2026 Preseason Trade Block: Final Update

By
Logan Ulrich
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Deadlines drive action, and there’s a big deadline coming up for the NFL this weekend. Teams must trim their rosters from 91 players to 53 by 6 p.m. EST on Sunday. A day later once waivers have been processed, there’ll be a flurry of claims and more roster juggling while teams also fill out a 16-player practice squad. There will literally be around 1,800 transactions — the busiest stretch of the NFL calendar. 

All of that roster movement makes this a ripe time for trades. We’ve already seen a handful of swaps, from the Texans landing Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte to reload their receiving corps to the Dolphins and Rams swapping WR Tutu Atwell and RB Jarquez Hunter. We’ll almost certainly see a few more low-level swaps like that, but there are some big fish who could potentially be on the move, too. 

This is the last look before roster cuts at our preseason trade block — a position-by-position blitz around the league at the candidates to change teams. A whole host of new players have been added, while a few noted below have been removed from prior versions. 

Benson was waived with an injury designation and reverted to Arizona’s injured reserve list. He’ll likely be cut at some point and try to catch on with another team. 

Tillman was cut by the Browns on Thursday. His $3.6 million base salary under the Proven Performance Escalator likely curtailed his trade market, as did his health. Another team will roll the dice thanks to the talent the former third-rounder has flashed. 

The Texans dodged a bullet with RT Braden Smith‘s foot injury only being a few-week deal. That probably puts an exclamation point for them on making sure they stay deep at tackle, though. Fisher is OT4 but was also a second-rounder in 2024. 

Tampa Bay worked out a contract resolution to ensure Vea is in the fold and happy for this upcoming season. 

Sewell is tracking toward starting the season on an injured list. 

Houston dealt a different depth safety, sending Jaylen Reed to the Patriots for Boutte, making it more necessary to hold on to Stewart. 

Releasing veteran S Will Harris cleared the logjam at safety for Washington and paves the way for Butler to round out this room. 

Quarterback

Since the Vikings officially named QB Kyler Murray the starter ahead of McCarthy, the former No. 10 pick has continued to struggle in practices and games while also picking up an ankle injury that was cited as the reason for veteran QB Carson Wentz getting more second-string reps. Whether it’s by injury or performance, it does seem like McCarthy’s hold on the backup job is tenuous. He’s under contract through 2027, so Minnesota doesn’t have to do anything, but the lower he slips, the louder the questions about his future with the team get. McCarthy could try and force the issue but it feels like he is self-aware enough to realize that could do more harm than good at this stage of his career. 

Levis is also on a rookie contract that’s not prohibitive for the Titans to hang onto. Yet he’s likely the No. 3 quarterback behind veteran Mitchell Trubisky, who has a history with OC Brian Daboll. It’s clear his future isn’t with the Titans and maybe they finally get the trade offer they’ve been hoping for this weekend.  

The competition between McKee and Dalton has been one of the most prominent of training camp for the Eagles. There hasn’t been a clear winner, which leaves the team with a bit of a pickle to sort through. On paper they seemingly have room for only one after drafting fifth-round QB Cole Payton, as teams don’t like to cut fifth-rounders for at least a year. Both McKee and Dalton are in contract years and both should theoretically have some trade value. The Eagles traded for Dalton just months ago, and for what it’s worth we ranked him higher in our backup QB power rankings due to his experience, even if his play on the field in the preseason hasn’t been that much better. 

Teams occasionally carry four quarterbacks through roster cuts but that rarely lasts into the season. The Browns have done that each of the past two seasons, but traded Kenny Pickett before Week 1 last year and cut Tyler Huntley in the same window the season before. They have four passers on the roster once again, with Gabriel probably the most expendable of a group that includes Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and sixth-rounder Taylen Green. Watson’s salary locks him onto the roster regardless of his role, Sanders is in line to start sooner rather than later and Green is a physical specimen who was just drafted and might be hard to sneak to the practice squad. 

O’Connell is finishing up his rookie contract and profiles like a classic backup who will play in the league for a long time. Unfortunately for the Raiders, the backup quarterback market is flooded right now and it might be hard to leverage that to get a pick out of O’Connell. 

