2026 NFL Trade Block Big Board Entering Week 3

Any hope that Week 2 would bring clarity about who the top NFL contenders are dissipated rather quickly.

The San Francisco 49ers have been the only team that has looked truly dominant in each of its first two games, and some teams we expected to be bad entering the regular season have surprised. The Las Vegas Raiders, for example, are sitting at 2-0, and the New York Jets probably should be.

No team has surged or stumbled enough to solidify itself as a buyer or a seller ahead of the November 10 trade deadline. However, some squads are trending in one direction or another, and injuries continue to create needs that didn't exist ahead of Week 1.

Where might teams turn to fill those needs? Let's take a look.

Here's an updated look at our top 10 trade candidates, ranked by past production, upside, positional value, contract/cap implications, likely availability, and relevant recent rumors. You'll also find projected trade values based on factors such as position, player upside, player age, and any comparable deals, along with some logical suitors for each player.

10. Daron Payne, DT, Washington Commanders

Projected Trade Value: 2027 3rd-Round Pick

The Washington Commanders must quickly decide whether they can salvage their season after a 0-2 start and after losing quarterback Jayden Daniels to a dislocated elbow.

According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport , Daniels will "consult with a variety of experts" before determining where he goes from here.

If the Commanders decide that it's not too soon to look ahead to 2027 and beyond, they should strongly consider moving defensive tackle Daron Payne. The 29-year-old is set to be a free agent in the spring, and while he's arguably Washington's most important impending free agent , there's no guarantee he'll want to return if the Commanders have another wasted campaign.

Payne would likely bring a Day 2 pick in return. He recorded 46 tackles and three sacks last season and has started both games in 2026.

Potential Suitors: Carolina Panthers, Green Bay Packers

Projected Trade Value: Conditional 2027 4th-Round Pick

Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III is another impending 2027 free agent who could become a prime trade chip if his team continues to struggle. The Falcons have looked like one of the worst teams in football over the first two weeks, though instability at quarterback has played a large role in that.

Michael Penix Jr. is set to make his 2026 debut on Thursday night, and if he can put one in the win column early, Bates will probably be off the table. He was arguably the team's most reliable defender last season, having started all 17 games and allowing an opposing passer rating of only 73.7 in coverage.

The 29-year-old has also made it known that he'd prefer to retire in Atlanta.

"My family loves it here. Why would I not want to be a Falcon?" Bates said, per Tori McElhaney of the team's official website.

If Penix cannot right the proverbial ship, though, Atlanta may start selling off veterans in preparation for the 2027 draft.

Potential Suitors: Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers

Projected Trade Value: 2027 1st-Round Pick, 2028 1st-Round Pick

Las Vegas Raiders edge-rusher Maxx Crosby isn't off our board just yet. However, the more the Raiders look like they could contend, the further down it he's going to slide.

The Raiders currently sit at 2-0, and they're probably not entertaining the prospect of trading their best defender right now. And while Crosby did ask for a trade early in the offseason—and Las Vegas tried to send him to the Baltimore Ravens—he reportedly shut down trade talk after the Ravens deal fell through.

According to Rapoport , the Los Angeles Rams were interested in Crosby before making the trade for Myles Garrett, but Crosby "let it be known to anyone interested that he did not want to be traded."

Still, the fact that the Raiders were previously open to moving one of the league's most disruptive defenders will keep him on other teams' radar between now and the November 10 trade deadline.

Expect the Raiders to get more than a few aggressive offers from Super Bowl hopefuls looking to boost their defensive fronts.

Potential Suitors: Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots

Projected Trade Value: Conditional 7th-Round Draft Pick

The Tennessee Titans were far more competitive in Week 2 than they were in Week 1. However, they're still sitting at 0-2 and may soon have to recognize that they're probably not going to the playoffs in 2026.

If and when the Titans start looking ahead to next season, they should consider moving veterans who aren't part of the long-term picture. 30-year-old defensive lineman Solomon Thomas falls into this group.

Tennessee acquired Thomas in an offseason trade, a logical move at the time, as he had previously played for new head coach Robert Saleh. However, Thomas simply hasn't been a big piece of the defensive puzzle and has only played 28 percent of the defensive snaps through two games.

Thomas could, however, help another team in 2026. He logged 27 tackles and three tackles for loss in a rotational role with the Dallas Cowboys last season.

Potential Suitors: Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens

6. Khalil Mack, Edge, Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers have been one of the NFL's biggest surprises through two weeks, and not in a good way. Los Angeles made the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025, and it was widely viewed as a contender entering the 2026 regular season.

However, the Chargers sit at 0-2 after dropping games to the Arizona Cardinals and Raiders. With a brutal schedule upcoming, it's hard to envision Los Angeles turning things around quickly.

