Time flies whenever you’re having enjoyable, and that is definitely the case for the 2025 NFL season. It feels just like the yr has simply begun, however we’re already six weeks in — a 3rd of the way in which by means of.
Meaning sufficient time has handed for the league’s 32 groups to evaluate whether or not they really imagine they’re contenders or pretenders forward of the NFL’s Nov. 4 commerce deadline. By six weeks, listed below are the AFC and NFC postseason contenders that ought to take into account making a transfer to complement their roster.
AFC: Indianapolis Colts (5-1), Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1), Los Angeles Chargers (4-2), New England Patriots (4-2), Buffalo Payments (4-2), Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2), Denver Broncos (4-2), Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (3-3).
NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1), Inexperienced Bay Packers (3-1-1), San Francisco 49ers (4-2), Philadelphia Eagles (4-2), Seattle Seahawks (4-2), Detroit Lions (4-2), Los Angeles Rams (4-2), Atlanta Falcons (3-2), Minnesota Vikings (3-2), Washington Commanders (3-3)
Given each contender’s respective wants/holes by means of six weeks, this is one transfer that every ought to intention to make earlier than the 2025 commerce deadline to bolster its roster for a playoff push.
AFC
Report: 5-1
Regardless of being 36 years outdated, two-time Professional Bowl linebacker Demario Davis could be a plus-starter for an NFL contender in 2025. Professional Soccer Focus grades Davis amongst soccer’s 10 finest inside linebackers this season — his total PFF defensive grade (81.1) ranks ninth, and his run protection is fifth (90.2). His 33 tackles on designed speeding performs are sixth-most within the NFL, in line with TruMedia.
Indianapolis has tried to repair their inside linebacker spot subsequent to Zaire Franklin by signing the recently-released Germaine Pratt, however including Davis may give them the depth in the course of their protection that coordinator Lou Anarumo craves.
Report: 4-1
Maybe the Steelers have stunned themselves with their 4-1 begin and an ever-growing AFC North lead due to having 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, plus each Cincinnati Bengals Professional Bowl signal-caller Joe Burrow and Baltimore Ravens MVP Lamar Jackson sidelined by accidents.
That has the Steelers positioned to be consumers this season, they usually may desperately use one other huge receiver alongside Professional Bowler DK Metcalf with Calvin Austin III (shoulder) banged up. 5-time Professional Bowl huge receiver DeAndre Hopkins, even on the age of 33, would make a number of sense. He is caught 9 of his 13 targets this season for 178 yards (19.8 per catch) and two receiving touchdowns and not using a drop. PFF’s 92.1 offensive grade for Hopkins is second-highest within the NFL at huge receiver behind solely Los Angeles Rams Professional Bowler Puka Nacua’s‘s 92.6 grade.
The acquisition price for Hopkins should not be excessive given his age, and the Ravens will not want his companies for much longer with one among soccer’s worst defenses making it practically not possible for whoever strains up at quarterback for them to win video games. It looks like a win-win deal for 2 bitter AFC North rivals with the Ravens even getting a single decide again for a 33-year-old receiver on a one-year deal.
Los Angeles Chargers: New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara
Report: 4-2
The Chargers’ offense is as injury-riddled because it will get with offensive sort out Rashawn Slater (torn patellar tendon, out for the season), offensive sort out Joe Alt (ankle), operating again Omarion Hampton (ankle, on injured reserve) and huge receiver Derius Davis (knee) all banged up. Quarterback Justin Herbert may use some assist, significantly a simple checkdown possibility given his depleted offensive line.
Saints operating again Alvin Kamara may assist Herbert and the Chargers each on the bottom and thru the air. The five-time Professional Bowler’s 595 profession catches are fourth-most in NFL historical past by a operating again. Kamara is now 30-years-old, and New Orleans is off to a 1-5 begin in Kellen Moore’s first season because the Saints’ coach.
Whereas the Saints have notoriously saved members of their getting older core to their wage cap’s detriment, maybe Kamara can be thinking about a change of surroundings the nearer the commerce deadline will get. The Chargers ought to at the least make a name and push to accumulate Kamara, particularly provided that Hampton is on a rookie deal and what the refinement Kamara’s mentorship for Hampton may present their 2025 first-round decide.