The Steelers are another four-quarterback team. Rudolph is the primary backup by virtue of his experience, while Howard is someone the team consistently raves about behind the scenes. There have been reports that he and third-round QB Drew Allar are locks to make the team. Rudolph is a veteran and does not have to pass through waivers if cut, which is a dynamic to watch as the Steelers try to figure out how to juggle the position. The goal would be to either trade Rudolph or Howard or ensure they can keep one on the practice squad. 

It seems as if Richardson has taken the lead over 2025 seventh-round QB Riley Leonard for the primary backup job, an outcome that was far from a given going into August. Given the lack of trade interest from other teams, perhaps Richardson is cementing his spot on the roster for the last year of his rookie contract, but I wouldn’t rule out anything until after roster cuts. 

Rattler’s preseason performances have not done the Saints any favors if they were hoping to flip him for a pick. Wilson’s been a little bit better but odds are the Saints will keep both. Rattler has another year left on his rookie contract after this. 

Running Back

Tracy being in trouble when it comes to a roster spot has become more of a mainstream opinion following a couple of prominent mistakes in the preseason and New York’s addition of Najee Harris. Ultimately I think the pendulum may be swinging too far, as he still can be a useful player, but the Giants have a crowded backfield with him, Harris and Singletary all competing for spots behind Cam Skattebo. None of them are big special teams contributors either, although Tracy can return kickoffs. 

Tampa Bay retained Tucker this offseason as a restricted free agent on the original round tender, worth $3.5 million. For a running back, that’s not nothing. However, that salary won’t be guaranteed until after Week 1, and it’s notable that Tucker has seen some extended playing time this preseason, including entering the game after RB Josh Williams. Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles tried to downplay it but it’s a sign that Tucker might not be on secure footing in Tampa. 

Johnson got some more run in recent preseason contests after running behind Lew Nichols in the opener. He’s still on super shaky ground to make the team, which is stark for a third-round pick in just his second season. Johnson has continued his struggles on the ground and doesn’t really make up for it with aptitude as a third-down back or special teamer. 

The addition of Hunter via trade should put both Dolphins reserve runners on notice. Wright has two years left on his rookie deal and brings an explosive element but the coaching staff and general manager who drafted him are gone. There’s some overlap between Gordon and Hunter’s skillsets, meanwhile. 

Injuries to Alvin Kamara and Ty Chandler may have cleared up the picture in the Saints’ backfield for Miller, a former third-round pick who is healthy for now after years of injuries. He still has significant competition from guys like Devin Neal and Audric Estime and might be on the wrong side of the bubble. 

It’s unclear how much of a trade market McLaughlin would have since he was a free agent this past offseason and returned to Denver but his past experience makes him worth noting.

Guerendo is on the PUP list right now after a torn pec lifting weights this offseason, the latest injury in a long string of them. Injured players are rarely traded but there are occasional exceptions. Guerendo’s speed and pedigree might intrigue teams looking to weaponize the dynamic kickoff in its second year. 

Wide Receiver

I went in depth on why I think Jeudy is a reasonably compelling trade chip for the Browns to try to cash in before the trade deadline. I won’t belabor that too much here, other than to say he’s still just 27, had over 1,200 yards just two years ago and would be incredibly cheap for a starting-caliber wideout. 

Losing WR Calvin Austin for the season deals a blow to New York’s depth at receiver, so it’s less likely they’d part with another player. That said, Mooney and Slayton have overlapping skill sets and aren’t exactly standing out from a big pack of players vying for roles behind Malik Nabers. Mooney signed this offseason for $3 million, all guaranteed, with $1.2 million of that remaining as base salary. That makes him a cheap trade chip and more compelling for another team if they like his resume, which does include a 1,000-yard season.

Slayton, by comparison, has a $12.25 million base salary, the bulk of which is guaranteed. The new coaching staff has fewer attachments to him but that salary makes Slayton tough to trade unless the Giants eat a big chunk. Hyatt’s listed because he’s a former third-round pick but he will likely be available on the waiver wire. 

