked hard to find a more intriguing option here, but there are no obvious high-profile trade candidates on this roster. The only other option is to go wildly bold with Patrick Surtain II, because the point here is that Jahdae Barron, Ja'Quan McMillian and Kris Abrams-Draine give the Broncos an embarrassment of cornerback depth. 

Kansas City Chiefs: CB Kristian Fulton

The 27-year-old signed a two-year, $20 million deal in the offseason but has been lost in the shuffle while Nohl Williams and Jaylen Watson deliver in support of top cover guy Trent McDuffie. If they are able to lock up Watson in his walk year, Fulton becomes quite expendable. 

Las Vegas Raiders: Edge Maxx Crosby

The four-time Pro Bowler will be 29 next year, and it's looking increasingly likely that he peaked in 2022 and 2023. The Raiders just gave him a hefty contract extension, but they can save nearly $31 million in salary-cap space by trading Crosby this offseason. It's got to be a consideration, especially if they're holding out hope for Tyree Wilson, and/or if a Crosby deal can help them land their next franchise quarterback.

Los Angeles Chargers: Edge Bud Dupree 

Keenan Allen and Najee Harris would make sense if they didn't have expiring contracts, so we're forced to roll with the less appealing but well-established Dupree. This is assuming they extend newbie standout Odafe Oweh, and potentially keep veteran Khalil Mack. I'd lean toward that while seeing if someone will bite on Dupree ahead of a contract year. It starts with Tuli Tuipulotu being the guy now.

NFC East

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Kayvon Thibodeaux

Dallas Cowboys: DL Osa Odighizuwa?

It remains to be seen how the Cowboys will utilize Odighizuwa alongside Quinnen Williams as well as preseason acquisition Kenny Clark, but the fact is they could be positioned to leverage that newfound interior depth to improve elsewhere this offseason. You'd think they'd be more likely to move on from Odighizuwa, whose play has dropped off in 2025. That said, they'll probably stick with all three highly-paid linemen, leaving veteran Solomon Thomas as the obvious trade chip. 

New York Giants: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux

When you've got as many soft spots as the Giants do and you have three blue-chip-caliber players at one position, there isn't much of a choice. You can't part with Brian Burns the way he's playing, and Abdul Carter isn't going anywhere. That leaves Thibodeaux ahead of a contract year in 2026. Suitors will surely see the raw talent and upside. 

Philadelphia Eagles: RB Tank Bigsby

A preseason addition via trade from the Jaguars, Bigsby scored eight touchdowns in 2024 and went over 100 yards in place of an injured Saquon Barkley in Week 8. He's still just 24 and remains under team control for 2026, but there might not be enough room for him with 2024 fourth-round pick Will Shipley also in the mix. 

Washington Commanders: DL Daron Payne

This is a tough one. Everywhere there's some intriguing depth (running back, the edge, the interior defensive front), they've got tons of pending free agents and/or injuries that cloud things. We'll go with Payne because he'll be entering a contract year at 29 and his play has seemingly dropped off. Javon Kinlaw is under contract through 2027, 2024 second-round pick Jer'Zhan Newton has a lot of potential, and midseason pickup Sheldon Day has been a pleasant surprise. 

NFC North

AP Photo/Rick Osentoski

David Montgomery

Chicago Bears: CB Jaylon Johnson

We could also go with Gervon Dexter Sr. here, if you prefer a less crucial, less expensive option. Regardless, the Chicago defense has proved deep enough up front and in the secondary that the team could afford to dangle either defensive regular. 

Detroit Lions: RB David Montgomery

The Lions are pretty locked in with little obvious wiggle room. In a perfect world, a rookie such as Tyleik Williams or Isaac TeSlaa would free them up to unload a veteran starter, but that hasn't happened. The only absolute luxury they have is two stellar running backs, and it would be ridiculous to deal Jahmyr Gibbs.

Green Bay Packers: WR Jayden Reed

They would have liked to see Lukas Van Ness pave the way for a Rashan Gary trade, but that hasn't happened, so it's doubtful we see movement on the edge. Instead, a team with plenty of options at wide receiver could opt to move on from Reed or Christian Watson, neither of whom have fully delivered but have the talent and remain young at 25 and 26, respectively. 

Minnesota Vikings: DL Javon Hargrave

Continuing a trend, Dallas Turner probably hasn't given the Vikings enough confidence to ship out Andrew Van Ginkel. That said, they've gotten enough out of Jalen Redmond and Levi Drake Rodriguez to make the expensive 32-year-old Hargrave expendable ahead of a contract year. Keep in mind they would still have Jonathan Allen's experience within the defensive line.

NFC South

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Alvin Kamara

Atlanta Falcons: QB Kirk Cousins

This was the toughest one of the lot. I would have loved to give you someone other than a 37-year-old backup quarterback, but the Falcons lack a proven trade piece that would yield anything of significance. A Cousins deal would save the team $32.5 million, but he's much more likely to be released.

Carolina Panthers: RB Chuba Hubbard

Rico Dowdle has easily outperformed Hubbard this season, which should lead to a new contract or the franchise tag. Carolina also used a first-round pick on Trevor Etienne, who has played well in limited action as a rookie. Hubbard still has a strong track record, and someone else could save the Panthers some cash by seeing if the 26-year-old can excel elsewhere. 

New Orleans Saints: RB Alvin Kamara

Receiver Brandin Cooks would work here, too. Both players are on the wrong side of 30 and unlikely to factor in beyond the current rebuild, and both remain under contract through 2026. The difference is Kamara is younger (30 versus 32) and has been much more productive than Cooks in recent seasons. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Chris Godwin

Rookie Emeka Egbuka's play speaks for itself, while first-year seventh-rounder Tez Johnson has also found a role with four touchdowns in his last four games. Godwin turns 30 this winter. He's been declining for nearly half a decade. He can still offer a lot somewhere, but it makes little sense for the Bucs to keep him around at $22 million a year. That new deal in the summer was a mistake.

NFC West

AP Photo/Scot Tucker

Mac Jones

Arizona Cardinals: LB Mack Wilson Jr.

I've seen just about enough from rookie fourth-rounder Cody Simon to believe he and offseason addition Akeem Davis-Gaither can man the two starting off-ball linebacker spots in Arizona. Wilson could offer a lot more elsewhere as a 28-year-old with considerable starting experience, and a trade would save the Cardinals a few million bucks. 

Los Angeles Rams: Edge Byron Young

The Rams have three intriguing young edge-rushers in Young, Jared Verse and rookie third-rounder Josaiah Stewart. We probably still need to see a little more from Stewart, but if he can continue to improve down the stretch, the Rams could promote him to a role opposite the flourishing Verse and put Young on the trade market as a sack-happy and inexpensive 28-year-old. 

San Francisco 49ers: QB Mac Jones

Yes, I considered listing Brock Purdy instead. Regardless, two 20-something quarterbacks who have excelled in San Francisco remain under contract beyond this season. Jones might actually be the better player, but they committed fully to Purdy in the offseason, and that five-year, $265 million deal won't be easy to trade. 

Seattle Seahawks: Edge Uchenna Nwosu

After a couple injury-plagued seasons in a row, the 28-year-old has bounced back to an extent in 2025. But he's still entering an expensive walk year, and the Seahawks can pocket $11.5 million by dealing him in the offseason. With DeMarcus Lawrence now rolling and Boye Mafe and Derick Hall factoring in, Seattle could decide to move on and get something back for Nwosu while he's healthy.