2026 NFL Midseason Trade Block

By
Logan Ulrich
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The NFL wisely moved the trade deadline back a week in 2024, shifting it to after the conclusion of Week 9. That gives teams more time to figure out where they stand, whether they should be selling or buying, and widens the window for organizations to try and shore up weak points. 

The trade deadline this year will be on November 10, just over a month away. The league doesn’t have a formal trade block like your fantasy league or on Madden, which is where we come in. Using reports from national and local writers, plus some dot-connecting driven by our years of accumulated expertise in the trade rumors business, we annually compile a list of potential trade candidates ahead of peak periods. 

Keep checking back because this list will be updated weekly as we get more trade buzz before the deadline. 

Quarterback

Minshew’s fit in the Arizona quarterback room has always been a little curious. The Cardinals have kept veteran Jacoby Brissett entrenched as the starter even with his offseason holdout, not showing much interest in giving Minshew a run at the job. If and when the team falls out of contention, it makes more sense to evaluate third-round QB Carson Beck to see how he factors into the long-term equation, as Minshew and Brissett are known quantities. So barring a rash of injuries, it’s hard to see how Minshew gets on the field. If another team is really desperate for a quarterback, the Cardinals could parlay Minshew into a draft pick that helps their rebuild. 

Eagles beat reporters have been trying to make sense of the team’s trade for Dalton this offseason, as their backup QB Tanner McKee had been held in fairly high regard by the organization. Philadelphia gave Dalton the nod in a training camp competition that didn’t see a lot of separation between the two players, but went back to McKee after Dalton’s disastrous cameo in Week 3’s loss to the Bears. That makes Dalton a third-stringer, with fifth-round QB Cole Payton also on the roster to give Philadelphia four quarterbacks. Dalton’s last few appearances dating back to last year have been rough, which will be a drag on his trade value, but given the quarterbacks we have already seen throw passes this year, an experienced player like Dalton has value. 

Gabriel is on injured reserve right now, so the Browns don’t have a roster crunch. They claim that they’re more than happy to hold onto Gabriel, but given they have four quarterbacks in the building and none of them profile as a long-term solution, I doubt they’d hold onto Gabriel too tightly if another team was truly interested. 

Running Back

Pollard was highlighted by Adam Schefter as a potential trade candidate this past weekend. Schefter noted Pollard is a veteran in the final year of his contract and the Titans are candidates to sell ahead of the deadline, as they fell to 0-4. All the ingredients are there for a trade. Pollard is 29 years old but he’s looked solid this year. There are a fair number of teams that could use more juice in the backfield, so Tennessee would have a market to move him. 

New York wants to be a run-heavy team but even so, they have more tailbacks than they can use. Cam Skattebo is the top option and veteran RB Najee Harris has ascended to the No. 2 role. Tracy has kept a spot on the active roster because he can contribute as a kickoff returner but he’s had just one touch each of the past two weeks. He’s still on a rookie contract and has flashed some explosiveness as a rusher and receiver his first two years. Singletary is not explosive but he’s a solid veteran and a known quantity, which could have value given how thin some backfields have gotten. 

Tampa Bay retained Tucker as a restricted free agent but it’s tough to get touches for three running backs in a backfield. Tucker’s barely seen the ball behind Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell. He’s had some big games from time to time and could benefit from a bigger role somewhere else. 

Wide Receiver

Harrison is shaping up to be the player who generates the most intrigue ahead of the midseason deadline just based on the buzz so far. The former No. 4 overall pick was viewed as a surefire star, but in his third season he’s been passed up by several other pass catchers in the pecking order, including journeyman veteran WR Kendrick Bourne. He did catch a touchdown in Week 4 but it was the only pass he caught on the day, which won’t calm the noise down much. 

If Arizona’s not going to use Harrison enough to justify picking up his fifth-year option next May, it makes sense to trade him before they tank his value even further. We’ll see if Arizona puts stock in that rationale. We also took a look at what a Harrison trade could look like, and which teams could make the most sense if the Cardinals opt to give the former top pick a fresh start. 

Thomas was drafted 19 selections after Harrison in 2024 and finds himself in a similar boat in Year 3. He had a strong rookie season but then regressed instead of taking the anticipated jump in Year 2. So far in 2026, he also has an inconsistent role in the offense after falling down the pecking order, though not as extremely as Harrison. He caught his first touchdown Sunday in a big spot in Jacksonville’s win over the Bengals. 

