1 Trade That Could Turn Season Around for NFL's 0-4 Teams

Five teams remain winless after the first four weeks of the 2026 NFL season. While only the 1992 San Diego Chargers have managed to rebound from an 0-4 start to reach the playoffs, the league's current 17-game schedule does give these moribund squads more hope for a turnaround.

There may be enough games remaining on the schedule to go on the type of run needed to clinch a postseason berth, but any club sitting at 0-4 after a full month faces significant obstacles to such a turnaround.

These slumping franchises shouldn't hesitate to leverage the trade market to shake things up. There's no better way to acquire an impact player who could jump-start a flatlining offense or defense, even if such a maneuver will come at the cost of some valuable draft capital.

Whether that's worth it remains to be seen, but any front office with serious aspirations of bouncing back from an 0-4 start may need to consider an aggressive move.

With that in mind, let's highlight one potential season-saving trade each of the NFL's winless teams should consider.

Houston Texans: Bolster Struggling Defense with Daron Payne

AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith

Daron Payne

Houston Texans receive: DL Daron Payne

Washington Commanders receive: 2027 fourth- and fifth-round draft picks

The Houston Texans have won a playoff game in each of the last three seasons, but that streak looks to be in serious jeopardy after an 0-4 start.

The defense has been a surprising weak point for this franchise and cratered in a must-win Week 4 matchup against the in-state rival Dallas Cowboys.

After CeeDee Lamb went nuclear with 17 catches for 189 yards and a game-winning touchdown against his side, edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. pointed out that a chunk of blame for the team's Week 4 shortcomings falls on the defensive line (per Yahoo Sports' Matt Young):

"We've got to do a better job of everybody having each other's back. We play (man-to-man coverage) and we can't have him out there like that. We've got to have his back. Look at the D-line, we've got to keep rushing, keep trying to get home through all the (chip blocks) and everything like that."

While the Texans have game-changers such as Anderson and Danielle Hunter in the defensive trenches, the interior hasn't looked nearly as strong as it did last year. Getting another big body who can help shut down the run and disrupt in the backfield might help Houston save its season.

Daron Payne could be the needle-mover the Texans need right now. He's squandering his prime on a listless Washington Commanders team that is 1-3 and trending towards another lost season. While he'll face a tall task getting Houston back into contention, the AFC South race is winnable and the Texans have most of the other pieces in place required to make history.

A front that includes Anderson, Hunter and Payne could give Houston a more formidable front and improve its chances of a turnaround.

Factor in DeMeco Ryans' elite defensive scheming, and it's hard to see the Texans not going on a run if they swing for the fences and find a way to add Payne to the mix.

Los Angeles Chargers: Take a Chance on Marvin Harrison Jr.

AP Photo/Matt York

Los Angeles Chargers receive: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

Arizona Cardinals receive: 2027 third-round draft pick

The Los Angeles Chargers' 0-4 start is perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2026 NFL season's first month. The team was expected to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender, getting a massive boost from offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's decision to join forces with head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The offense has looked anything but competitive with McDaniel calling the shots. The team ranks a pitiful No. 29 in scoring, averaging just 16.8 points per game. The passing offense is of particular concern, generating just 185.3 yards per game and accounting for a meager four touchdowns against six interceptions.

While injuries to the likes of left tackle Rashawn Slater and top wideout Ladd McConkey haven't helped L.A.'s cause, it's become clear there isn't enough talent here to compete. A trade for an immensely talented but underperforming wideout in Marvin Harrison Jr. could benefit all parties.

The Arizona Cardinals stunned the Bolts in the opener despite MHJ contributing just one catch for 33 yards in the 26-14 victory. He's remained a relative non-factor for the club over the last three games and has a modest 5/85/1 line on 12 targets going into Week 5.

It's the latest in what has been a steady regression for a receiver who once seemed destined for greatness. After tallying 885 yards and eight touchdowns on 62 catches as a rookie, Harrison only caught 41 balls for 608 yards and four touchdowns last season and is now on pace to finish 2026 with 361 yards and four scores on 21 receptions.

A change of scenery could be exactly what Harrison needs to rejuvenate his career. It could also be the missing piece for a broken Chargers passing offense that is falling apart around quarterback Justin Herbert.

While Los Angeles would be doomed if Harrison continues to struggle following a trade, the team is already well on its way to missing the playoffs and has little left to lose at this juncture.

Miami Dolphins: Roll the Dice on Brian Thomas Jr.

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

Miami Dolphins receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars receive: 2027 third-round draft pick

The Miami Dolphins entered the 2026 NFL season with low expectations and an 0-4 start is hardly shocking. It's now up to the front office to decide if the club should try to turn things around now or wait until the offseason to make major moves.

