Every NFL Team's Most Sensible Trade Asset Ahead of Week 4

The 2026 NFL trade deadline won't arrive until November 10, but the market is open for business and already seeing some noteworthy activity.

On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants. Late Wednesday evening, the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to send cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys. We're going to see more trades over the next five weeks, and some of them may be significant.

Of course, not every team will be looking to move a marquee player or a premium position this early in the season. Some teams undoubtedly view themselves as deadline buyers, not sellers, as the season approaches its quarter mark. However, every franchise has at least one player who would be a sensible asset on the trade market.

Whether due to contract status, depth-chart positioning, or pure market value, the following players should be viewed as logical trade chips ahead of Week 4.

The Arizona Cardinals may want to try moving 2024 first-round pick and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., given his lack of development and the emergence of new No. 1 wideout Michael Wilson. However, at least one team believes that Harrison wouldn't garner more than a high Day 3 draft pick at this point, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler .

Giving up on Harrison for a fourth- or fifth-rounder wouldn't be very logical. The Cardinals are in the early stages of their latest rebuild, and Harrison could still become a long-term piece of their puzzle.

Safety Budda Baker, however, probably doesn't have a lengthy future in Arizona. The 30-year-old is still a starting-caliber safety, but he looms as a likely 2027 cap casualty.

The Cardinals could save $17.9 million in cap space by trading or releasing Baker in the offseason. With consecutive losses making a 2026 run seem unlikely, Arizona should start weighing Baker's value as a trade chip.

Tua Tagovailoa was a Pro Bowler with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, but he was released just two years later. He signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason and was set to be Atlanta's Week 1 starter before he was sidelined by an oblique injury.

Of course, it's fair to wonder if Tagovailoa won the job by default. 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. was limited in camp while recovering from a torn ACL. Tagovailoa didn't perform particularly well in the preseason, and ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio reported in early September that there was a "strong possibility" that the quarterback could be cut if and when he was benched.

Tagovailoa was never benched, to be fair. He and Penix both got healthy in time for Week 3, and Penix got the start. Penix also played well in Atlanta's first win of the season, and it currently feels unlikely that he'll cede the QB1 role.

If the Falcons believe that Penix is ready to be "the guy" and can put them back in the playoff hunt, then Tagovailoa might be the most expendable player on the roster who actually has any trade value—Cooper Rush, who started and performed poorly in Weeks 1 and 2, probably does not.

The Baltimore Ravens are 2-1 under new head coach Jesse Minter and are probably far more interested in adding to their roster than breaking it down. If they need to move a player to make a deal, though, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie would be a logical trade chip.

Awuzie appeared in 14 games with the Ravens last season, and he re-signed on a one-year, $5 million deal with Baltimore in the offseason to again provide depth in the secondary. However, he hasn't done much of that through the first three weeks of the season.

The 31-year-old has appeared in all three games this season, but he's played a mere 22 defensive snaps and eight special-teams snaps. Trading him would save the Ravens $1.5 million in cap space.

49ers Owner Jed York Suspended 6 Games (AP)

In 2024, the Buffalo Bills used a fourth-round pick on Kentucky running back Ray Davis. The former Wildcat flashed some promise as a rookie, recording 631 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns, but he has since become a bigger contributor on special teams.

Davis was a first-team All-Pro punt returner in 2025.

The Bills could return Davis to a prominent backfield role by moving receiving back Ty Johnson, who is set to be a free agent in 2027. Johnson missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury but is healthy now and caught four passes for 50 yards in Week 3.

While Johnson does fill a valuable role in Buffalo's offense, Davis should be capable of taking over. Johnson could draw a solid trade return after the recent rash of running back injuries.

During the 2024 draft, the Carolina Panthers traded into the back end of Round 1 to select wide receiver Xavier Legette. Since then, though, Legette has struggled to establish himself as a reliable go-to receiver.