Palmer is also a player I think the Bills would love to shed if they could because of his $9.6 million salary. Finding a taker would be a challenge, though, unless the Bills eat salary to facilitate a deal. Palmer disappointed in his first season in Buffalo but he’s not quite in “we’ll pay you to play elsewhere” territory. 

Eagles reporters have picked up on how quiet a camp Brown has had. His one-year, $5 million contract suggested Philadelphia saw him as the No. 3 receiver, at least until first-rounder Makai Lemon was up to speed, but he’s made fewer plays this summer than guys like Elijah Moore and Darius Cooper. If the Eagles traded Brown, they’d eat $3.7 million in money already paid but clear $1.3 million in guaranteed base salary. Other teams could look at Brown’s 4,000-plus career receiving yards and bet on a change of scenery being good for him. 

Even though this room was a big question mark for Washington coming into training camp, the signing of veteran WR Stefon Diggs has helped clarify a lot. He becomes a locked-in No. 2 receiver, while recent draft picks like third-rounder Antonio Williams and 2025 fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane are virtual locks as well. That leaves a ton of competition for the remaining two, maximum three spots. 

The reports on McCaffrey’s camp have been solid but he’s best in the slot and Washington has a lot of competition for that particular role with Diggs, Williams and Lane. That might give him the best combination of value and availability of these options. He’d also have to go on waivers if released, a crucial difference for the Commanders as they sort through which players they keep around on the practice squad. 

Burks has the pedigree and athleticism as a former first-rounder and is looking to get his career back on track. Brown is a speedy deep threat, while Jefferson is going on his seventh year and is a savvy veteran. Washington might be able to cut all three and get them back on the practice squad but you never know. 

Receiver is a position the Broncos have a lot of depth, and while they don’t have to make any moves, they do have the option if they see a chance to improve the team either this year or in the long run. Franklin feels the most expendable of the depth wideouts on the roster, and with two years left on his rookie contract, he could have some appeal to other teams, too. 

All of San Francisco’s injuries make it tough to project, but as it stands they have seven compelling roster candidates at receiver, which is a heavy number. After Jacob Cowing’s highlight return this preseason, he probably has sewn up the starting punt returner job and pushed his way off the bubble. Watkins is a power forward type who was a fourth-round pick just last year, but there’s a lot more competition for that role on the depth chart, including promising second-rounder De’Zhaun Stribling and veteran Demarcus Robinson.

The back end of Cincinnati’s receiving corps has been intensely competitive this month, and it could squeeze out Jones. He’s an accomplished returner, though, with a return touchdown in each of his first three seasons. That could net the Bengals something. 

Tight End

It’s not clear if Engram will be a significantly bigger piece of the offense in Year 2 in Denver but it does seem like he’s still expected to be a starter. For a contending team like the Broncos, it doesn’t make sense to give up a starter at first glance. However, if another team is willing to take on Engram’s $11.5 million salary, that could prompt Denver to move on and bet on the young players behind him on the depth chart to replace him for cheaper without much of a dropoff in production. 

The Giants are like plenty of teams this year and seem to want to lean on multiple tight ends on offense. However, Johnson’s role is unclear, especially with a new coaching staff in town, and he’s still been battling issues with consistency. The right offer could prompt New York to move on halfway through Johnson’s rookie contract, as he’s behind Isaiah Likely and isn’t as good a blocker as TE Chris Manhertz or FB/TE Patrick Ricard.  

Signing TE Darren Waller seems to have been more than just a shot across the bow for Sanders, a fourth-round pick in 2024, to challenge him to step his game up. It might have been a straight-up replacement. Trade buzz around Sanders is starting to heat up and teams in need of a pass-catching tight end could probably get him out of Carolina for a reasonable price. 

A former second-round pick out of Michigan, Schoonmaker seems to be losing steam as he enters the last year of his rookie contract. He’s been seemingly passed by Brevyn Spann-Ford for the No. 2 role behind starting TE Jake Ferguson. Promising UDFA TE Michael Trigg is also putting a lot of pressure on Schoonmaker. 

