1 Trade Each NFL Contender Should Consider to Fill Biggest Weakness

The top NFL teams can't get complacent with an open Super Bowl window because it can close quickly. That's why we see playoff contenders make aggressive moves in the offseason.

Recently, the Denver Broncos acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and a fourth-round pick. Sure, they sent more than expected to the Miami Dolphins—a first-rounder, third-rounder and fourth-rounder—but teams will pay a steep price for the missing piece of a Super Bowl-caliber roster.

There will likely be more deals between now and Week 1 of the upcoming season. So, we highlighted one trade that would fill each contender's biggest roster void. 

The top 10 teams listed below reflect DraftKings Sportsbook Super Bowl odds as of Tuesday, March 24.

Rams Acquire Davis Mills to Upgrade Backup QB Position

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills

Super Bowl odds: +750

The Los Angeles Rams made a bold move for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to fill the biggest weakness in their starting lineup. They don't have a glaring roster need, but the team should look to upgrade at backup quarterback. 

Matthew Stafford is entering his age-38 season. Though he's been mostly healthy over the previous three terms, the wear and tear on his body could take a toll on him following a full 17-game campaign.

The Rams haven't re-signed Jimmy Garoppolo, and Stetson Bennett IV hasn't developed much in a third-string role. If Stafford misses time, Los Angeles would need a veteran to keep its offense steady. 

General manager Les Snead should call the Houston Texans to inquire about Davis Mills, who went 3-0 as a fill-in starter for C.J. Stroud last season.

Of course, Houston values Mills' ability to lead its offense in case Stroud gets banged up again, but the 27-year-old is entering a contract year. The Texans may be willing to deal him now, before he hits free agency and they ramp up talks for Stroud's extension next offseason.

Seahawks Trade for DeShon Elliott to Compensate for Losses in Free Agency

AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis

Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott

Super Bowl odds: +950

Within the first two weeks of free agency, the Seattle Seahawks lost safety Coby Bryant and cornerback Riq Woolen.

General manager John Schneider has done an outstanding job filling roster holes in recent drafts, but he should bring in veteran insurance for the secondary. 

The Seahawks signed safety Rodney Thomas II, but he's primarily played on special teams over the last two years. They can upgrade the position with an established veteran like DeShon Elliott.

The Pittsburgh Steelers may be willing to deal Elliott after they signed safeties Jaquan Brisker and Darnell Savage. Unless Jalen Ramsey moves into the slot full-time, Elliott could play in a reduced role coming off an injury-riddled campaign.

In 2024, his first year with the Steelers, Elliott recorded a career-high 108 tackles (four for loss), six pass breakups and an interception while allowing an 88.8 passer rating in coverage. Now healthy, he could be a strong contributor to Seattle's less crowded secondary.

Bills Trade for D.J. Jones to Patch Up Run Defense

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J. Jones

Super Bowl odds: +1000

In 2025, the Buffalo Bills allowed the fifth-most rushing yards, third-most yards per carry and the second-most rushing touchdowns. They need to beef up their defensive front on early downs.

Thus far, the Bills have made few notable moves to bolster their interior defensive line, which could be a problem if they rely solely on inexperienced starters and rookies.

New Bills head coach Joe Brady hired defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, who was the defensive pass game coordinator on the Denver Broncos' staff under Sean Payton over the last two years. He may be able to convince the Bills that D.J. Jones is worth acquiring to strengthen the run defense.

Although Jones only played 40 percent of the defensive snaps during the previous term, he logged 39 tackles (four for loss) and three sacks, missing just three tackles all year.

In Buffalo, Jones could play in an expanded role as the leader of a young interior group that shows a little more resistance against ground attacks.

Ravens Acquire Dontayvion Wicks to Restock Pass-Catching Group

AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks

Super Bowl odds: +1000

In recent years, the Baltimore Ravens have cycled through several veteran wide receivers in the latter stages of their careers, including Sammy Watkins, DeSean Jackson, Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor, and, most recently, 33-year-old DeAndre Hopkins.