The 25-year-old has missed time this season with a knee injury, but he didn't exactly shine in his first two seasons. Through 33 career games, he has just 924 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Meanwhile, 2025 first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan has established himself as Carolina's No. 1 receiver, while Jalen Coker has emerged as its No. 2.

The Panthers also just used a third-round pick on former Tennessee receiver Chris Brazzell II , though he's out for the season with a torn LCL.

While Legette isn't developing as expected in Carolina, he would undoubtedly interest other receiver-needy teams. He's battled drops (10) but is still a young 6'1", 221-pound pass-catcher with 4.39-second speed.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson wants his team to be an offensive powerhouse in 2026.

"We want to be the highest-scoring, we want to have the most wins, we want to win Super Bowls," Johnson said, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press.

Johnson probably won't want to part with any of his offensive stars, but tight end Cole Kmet should be viewed as a tradeable asset. Colston Loveland has taken over as TE1, and Kmet has just two receptions through three games this season. However, he's been a high-end producer in the past.

Kmet, who has three 500-yard seasons on his resume, should interest teams in need of a starting tight end.

Tight end Mike Gesicki has proven that he can be a difference-making piece of the Cincinnati Bengals' offense. However, he hasn't filled that role consistently. In Week 1, for example, he caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. However, he had just three catches between Weeks 2 and 3 and finished 2025 with 307 yards.

Gesicki should be viewed as a viable trade chip by the Bengals. He's talented, but he's also 30 and will likely be a cap casualty in 2027.

The Bengals can save $8 million in 2027 cap space by releasing or trading Gesicki in the spring. They also have multiple other options at tight end in Drew Sample, Eric All Jr., Jack Endries, and Tanner Hudson.

Cleveland Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy had a trio of clutch catches during Thursday night's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he simply hasn't been a major part of the passing attack this season, as rookies K.C. Concepcion and Denzel Boston have taken over the receiver room.

Jeudy has just five catches on the season and had just one target and zero catches in Weeks 2 and 3.

With Concepcion, Boston, and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. representing Cleveland's future, Jeudy's time with the Browns could be coming to an end. However, he would interest receiver-needy teams, as he's a former Pro Bowler and 1,000-yard receiver who is still only 27 years old.

Jeudy's $1.5 million base salary would also appeal to teams on a budget.

The Cowboys' move to acquire Porter has made it very clear that Dallas is looking to chase the playoffs in 2026, and it was exactly the sort of move that franchise owner Jerry Jones hinted at before the start of the offseason.

"You look at it generally speaking, we're in play," Jones told 105.3 The Fan ahead of Week 1 (h/t Tommy Yarrish of the team's official website). "...You could look for it to be defensively."

The Cowboys are unlikely to move any players they believe are critical to this season's success. However, they could look to move a minor role players like tight end Luke Schoonmaker.

The 2023 second-round pick simply hasn't established himself as a key piece of the offensive puzzle and is firmly behind Jake Ferguson on the depth chart. He has just 459 receiving yards in 54 games and has never played more than 35 percent of the offensive snaps in a season. However, Ferguson is still a 28-year-old former Day-2 pick who should interest tight end-needy teams.

Following their Week 1 flop, the Denver Broncos have looked like legitimate title contenders in each of the past two weeks. They probably aren't very interested in moving key contributors right now. If they can get something in exchange for receiver/returner Marvin Mims Jr., though, they'd have to consider it.

Mims was an All-Pro returner in 2024, and he won't even turn 25 until March. However, it's still hard to envision him being a major piece of Denver's long-term puzzle. He's missed the last two games with a foot injury, and Denver has gotten by just fine with undrafted rookie Kolbe Katsis returning punts.

And the Broncos don't have a clear offensive role for Mims, who will be a free agent in the spring. Mims has just 1,202 career receiving yards, and the acquisition of Jaylen Waddle likely pushed him to the bottom of a depth chart that also features Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, and Troy Franklin.

