RBs That NFL Teams Must Pursue in Trades Right Now

With training camp now in session for all 32 NFL teams, it will quickly become apparent which clubs are in need of some backfield help and which have running backs to spare.

These teams can help one another out, facilitating trades that provide the RB-needy squads with players that can patch the hole in exchange for valuable draft capital, cap room and roster space.

With that in mind, let's highlight some running backs who could potentially be available and are worth pursuing before the 2026 NFL season kicks off.

James Conner, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

James Conner's career hit an unfortunate snag in 2025 when a serious ankle injury cost him all but three games during an age-30 season. It marked the end of a surprise run of back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns, but there should still be some tread left on the veteran's tires.

Conner opted to take a pay cut at the start of the offseason to remain in Arizona for the final year of his contract, but his projected role in the offense took a massive hit when the team selected Jeremiyah Love at No. 3 overall in the 2026 draft.

Love profiles as a feature back capable of playing the lion's share of offensive snaps for the rebuilding Cardinals, leaving Conner to compete with a much younger Trey Benson—coming off an injury-plagued season of his own—for the scraps. The Cardinals can clear this logjam and free up a roster spot by trading Conner away, a shrewd move considering they are likely to recoup little to no value when he departs in free agency after the upcoming season.

The Chicago Bears are a sensible suitor for the nine-year veteran, needing to add one more proven piece to their backfield to truly feel comfortable about it in 2026. The team failed to address the glaring lack of depth behind D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai during both free agency and the draft, inaction that kept an ineffective Roschon Johnson in Chicago's RB3 position going into training camp.

Johnson has largely been a miss for the team that selected him in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, regressing significantly in each of his three NFL seasons. Despite showing some potential as a rookie, Johnson averaged an abysmal 2.7 yards per carry in Year 2 and was only out on the field for four offensive snaps in 2025.

Conner represents a massive upgrade in that spot while carrying a modest $4.8 million cap hit. Adding him and his team-friendly deal would allow the Bears to rotate three strong running backs who can grind down defenses and stave off their own wear-and-tear.

Projected Landing Spot: Chicago Bears

Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Brian Westerholt

The Carolina Panthers are poised to turn their backfield over to Jonathon Brooks in 2026. With the third-year veteran set to take over the RB1 gig that Rico Dowdle vacated this spring, incumbent backup Chuba Hubbard could be rendered expendable.

Hubbard may not be the top RB in Carolina any longer, but he has shown he can produce in a feature role. He tallied 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns on 250 carries and added 171 yards and a TD on 43 catches in 2024. He's also been effective as a backup and rotational option, the likely gig he would take on for most teams that would have trade interest in the 27-year-old.

While Carolina may want to hold off on trading Hubbard due to Brooks' concerning injury history—which includes a pair of right knee ACL tears in consecutive years—the front office may not be able to refuse the allure of cap relief (the team would take on just $1.5 million in dead money versus nearly $6 million in savings) and draft capital it could get for the back.

The Panthers would also retain some intriguing talent on the bench behind Brooks, including 2025 fourth-rounder Trevor Etienne and 2020 second-rounder A.J. Dillon.

The Green Bay Packers are a strong landing spot for Hubbard, with the team needing a capable backup—and potential replacement—for Josh Jacobs in 2026.

Although Jacobs is an effective three‑down back at his best, Green Bay's RB1 could miss time after an off‑field incident earlier this year that led to his arrest and booking on recommended domestic‑abuse counts. He was subsequently released from custody with no criminal charges filed at this time, as Brown County prosecutors said they are not yet prepared to make a formal charging decision and have requested further investigation. The NFL has said it is aware of the situation and in contact with the Packers under its personal conduct policy, leaving Jacobs' availability for 2026 potentially subject to league discipline.

Even if Jacobs is active and available to start the year, the seven-year veteran has missed multiple games in two of the last three seasons. Wear and tear remains a concern in 2026 given he's logged a hefty 607 touches since joining the Packers two years ago.

