5 Blockbuster NFL Trades That Could Shake Up Playoff Races

In his first game with the Chicago Bears, star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons made an immediate impact, showing how one move can strengthen a playoff-contending team.

Other NFL clubs will have seen that and may follow suit , taking big swings on notable trade candidates.

General managers are working the phones as buyers and sellers. Typically, there's more buzz than action, but on the Pat McAfee Show , ESPN's Adam Schefter said he expected double-digit trades before the November 10 deadline.

If Schefter is right, we could see more blockbuster moves in the coming days. So, here are five trades that would shake up playoff races in the second half of the season.

The New York Jets don't need to sell roster assets for draft capital; they already have three 2027 first-round picks: their own, one from the Indianapolis Colts and another from the Dallas Cowboys.

However, the Jets may accept a strong offer for Breece Hall, with third-year running back Braelon Allen emerging after rushing for 104-plus yards in three of his past four games.

When asked whether Hall would regain his starting job upon his return, offensive coordinator Frank Reich deferred the decision but indicated that he still viewed Hall as the Jets' lead back, while praising Allen, per The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt :

" That's coach's decision, but to me … Breece is our guy. I'm assuming Breece is our guy, you know what I mean? He's one of the best in the NFL, but I think what's been so excited is like, oh my gosh, we've got two of them. I mean, we've got two. This Braelon guy, he's a beast as well ."

Even if Reich believes Hall will be the Jets' lead ball-carrier again, general manager Darren Mougey has shown he's willing to move a key player.

Mougey traded two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts for two first-round picks before last year's deadline—just four months after signing him to a four-year, $120.4 million extension.

So, even after the Jets signed Hall to a three-year, $43.5 million extension, he may not be off limits.

The Cincinnati Bengals are averaging 3.7 yards per carry, and lead running back Chase Brown is averaging 48.6 rushing yards per game. Cincinnati could make a splashy move to balance its offense with a tailback who can pose a bigger threat on the ground.

Chiefs Acquire WR Brian Thomas Jr. from the Jaguars

In the Jacksonville Jaguars' previous outing, Brian Thomas Jr. caught his first pass in three weeks, a 12-yard touchdown reception. Still, the wideout's lone highlight doesn't make up for all the offensive snaps he's lost this year.

In his first two seasons, Thomas played 78-80 percent of the offensive snaps. This year, he's down to just 44 percent while starting in three out of seven contests.

ESPN's Adam Schefter said Jacksonville "might be willing to listen" to offers for Thomas.

If so, keep an eye on the Kansas City Chiefs, who need a more consistent downfield threat than third-year wideout Xavier Worthy, whose speed hasn't translated to big plays this year. He's averaging 8.5 yards per catch.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said he "wouldn't be surprised" if the Chiefs trade for a wide receiver.

In his first two seasons, Thomas averaged 14.7 yards per reception. He could spark the Chiefs' aerial attack as a complement to Rashee Rice.

Packers Trade for Chargers Edge Khalil Mack

Whether the Los Angeles Chargers want to or not, they need to pivot their focus toward the future, and 35-year-old Khalil Mack isn't part of it.

Although the winless Chargers aren't mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, they have no realistic shot at a playoff berth. Coming off a bye week, Los Angeles didn't score a touchdown, which is a troubling sign if the team made any adjustments.

General manager Joe Hortiz should get what he can for veterans on expiring deals.

This past offseason, Mack re-signed with the Chargers on a one-year, $18 million contract. He's recorded 21 tackles (five for loss), 11 pressures and three sacks. The 13-year pro can still generate a pass rush for a team that needs an extra push on the edge.

Eight years ago, the Green Bay Packers aggressively pursued Mack before the Chicago Bears pulled off a deal with the then-Oakland Raiders.

While circumstances have changed, Mack won't cost nearly as much as he did back then, and the Packers should look for strong pass-rushing insurance while Micah Parsons is still weeks away from game action.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport , Parsons is targeting a Week 12 return against the Los Angeles Rams on Thanksgiving Eve.

In the meantime, Mack could fill a role opposite Lukas Van Ness on the edge. When Parsons comes back, the Packers can ease him into a strong three-man rotation.

Green Bay is in a highly competitive division with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, both of which have top-eight scoring attacks led by quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Jared Goff, respectively. The Packers must put immense pressure on their rivals' quarterbacks. Mack can help them do that.

Seahawks Trade for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor

The Seattle Seahawks could copy and paste the Indianapolis Colts' ground attack from previous years into their offense by acquiring running back Jonathan Taylor.

The Seahawks have already acquired three-time first-team All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts. They should keep those lines of communication open to add his longtime backfield teammate in Indianapolis.

If the Seahawks reunite one of the league's premier guards with a former rushing champion who twice led the league with 18 touchdowns, they could turn their offense into a physical, downhill attack that eases pressure on a turnover-prone quarterback, Sam Darnold.

This season, Darnold has thrown nine interceptions—at least one in six straight games. Instead of trusting his rapport with star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba to carry the offense, Seattle can also feature Taylor on the ground for a more balanced approach.

Seahawks running backs Zach Charbonnet and Emanuel Wilson have expiring contracts. Rookie first-rounder Jadarian Price is working his way back from a chest injury.

With Nelson in Seattle, Taylor could be the acquisition that re-energizes the Seahawks' offense.

Vikings Acquire QB Mac Jones from the 49ers

Although top running backs are racking up big numbers, it's still a quarterback-driven league, and the Minnesota Vikings won't make a deep playoff run with Kyler Murray under center.

Murray is off to a slow start in his first season with the Vikings, throwing for five touchdowns and three interceptions in six games (five full starts). Over the last two weeks, against the Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts, he completed less than 59 percent of his passes.

The Athletic's Ted Nguyen dissected the film to explain Murray's struggles:

"He doesn't look comfortable in coach Kevin O'Connell's offense and is constantly late on his reads, leading to misfires. He ranks 27th in rate of off-target passes (13.6 percent). When his first read doesn't open up, he holds the ball and runs backward. He ranks 26th in sack rate (8.2 percent) and 28th in average yardage lost on sacks (6.93). "

The Vikings could turn to backup quarterback Carson Wentz, who threw three touchdown passes in relief of Murray in a Week 1 comeback win over the Green Bay Packers. That said, Mac Jones could become a long-term starter if he plays well under head coach Kevin O'Connell in the second half of the season.

According to The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt , the San Francisco 49ers might demand a second-round pick and more for Jones, but it would be worth it for the Vikings,who have been trying to stabilize the quarterback position since Kirk Cousins' departure following the 2023 season.

In 11 games (eight starts) last year, Jones threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He was a highly productive and efficient starter while filling in for an injured Brock Purdy.

NFL player contract details are provided by Over the Cap .

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.