The Detroit Lions are 2-1, but their defense has been an issue through the first three weeks. While trading away a rotational defensive lineman may seem counterintuitive, Levi Onwuzurike has already been deemed expendable once.

The Lions released Onwuzurike in early September before re-signing him to the practice squad and, eventually, the active roster. He has appeared in two games this season but has only played 33 defensive snaps.

If Detroit could move Onwuzurike as part of a package for secondary help, it should consider it. The 28-year-old missed all of last season with a torn ACL but should interest teams with needs along the defensive front. He appeared in 16 games with 10 starts in 2024 and recorded 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks that season.

Green Bay Packers: CB Carrington Valentine

The Green Bay Packers have made three straight trips to the postseason. However, they are now looking to overcome a 1-2 start to the season, and they're unlikely to move any of their full-time players at this point of the campaign.

Cornerback Carrington Valentine was a full-time player for most of last season, but he isn't now. Rookie second-round pick Brandon Cisse earned the starting job opposite Keisean Nixon in camp and has relegated Valentine to a reserve role.

Valentine has appeared in two games this season but has played just 18 defensive snaps. He's also set to be a free agent in 2026 and could be viewed as expendable.

While the Packers may not place much value on Valentine right now, other teams might. He has 51 games and 30 starts on his resume and is still only 25 years old.

The Houston Texans are 0-3, but you can bet that they're not ready to give up on the season or fire-sell starting talent. Houston started last season 0-3, too, and it still went on to reach the divisional round.

The Texans could, however, consider moving off of depth pieces while trying to address other areas of need. Center Jake Andrews is a former starter who is now backing up free-agent addition Evan Brown.

Andrews has played just 12 special-teams snaps this season, but he started 16 games in 2025 and made one start for the New England Patriots in 2023. With centers like Jovaughn Gwyn and Elgton Jenkins already suffering injuries, Andrews should have some early-season trade value.

Indianapolis Colts: QB Anthony Richardson

Anthony Richardson was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, and for a brief window, he was the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback of the future. However, Indianapolis was prepared to turn the page by his third season and has since committed to Daniel Jones at quarterback.

This offseason, Richardson had to battle 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard just to earn the backup role.

Richardson is the back, and according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler , the Colts don't want to trade him right now. However, he's set to be a free agent in 2027 after having his fifth-year option declined, and Indy should explore cashing him in now.

While Richardson's trade value has undoubtedly fallen over the last few years, he should interest teams that don't have a clear quarterback plan beyond 2027. We've seen several signal-callers recently find success in their second acts, and Richardson's physical upside remains extremely high.

The Jacksonville Jaguars traded for offensive tackle Cole Van Lanen back in 2022, though he didn't step in and take over at offensive tackle until last season. In the spring, Jacksonville signed him to a three-year, $51 million extension.

With Anton Harrison manning Trevor Lawrence's blind side and Van Lanen opposite him, former starter Walker Little has become a pure depth piece. Trading him would save the Jags $11.4 million in cap space.

In addition to some valuable cap flexibility, the Jaguars could also expect to get a reasonable return for Little. He has played just 40 total snaps on offense and special teams this season but has made 39 starts in his career.

With tackles like Braxton Jones, Fred Johnson, and Josh Simmons already suffering injuries in the early season, offensive tackles will likely be in demand in the coming weeks.

Kansas City Chiefs: Edge Felix Anudike-Uzomah

At 3-0, the Kansas City Chiefs probably aren't looking to part with any key contributors. However, they might be able to get a reasonable return for part-time edge-defender Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

The 2023 first-round pick has never developed into the centerpiece defender the Chiefs hoped he could be. He made just three starts over his first two seasons, missed Year 3 with a hamstring injury, and had his fifth-year option declined by Kansas City. While Anudike-Uzomah has started all three games this season, he has played just 47 percent of the defensive snaps.

Anudike-Uzomah is unlikely to stick in Kansas City beyond this season, so getting something in return for him now would be sensible. It would also potentially open more playing time for rookie second-round pick R Mason Thomas .