Report: 4-2
Veteran huge receiver Jakobi Meyers requested to be traded out of Las Vegas earlier than the season, and the upcoming free agent’s ideas are doubtless the identical with the Raiders off to a 2-4 begin. In the meantime, the Patriots are first place within the AFC East by means of at the least six weeks of the season for the primary time for the reason that 2019 season — Tom Brady’s‘s final in Foxborough.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is taking part in like a prime 10 to prime 5 passer by means of six weeks, and New England ought to do every part in its energy to speed up his development in his second NFL season. Buying and selling for Meyers is a no brainer with the 28-year-old spending his first 4 seasons (2019-22) in New England, together with the primary three beneath present Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
McDaniels additionally introduced him to Las Vegas as a free agent in 2022 when he grew to become the Raiders’ head coach. Including Meyers alongside four-time Professional Bowl wideout Stefon Diggs can be an enormous increase for Maye, and that is why buying and selling for him is what the Patriots ought to do on the commerce deadline.
|
Completion Share |
73.2% |
2nd |
|
Move Yards |
1,522 |
fifth |
|
Move Yards/Try |
8.5 |
4th |
|
Move TD |
10 |
T-Ninth |
| Passer Score | 112.5 | 4th |
| Anticipated Factors Added (EPA)/Play | 0.10 | tenth |
Buffalo Payments: Seattle Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen
Report: 4-2
The best way the AFC is shaking out early on with the Chiefs off to a bumpy 3-3 begin, 2025 may lastly be the yr for the Payments’ breakthrough to succeed in a Tremendous Bowl with 2024 NFL MVP quarterback Josh Allen. Nonetheless, their protection may use some reinforcements, significantly within the secondary.
No. 1 cornerback Christian Benford, who allowed simply 0.5 yards per snap in protection final season amongst cornerbacks with at the least 250 protection snaps in 2024 — the second-fewest amongst that group per NFL Professional — is slipping a bit of bit early on. Coming into Week 6, Benford had allowed greater than half of the receptions that he allowed in complete final season (33 in 2024 and 18 getting into Week 6 in 2025) and double the quantity of receiving touchdowns in protection, two final season and 4 getting into Week 6 this season. Reverse of him on the skin is Tre’Davious White, who’s now 30 years outdated and has suffered ACL and Achilles tears all throughout the previous 4 years.
Including reinforcements to the secondary is essential for the Payments, and that is why they need to intention to commerce for bid-bodied Seattle cornerback Tariq Woolen, who stands at 6-foot-4-inches tall and weighs 210 kilos. The Seahawks are deep at cornerback, as evidenced by their 20-12 Week 6 highway win on the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars with Woolen sidelined with a concussion.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Cincinnati Bengals security Geno Stone
Report: 4-2
The Jaguars simply made a deal on the cornerback place, sending Tyson Campbell and a 2026 seventh-round decide to the Cleveland Browns for Greg Newsome II and a 2026 sixth-round decide this previous Thursday. Nonetheless, their go protection continues to be a piece in progress after getting lit up by Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks in Week 6: the Jaguars are permitting the third-most passing yards per recreation (256.3) in your complete NFL.
Nonetheless, they have been capable of race out to a 4-2 by means of opportunistic play: their 14 takeaways, together with 10 interceptions — each figures lead the NFL. Buying and selling for Bengals security Geno Stone would solely enhance Jacksonville’s capacity to masks its go protection by way of takeaways. Stone’s 12 interceptions since 2023 are tied for the second-most within the NFL, trailing solely Lions security Kerby Joseph’s 16 in that span. The Bengals are sinking ship with Burrow (turf toe) sidelined, and Stone is a pending free agent. It is a deal that Jacksonville ought to make.
Denver Broncos: Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews
Report: 4-2
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has been up and down in Yr 2 with 9 passing touchdowns to 4 interceptions by means of six video games in 2025. Denver buying and selling for three-time Professional Bowl tight finish Mark Andrews, who’s 30-years-old and a pending free agent, may make loads of sense.
The AFC West feels as up for grabs because it has been in years with the nine-time defending division champion Chiefs off to a 3-3 begin. Denver ought to pounce and bolster Nix’s arsenal of playmakers with Andrews, a participant who had a career-high 11 receiving touchdowns simply final season.
The Ravens, who’re off to a 1-5 begin due to a horrific protection and Jackson sidelined by damage, have already begun to tear it down, buying and selling former first-round decide edge rusher Odafe Oweh to the Chargers. They should not have a problem buying and selling Andrews to Denver.
Report: 3-3
Jets operating again Breece Corridor’s expertise is not in query, however his future in New York definitely is. He is set to be a free agent subsequent offseason, and the Jets, who’re off to an 0-6 begin, doubtless will not prioritize re-signing a operating again.
