The 2024 NFL trade deadline buyers and sellers, across all 32 teams
The NFL's 2024 trade deadline isn't until November 4 at 4 p.m., but trade season is already well underway. The New York Jets kicked off the in-season swap meet by landing Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Cleveland Browns dealt Amari Cooper not long after and a growing trend of Halloween-season activity continued this fall.
We don't know who else will be traded this autumn, but we have a basic understanding of which teams will be buying or selling. The Raiders and Browns had little space for high priced veterans on rosters with minimal postseason hopes. The Jets and Buffalo Bills had high profile quarterbacks and Super Bowl aspirations that were realistic to varying degrees.
With that in mind, let's look at all 32 NFL teams as the trade deadline approaches and separate them into two categories. The sellers are ready to send out expensive veteran talent for draft assets. The buyers are moving in the opposite direction with sights set on Super Bowl 59. Let's run through the list in alphabetical order.
Arizona Cardinals: Seller
Arizona's rebuild looked like it might have been ahead of schedule in a 2-3 start, but flaws persist, particularly for a defense that ranks 27th in points allowed and 28th in expected points added (EPA) allowed per play. Players like Budda Baker, James Conner and Kyzir White are pending free agents.
Will they be part of the next generation of Cardinals football? Or would they have greater value in a trade that returns cost-controlled draft assets?
Atlanta Falcons: Buyer
Even a slow start would have kept the team that just gave Kirk Cousins $180 million in the buyers' category. But Atlanta has bounced back from a 1-2 start and holds a 3-0 record against the rest of the NFC South. The Falcons could use an infusion of defensive talent after uneven returns to begin 2024. How about adding Za'Darius Smith alongside Matthew Judon on the edge?
Baltimore Ravens: Buyer
The start of trade season saw two former Pro Bowl wideouts on the move, but neither headed to Maryland. That's not a problem -- Lamar Jackson is having his most efficient season as a passer regardless.
Instead, Baltimore could find itself in a throwback to 2022 when it added Roquan Smith before the deadline. After several key departures, the Ravens' typically smothering defense ranks just 23rd in EPA/play allowed.
Buffalo Bills: Buyer
Buffalo already jumped into the marketplace, freeing Amari Cooper from Deshaun Watson's influence for a third round pick. The Bills have the league's 25th-best pressure rate, and while Von Miller's eventual return will help there's an opportunity to improve that rotation behind him and the occasionally great, occasionally anonymous combination of AJ Epenesa and Greg Rousseau.
Carolina Panthers: Seller
There's no value to adding veteran short-term talent to this roster. Unfortunately, Carolina isn't all that great at selling under team owner David Tepper -- just look at how little the Panthers got in return for Brian Burns after hanging on to him too long.
Chicago Bears: Buyer?
Chicago has feasted on an early schedule of soft defenses and its hot start may not be sustainable. But that's fine; the Bears are primed for lasting success, especially with a dynamic young quarterback on a rookie contract behind center.
As a result, they can go back to the well like they did in 2023 by adding Montez Sweat. The team has more than $70 million in estimated cap space to spend next season, so bringing in a pricy veteran on a multi-year contract won't be a deal breaker.
Cincinnati Bengals: Buyer
Cincinnati has weathered its worst start in an era filled with them. At 3-4, the Bengals are only a game behind the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos in the AFC's playoff race. The non-Clevelands of the AFC North will be a problem, but Joe Burrow remains in position to rally his team to the postseason. Adding an extra edge rusher to help Trey Hendrickson would be a massive boost along the way.
Cleveland Browns: Seller
Deshaun Watson, accused of more than 20 counts of sexual misconduct and what the NFL described as "predatory behavior" is injured, one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks when healthy and an albatross on the team's salary cap sheet (cap hits of $72 milliion each of the next two years!). If Cleveland is going to improve, it needs low cost contributors.
The easiest way to get that done is through the draft. The question now is which players are too important to be dealt. The Browns have few important starters headed toward free agency in 2025; a deal may mean parting with a foundational piece of the team's future.
Dallas Cowboys: Seller?
The idea Jerry Jones would wave a white flag on his season is blasphemous. But he just wound up sitting on his thumbs due to a salary cap crunch, so maybe the value of inexpensive young players will be a lure as Micah Parsons careens toward what's sure to be a stupidly big contract extension.
There aren't many obvious trade candidates on this roster for whom other teams would be willing to give more than a late round pick swap. The more likely scenario is more inaction in Arlington -- or maybe even an ill-advised veteran addition.