Hubbard would immediately slot in as Green Bay's No. 2 RB, edging out the likes of Chris Brooks (a sparsely utilized backup during his first three NFL seasons) and an injury-prone MarShawn Lloyd for the job.

Hubbard's presence would not only provide the Packers with a quality option to rotate in but also the insurance the squad needs to stay afloat if the starter has to sit out.

Projected Landing Spot: Green Bay Packers

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

The New Orleans Saints are forging into a new era after signing Travis Etienne Jr. to lead their backfield. The prized free-agent pickup projects to relegate incumbent starter Alvin Kamara to a backup role for the first time since his rookie season in 2017.

While the Saints could retain Kamara as their RB2, they have several younger, cheaper candidates for the job. Devin Neal flashed potential as a rookie last season, while Kendre Miller and Audric Estime are also under contract for the 2026 campaign. This glut of capable backs makes a Kamara trade an appealing option for New Orleans' brass.

While Kamara has hinted he would prefer to retire and "go drink a pina colada somewhere" if he's traded, there's always a chance he could be convinced to move from the Big Easy to the Big Apple for a chance to close out his esteemed career with a Super Bowl championship.

The New York Giants already have a hard-charging starter in Cam Skattebo and a versatile backup in Tyrone Tracy Jr., but the depth behind the pair is shaky. Devin Singletary is currently occupying that role in training camp, but the veteran has been steadily regressing in recent years and averaged a career-low 3.7 yards per attempt in 2025.

Kamara would greatly energize Big Blue's backfield, even in a third-string role. Despite entering an age-31 campaign—his 10th in the NFL—he still can hit home runs when he gets the football. In 2024, his most recently healthy season, the back racked up a solid 950 yards and six touchdowns on 228 totes and another 543 yards and a pair of scores on 68 catches in 14 games.

For a relatively low cost, the G-Men would be getting a key depth option—insurance that they sorely need given Skattebo's injury history and playing style—who could help push the offense over the hump and into contention.

Projected Landing Spot: New York Giants

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Stew Milne

Tony Pollard has been the Tennessee Titans' starting running back for the last two seasons, but the seven-year veteran hasn't been a needle-mover in the Music City.

Pollard has been productive as a primary backfield option for a bad team, but at the age of 29, he doesn't seem like the best choice for a squad looking to take a significant leap in 2026.

Turning things over to Tyjae Spears—the 2023 third-rounder who has teased his potential for three consecutive seasons—and sophomore Nicholas Singleton would help the Titans get younger and faster at the RB position.

The Seattle Seahawks should be interested if Pollard is made available. They are attempting to become just the second team to win back-to-back Super Bowls during the last two decades, but they still need to reinforce the backfield platoon to make that goal more achievable.

With reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III with the Kansas City Chiefs and prolific backup Zac Charbonnet missing extensive time while recovering from an ACL tear, Seattle is asking Jadarian Price to shoulder most of the backfield load.

Although Price is a stellar prospect who came off the board in the first round for good reason, he'll still need some assistance while he gets brought up to speed and finds his footing in the NFL.

The current crop of running backs vying for the No. 2 job in Seattle's training camp all leave something to be desired, with inexperienced incumbent third-stringer George Holani and budget free-agent acquisition Emmanuel Wilson being the top choices at this juncture.

Pollard would give the Seahawks a much stronger second-stringer to rotate with Price. Pollard has eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for four consecutive seasons with two different franchises and thrived as an RB2 earlier in his career. While he was trending downward during his first two years in the Music City, he bounced back to average a respectable 4.5 yards per carry in 2025.

With good hands and acceptable pass-blocking talent, Pollard can be involved in all phases of Seattle's offense and used in a variety of ways. He's an ideal plug-and-play veteran for the defending champs as they gear up for another deep run.

Projected Landing Spot: Seattle Seahawks