The Las Vegas Raiders have been arguably the league's biggest surprise this season. This is the main reason that Maxx Crosby isn't a sensible trade chip, even if the Raiders did try to deal him in the offseason.

Las Vegas enters Week 4 with an undefeated record, and quarterback Kirk Cousins is playing well enough that there have been no calls for rookie No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza .

There's a chance that Mendoza doesn't see the field at all as a rookie, though he's certainly the Raiders' future at quarterback. Third-string quarterback Aidan O'Connell, who will be a free agent in 2027, may not be part of Las Vegas' future.

The 2023 fourth-round pick out of Purdue has gotten opportunities to play with the Raiders over the years. He's gone 7-10 as the starter with a career 84.1 QB rating. O'Connell is better than a lot of other backups out there, and with quarterback injuries already mounting, he might be better than a couple of starters.

We've already seen Jaxson Dart, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Baker Mayfield suffer fairly significant injuries in 2026. Las Vegas could potentially take advantage by moving O'Connell.

Future Hall of Fame pass-rusher Khalil Mack signed a one-year, $18 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. However, the 35-year-old probably didn't think he was signing up for a lost season.

The season isn't lost for the Chargers yet, but at 0-3, they appear to be trending in that direction. If Los Angeles decides to shake up its roster, Mack would be a huge trade asset.

While the Chargers' defense has been uncharacteristically unreliable this season, Mack has already logged two sacks, four tackles for loss, and seven quarterback pressures this season.

Pass-rushers are always in demand in the NFL, and injuries to standouts like Myles Garrett and Brian Burns have only increased the trade value of veterans like Mack.

The Los Angeles Rams entered the regular season as the early Super Bowl favorites. However, they're sitting at just 1-2 after three weeks and are desperate to turn their season around.

General manager Les Snead probably won't even consider selling off important players. He's traditionally been an aggressive buyer on the trade market, and he's certainly been aggressive in 2026.

If the Rams hope to add talent, though, they might consider moving tight end Colby Parkinson as part of a package to get it. The 2024 free-agent addition has been a solid contributor for L.A. over the past couple of seasons, and he has started all three games in 2026. However, he's set to be a free agent in 2027, and the Rams have a surplus of players at tight end.

Parkinson (knee) and fellow tight end Terrance Ferguson (ankle) are both battling injuries, but the Rams also have Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, and rookie second-round pick Max Klare on the roster.

The Dolphins are in the early stages of a rebuild and parted with most of their marquee veterans during the offseason. Miami had the league's youngest Week 1 roster , and its highest-profile remaining veteran, De'Von Achane, just landed on injured reserve with a torn ACL.

In other words, the Dolphins are short on logical trade chips, though they have one in edge-defender Josh Uche.

Uche joined the Dolphins on a one-year deal and probably isn't in Miami's long-term plans. However, he should have value to another team as a rotational player. He's still only 28 years old, has played 56 percent of Miami's defensive snaps this season, and has recorded 11 tackles and one tackle for loss.

Back in 2022, Uche recorded 11.5 with the New England Patriots.

Former Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. joined the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2023, and he quickly made an impact on their defense. He appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, made 11 starts, and finished with 102 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

While Pace was also a prominent contributor in his second season, he's slowly fallen out of the defensive game plan. He made just six starts in 2025, and he's only occasionally seen the field this season.

Pace has appeared in all three games but has played nearly twice as many special-teams snaps ( 76 ) as defensive snaps (40).

Keeping Pace as depth in Brian Flores' defense would make some sense. However, he's playing on a one-year deal, and Minnesota could save more than $3 million by trading him. Pace should draw some interest from teams in need of linebacker help.

The Patriots are the defending AFC champions, but at 1-2, they're not exactly where they expected to be after three weeks. New England now finds itself trying to balance the current season and its future.

Rookie first-round pick Caleb Lomu is expected to be a big part of New England's future. Lomu projects as the Patriots' long-term right tackle, and he got the chance to replace starter Morgan Moses in Week 3. Head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that Moses wasn't benched because his job is in jeopardy.