Denver Broncos: Buyer
Denver's defense is good enough to keep it in the playoff race. Its offense is a different story. The Broncos have a decent amount of cap space for 2025 and a young quarterback who would benefit from a receiving corps with more options than "just wing it in Courtland Sutton's direction."
Maybe that's giving a young wideout a new home. Maybe it's bringing in a veteran like Mike Williams or DeAndre Hopkins.
Detroit Lions: Buyer
Aidan Hutchinson's season-ending leg injury creates a need up front -- especially with Marcus Davenport also out for the year. His 16.2 percent pressure rate can't be replaced, and while that gives Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike greater opportunity the Lions would really benefit from proven production on the edge. Would the Saints deal away Cameron Jordan to let him chase a ring? Would he want to leave New Orleans??
Green Bay Packers: Buyer
Jordan Love appears to be finding his late 2023 form. New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has helped push his unit closer to its potential. The Packers aren't quite trustworthy as a Super Bowl contender, so it makes sense for general manager Brian Gutekunst to shop around this fall and see if there are any veteran contributors who could add a little more value -- maybe in the pass rush? -- at a reasonable price.
Houston Texans: Buyer
The Texans were offseason buyers when they jumped ahead of the trend and dealt a Day 2 draft pick for a veteran wideout on the wrong side of 30. That Stefon Diggs pickup was vital in the wake of Nico Collins's hamstring injury. A little extra blocking help for a team with a bottom 10 pressure rate allowed might be the next step in Houston's evolution.
Indianapolis Colts: Seller, but probably not if Chris Ballard wants to keep his job
These Colts do not look like a playoff team and general manager Chris Ballard's job may be on the line -- a terrifying thought, considering his owner once fired a head coach and replaced him with an ESPN analyst with zero NFL coaching experience. Ballard's "keep the band together" philosophy failed him in the 2024 offseason. Now he may have to make a big splash on the in-season trade market to stay employed.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Seller
2024 has been a disaster for Jacksonville, who has been unable to reverse the trajectory of last year's 1-5 finish. If the Jags aren't interested in re-signing Cam Robinson, he could be an easy sell to a blocking-needy team. Safety Andre Cisco seems pretty much over the Jacksonville experience as well and could be an asset elsewhere.
Kansas City Chiefs: Buyer
Kansas City keeps winning despite its depleted depth chart, finding value in other team's castoffs like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Samaje Perine and Kareem Hunt (who wasn't even on a roster this preseason). Imagine what the Chiefs could do by adding someone with actual starting experience in 2024? It would help boost Patrick Mahomes, who is currently in the midst of his least efficient season behind center. [Update: right before publication, Kansas City added DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans.]
Las Vegas Raiders: Seller
The Raiders already discarded Davante Adams, who was always a strange fit aside from his connection with Derek Carr. There's no chance in hell Maxx Crosby is going anywhere, but other veteran defenders like Robert Spillane or Adam Butler could be low-cost additions for high-motor players.
Los Angeles Chargers: Buyer?
Jim Harbaugh already has the Chargers in the playoff hunt thanks to an efficient run-first offense and a smothering defense. Los Angeles is gonna have to throw the ball to make noise in the postseason and a Ladd McConkey-Quentin Johnston-Joshua Palmer trio at wideout isn't ideal. A little extra support for Justin Herbert could go a long way.
Los Angeles Rams: Seller?
The Rams doubled their season win total in Week 7, but that came against the Raiders and barely counts. Matthew Stafford probably isn't interested in a rebuild at this stage in his career, but 2024 may be a lost cause thanks to LA's terrible injury luck.
Recouping some assets to spark a quick turnaround isn't the worst strategy for a team that's had to abandon it's "win now" mantra recently. Cooper Kupp could be on the move.
Miami Dolphins: Seller
Tua Tagovailoa's head injury effectively sank the Dolphins' 2024 playoff hopes. While he intends to come back this season, there's no guarantee he stays back -- and even if he's great, there may not be room in the AFC playoff picture for him. Selling off pieces of a veteran defense, many of whom are headed to free agency next offseason, may be the most prudent decision Miami can make.
Minnesota Vikings: Buyer
The Vikings cannot afford to waste a hot start that pushed their playoff odds to 86 percent after six weeks of the 2024 season. Brian Flores's defense is flying, but he could always use more personnel to pull off his stunts, blitzes and inspired moments of cover-0 madness. There isn't a ton Minnesota needs right now, but reinforcements in the secondary would be a useful luxury after getting roasted by Jared Goff in Week 7.