There was some hope that new OC Declan Doyle would be able to get more out of TE Ben Sinnott, who never seemed to fit former OC Kliff Kingsbury’s system despite Washington using a second-round pick on him in 2024. However, Sinnott hasn’t pushed Chig Okonkwo or John Bates at the top of the pecking order and former UDFA Colson Yankoff has had a better camp by some reports. Sinnott is a candidate for a fresh start. 

Health, or a lack thereof, might make things a moot point with Jordan. He had great athleticism for the position at one point, though, and Houston has kept him around this long despite all the injuries for a reason. 

The Jaguars double-dipped on tight ends this April. Long is almost certainly a cut, so a team could just wait to sign him, as he’s a veteran who doesn’t have to clear waivers. Morris might be more borderline. Jacksonville loves to wheel and deal, and Morris could draw calls. 

Ordinarily players like Smartt and Calcaterra would be below the line I’d consider for trade-worthy, but if the demand for tight ends drives up the need for more bodies, they could get consideration. The Eagles have more depth here than they’ve had in a while. 

Offensive Tackle

Jaguars OT Cole Van Lanen was activated from the PUP list recently, paving the way for him to resume his starting job once the regular season starts. That makes Little an $11 million reserve, albeit one capable of starting at four of the five OL positions. Jacksonville has talked about the value of offensive line depth, so they won’t just give Little away, salary notwithstanding. It would take a real pick but I don’t think the Jaguars would be completely opposed to the right offer. 

Jackson is in the final year of his contract and is making a minimum base salary after a pay cut this offseason. Trading or cutting him earlier wasn’t an option because of the dead money, but the Dolphins could move on now as long as they feel comfortable with the alternatives. Miami is clearly tanking but they also need to keep enough around QB Malik Willis on offense to be able to evaluate their investment. 

Jones also took a pay cut, reducing his salary after qualifying for the PPE because he hit the playing time thresholds his first three years. The book on him is that he has rare size at a listed 6-8 and 374 pounds, but that has worked against him with an inability to stay healthy. His previous starting experience and reduced salary should make him appealing to other tackle-needy teams, and the Browns have depth to absorb the loss if they trade him. 

The Bears still don’t have a winner in their left tackle derby but it does seem like they’ve narrowed things down. Braxton Jones is the frontrunner and Ozzy Trapilo won’t start the season on the PUP list, opening the door for him to resume the starting role later in the season. Wills has been getting work on the right side as Chicago works to find its best reserves but he might be behind Theo Benedet. Amegadjie might be behind both. It’s unlikely the Bears can keep both unless Trapilo is put on injured reserve to start the season. 

The Eagles actually traded to get Johnson back last year after he left in free agency, parlaying six starts in 2024 into a contract with the Jaguars. He started eight games in 2025 with the Eagles, and is a proven, accomplished commodity as a reserve. That has value at a position like tackle. Hinton and Williams were sixth-rounders taken as developmental projects last year because Philadelphia thought they had starter-caliber traits. Teams only have so much patience for projects, though. 

Rouse is flirting with the wrong side of the bubble, and while a team could wait to put in a claim, you’ll often see players in this category traded for a late-round swap or conditional pick from a team that wants to skip the line. 

Buffalo has a history of flipping reserve offensive linemen for picks ahead of roster cuts. Lundt and Grable are competing for the No. 4 tackle spot, which typically is the last above the cutline for teams. Grable is the slight favorite with two career starts under his belt. 

He’s played sparingly but as a fifth-round pick two years ago, Jones might have some secret admirers with other teams who’d be willing to toss a conditional late-round pick swap Arizona’s way. 

The 49ers signed OT Vederian Lowe to a two-year deal worth $9.5 million with $5.75 million guaranteed. That says he is probably the top backup tackle. They also drafted OT Enrique Cruz in the fifth round, an investment that says he is likely safe even if he’s not ready to play right away as a developmental option. That leaves Pleasants, a journeyman who flashed when pushed into the starting lineup last year but doesn’t have the same level of commitment from the team. It makes him a potential trade chip given how thin teams across the league are at tackle. 