"Not that I'm aware of," Vrabel said, per Matt Legros of Patriots Wire.

Still, Moses is 35 years old and could be a cap casualty in the offseason—New England would save $9 million in cap space by releasing or trading him next year.

Experienced offensive linemen usually have trade value, and the Patriots could potentially flip Moses for a return while getting Lomu more playing opportunities.

The New Orleans Saints have lost two of their first three games by slim margins. While their 1-2 record is disappointing, the play of second-year quarterback Tyler Shough has been anything but.

Shough hasn't been perfect, but he's shown tremendous growth as a signal-caller. He's already thrown for 917 yards, eight touchdowns, and a 99.2 quarterback rating.

With Shough entrenched as New Orleans' quarterback of the future, the Saints could afford to part with backup Spencer Rattler or third quarterback Zach Wilson. Neither Rattler nor Wilson has had much success as an NFL starter, but both have untapped potential, and Rattler is still on a rookie contract.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler , Rattler already generated some trade interest during the preseason.

To be clear, pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is probably the New York Giants' most valuable trade chip. The 2022 first-round pick isn't near the top of New York's edge-rushing rotation, and he's set to be a free agent in 2027.

With Brian Burns now on injured reserve with a torn ACL, though, Trading Thibodeaux at 2-1 doesn't seem all that sensible.

Moving cornerback Deonte Banks, however, would be logical. The 2023 first-round pick has not established himself as a reliable starter, and he'll also be a free agent in 2027, as New York declined his fifth-year option.

Banks did show a little promise under new head coach John Harebaugh in the Giants' season opener. However, he's since been sidelined by a calf injury, and the defense hasn't really missed him.

Banks has allowed a career opposing passer rating of 104.2 in coverage. While he has struggled in New York, though, he's still a former first-rounder at a premium position who should interest other teams.

The New York Jets fell to 1-2 in Week 3, but they've been more competitive than many expected. They're also getting a good look at young offensive pieces like second-year offensive tackle Armand Membou and rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq as they prepare to target quarterbacks in 2027.

One offensive player the Jets could probably part with, though, is offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor. The 29-year-old is playing on a one-year deal and is a pure depth piece in New York. While he has appeared in all three games this season, he has played exclusively on special teams—and he's played only 11 total snaps.

While Okorafor is strictly a backup with little long-term value to the Jets, he could potentially aid teams with greater needs along the offensive line. A former starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he has 95 regular-season appearances and 60 starts on his resume.

Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo continues to be an integral piece of the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive front. The 25-year-old recorded six sacks and 12 quarterback hits last season, and he has played a career-high 67 percent of the defensive snaps through the first three weeks of 2026.

Under different circumstances, the Eagles probably wouldn't even consider moving a player like Ojomo. What makes Philly's situation unique is the fact that it has already locked up defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter with lucrative second contracts.

There's a very good chance that the Eagles can't justify paying three interior defenders salaries that approach the top of the market. With Ojomo set to be a free agent in 2027, moving Ojomo before the trade deadline would make plenty of sense if the Eagles don't plan to retain him.

Good defensive tackles command a premium, and Philadelphia could expect a strong return for one just entering his playing prime.

Barring an injury, Pittsburgh won't be turning to its QB depth any time soon—and the Steelers have a fair bit of QB depth. Pittsburgh carried four quarterbacks into the regular season, with Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar sitting behind starter Aaron Rodgers.

According to NFL reporter La Canfora of Casino.org, the Steelers were open to trading Rudolph at the beginning of the year, though there wasn't much demand for journeyman backups. Injuries at the position have probably increased the value of experienced QBs like Rudolph, but Howard might actually be the more sensible trade chip for the Steelers right now.

Rudolph has made 19 career starts and has an 8-5-1 record with Pittsburgh. He's probably the Steelers' best option if Rodgers is forced to miss a game or two. Howard, meanwhile, is a second-year quarterback, and it's hard to envision both he and Allar having a long-term future in Pittsburgh.

