The NFL season is rapidly approaching its midpoint and with it will come the 2023 trade deadline.
The NFL trade deadline hasn't always been a big event on the league's calendar, but in recent years, we have seen more deals go through than before. In fact, in 2022, there were 11 trade deadline deals made that involved players like Calvin Ridley, T.J. Hockenson and Bradley Chubb.
Those players may not be of star caliber, but many still helped their respective teams improve in 2022 and beyond. Thus, it will be important to watch which players move ahead of the trade deadline, which will occur on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. ET.
To understand which players are most likely to be traded, one first has to understand which teams have the best chances to make the postseason. There aren't many NFL teams that are truly out of the playoff race by the time the trade deadline passes, so that leads to a lot of teams thinking of themselves as potential playoff clubs — be it due to confidence or out of desperation.
LIVE: Follow the latest NFL news and rumors before 2023 trade deadline
The Sporting News is breaking down which players contenders could target ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline. For the purpose of this exercise, a team had to meet at least one of the following criteria entering Week 8 to be considered a contender:
- Have a winning record;
- Be within one game of the leader in their division;
- Be the Bengals.
Below is a look at some of the best trade options — both realistic and unrealistic — for each team.
NFL trade deadline targets 2023
Atlanta Falcons: QB Justin Fields
OK, we're going off the rails right away here, but just imagine what Atlanta's offense would look like with Fields leading it instead of Desmond Ridder. Sure, some may be scared off by the fact that Fields hasn't found success with the Bears, but the fact of the matter is that he has a stronger arm and better mobility than Ridder. He would give the Falcons a higher ceiling as a result.
The stats don't paint as pretty a picture for Fields, as Ridder's cumulative stats are comparable to the third-year passer. Below is a look at how they have fared head-to-head thus far in 2023.
| Stat | Justin Fields | Desmond Ridder |
| Record | 1-5 | 4-3 |
| Comp. % | 61.7 | 65.4 |
| Passing yards | 1,201 | 1,630 |
| Pass TDs | 11 | 6 |
| INTs | 6 | 6 |
| Yards/attempt | 7.4 | 7.1 |
| Passer rating | 91.6 | 84.1 |
| Rushing yards | 237 | 113 |
| Rush TDs | 1 | 3 |
| Yards per carry | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| Fumbles | 4 | 6 |
| PFF Grade | 14th of 35 | 33rd of 35 |
Even so, Fields has a higher passer rating than Ridder and hasn't been as turnover-prone as him either. That illustrates that Fields would probably be an upgrade over Ridder, especially given that he'd be playing to a superior supporting cast than what he has in Chicago.
So, if the Bears decide to embrace the tank and see what they have in Tyson Bagent, this move could be one worth considering for the Falcons. Still, it seems highly unlikely that this sort of quarterback deal could be completed midseason; so, unless the Falcons pursue Ryan Tannehill, Ridder will likely be the guy.
Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Danielle Hunter
The Ravens have an NFL-high 29 sacks on the season, but a majority of their pass-rushing production has come on the interior defensive line and from blitzers in the secondary. Thus, the team could use a presence on the edge to partner with Odafe Oweh long-term and balance the team's rock-solid front.
Hunter would be a huge upgrade for Baltimore. He has generated a league-leading nine sacks and 12 TFL through six games and would be a great scheme fit for Mike Macdonald's defense. The Vikings (3-4) may not be willing to part with him if they believe they can make a postseason run, but given that Hunter needs a new contract, he seems to be the most likely of their pieces to be moved.
MORE: Lamar Jackson dominant through the air in Ravens' blowout win over Lions
Buffalo Bills: WR Hunter Renfrow
The Bills have a great pair of outside receivers in Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, but they are searching for a third receiver to use alongside them. While they could target another outside receiver while moving Diggs to the slot, they could also target a player like Renfrow to serve as a reliable third-down target and slot man for them.
Renfrow has just eight catches for 73 yards in seven games during the 2023 NFL season and has averaged just 2.6 catches and 23.7 yards per game in Josh McDaniels' offense. He simply isn't a big part of the Raiders' plans and needs a change of scenery.
Considering that the Bills were desperate enough to bring back Cole Beasley late in the 2022 season, going after Renfrow would be a sensible — and cost-effective — move to add firepower to their offense.
Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE Carl Lawson
The Bengals made Lawson a fourth-round pick out of Auburn in 2017 and saw him develop into a solid speed threat off the edge. He racked up 20 sacks in 51 games (14 starts) for the team before joining the Jets in free agency.
Lawson has fallen out of favor with the Jets — he has been active for just four games this season — but he racked up seven sacks in 2022, so he still has something left in the tank. The Bengals could use some extra depth on the edge behind Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard and Lawson represents a familiar, buy-low scheme fit for the team to target.