New England Patriots: Seller
New England already dealt Matthew Judon to the Falcons. While the Patriots could make a move on some blocking help if the right guy becomes available -- five different players have already taken snaps at left tackle -- this is a youth movement in Foxborough.
New Orleans Saints: Seller
Vacating the seven-to-nine win stasis that's haunted this team post-Drew Brees would be a boon -- an opportunity to formally rebuild. Except the Saints are an estimated $81 million over next year's salary cap, so bottoming out won't be simple or quick. Selling off parts (hello, Chase Young) for inexpensive draft picks is endemic to New Orleans's rebound. Whether or not general manager Mickey Loomis, who has always been happy to treat the cap as a credit card and push his financial burdens down the line in the name of winning, will reverse course is the real question.
New York Giants: Seller
Daniel Jones's brief revival was a nice story, but whatever value he'd recouped as a starting quarterback promptly tanked over back-to-back embarrassing losses. The Giants' offensive line is a mess and this team is going nowhere despite a rising defense. Selling off veterans has the added benefit of more losses and a better draft slot from which to find Jones's replacement.
New York Jets: Buyer
The Jets have no choice but to try to make things work after building their solar system around Aaron Rodgers. Whether or not relying on a 40-year-old playing the least efficient football of his career is wise is beside the point.
This is New York's identity. There is no rebuild. There is merely making Aaron Rodgers great again. If not by adding Davante Adams then by upgrading a suddenly iffy defense.
Philadelphia Eagles: Seller
I'm not sure there's a panacea for what ails Philadelphia, but with Nick Sirianni losing games and losing the fans there's going to be pressure to act. That could include adding some receiving depth at wideout or tight end given the injury issues that have plagued the Eagles this fall. Sirianni needs to unlock the 2022 version of Jalen Hurts, but that may not be a fix that exists in the middle of the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Buyer
Mike Tomlin is, once again, churning toward a non-losing season. His offense needs playmakers, whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields is throwing to them.
There's still a handful of recognizable receivers on the trade market who could help, from DeAndre Hopkins to Mike Williams. While Roman Wilson's eventual return from injury helps, there's still work to be done if the Steelers want to be anything more than someone's easy out in the Wild Card round.
San Francisco 49ers: Buyer
San Francisco is in a bad spot to take on future contract commitments -- nine different players are slated for a salary cap hit of $10 million or more next season, not counting potential contract extensions for Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel or George Kittle. But defensive reinforcements make sense for a team that ranks just 16th when it comes to EPA allowed on run plays (and 11th against the pass). And if there's blocking help that can boost a bottom-six pressure rate allowed, well, that would be peachy.
Seattle Seahawks: Buyer
A three-game losing streak threw the Seahawks' postseason hopes into question. Rolling the Falcons on the road in Week 7 was a reminder of how much talent Seattle has. Head coach Mike Macdonald could still use a few veteran glue guys to help this team emerge as a real playoff threat.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Buyer
The Buccaneers are playing solid football but have a tougher challenge in the NFC South this fall than in either of their past two divisional title campaigns thanks to a reloaded Falcons. Tampa's defense could use a few reinforcements, particularly in a secondary that's given up big games against potential playoff opponents like Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins (and then five touchdowns to Lamar Jackson in Week 7). And, after that loss to the Ravens took Mike Evans and Chris Godwin out of the lineup, the Bucs could use some receiving help as well.
Tennessee Titans: Seller
DeAndre Hopkins was supposed to make life easier for the Titans' quarterbacks, but there may be no saving Will Levis's dream of buoying a franchise. With Calvin Ridley in tow, he could be an asset for a contender in need of receiving help -- and there are a few of those. Dealing him away won't provide the draft capital necessary to find a proper QB, but it will help ensure Tennessee is bad enough to draft a good one in the first round of next spring's draft. [Update: Hopkins was traded to Kansas City right before publication.]
Washington Commanders: Buyer
With Jayden Daniels well outperforming his rookie contract, Washington has an estimated $125 million in salary cap space for 2025. That means the Commanders can target more than part-time rentals should they opt for reinforcements. With a lagging defense that's a bottom-five unit against the pass, Washington should be kicking the tires on defensive backs who could thrive in a change of scenery -- and pass rushers as well.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: The 2024 NFL trade deadline buyers and sellers, across all 32 teams