Baltimore needs to switch up its approach to bolstering its receiver room by targeting a younger player with more upside. The club can land a complementary playmaker to pair alongside Zay Flowers via trade with the Green Bay Packers, who have a crowded receiver room.

As a rookie fifth-rounder out of Virginia, Dontayvion Wicks carved out a role in the Packers' aerial attack, hauling in 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. But the rise of wideout Jayden Reed, along with the addition of first-rounder Matthew Golden, buried him on the depth chart. Also, tight end Tucker Kraft took on an expanded role in the passing game before he tore his ACL.

Wicks has shown he can exceed the expectations of a Day 3 draft pick with limited opportunities in the passing game. However, unless the Packers trade one of the other receivers, he won't reach his full potential with them.

At 6'1", 206 pounds, Wicks can be the big-bodied X-receiver in the Ravens offense who's a threat in the red zone. In his first two seasons, he caught nine touchdown passes while on the field for less than 55 percent of the Packers' offensive snaps.

Chiefs Trade for Tyrique Stevenson to Rebuild Secondary

AP Photo/John Locher

Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson

Super Bowl odds: +1400

This offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs lost two of their primary starting cornerbacks from the previous year. They traded All-Pro Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams and allowed Jaylen Watson to walk; he also signed with the Rams.

Because of those key departures, the Chiefs' cornerback room needs help. Kansas City may be able to land Tyrique Stevenson in a deal with the Chicago Bears.

Stevenson is entering the final year of his rookie deal. So, the Bears could consider trading the talented cover man if they don't plan to sign him to an extension before he hits free agency in 2027.

After allowing nine touchdowns in his rookie campaign, Stevenson made strides in some areas of coverage, giving up five scores and a passer rating below 88 over the last two terms. 

However, Stevenson is still susceptible to big plays. In 2025, he allowed a staggering 15.3 yards per catch. While the Chiefs should be alarmed by that number, respected defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo could help the young 25-year-old cornerback iron out the wrinkles in his game.

49ers Acquire Jarrett Patterson to Further Solidify Offensive Line

AP Photo/John Raoux

Houston Texans center Jarrett Patterson

Super Bowl odds: +1500

The San Francisco 49ers have an aging roster with key players on the mend, but when they're mostly healthy, you would be hard-pressed to find glaring weaknesses among the starters. Also, as a high-level play-caller, head coach Kyle Shanahan can cover up liabilities. 

However, general manager John Lynch should make a move for Jarrett Patterson to replace Spencer Burford, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, as an upgrade over Connor Colby and Robert Jones. The latter signed with San Francisco on Monday, but he missed the entire 2025 season because of a neck injury.

San Francisco should reach out to the Houston Texans, who signed three-time Pro Bowl guard Wyatt Teller. The 49ers may be able to acquire Jarrett Patterson for a 2027 pick if they don't want to give up one of their four fourth-rounders this year.

In 2025, Patterson transitioned from center to left guard, starting in five out of 17 outings. He allowed zero sacks while on the field for 206 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. 

The 26-year-old only has a small sample size of snaps at left guard in the pros, but he also played the position in his final collegiate term at Notre Dame. He has enough experience to carve out a starting role with a change of scenery.

Packers Acquire Another Pass-Rusher, Trade for Kayvon Thibodeaux

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux

Super Bowl odds: +1500

The Green Bay Packers made the biggest trade of the 2025 offseason, acquiring Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys. They reaped early rewards of that trade, but the star pass-rusher tore his ACL last December, which jeopardizes his availability for the start of the 2026 campaign.

The Packers traded starting outside linebacker Rashan Gary to the Cowboys and lost Kingsley Enagbare to the New York Jets in free agency. They need reinforcements on the edge.