L.A.'s next seven games are against teams that made the 2025 postseason.

Edge-rusher Khalil Mack will be a logical trade chip if the Chargers slide out of contention. He's 35, is playing on a one-year deal, and is still valuable as a rotational pass-rusher.

Mack has recorded a sack, two tackles for loss, and four quarterback pressures this season.

Potential Suitors: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

5. Mason Rudolph, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Projected Trade Value: Conditional 2027 6th-Round Pick

In a league filled with healthy quarterbacks, Pittsburgh Steelers backup Mason Rudolph would likely have minimal trade value. The 31-year-old does have 19 regular-season starts and one playoff start on his resume, but he's one of three understudies on Pittsburgh's roster behind Aaron Rodgers.

The Steelers also have rookie Drew Allar and second-year quarterback Will Howard in their QB room. According to NFL reporter Jason La Canfora, they've been open to moving Rudolph if they can find an interested team.

"The one thing stopping this is not Pittsburgh's willingness to sell, it's the number of quarterbacks potentially available across the league which could make finding a deal more difficult," La Canfora wrote for Casino.org.

With quarterback injuries mounting around the NFL, Pittsburgh might get the opportunity to get something in return for Rudolph. The list of Week 1 starters we've seen injured now includes Sam Darnold, Jayden Daniels, Jaxson Dart, and Caleb Williams.

Potential Suitors: Chicago Bears, New York Giants

The Miami Dolphins haven't looked very competitive through the first two weeks of the season, which is pretty much what was expected of them. Miami jettisoned most of its high-profile players in the offseason and focused on adding younger talent.

The Dolphins' focus in 2026 should be on evaluating players like 27-year-old quarterback Malik Willis, second-year guard Jonah Savaiinaea, and rookie tackle Kadyn Proctor. At some point, they should consider moving more veterans and fully embracing the youth movement.

Edge-defender Josh Uche just turned 28 and is one of the veteran leaders on Miami's defense. However, he's also set to be a free agent in the spring and should draw interest from contenders in need of pass-rushing help on the trade market.

Uche has played 51 percent of Miami's defensive snaps this season and has recorded 10 tackles and one tackle for loss.

Potential Suitors: Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers

3. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, New York Giants

Projected Trade Value: Conditional 2027 3rd-Round Pick

According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the New York Giants spoke with the New Orleans Saints about trading edge-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux during the draft, though their asking price of a second-round pick was too high for the Saints.

With the Giants' season now in jeopardy, New York may make another run at moving the 25-year-old former first-round pick.

The Giants looked like a potential playoff team in their Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys. However, they fell flat against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, and they lost second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart to what may be a significant knee injury.

According to Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Dart "will miss an extended period of time and is facing the possibility of season-ending surgery."

Thibodeaux was the fifth overall pick in 2022 and has flashed some elite upside during his time in New York. However, he's set to be a free agent in 2027. If the Giants aren't sold on keeping him and don't believe they can consistently win without Dart, now is the time to move Thibodeaux.

Potential Suitors: Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints

In Week 2, the Cleveland Browns secure an upset road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There's a chance that Cleveland isn't going to be the disaster of a team this season that it appeared to be in Week 1.

However, the Browns may still be motivated to move wide receiver Jerry Jeudy ahead of the trade deadline. The 2024 Pro Bowler spent his first two seasons in Cleveland as the team's No. 1 receiver, but it's clear that he's sliding down the hierarchy.

Rookie Denzel Boston, who caught seven passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns over the first two weeks, is the Browns' new No. 1 receiver. Fellow rookie KC Concepcion (10 catches, 71 yards) is the clear second option. Jeudy has become more of an offensive afterthought and saw just one target and no receptions in Week 2.

Jeudy has been a quality receiver in the past, and his 2026 base salary of $1.5 million should appeal to contenders in need of receiver help.

Potential Suitors: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

Projected Trade Value: Conditional 2027 2nd-Round Pick

The San Francisco 49ers have looked like the best team in football through the first two weeks. As long as they view themselves as top Super Bowl contenders, they probably won't be eager to move one of the league's best backups, Mac Jones.

However, the 49ers have at least entertained the idea of trading Brock Purdy's top understudy. The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reported that San Francisco was looking for a second-round pick in exchange for Jones back in the spring.

Jones went 5-3 as a starter while throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2025. He's a terrific insurance policy for a team with championship aspirations, but he's also set to be a 2027 free agent. He's almost certain to depart for a starting opportunity next year, and at some point, offers for Jones may be too great to ignore.

We've already seen a handful of starters go down with significant injuries, and there's a good chance we'll see more before the trade deadline. If the 49ers can leverage multiple suitors against one another, they might even be able to come away from a trade with an extra first-round pick.

Potential Suitors: Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders

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