1 Trade to Put NFL's Best Teams Over the Top After Week 5

The 2026 NFL trade deadline is now less than a month away, but there is still plenty of time for Super Bowl hopefuls to address their most glaring weaknesses.

The first five weeks of the 2026 season have provided plenty of evidence regarding which teams have the talent to make a deep playoff run and which still need an outside addition to reach their full potential. Whether it's through acquiring another pass rusher, upgrading a struggling secondary or getting their quarterback some help, a key trade could be the difference between lifting the Lombardi Trophy and suffering a painful postseason exit.

Many of the trades that would push certain teams over the top aren't exactly headline-grabbers. Because of how talented these rosters already are, an overlooked defender or experienced offensive lineman might be all it takes to unlock a lineup's true potential. There are certain situations, however, where a team would benefit from taking a bigger swing. These needle-moving stars may cost more, but they would help their new employer keep pace with the league's elite.

With that in mind, here is one trade each of the NFL's top teams—defined as having at least four wins through the first five weeks of the 2026 season—should consider after Week 5.

Baltimore Ravens: Edge Josh Uche

Baltimore Ravens receive: EDGE Josh Uche

Miami Dolphins receive: 2027 sixth-round draft pick

The Baltimore Ravens have weathered a storm of injuries to emerge as the frontrunner in a tough AFC North race. While the team is 4-1 and boasts one of the NFL's best offenses, some defensive upgrades are still needed for this club to be considered a true Lombardi Trophy contender.

Getting after opposing quarterbacks has been a challenge for Baltimore in 2026. The team has created pressure on a middling 20.2 percent of plays and has a pedestrian sack rate of 5.52 percent. With 10 sacks in five games, the Ravens are barely on pace to surpass the lowly 30 sacks they recorded during the 2025 campaign.

These numbers figure to improve when Baltimore gets top edge rusher Trey Hendrickson back from injury, but bringing in a crafty veteran like Josh Uche could help push this pass-rushing unit over the top.

Uche is languishing on an 0-5 Miami Dolphins team that has no hope of reaching the playoffs in 2026. While he's recorded a decent 20 tackles and a sack on the year, an uninspiring supporting cast is preventing him from making too much of an impact. A move to Charm City could be exactly what the seven-year veteran needs to return to the high level of play he displayed earlier in his career.

With Uche on an affordable one-year, $1.4 million deal, the Ravens could do far worse than rolling the dice on him becoming a solid piece of their edge rushing rotation. Parting with a late-round pick to bolster the defensive front with a player who recorded 11.5 sacks as recently as the 2022 season is worth the risk.

Buffalo Bills: Trade for CB Kelee Ringo

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Buffalo Bills receive: CB Kelee Ringo

Philadelphia Eagles receive: 2027 seventh-round draft pick

After allowing an average of 280.4 passing yards per game and giving up 13 total passing touchdowns this season, the Buffalo Bills' championship hopes may hinge on whether their bottom-five ranked pass and scoring defense can become more reliable. This makes Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo an intriguing trade target for the club.

Despite a strong 4-1 start, Buffalo has largely lacked consistency on the perimeter. Maxwell Hairston in particular has been a liability in coverage—notably allowing 44 yards and four key catches on seven targets to the New England Patriots in Week 4—and didn't draw a start in Week 5 despite head coach Joe Brady declaring the 2025 first-rounder would be in the lineup.

Hairston ultimately played just 17 defensive snaps against the Los Angeles Rams (a 20.7 percent snap share that was well below the 80-plus percent he had logged over the first month of the season) and still found a way to make several costly mistakes when he was on the field.

It's become readily apparent that the Bills can't rely on the sophomore defensive back to play a key role for their defense. Adding a big, physical corner like Ringo would provide an upgrade on the outside, one capable of matching up with the hulking wideouts Buffalo figures to come up against often during a Super Bowl run.

Ringo, a fourth-round selection in the 2023 draft, should be available after falling out of favor in Philadelphia. He was on the field for a career-high 28 percent of defensive snaps during the 2025 season, but has only contributed on special teams during the first five games of the 2026 campaign.

With Ringo playing out the final year of his rookie deal and unlikely to stick around the City of Brotherly Love beyond this trying season, dealing him outside of the NFC for a late-round pick would be a shrewd move for a reeling Eagles side that is falling out of contention. The 6'2", 207-pound corner could benefit from a change of scenery and would get every opportunity to reach his ceiling in a Buffalo secondary that has become downright desperate for capable defenders.

Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Moro Ojomo

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Jacksonville Jaguars receive: DT Moro Ojomo

Philadelphia Eagles receive: 2027 third-round draft pick, 2027 seventh-round draft pick

The Jacksonville Jaguars have displayed few weaknesses during their 4-1 start, but there is still room for one of the NFL's top defenses to further improve. Moro Ojomo's presence could elevate this group to No. 1.

With the team relying heavily on veteran Arik Armstead to produce at a high level, the potential for the interior pass rush to become a point of failure is high. Bringing in Moro Ojomo would give Armstead some support and provide an insurance option in case the 32-year-old defensive tackle gets injured or declines.

Ojomo has steadily developed into one of the league's more promising young defensive linemen. The 2023 seventh-rounder worked his way up the depth chart and became a key piece in the defensive trenches last year, posting a career-best 38 tackles and six sacks.

Although Ojomo has yet to record a sack in 2026, he's still putting consistent pressure on the quarterback while playing approximately two-thirds of Philadelphia's defensive snaps. He's on the final season of his rookie deal and is set to cash in with a sizable contract when he hits free agency in the spring.

Philadelphia's asking price may be steep, but Ojomo would be worth the investment as a player who fits in both the near- and long-term plans for a Jacksonville franchise with Super Bowl aspirations.