Undrafted rookie OT Albert Reese has gotten some praise from national outlets like ESPN and the Athletic, perhaps an indicator that the Panthers shouldn’t risk trying to sneak him through waivers to keep Forsythe, one of the contenders for the swing tackle job. It’s more likely Carolina can sneak Forsythe to the practice squad as a veteran since he doesn’t have to clear waivers. That said, he does have 27 starts which another team could find appealing.

Interior Offensive Line

Powers-Johnson hasn’t been able to break away from Caleb Rogers for the starting right guard spot and the coaching staff has left the door open for the competition to continue into the regular season. This applies to most of the Raiders players on this list, but the regime that drafted Powers-Johnson, from the coaching staff to the front office, is no longer in place, which puts a trade squarely on the table. If Las Vegas decided to move Powers-Johnson, they woul absolutely have interest. 

Meredith is another trade candidate since he’s slipped down the pecking order at center and interior OL. His contract might be an issue, as the Raiders gave him the restricted tender worth $3.5 million, although that’s not guaranteed. However, center is his best position and there are a handful of teams in rough shape at center going into September. 

The writing is on the wall for Patterson after the Texans took multiple swings at upgrading the depth chart at center. He’s third in the pecking order, possibly lower. However, his 21 starts in his first three seasons could earn him a look as depth at minimum. 

The Bills have a fairly competitive offensive line room and a history of being willing to trade depth players for picks. Cushenberry has the most extensive NFL resume but he could have signed anywhere this past offseason as a free agent and had a cold market. Van Pran-Granger has two years left on his rookie contract and might be more appealing given his youth. Both play center. 

Gaines is Arizona’s backup center and has some position flex to play the guard spots. However, he’s in the final year of his rookie contract. The Cardinals are in a position where they have to be looking past this season, making Gaines a trade candidate. To put even more of an emphasis on that, they just extended starting C Hjalte Froholdt, so there’s no starting job waiting for Gaines with the Cardinals. 

Zinter was drafted with the hopes he would eventually succeed either Joel Bitonio or Wyatt Teller. His lack of development made it necessary for the Browns to spend up this offseason on veterans as they rebuilt the offensive line, and Zinter is squarely on the roster bubble. 

Carolina’s offensive line has struggled in recent preseason and camp performances, and Zavala has unfortunately figured prominently. This is a spot the team might address via the waiver wire after cuts, which could push out some players. The preference would obviously be to find a trade partner if possible for the Panthers. 

Neal has worked with the third string for the bulk of camp and the preseason. If the Giants get anything for him, even a conditional pick, that would be a huge win. He’s a former top ten pick so you can’t rule it out completely. 

Interior Defensive Line

Dexter’s name cropped up in the trade rumor mill this week with a report that Chicago has had discussions about moving him. He also didn’t travel to Nashville for joint practice with the Titans, though officially the reason was a hamstring injury. Dexter has 11 sacks over the past two seasons and interior pass rush skill is a valuable commodity for NFL teams. Yet the Bears, who have pass rush questions themselves, don’t seem particularly enamored with Dexter for whatever reason. 

New Orleans landed Godchaux in a preseason trade last year because, on paper, he was a better fit for Saints DC Brandon Staley’s system, which needs space eaters up front. However, Godchaux started to see his snaps reduced down the stretch last season, which coincided with the team getting hot (obviously there were other influences at play too like a new starting quarterback). Even though half of his $6.5 million salary is guaranteed this year and even though the Saints lost DT Bryan Bresee, reducing their depth up front, he’s not on rock-solid footing. 

If the Panthers were honest, Brown hasn’t had the impact they were hoping for when he was signed in free agency last spring. Half of his $6 million salary is guaranteed, and I’d expect Carolina to be open to listening to offers to clear that off their books. 

Cincinnati probably doesn’t have room for all the roster-worthy defensive tackles on the team right now. Moving on from Slaton, a true nose tackle, would free up $6.6 million, but there hasn’t been much momentum for that out of Bengals camp so far. Jenkins’ spot seems far more tenuous even though he was a second-rounder just two years ago. 