Cleveland Browns: WR Jerry Jeudy
Short of Deshaun Watson suddenly regaining his 2020 form or Kirk Cousins shockingly agreeing to be traded to Cleveland (which will not happen), there aren't a lot of ways to improve the Browns. They have a rock-solid roster and very good depth at most of their positions.
Still, the team could be in the market for an upgrade at receiver. Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore are a strong duo, but adding another weapon to get the most out of Watson might be ideal.
Enter Jeudy. While the 2020 first-round pick hasn't yet lived up to his potential, he has still averaged 66 catches for 943 yards and three touchdowns per 17 games played. Pairing him with Cooper and making him a true No. 2 receiver could allow him more space in which to work while elevating the Browns' ceiling.
A sneaky option here for the Browns could be to acquire a running back, as Nick Chubb is out for the season while Jerome Ford has a sprained ankle. But for now, Jeudy's long-term potential makes him the most enticing trade target for the Browns.
Dallas Cowboys: RB Zack Moss
The Cowboys are another team with a mostly complete roster. They are built to contend but the one area that they are lacking is in the backfield, where Tony Pollard has been average at best while carrying a full workload.
Dallas has only Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn behind Pollard. While the team could pursue someone like Derrick Henry to serve as a full-blown replacement, it seems more likely that they would go after Moss, a free-agent-to-be who will come cheaper than Henry and provide a nice, power-packed punch behind Pollard.
Moss has been surprisingly great for the Colts while working as the lead back with Jonathan Taylor out. He has racked up 523 yards and four touchdowns on 114 carries and could play a role similar to the one Ezekiel Elliott played in his final season with the Cowboys.
MORE: Do Troy Aikman and Jay-Z look alike? Explaining the bizarre meme comparing the two
Detroit Lions: WR Mike Evans
The Lions haven't yet seen Jameson Williams step into the No. 2 receiver role across from Amon-Ra St. Brown. He still could, but getting Evans would provide them some insurance in case he can't.
Evans is on pace for yet another 1,000-yard season, a mark that he has reached in his previous nine NFL seasons. His skills as a big, physical receiver complement St. Brown and Williams well and would give Detroit four good receivers with Josh Reynolds also in the fold.
The only question is whether the Buccaneers will consider parting with Evans. They are still in the NFC South race and Evans is a franchise icon, so the price to get him would be high. Regardless, it could be one that the Lions are willing to pay.
Jacksonville Jaguars: TE Zach Ertz
Look, this isn't a sexy move for the Jaguars, but it feels like one that could be realistic. Doug Pederson loves using tight ends in his offense. Evan Engram is a strong starter, but the team's young depth behind him — Brenton Strange and Luke Farrell — is unproven. So, if Engram were to get hurt, getting receiving production out of the position could be difficult.
Ertz, 33 in November, isn't the player that he once was, and he is currently on IR. That said, he is expected to return later in the season and enjoyed some of his best years under Pederson when the two were together in Philadelphia. That could put him on Jacksonville's radar.
The Jaguars weren't afraid to trade for a suspended Calvin Ridley last season. They could view the move to add Ertz in a similar fashion, and he'd make a more immediate impact than Ridley since he could return for a playoff run. Thus acquiring Ertz to serve as the team's No. 2 tight end could be a good move as the team continues to build around Trevor Lawrence.
Kansas City Chiefs: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
Like the Jaguars, the Chiefs could go for a flashier move. They could chase one of the bigger-name receivers and hope that they could gel with Patrick Mahomes.
At the same time, Smith-Schuster was a 1,000-yard receiver for the Chiefs last season and could be the possession-type receiver that the team needs. He has fallen out of favor in New England, where he has caught just 14 passes for 86 yards, so he shouldn't be hard for Kansas City to obtain. Pairing him with the explosive Rashee Rice could go a long way toward raising the floor of this offense.
Miami Dolphins: WR Adam Thielen
Not to sound too much like an MLB general manager whose team didn't make any significant trade deadline moves, but realistically, Miami's biggest second-half improvement will come when players like Jalen Ramsey, De'Von Achane and Terron Armstead return from IR.
With that out of the way, it's hard to find too many realistic trade targets that would improve the Dolphins. Still, they could use a true No. 3 receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and that's part of the reason they bought low on Chase Claypool.
Thielen would be more of a sure thing for Miami. The veteran is on pace for a massive 139-catch, 1,442-yard and 11-touchdown season with the Panthers. Those numbers would all be career highs and prove that he hasn't lost a step.
The scary part of that? Thielen is posting those numbers as a part of a 0-6 Panthers offense with blocking issues. Thus, it's fun to imagine what he could do if paired with Mike McDaniel.
MORE: How becoming sober helped Mike McDaniel achieve his NFL dream
New Orleans Saints: EDGE Yannick Ngakoue
The Saints have only pressured opposing quarterbacks on 18.1 percent of their dropbacks this year. That's good for the sixth-lowest mark in the NFL and is something that will have to change for New Orleans to take a run at the NFC South crown.
Ngakoue may not be the player he once was, but he still has racked up 19 pressures through seven games, per PFF. That could make him an ideal rotational partner for Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson, even if he is limited to being a pass-rushing specialist. The Saints won't have to worry as much about his run-stopping deficiencies because of their strong linebacker play, too, so he may fit better in New Orleans than he would with other contenders.
Philadelphia Eagles: CB Patrick Surtain
The Eagles have already added one secondary upgrade by acquiring safety Kevin Byard from the Titans, but Howie Roseman is as aggressive a GM as they come. He will still be looking to add to his 6-1 Eagles team, and that could entail taking a swing at someone like Surtain.
To be clear, the Broncos aren't likely to trade Surtain, who was an All-Pro in 2022 and is just 23 years old. But if the Eagles send the Broncos a Godfather offer, perhaps Denver would consider a deal.
The idea of pairing Surtain with Darius Slay and James Bradberry should excite the Eagles. They would suddenly have a top-tier secondary to go along with their elite pass rush, and that would likely make them Super Bowl favorites. Again, it may not be realistic, but if the Broncos listen to offers on Surtain, Philadelphia could perhaps be his best landing spot.
Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Garett Bolles
Mike Tomlin has somehow guided the Steelers to a 4-2 record despite having one of the league's least-productive offenses. A lot of the blame for that falls on Matt Canada's struggles developing talent and calling plays, but the team also needs better play out of its offensive line.
The biggest problem spot for the Steelers comes at left tackle. Starter Dan Moore has allowed just one sack, but PFF grades him at 71st overall out of 74 qualified tackles league-wide. He checks in as the second-worst pass blocker at the position behind only Andrus Peat, a guard who is playing out of position at tackle.
While the Steelers have first-round rookie Broderick Jones available to replace him, they may prefer to utilize a more proven option short-term. Bolles has routinely graded as a solid starter, has 89 starts under his belt and is under contract through the 2024 season. That would make him a very good stopgap solution for the team until Jones is ready to play.
San Francisco 49ers: CB Jaylon Johnson
The 49ers don't have many weaknesses, but they could stand to add to their cornerback room. Charvarius Ward is a good, physical cornerback but San Francisco just doesn't have another proven, high-end cornerback to help take pressure off him.
Johnson would give them that. The fourth-year Bears starter has been a good cornerback during his career and already has a career-high two interceptions in five games this year. Pairing him with Ward would give the 49ers two long, physical cornerbacks who can be a part of the team's ball-denial defense.
And if Johnson can cover the smaller, quicker receivers with more success than Ward did against the Vikings, the two would certainly complement one another well.
MORE: How Christian McCaffrey set NFL record with rushing TD vs. Vikings
Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Chase Young
The Seahawks have produced 23 sacks through seven weeks, which is tied for the fifth-most in the NFL. However, it's worth noting that they produced 11 of those sacks against the Giants, so their average of 2.4 sacks per game in their other five would rank as a slightly below-average mark league-wide.
With that in mind, the Seahawks could target some pass-rushing help to bolster that unit, especially after Uchenna Nwosu's season-ending torn pectoral. Young has generated 35 pressures and five sacks during his contract season, so he is due for a big raise. If the Commanders prefer to pay Montez Sweat over him, then Young could be an ideal fit to turn the Seahawks' pass rush from fine to great.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Derrick Henry
Maybe the Buccaneers don't view themselves as contenders, but they are just a half-game back of the Falcons for the NFC South lead. Tampa Bay's defense is the primary reason for that but Baker Mayfield and the passing game have also been solid to date.
The running game? Not so much, as Rachaad White hasn't emerged as the between-the-tackles threat that the Buccaneers were hoping he'd be. As such, they could be looking for an upgrade at running back and may end up being one of the top fits for Henry — should the Titans trade him.
MORE: Cowboys, Bills, Ravens among best fits for Derrick Henry if Titans trade veteran RB
Henry has found success throughout his career despite playing behind middling offensive lines. He should bring that same workhorse mentality to Tampa Bay and open things up more for Mayfield in the passing game. So, don't sleep on the Buccaneers as a landing spot for Henry, even if teams like the Bills and Cowboys end up being mentioned more frequently among his high-end landing spots.