Ojomo only recently turned 25 years old and still hasn't hit his ceiling. He's already developed from a raw prospect into a stable contributor and could still burst out as one of the NFL's top defensive tackles in the next few years. Sending over a Day 2 draft pick to an Eagles team trending towards a rebuild would allow the Jags to benefit from Ojomo's current contributions and position themselves to realize his upside with a long-term extension.

Kansas City Chiefs: Bring in Edge Khalil Mack

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Kansas City Chiefs receive: EDGE Khalil Mack

Los Angeles Chargers receive: 2027 fifth-round draft pick

The Kansas City Chiefs' defense has flashed the sort of dominance it displayed regularly during the team's dynastical run, but an inability to consistently get after the opposing quarterbacks is a concern. Khalil Mack could be the player the Chiefs need to dial in their pass rush.

Kansas City is coming off a Week 5 bye undefeated, but the team is tied with the winless Miami Dolphins for the fewest sacks in the NFL with a meager four. While their pressure rate of 24.2 percent falls just outside the top-10, a league-worst 2.65 sack percentage indicates another proven finisher is needed along the defensive front.

There are few players in league history capable of providing the sort of disruption Mack brings to the table.

Although he's in the twilight of his career, Mack is still a nightmare for opposing passers to deal with. Across the first five games of 2026, the 35-year-old has recorded 10 pressures, five hurries, five QB hits and three sacks. The nine-time Pro Bowler is on pace for his best season since 2023 and still looks to have plenty of tread left on his tires.

Although the Chiefs don't have much financial wiggle room to make blockbuster trades, Mack is surprisingly affordable. He's on a one-year, $18 million contract that included a $10 million signing bonus, which means he would only be owed a shade over $6 million if he were dealt at this point in the campaign. That one-year deal, coupled with the Los Angeles Chargers' 0-5 start, makes an intra-AFC West trade more realistic.

While Mack is one of the more decorated defenders of the modern era, he's yet to win a ring during his 13-year NFL career. Joining forces with the Chiefs would give him a chance to do so, as his presence shores up Kansas City's most glaring weakness and gives the club a far better chance of raising another banner.

Minnesota Vikings: OG Ben Bredeson

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Minnesota Vikings receive: OG Ben Bredeson, 2027 seventh-round draft pick

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receive: 2027 fifth-round draft pick

The Minnesota Vikings are one of the surprise stories of the 2026 NFL season, jumping out to an unblemished 5-0 start. The team's hopes of staying perfect took a hit following the loss of starting left guard Donovan Jackson—who is done for the year after tearing his meniscus—and outside help may be required to patch that hole in the offensive trenches.

The team has given Joe Huber the first crack at replacing Jackson, but the undrafted sophomore has been shaky since entering the lineup. Per Pro Football Focus, Huber has already allowed three pressures, one QB hit and been flagged for two penalties across his 142 offensive snaps.

If Huber can't sort things out, Minnesota's brass should reach out to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to see if Ben Bredeson is available. The steady veteran is the type of reliable o-lineman who the Vikings could acquire and immediately slot into their starting lineup. He'd also get a chance to play alongside his brother, rookie Max Bredeson, who works as a fullback and special teamer in the Twin Cities.

The elder Bredeson offers plenty of starting experience stemming from his time with three different clubs. He entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 draft and went on to start 58 games for the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the past six years.

While the 28-year-old isn't likely to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber talent, he's a natural replacement for Jackson who could help keep Minnesota's offense clicking. Bredeson in the midst of a three-year, $22 million contract that runs through the 2027 campaign, meaning he could provide both immediate assistance and continue to help the Vikings next season if he pans out.

San Francisco 49ers: Brian Thomas Jr.

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San Francisco 49ers receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars receive: 2027 second-round draft pick

The San Francisco 49ers have battled through a myriad of injuries to emerge as one of the season's top Super Bowl contenders, but the attrition their receiving corps has suffered will likely require a trade for someone like Brian Thomas Jr. to fix.

San Francisco wideouts appear to be cursed in 2026. Deebo Samuel became the latest to pick up an injury designation after straining his hamstring in a thrilling 32-29 win over the rival Seattle Seahawks. With Samuel reportedly set to be sidelined for several weeks, the team has to consider swinging blockbuster deal to stay afloat.

Following Marvin Harrison Jr.'s trade to the Houston Texans, Brian Thomas Jr. becomes the next promising but disappointing 2024 first-round wideout for teams to target. BTJ had an outstanding rookie campaign—earning a Pro Bowl nod after racking up 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 catches—but has regressed significantly over the past two seasons.

Considering the Jacksonville Jaguars are finding immense success despite phasing out the third-year wideout (who has just 105 receiving yards and one touchdown on nine catches across five games this season), it's possible Thomas could be had for the right price leading up to the trade deadline.

The Niners would likely need to give up a similar package to the 2027 second- and sixth-round picks that Houston sent the Arizona Cardinals for Harrison and a seventh-rounder, but that cost could be worth it for a young wideout with so much potential.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan's innovative offensive scheming has helped rehabilitate the careers of several other veteran cast-offs, a group Thomas could join if he lands in San Francisco. Thomas' rookie performance showed he has a superstar ceiling and, at the age of just 24, there is still plenty of time for him to get back on track.

Considering Thomas fits both the immediate and long-term plans of an organization looking to finally win a Super Bowl under Shanahan, surrendering a Day 2 pick is a worthwhile investment. If BTJ hits the ground running in San Francisco, the 49ers not only gain an immediate difference-maker capable of fueling a playoff run, but also secure their future No. 1 wide receiver in the process.