Assuming Parsons makes a full recovery, Green Bay doesn't need to take a big swing at a pass-rusher. However, Lukas Van Ness is in the final term of his rookie deal, and he's registered just 8.5 sacks through three seasons. The Packers' secondary could struggle if the defensive front fails to generate pocket pressure.

Green Bay can make a move for Kayvon Thibodeaux with the intention of pairing him with Parsons for the long term. It's a risky move given the four-year pro's inconsistent production, but he could benefit from lining up across an elite pass-rusher. Also, new Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon can maximize Thibodeaux's strengths in a mixed front. 

According to ESPN's Jordan Raanan, multiple league sources expect the Giants to trade Thibodeaux, who has one year left on his rookie contract. Green Bay could possibly get a deal done with a Day 2 pick.

Chargers Add Another Offensive Lineman, Acquire G Zak Zinter

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

Cleveland Browns guard Zak Zinter

Super Bowl odds: +1600

This offseason, the Los Angeles Chargers have signed two interior offensive linemen: guard Cole Strange and center Tyler Biadasz. Rather than continue to experiment with Trevor Penning at guard, they can add a player who's familiar with head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Zak Zinter played four collegiate terms under Harbaugh at Michigan. He was a consensus All-American in his senior year. The Cleveland Browns selected him in the third round of the 2024 draft. 

The Browns have a new coaching regime led by Todd Monken, an offensive-minded lead skipper who may have a different vision for the offense. 

Besides that, the Browns have signed Elgton Jenkins and Zion Johnson, two interior offensive linemen. Zinter has started in just three out of 22 games. So, he could have an uphill climb for a starting position in Cleveland. 

The Chargers can plug Zinter into the right guard spot where he lined up at Michigan, allowing Strange to start at left guard, a position he played in his first two seasons with the New England Patriots.

Lions Trade for OT Walker Little to Replace Taylor Decker

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Walker Little

Super Bowl odds: +1700

Before free agency, the Detroit Lions released longtime offensive tackle Taylor Decker, creating a void on quarterback Jared Goff's blind side. They signed Larry Borom, but he's a placeholder and has been on three teams in three years.

The Lions can aim higher for a better upgrade at a premium position to protect Goff, who's not fleet of foot. They could land Walker Little, who lost his starting job at left tackle to Cole Van Lanen at the end of the previous season. 

The Jaguars moved Little to right guard in the final three weeks of the 2025 campaign and then they signed Van Lanen to a three-year, $51 million extension, which is a midrange salary for a left tackle.

Jacksonville could listen to offers for Little, who may be ready to move on. He's made 33 starts in his last 44 outings. In Detroit, the 26-year-old would get a fresh start in a lead position, two years from his first free-agency bid. 

Eagles Acquire Jessie Bates III to Patch Up Pass Coverage

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III

Super Bowl odds: +1700

The Philadelphia Eagles are sorely lacking in quality experience at safety. They lost Reed Blankenship in free agency and traded Sydney Brown to the Atlanta Falcons. Andrew Mukuba has started in 10 career games. Philadelphia re-signed Marcus Epps, who only played 33 percent of the defensive snaps last year.

Last season, Mukuba made plays on the ball, recording three pass breakups and two interceptions, but he allowed a 113 passer rating in coverage.

While edge-rusher stands out as another position of need, the Eagles don't have a surefire starter at safety. They must add a reliable deep-cover defender before the draft.

General manager Howie Roseman can attempt to make another deal with the Falcons for Jessie Bates III.

At 29, Bates is still a premier coverage safety. He's recorded at least three interceptions in four consecutive seasons. Last year, the eight-year veteran allowed a 73.7 passer rating.

Nonetheless, in the final year of his contract, Bates has an inflated cap number of $24.8 million. With a new regime in place, Atlanta may consider trading him for draft capital. If that's the case, the Eagles can pounce on an opportunity to add a Pro Bowl-caliber defender to their secondary.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.