The Jaguars rebuffed significant trade interest in Thomas last year during his highly publicized struggles, but they’ll have to put a dollar figure on how much they value Thomas in May and it’s up in the air whether his current role and contributions would justify that. Other teams will definitely be poking around again to see if Thomas can be had, so the Jaguars’ commitment will be tested. 

Schefter noted Jeudy is a player who is viewed as attainable for interested teams ahead of the deadline. Jeudy has two years left on an affordable deal and should have real value to other receiver-needy teams. As the Browns continue their rebuild, it makes sense to collect more chips, whether they need to trade up for a quarterback in 2027 or continue to build the roster around him. 

Brown is banged up with an ankle injury right now but he failed to gain much traction in Philadelphia’s receiving corps all summer. Even if he were healthy, I’m not sure he’d have all that big of a role. He’s due just a minimum salary and has an established NFL resume, making him a trade chip to watch. 

Tight End

Sanders hasn’t played yet this season, with the Panthers signing veteran TE Darren Waller explicitly because they didn’t think Sanders was giving them enough as a receiver. He was a trade candidate coming out of the preseason but remained on the roster for now. Perhaps Carolina is just holding out for the right offer. He’s on a rookie contract so there’s not necessarily a deadline to make a move. 

Jordan was up on the game-day roster for the first time in Week 4, which figures to be a battle between him and second-rounder Marlin Klein each week. Houston has a lot more invested in Klein, though, which figures to tilt that as the season goes along. Jordan has some intriguing athleticism still despite all the injuries. 

Offensive Tackle

Little is a reserve right now, but the Jaguars have hammered the importance of having quality offensive line depth, especially for a team that has realistic contention hopes. So don’t expect them to just give Little away even if it would clear his $11 million salary. The veteran can play four of the five spots up front, giving Jacksonville valuable insurance. Still, another team that’s desperate for a competent offensive lineman could test the Jaguars’ resolve with a really strong offer (another factor in how Jacksonville has handled Little so far). 

Pro Football Focus has Jackson graded as the No. 67 tackle out of 69 players with enough snaps to qualify — not great. Still, he’s a former first-round pick with athleticism and pedigree, and is on a minimum salary in a contract year, making him a tradable asset for the rebuilding Dolphins. Teams get desperate for even below-average tackle play if injuries start to eat into the position. The only thing more sabotaging to an offense than bad quarterback play is bad tackle play. 

Jones moved up to the primary swing tackle role after the preseason because third-round OT Austin Barber ended up kicking inside to right guard and has been a revelation as a starter. The Browns might not be keen to part with their tackle depth, especially at 3-1 and in first place in the AFC North. Still, Jones is in a contract year and has an uncertain long-term future in Cleveland, making him a trade asset by default for the analytical Browns. 

Interior Offensive Line

There could be an interesting situation brewing in New York at center. Schmitz missed practice Friday for the birth of his child, but interestingly, he did not immediately resume his starting spot in Week 4 against the Cardinals. That was C Bryan Hudson, who had a drumbeat from Giants beat reporters to close the preseason. Schmitz is a holdover from the previous coaching staff and is in a contract year as well. First-year Giants HC John Harbaugh has already signed off on moving on from or demoting several notable players, and has no allegiances to Schmitz. That makes this one to watch. 

Teller was signed to a deal this offseason that indicated the Texans expected him to start. So far, he has not aside from filling in for an injury. There are signs that the fit between the two sides is not what either expect, so this could be a short-term fit. 

Gaines has one start under his belt already so the Cardinals might be reluctant to part with a depth player they might think they need. He’s in the last year of his contract, though, and Arizona is still on a rebuilding timeline. They should be considering trade offers for any players on expiring deals. 

Edge Rusher

Arizona held on to Sweat this preseason, but the more the losses pile up, the more the idea of trading Sweat should gain some traction. The 29-year-old veteran is playing about half the snaps, a tick less than last year, and has yet to record a sack. Still, his track record as a pass rusher is proven. That makes him a commodity that will command attention from contending teams the closer the trade deadline gets. 

McDonald has slipped in the pecking order for the Jets at edge rusher and is fourth in snaps on the season. The team picked up his fifth-year option but notably did not make any move to extend him before this season. Jets HC Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey inherited McDonald and have been supportive, but the investment is just not the same. Watch for other teams to see if they can wiggle McDonald free, especially because the Jets have shown they’re interested in accumulating draft capital. 

Highsmith is in the final year of his contract and his name has popped up in trade rumors on and off this year as a result. The Steelers extended young OLB Nick Herbig this offseason, which is probably a canary in the coal mine for Highsmith’s status this upcoming offseason. Still, Pittsburgh is trying to win as much as possible in QB Aaron Rodgers’ final season, so it’s hard to see them trading away one of their best pass rushers unless the wheels really come off in the next month. 

The Chargers are already down at least one wheel at 0-4 and with the injuries piling up. The schedule over the next few weeks before the trade deadline is brutal, too, and the hole is likely to grow. That opens up the possibility of some veteran trades. Mack and Dupree are both in contract years and are proven pass rushers. Mack in particular could fetch a decent return from a contending team, and he might welcome a chance to jump ship to a winner. 

Defensive Tackle

Payne was viewed as a potential cap casualty this offseason, but the Commanders elected to hold on to him in the final year of his contract despite his significant base salary. He’s been solid so far. If the Commanders drop more games despite the return of QB Jayden Daniels, they might be more willing to trade away veterans before the deadline. Payne would be one of Washington’s top trade assets, though the team might need to eat some of his $16.4 million salary to truly maximize his value. 

Stewart’s another veteran in a contract year, which has caused his name to crop up as well. If the losses pile up for the Colts, they could look more long-term. However, there’s a lot on the line for the Colts’ coaching staff and front office, so that makes them less likely to sell off veteran players in-season. Big changes are more likely for the offseason if Indianapolis misses the playoffs. 

Godchaux is playing a healthy amount of the snaps this year at 42 percent, reworked his deal to be more cap friendly and has been solidly productive. So his status is more secure than earlier this offseason. Still, the Saints have some depth at defensive line to work with, and trading Godchaux could clear snaps for younger players. 

Grant has been hurt and hasn’t played for the Dolphins yet this season. While he was a first-round pick just last year, the general manager and coaching staff that signed off on that pick (which was viewed as one of the biggest reaches of the draft at the time) are both gone. He hasn’t had a lot of reps to prove he fits new HC Jeff Hafley’s defense, either. He’s another Dolphins player I’d be eyeing before the trade deadline. 

Linebacker

San Francisco has been hit with a lot of injuries this season, but linebacker has been an exception so far and is one of the deepest rooms in the league. Bethune started eight games last year, nearly reaching 100 tackles with a sack and four pass breakups. Yet he’s been a gameday inactive each of the first four games. A player-for-player deal might be something to watch here for the 49ers as they try to reinforce a different position group. Bethune is on his rookie deal through 2027 as well, another perk to his trade value. 

Cornerback

Adebo is on injured reserve right now and would need to get healthy before becoming a viable trade asset. His $17.25 million base salary is another obstacle. However, a trade shouldn’t be ruled out because it’s been abundantly clear this year he’s on shaky footing with Harbaugh. The Giants have other options who have stepped up at cornerback with Adebo out, and he’s not guaranteed to return to the starting lineup when he is healthy again despite being a prized free agent signing last year. 

Valentine has far and away exceeded expectations as a former seventh-round pick, with 30 starts in his first three years. But the Packers made efforts to upgrade and Valentine has slid down the depth chart. He’s in the final year of his contract, too. The Packers don’t want to necessarily be in a spot where they’re trading away too much depth, but at the same time Valentine likely isn’t in their plans long-term. 

Ringo remains a depth option for the Eagles and a contributor on special teams, but he missed his opportunity as a starter last year. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract, making him a potential trade asset. 

Safety

Pola-Mao was essentially a full-time starter for the Raiders the past two years and was retained on a restricted free agent tender this offseason. However, his snaps have dipped sharply with the addition of second-round S Treydan Stukes. Those two are platooning right now, and it would be fair to expect the rookie to take on a larger role as the season progresses. That could make Pola-Mao expendable at some point.

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