The Dolphins have been complimentary of Grant, a first-round pick last year, so I wouldn’t say there’s a lot of smoke here. It’s still a situation I’m keeping my eye on because Grant is a classically built nose tackle, which is not a priority in new DC Jeff Hafley’s defense that wants to push up the field aggressively. 

When teams change schemes, particularly in the drastic shift the Bills are making going from longtime HC Sean McDermott’s system to first-year DC Jim Leonhard’s approach, there is collateral damage. It looks like Carter, a third-round pick in 2024 who missed the entire 2025 season with a torn Achilles, is on the ropes. The 6-2, 302-pound Carter has been miscast as a nose tackle this summer and Buffalo’s recent addition of Greg Gaines could push him out. 

Wingo is a former sixth-round pick in 2024 who has played 13 games in his first two seasons, so he might not have much trade value. However, he has had some flashes as a pass rusher which could intrigue other teams if he’s on the wrong side of the bubble in Detroit.

Edge Rusher

Arizona brought Sweat off the PUP list and he returned to practice this week — just in time for joint practice with the Packers and his former coach Jonathan Gannon. That has not been lost on some people. The Cardinals have been steadfast that they’re not trading Sweat but it feels a little bit like posturing to me, as it makes far more sense to capitalize on a hot market for the 29-year-old pass rusher at the stage the Cardinals are right now. Plenty of teams should and would pay up for a proven sack artist like Sweat, potentially Green Bay included. 

Williams remains, for me, one of the most interesting under-the-radar targets potentially on the block ahead of roster cuts. Dallas’ edge rusher room is crowded after the Cowboys signed Von Miller. Williams had 8.5 sacks over his first two seasons and looked like an ascending player before a torn ACL wiped out his third season. He was more of an early down player in 2025 but had seven tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He’d be a little more expensive than Houston and Liufau, who might be had on waivers, but he’d still be cheaper than a lot of other options and has sneaky production potential. 

Dupree is a veteran best suited to a No. 4 pass rusher role at this point, which can still have value for a team. Kennard was a fourth-round pick last year who played in five games as a rookie. Both are being pushed for jobs by younger players. 

The Bills have six strong bidders for roster spots at edge rusher and teams usually keep four, maybe five max. Hoecht is a former defensive tackle coming off a torn Achilles, and Solomon is a speedy sub-package rusher who is an intriguing fit in the new scheme and a core special teamer. 

Johnson flashed the ability to be a legitimate No. 4 pass rusher with two sacks last year, but could get squeezed out by Cincinnati’s active offseason up front. 

The Chiefs signed DE Emmanuel Ogbah to fortify their edge rusher room, and that could be the final nail for Anudike-Uzomah, who was on his final chance with the Chiefs this summer. He has three sacks in two seasons of work, however, as a former first-round pick, he could draw interest elsewhere. 

Braswell is in a similar boat with slightly less regard as a former late second-round pick. He has two years left on his rookie deal, but the Buccaneers made a concerted effort to get better at edge rusher this year and that could push him out. He has 2.5 sacks in his first two seasons. 

Isaac has made minimal contributions in his first two seasons as a former third-round pick. Baltimore annually has some of the toughest roster cuts in the league, and they could elect not to carry a fifth outside linebacker if they want to keep a promising player at another position. 

Rumph and Jennings slot in as the fifth and sixth edge rushers, putting them squarely on the bubble, especially with a two-sack preseason debut from UDFA DE Michael Heldman. Jennings signed with the Saints this offseason as a dirty work kind of veteran player. Rumph followed Staley from the Chargers to the Saints and had two sacks as a rotational player last year. 

Linebacker

Dodson may not be a high end starter, but he’s probably a top 64 linebacker in the NFL right now and good enough to start for a team. Miami just has second-round LB Jacob Rodriguez pushing to go and team up with defensive centerpiece Jordyn Brooks. Gay was a free agent this past offseason and ended up back in Miami, which might be an omen about his trade value or lack thereof. 

Harrison has been operating with the third string in Pittsburgh, which brought back veteran LB Elandon Roberts as well. Harrison has 43 starts in six years, so there should be interest from other teams even if it’s more likely they wait for him to be cut. 

Pace has already beaten the odds as a former undrafted free agent. However, the Vikings seem intent on trying to upgrade if they can this offseason. He’s still a top reserve and interesting role player but it feels like the Vikings would be very open to a trade if they could swing it.

San Francisco has proven to be a really good developmental organization for the linebacker position, and they might have an embarrassment of options heading into 2026 even after trading Dee Winters to the Cowboys back in the spring. Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw helm the unit, with recent draft picks like Nick Martin and Jaden Dugger in the pipeline behind them. Bethune is Warner’s direct backup at “Mike” linebacker but the 49ers just traded for veteran Deion Jones, which makes for a crowded room when you factor in veterans Luke Gifford and Garret Wallow who are special teams standouts. That much depth gives them the ability to potentially flip Bethune, a seventh-rounder in 2024, for a profit. 

One of HC Jim Harbaugh’s first draft picks who entered the NFL alongside him from Michigan, Colson’s career has been rocky so far. He couldn’t consistently crack the lineup as a rookie and then missed the entire 2025 season with an injury. This year, he hasn’t been able to climb the depth chart in camp and might be on the losing side of a battle with Marlowe Wax for the last spot on the roster. Colson’s pedigree as a former Day 2 pick might prompt another linebacker-needy team to trade a late-rounder or a pick swap to skip the waiver claim order. 

Bertrand had a rough stint in the lineup last year and that probably played into why the Falcons attacked the position so aggressively this offseason, adding multiple free agents and draft picks. He has enough reps to potentially garner interest from another team hoping a change of scenery revives him. 

Sanborn is a classic strongside linebacker but there’s not as much of a role for that kind of player in the modern NFL anymore. He might fit better with a team with less depth. 

Injuries have derailed Sanders’ career so far and he’s in the last year of his rookie contract. The Broncos are also experimenting with him at edge rusher. If he still has his prime athleticism, though, another team might take a gamble. 

The Eagles have an abundance at the linebacker position for the first time in a while, with 2024 fifth-round LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. drawing rave reviews for the improvement he’s made in his third season. You never want to say any player is off-limits for Eagles GM Howie Roseman, but my guess is it would take a pretty penny for him to part with Trotter. The other depth linebackers could be more attainable, however. Mondon was a fifth-rounder just last year who probably won’t play much outside of special teams because of how well the rest of the room is playing, including Campbell — a practice squad player last year who is also getting praised by teammates and coaches. Lawson is a rookie UDFA but he had a good first preseason game. He’s putting himself in position to be a waiver claim, and if a team is willing to claim a guy, there’s always the possibility they’re willing to make a cheap trade. 

Cornerback

We went way in depth on Porter’s situation with the Steelers this week, which you can read more about here. The short of it is that it’s pretty interesting how people close to the situation, either with the team or covering it as media, aren’t ruling out a trade, even on the eve of the season. Samuel is also worth noting as a potential trade chip given Pittsburgh’s depth at the position and the fact he’s only on a one-year deal. 

On paper, Nixon is the Packers’ top cornerback right now but he’s been making headlines for how the team is pushing competition for his spot and his reaction to it. One theme this offseason for Green Bay is how some offseason departures actually helped clarify roles and reduce the griping and discontent that occasionally bubbled up the last two years. Nixon’s situation stands out as a potential exception, and it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the Packers decide it’s worth it to move on, especially if guys like second-round CB Brandon Cisse and veteran Benjamin St-Juste show they’re ready to take over. 

Valentine is also worth watching. He’s started 30 games over the past three seasons which is an excellent return on investment for a former seventh-round pick, although Green Bay’s offseason moves at cornerback are a partial referendum on the quality of those starts. Teams love to have depth at cornerback but Valentine is due $3.6 million under the PPE in 2026, which would be steep for a No. 4 corner. That money is not guaranteed, making his status worth monitoring going into roster cuts. 