The team has issues up-and-down the roster, ranking bottom-three in total and passing offense in addition to coming in dead-last in scoring offense. The defense is faring a bit better and ranks towards the middle of the pack in most major categories, but isn't anywhere near good enough to carry the team to respectability.

While it's far more likely the 'Phins will become a seller leading up to the November 10 trade deadline, they could take a stab at trying to win some games this year while also preparing for the future by trading for Jacksonville Jaguars wideout Brian Thomas Jr.

Thomas' value has plummeted as his sophomore slump has continued into his third NFL season. Although the 2024 first-round pick quickly jumped out as one of the league's top wideouts when he tallied 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 receptions as a rookie, it's gone completely downhill since.

With BTJ only posting a 48/707/2 stat line last year and contributing just 105 yards and one score on nine catches over the first four weeks of 2026, a split with the Jags is starting to feel inevitable.

Miami could capitalize on Thomas' potential availability and take a cost-effective shot at unearthing its next WR1. If the 23-year-old were to return to the elite form he displayed as a rookie, the Dolphins could lock him down to a long-term extension and develop him alongside whichever passer they wind up drafting to create the nucleus of the passing game for years to come.

At worst, the 'Phins lose out on a mid-round pick that may not have panned out anyway. It's the type of low-risk, high-reward move this franchise needs to make if it wants to quickly rebuild and get back into contention.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ask Mac Jones to Save Another Season

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receive: QB Mac Jones

San Francisco 49ers receive: Conditional 2027 third-round draft pick

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers issued a blockbuster contract extension to Baker Mayfield right before the 2026 NFL season kicked off, they probably didn't expect an undrafted rookie to be their starting quarterback with the season on the line in Week 4.

Mayfield is regarded as one of the league's toughest players and hadn't missed a single game during his first three seasons in Tampa. That changed when he dislocated his right thumb in Week 3, an injury that is expected to keep him out for several more weeks.

With Jalon Daniels at the reins, the Bucs unsurprisingly collapsed in a must-win showdown against the Green Bay Packers. The UDFA passer wasn't utterly terrible, but he still looked raw in a 19-of-27 passing, one-touchdown, two-interception performance.

Given how dire the situation has become leading up to Week 5, Tampa's brass should call up the San Francisco 49ers and see what it will take to pry Mac Jones away.

Jones was able to save the Niners' 2025 season when Brock Purdy went down for an extended stretch in the opener, leading the team to five wins in his eight starts. If he could step in and help the Bucs string together a handful of victories while Mayfield is sidelined, the team would still have a shot in what looks to be another wide-open NFC South race.

Jones would be costly and doesn't profile as a long-term option in Tampa due to his expiring contract and expected suitors this offseason, but shipping over a conditional pick (one that scales based on how the Bucs finish the season) for a vastly improved chance at making the playoffs could be worth the price of admission.

Tennessee Titans: Swap Tony Pollard for Jerry Jeudy

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Jerry Jeudy

Tennessee Titans receive: WR Jerry Jeudy

Cleveland Browns receive: RB Tony Pollard

The Tennessee Titans are off to an 0-4 start for the second consecutive season. While they've shown glimpses of improvement, this franchise still has a long way to go.  

Although Tennessee is probably gearing up for a fire sale that will see veterans like Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley and Jeffery Simmons sent off in exchange for draft capital around the trade deadline, the club could try to find a comfortable middle ground by dealing for a youthful talent who can help in 2026 and beyond.

While there are needs across the board, Tennessee has to bolster the passing game to feel confident about quarterback Cam Ward's future. While No. 4 overall pick Carnell Tate is starting to break out and Wan'Dale Robinson has been a decent safety valve for the signal-caller, no other Titans wideout has more than five catches on the year.

Jerry Jeudy could provide a shot in the arm as a dangerous No. 3 option. While he's in his seventh NFL season, the 2020 first-round pick is still only 27 years old with multiple years remaining on his current contract. He had an impressive 90/1,229/4 campaign in 2024—his first with the Cleveland Browns—but has fallen out of favor with the new regime, catching just five balls for 62 yards so far in 2026.

Cleveland has ripped off three consecutive wins to move to 3-1 and is starting to think about the playoffs, but still needs to shore up the ground game to withstand the long season.

No other Browns back outside of starter Quinshon Judkins has garnered more than six carries or eclipsed 31 rushing yards on the year, making Pollard an intriguing trade option for the club.

Although one-for-one swaps are rare in the NFL, a Jeudy-for-Pollard trade makes sense for both sides and could help each accomplish their goals in 2026.