In the meantime, the Chiefs may use extra juice on offense, together with an improve at operating again. Isiah Pacheco has rushed for beneath 55 yards in each recreation this season, and he is gone 12 consecutive video games and not using a speeding landing.
New York would definitely be blissful to soak up as many draft picks as it could actually get amid a rebuild, and the Chiefs are clearly in win-now mode. It is a deal that Kansas Metropolis ought to push to make.
NFC
Report: 5-1
The Dolphins are off to a disappointing 1-5 begin, All-Professional huge receiver Tyreek Hill is out for the season after a ugly knee damage and coach Mike McDaniel is on the sizzling seat.
That is why it will make sense for the hearth sale to start in South Seashore. Oft-injured edge rusher Jaelan Phillips is just 26 years outdated and a pending free agent. Plus, his 20 quarterback pressures this season are the identical as Houston Texans Professional Bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter.
The Buccaneers are off to a 5-1 begin and the NFC’s prime total seed, so they need to be doing every part to bolster their roster. Boosting their go rush with the addition of Phillips is a vital and vital transfer in order that their Twenty fourth-ranked scoring protection (25.2 factors per recreation) can do a greater job of complementing their sixth-ranked scoring offense (27.5 factors per recreation).
Inexperienced Bay Packers: Arizona Cardinals DT Calais Campbell
Report: 3-1-1
The Packers’ go rush has definitely been bolstered by the addition of All-Professional edge rusher Micah Parsons (29 quarterback pressures in 2025, tied for fourth-most within the NFL) regardless of the four-time Professional Bowler lacking all of coaching with the Dallas Cowboys in a contract holdout. Inexperienced Bay ranks ninth within the NFL quarterback strain charge (39.8%) and eighth in quarterback pressures (86).
Nonetheless, the group’s sack numbers may very well be improved with the Packers’ 12 groups sacks tied for nineteenth within the NFL and their 5.6% sack charge standing at twentieth within the league. Beginning defensive sort out Devonte Wyatt’s knee damage in Week 4 on the Cowboys brought about him to be dominated out of the Packers’ Week 6 win over the Bengals regardless of having a Week 5 bye.
Inexperienced Bay ought to bolster the inside of its go rush by buying and selling for ageless marvel and six-time Professional Bowl defensive sort out Calais Campbell. His Arizona Cardinals are off to a 2-4 begin, and Campbell is 39 years outdated. It does not make any sense for him to waste what may very well be his 18th and closing NFL season on a group that seems doomed to overlook the postseason.
Buying Campbell may create extra knock again for the Packers in the course of the road of scrimmage whereas Wyatt is out, thus creating extra sack alternatives for Parsons, Professional Bowl edge rusher Rashan Gary and others. That is an affordable commerce that Inexperienced Bay common supervisor Brian Gutekunst ought to make.
San Francisco 49ers: Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson
Report: 4-2
The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2025 season is probably going doomed with Burrow (turf toe) sidelined and the group out to a 2-4 begin. Cincinnati has balked at giving the NFL’s 2024 chief in sacks, Trey Hendrickson, a multiyear extension the previous two offseasons. Now can be the time to promote excessive.
The 49ers have the bones of a group that would compete within the wide-open NFC, however they desperately need assistance alongside their defensive entrance with out Nick Bosa (torn ACL). Hendrickson may very well be the proper rental to fill the void left by Bosa’s damage, and the 49ers have the cap area, $21.2 million, in line with OverTheCap.com, to soak up the ultimate yr of the four-time Professional Bowler’s contract.
Report: 4-2
The Eagles’ go rush was one among their superpowers en path to dominating the Chiefs in a Tremendous Bowl LIX victory over the Chiefs to conclude the 2024 season. Following the departures of Milton Williams and Josh Sweat in free company this offseason, Philadelphia is now simply round league common at pressuring the quarterback and one of many NFL’s worst at truly bringing the quarterback down.
They rank fifteenth in quarterback strain charge (36.7%) with solely 9 sacks this season, tied for the seventh-fewest within the NFL with Titans. It is sensible for the Titans to battle with getting after the quarterback as a result of they’re 1-5 and have spent essentially the most time trailing (4:35:56) in your complete league this season.
The Eagles ought to go get 29-year-old edge rusher Arden Key to bolster their go rush, provided that Key has 1.5 sacks whereas taking part in for Tennessee — a group that already fired its head coach — this season. Any assist up entrance can be essential for Philadelphia, particularly after edge rusher Za’Darius Smith’s sudden retirement this week.