Howard is unproven, but he should interest teams in need of a young developmental quarterback.

The San Francisco 49ers are undefeated but already dealing with multiple injuries. They probably aren't interested in moving any current contributors, and they would be wise to hang onto backup quarterback Mac Jones for the time being.

The 49ers were open to moving Jones for a second-round pick in the spring, according to The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt . However, they may have a real shot at the Super Bowl this year. After watching quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels, Jaxson Dart, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield go down, they may prefer to keep the understudy QB who went 5-3 for them last season.

If Jones' value keeps going up closer to the deadline, things may change. However, San Francisco's most sensible trade assets at this point in the season are draft picks and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Since we're focusing on players here, we'll highlight Aiyuk, a player who hasn't played since 2024 and one the 49ers have literally begged other teams to come get.

Aiyuk wouldn't bring a big return, but he's not helping San Francisco at all by sitting at home.

The Seattle Seahawks are the defending champs, and they're looking to make another deep run in 2026. After parting with key contributors like Kenneth Walker III, Riq Woolen, and Boye Mafe in the offseason, Seattle shouldn't be interested in losing any more standout players.

However, Seattle could potentially find some value by trading third-string quarterback and 2025 third-round pick Jalen Milroe. He's firmly behind Sam Darnold and Drew Lock on the depth chart, but he's still a very intriguing developmental prospect.

"NFL decision-makers will be more than intrigued about placing him in their offense and building around his skillset," Dame Parson wrote for the Bleacher Report Scouting Department last offseason.

With Darnold delivering a Super Bowl last season and Lock already proving himself to be more than capable as a spot-starter, Milroe is unlikely to see the field in Seattle any time soon. If the Seahawks are going to trade anyone right now, it should be a player they're not using.

A return to the playoffs may simply not be in the cards for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season. Tampa sits at 0-3 and will be without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield for at least three weeks because of a dislocated thumb.

The Bucs planned on being firmly in the NFC South mix this season and signed running back Kenny Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million deal in order to flesh out their backfield. However, Gainwell has barely seen the field behind starter Bucky Irving, and if Tampa can't climb back into the playoff picture, he could have much more value to a team with an injured starter.

Gainwell has played just 42 percent of Tampa's offensive snaps and logged a mere 16 touches through three weeks. Meanwhile, we've seen running backs like De'Von Achane, Travis Etienne Jr., Breece Hall, and Jordan Mason suffer injuries.

Last season with the Steelers, Gainwell tallied 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns.

The Tennessee Titans are 0-3, and they don't appear to be close to turning around their season. It would behoove the Titans to consider moving any and all expendable veterans in order to bank draft capital and put future pieces around quarterback Cam Ward.

Defensive lineman Solomon Thomas is an expendable veteran for the Titans. Thomas played under head coach Robert Saleh with the Jets, and bringing him in made some sense. However, he simply hasn't been a significant piece of the defensive rotation this season.

Thomas has recorded just four tackles while playing just 26 percent of the defensive snaps. He's set to be a free agent in the spring, and he'd be far more value to a team that has a shot at the postseason in 2026.

The Washington Commanders may have salvaged their season by beating the defending champion Seahawks in Week 3. Things were certainly looking dire before that game, as Washington started 0-2 and lost quarterback Jayden Daniels to a dislocated elbow.

Now, the Commanders have to believe that they can at least stay competitive with Marcus Mariota at quarterback while Daniels recovers. However, they may also have to put some thought into moving defensive tackle Daron Payne.

Interior defensive linemen are an ascending NFL commodity, and Payne has been well above average throughout his career. He has started all three games this season and has tallied four tackles and nine quarterback pressures.

While Washington can certainly use Payne in their defense now, the 29-year-old will be a free agent in the spring and may hold more long-term value as a trade candidate.

*Contract and cap information via Spotrac . Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference .