Predicting the NFL's Most Aggressive Trade Deadline Buyers in 2026 Amid More Cowboys Rumors

The 2026 NFL trade deadline is less than a month away, and we're sure to see some of the league's playoff hopefuls take an aggressive approach.

While the NFL's trade deadline still isn't as active as those in other major sports, it is trending in that direction. Last year, we saw the likes of Jaelan Phillips, Quinnen Williams, Sauce Gardner, Jakobi Meyers, and Rashid Shaheed change teams ahead of the deadline.

Already this season, we've seen deals involving high-profile players like Cam Jurgens, Joey Porter Jr., and Marvin Harrison Jr. More are bound to follow. In fact, the Dallas Cowboys, who added Porter, might not be done swinging deals.

According to NFL Insider Jason La Canfora, others around the league believe that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is still poking around the trade market.

Would the 2-3 Cowboys actually be big buyers at the deadline for the second straight season? Which other teams are likely to aggressively pursue talent? Let's examine the NFL landscape, the contenders' biggest weaknesses, the recent front office histories, and the latest trade buzz to make some predictions.

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

Bills GM Brandon Beane

The Buffalo Bills have looked like one of the top contenders in the AFC through five weeks, though they certainly don't have a flawless roster.

Their defense ranks 30th in yards allowed, and injuries to players like Ed Oliver and Dee Alford haven't helped matters.

Offensively, the Bills lack depth at wide receiver, in part because D.J. Moore has been in and out of the lineup with a shoulder injury.

Moore was, of course, one of Buffalo's marquee offseason additions. He was acquired from the Chicago Bears, along with a fifth-round pick, in exchange for a second-rounder. It wouldn't be a surprise to see GM Brandon Beane take another big swing at the trade market now.

The Bills have just $4.7 million in cap space and would need to either tweak existing contracts or target budget-friendly players to make moves. However, adding to their receiving corps or secondary would make a ton of sense.

One reason why wideout Jerry Jeudy landed on Bleacher Report's trade block big board is his modest $1.5 million base salary. B/R's Alex Kay recently named cornerback Kelee Ringo as a sensible target for Buffalo because of his rookie contract. Despite limited cap space, the Bills can make moves if they so choose.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File

Bears GM Ryan Poles

The Chicago Bears are sitting at 3-2 and chasing the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. While Caleb Williams' hamstring injury played a role in both losses, a suspect defense hasn't helped.

The Bears' defense has looked respectable at times, but it ranks 22nd in yards per carry allowed and 30th in net yards per pass attempt allowed. Don't be surprised if general manager Ryan Poles looks to bolster the defensive front and the pass rush in the coming weeks.

Chicago's defense has produced 12 sacks, but it also just lost Montez Sweat to a two-game suspension for a violation of the league's PED policy. The Bears have already been linked to Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Khalil Mack, who tops B/R's latest trade board.

"Mack to Chicago is something multiple league sources told me makes the most sense if both teams continue on their respective trajectories," The Athletic's Jonathan Jones wrote.

Adding Mack, who has three sacks and 10 quarterback pressures, would make plenty of sense for Chicago, which has $11.4 million in cap space available. Pass-rushers like Josh Sweat and Josh Uche would also make for sensible targets.

Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones and franchise owner Jerry Jones

The Cowboys made a splashy move for Williams at last year's deadline, and they've already traded for Porter and Rashan Gary since the start of the offseason. Unfortunately, Dallas' flurry of additions hasn't yielded a playoff-caliber defense.

The Cowboys entered Week 6 ranked 31st in yards allowed and 25th in points allowed. They need more defensive help, and many folks around the league believe they could trade to add it.

"Oh, Jerry is definitely doing something else," one unnamed GM said, per La Canfora, writing for Casino.guru.

"I checked in on this, and a source told me they're going to turn over every stone in an attempt to get this thing fixed," Jones wrote.

Dallas has already dealt one of its 2027 first-round picks and its third-rounder, along with its 2028 second-round pick. However, the Cowboys do have $15.5 million in cap space and feel likely to pursue more defensive talent before November 10.

A marquee pass-rusher like Mack would make sense, as would another corner, a linebacker, or perhaps a versatile safety like Budda Baker.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Lions GM Brad Holmes

Like the Cowboys, the Detroit Lions have an offense that is good enough to keep them in most games and a defense that can cost them wins against virtually any opponent.

The Lions are 3-2 but rank 32nd in yards allowed and 29th in points allowed. It's hard to envision them staying in the NFC North mix without adding to a defense that is both lacking in depth and hampered by injuries.

General manager Brad Holmes hasn't been ultra-aggressive when adding talent in-season, but he did trade for pass-rusher Za'Darius Smith at the 2024 deadline. He was also pursuing Porter before he landed with Dallas, according to Lions head coach Dan Campbell.

"We were very much in on him," Campbell told reporters of Porter (h/t Bleacher Report's Mike Chiari).

Expect the Lions to focus heavily on adding secondary help over the next few weeks. A safety like Baker could make sense, but after missing out on Porter, Holmes might prioritize cornerbacks like Ringo, Donte Jackson or Riq Woolen.

Detroit has $35.1 million in cap space with which to work.

Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Rams GM Les Snead

No list of potential deadline buyers would be complete without the Los Angeles Rams. This is because L.A. general manager Les Snead has an extensive history of making aggressive moves.

We saw it in the past when Los Angeles went after players like Matthew Stafford and Von Miller. We saw it over the offseason, as Snead made trades for cornerback Trent McDuffie and pass-rusher Myles Garrett.

Of course, Snead might have to look at more budget-friendly targets at the deadline. L.A. has $8.4 million in cap space and a shrinking pool of tradable draft assets.

Thanks to those recent deals, the Rams are down to four 2027 draft picks, and they are without their 2028 second-rounder.

A low-salary wideout such as Jeudy could help fill out the Rams' receiver corps, while a rotational linebacker like Cedric Gray or Ivan Pace might be among the most realistic targets. However, it will surprise no one if Snead somehow swings another deal for a legitimate star between now and November 10.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Steelers GM Omar Khan

There are a few reasons why the Pittsburgh Steelers could be aggressive at the trade deadline. They are looking to start the Mike McCarthy era off with a bang while also finding some playoff success in Aaron Rodgers' final season at quarterback.

The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 season.

Pittsburgh is also running low on capable receivers. Michael Pittman Jr. is on injured reserve, Roman Wilson is expected to miss multiple weeks, and Ben Skowronek is out with a calf injury.

General manager Omar Khan, meanwhile, has extra draft capital with which to work following the trades of Porter and Broderick Jones. According to Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show, Pittsburgh is expected to be a deadline buyer:

The Steelers probably won't pry Jeudy away from the rival Cleveland Browns, but they might be able to make a run at another potential receiving target like Brian Thomas Jr., Jauan Jennings, or Quentin Johnston. And while receiver depth is Pittsburgh's biggest need, it could also look to bolster a pass defense that ranks 22nd in net yards per attempt allowed.

Pittsburgh has $15.5 million in cap space available.

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

49ers GM John Lynch

It would actually be a significant surprise if the San Francisco 49ers don't make a move or two ahead of this year's trade deadline.

They have looked like the best team in football through the first five weeks, but they have also suffered several significant injuries already.

The 49ers defense has been without star pass-rusher Nick Bosa because of a calf injury. Their offense is now missing fullback Kyle Juszczyk (knee) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and could be for the foreseeable future.

On top of multiple key injuries, San Francisco has a roster filled with aging stars like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Trent Williams, and Mike Evans. This could be the team's last legitimate chance to chase a Super Bowl as currently constructed.

Oh, and John Lynch has more available cap space ($47.2 million) at his disposal than any other GM in the league.

Lynch added edge-defender Keion White at last year's deadline and should be even more aggressive this year. The 49ers could use another premier pass-rusher like Mack, a defensive lineman like Solomon Thomas, or a cornerback like Woolen. Adding to the receiver room would also be very logical.

Coincidentally, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network recently told The Pat McAfee Show that Jennings is a name to watch on the trade market. He hasn't made a substantial impact in the Minnesota Vikings' offense this season, but Jennings had 1,618 yards and 15 touchdowns over the last two seasons in San Francisco.

*Cap information from Spotrac.