Seattle Seahawks: Miami Dolphins security Minkah Fitzpatrick
Report: 4-2
The Seahawks are off to a robust begin after signing Sam Darnold to be their new quarterback this offseason, and they need to capitalize on that begin by bolstering the again finish of their protection. Security Julian Love (hamstring) has missed three of Seattle’s six video games this season, so the Seahawks needs to be trying to bolster their depth on the place.
Why not versatile, five-time Professional Bowler Minkah Fitzpatrick? The Dolphins are 1-5 and may very well be the following group to fireplace its head coach, which might set off a transparent rebuild. The Seahawks ought to swoop in on the alternative so as to add a enjoyable chess piece for coach Mike Macdonald to deploy on his protection in a yr the place the NFC seems to be open as ever.
Detroit Lions: Miami Dolphins CB Rasul Douglas
Report: 4-2
The Lions may use one other cornerback with cornerback D.J. Reed on injured reserve (hamstring) and cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder) lacking for the following few weeks. Veteran Rasul Douglas is aware of the NFC North from his time with the Packers (2021-23) and may very well be a steadying, veteran presence in Detroit. It might additionally make all of the sense on this planet for the Dolphins to see if they may get a decide again for the pending free agent.
Los Angeles Rams: Baltimore Ravens WR Rashod Bateman
Report: 4-2
With Professional Bowl huge receiver Puka Nacua struggling an ankle damage in a Week 6 win in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens, it will be smart for Los Angeles Rams common supervisor Les Snead to bolster quarterback Matthew Stafford’s‘s receiving core. Extensive receiver Rashod Bateman (11 catches for 120 yards and a landing in six video games this season) has develop into a forgotten man within the 1-5 Baltimore Ravens’ offense, particularly with Jackson sidelined. Snead ought to give the Ravens a name to see if they might be keen to alternate Bateman for a decide or two with their protection and offensive line in determined want of a reboot.
Atlanta Falcons: Cincinnati Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt
Report: 3-2
The Falcons have the NFL’s No. 1 complete protection (253.4 complete yards per recreation allowed), No. 7 scoring protection (20.0 factors per recreation allowed) and No. 1 go protection (139.4 passing yards per recreation). Atlanta ought to double down on that power by bolstering its exterior cornerback spot reverse A.J. Terrell that’s presently occupied by Mike Hughes.
Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is a pending free agent, and Cincinnati has began him simply as soon as in his 5 video games performed this season. Taylor-Britt simply turned 26 years outdated, and he is somebody who may add essential cornerback depth, which may additional support the event of rookie edge rushers James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker.
Report: 3-2
The two-4 Giants have made 2022 seventh total decide offensive lineman Evan Neal a wholesome scratch in each recreation this season whereas constructing round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Coach Brian Daboll has chosen to do that as a substitute of giving Neal a shot to show himself at guard.
The Vikings have been simply league common in go safety, permitting a quarterback strain charge of 36.2% this season, which is sixteenth within the NFL. Neal may very well be a low-cost swing for a Minnesota group that has seen its offensive line hit with some accidents to this point in 2025.
Report: 3-2
Following three consecutive wins to get above .500 for the primary time this season, the Bears have hope. Nonetheless, they’re with out No. 1 nook Jaylon Johnson after he underwent surgical procedure for a core muscle damage that he aggravated in Week 1. If the Saints intend to let soon-to-be 27-year-old cornerback Alontae Taylor stroll in free company this offseason after a 1-5 begin to 2025 beneath new coach Kellen Moore, the least they may do is get a decide again for him.
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen made Taylor his first second-round decide because the Saints’ coach (2022-24), so Taylor would not want a lot time — if any — to acclimate in Allen’s Chicago system. Taylor would fill a serious want for the Bears for this season and doubtlessly past, so common supervisor Ryan Poles ought to decide up the telephone and see if he can get a deal achieved for Taylor.
Washington Commanders: Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku
Report: 3-3
The Commanders have to get 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr quarterback Jayden Daniels extra receiving assist. Daniels’ go-to-guy Terry McLaurin has missed three of the group’s six video games this season, and 35-year-old Zach Ertz is a enjoyable red-zone goal, however he should not be relied upon to be a group’s prime three go catcher within the yr 2025.
Happily for the Commanders, the Browns are 1-5, and their chief in catches (28) and receiving yards (254) occurs to be rookie third-round decide tight finish Harold Fannin Jr. That makes tight finish David Njoku, who is ready to develop into a free agent subsequent offseason, expendable for the rebuilding Browns.
Washington ought to do what it takes to get the previous Professional Bowl tight finish added to Daniels’ arsenal as a way to salvage its 2025 season.