Adebo remains somewhat in the doghouse, running with the second strong despite his $17.25 million guaranteed base salary in the second year of a major free agent contract he signed last spring. Banks has seemingly overtaken him but the former first-rounder probably doesn’t have a long leash given his struggles before this summer. His contract would be a lot easier to trade than Adebo’s. With Greg Newsome and second-rounder Colton Hood, the Giants have a ton of options at corner.

Phillips has been the primary nickel corner the last two years, but he’s got steep competition for that role from S Ar’Darius Washington, one of the many former Ravens players Harbaugh added this offseason.  

The Chiefs have somewhere around nine strong bids for five, maybe six, roster spots at cornerback. Interested teams could just wait for cuts, or if they want someone specific they could go make a deal. Fulton signed a notable contract just last year and battled injuries in his first year in Kansas City. His contract would be a potential issue for a trade, as he’s owed almost $10 million with half guaranteed. He needs to play more in 2026 for the Chiefs to justify keeping that. 

Kohou is on a minimum contract and seemed like an under-the-radar candidate to swipe the starting nickel role. He missed last year with a torn ACL but before that had worked his way from undrafted rookie to starter with the Dolphins. However, the Chiefs have a lot of options in the slot and the investment in Kohou was minimal. 

Newton has flashed, including starting six games as a rookie, but has not been able to string those flashes into consistent performances that earn him a spot in the starting lineup. The 2024 fifth-round pick is likely behind third-round rookie Tacario Davis and 2023 seventh-rounder DJ Ivey in the pecking order behind Cincinnati’s three starting corners, putting him squarely on the bubble. 

Ringo and Bennett are promising athletes who haven’t been able to channel those gifts into production. The Eagles probably don’t have room on the roster for both and could try to flip them for something. 

The Cardinals have invested a lot in their cornerback room and other teams will be watching this closely during roster cuts. Thomas and Murphy-Bunting have started for stretches, while Jones was a Day 2 pick in 2024. 

Baltimore has a ton of cornerbacks vying for roster spots. The Ravens want to keep as many as possible because of PTSD about prior years when they’ve had a rash of injuries at the spot, but roster math dictates they’ll only be able to stretch so far. Kone missed his rookie year last season with a major knee injury but has been turning some heads in camp this year. 

Former Raiders GM Tom Telesco was just on the job one year and Richardson was his fourth-round pick in his first and only draft. He hung around last year after Telesco was fired but played just 13 snaps on defense. Las Vegas’ flurry of offseason moves at corner will likely push him out, but at 6-2 with a 4.34-second 40 time, Richardson’s traits could tempt another team to roll the dice. 

A former sixth-round pick who appeared in about 15 percent of the snaps for the Jaguars last year, Braswell could be interesting depth for another team after Jacksonville improved the roster at cornerback this offseason, including focusing Travis Hunter more on the defensive side of the ball. 

Carson and Stiggers were both mid-round picks in 2024. The former is on shakier ground with new additions to the roster in Dallas and a new coaching staff. Stiggers also faces a lot of competition, and while he’s shown more to prompt the Jets to keep him around, New York GM Darren Mougey has shown a proclivity for making small-time deals to churn the bottom of his roster. 

Safety

Safety is one of the positions where teams have the most success signing players off the street when the need arises during the season, which lessens the need to make a trade. That’s partially why there are so few options listed here. 

The Raiders took two safeties in this past draft in second-rounder Treydan Stukes and fifth-round Dalton Johnson, both teammates at Arizona. Stukes has already pushed Pola-Mao into a committee next to fellow starting S Jeremy Chinn, and Johnson has flashed potential. McCollum has banked about 400 defensive snaps in the past two years, which could give the Raiders the flexibility to trade Pola-Mao (or McCollum for that matter). Pola-Mao is in a contract year which is worth noting. 

The top three safeties for Arizona are pretty locked in with Budda Baker, Dadrion Taylor-Demerson and free agent veteran Andrew Wingard. So far through camp, it seems like Kitan Crawford is ahead of Oliver, whose experience might be appealing to another team looking for help at safety. 

Hamlin is another trade candidate who might be fifth or sixth on the depth chart. He’s an experienced special teamer and has accrued some real reps on defense over the past couple of years. 

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