The NFL trade deadline has a way of separating the teams that are really trying to win from the ones just floating along. And with Week 8 here, the Bills, Chiefs, Jaguars, and Browns all sitting atop their divisions, this is the moment when each front office has to decide whether to stay put or push in some chips.
There are already signs the market could be active again this year, after trades for Marvin Harrison Jr., Quenton Nelson, and DeForest Buckner helped get things moving. So if these AFC leaders decide to get aggressive, here’s the kind of move that makes sense for each of them.
Buffalo’s defense has been one of the weakest in the league under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, and that’s why Budda Baker stands out as a fit. The Cardinals safety is 30 and turns 31 in January, and next season is the final year of his contract with Arizona.
He’s been productive already this year, piling up 3.5 tackles for loss, an interception, 4 tackles for loss, 5 QB hits, and 44 total tackles. For a Bills defense that needs help on the back end, Baker would bring playmaking and veteran presence.
Kansas City’s ideal swing is the big one: Brian Thomas Jr. The Chiefs badly need a field-stretching receiver after the injury to Tyquan Thornton, and Thomas fits that role.
It doesn’t seem likely at all that Jacksonville would trade him, but if Kansas City were willing to put a first-round pick on the table, the Jaguars would have something serious to think about. Thomas hasn’t matched the level he showed as a rookie in 2024, but a contending team with urgency could force the issue.
Cleveland, meanwhile, is a team that usually gets left out of deadline buyer conversations, but maybe that needs to change. The Browns’ run game hasn’t taken the leap they needed after Quinshon Judkins’ promising rookie season was cut short by injury.
They’re 19th in total rushing yards and 19th in yards per carry, and Judkins ranks 114th out of 120 backs in total EPA at the running back spot at -17.81. Tony Pollard could help shake things loose.
If Tennessee is willing to move him for a Day 3 pick, that’s the kind of deal a team fighting for the division should seriously consider.
Jacksonville’s target is the one that adds another layer to an already strong front: Khalil Mack. The Jaguars already have Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen, but a veteran edge rusher like Mack could be the piece that deepens the pass rush for a playoff push. The Chargers enter Week 8 at 0-6, and even if they haven’t gone full sell mode, holding onto Mack doesn’t make much sense if there’s real trade value there.
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Bills Secondary Suddenly Faces A Pressure Test Without C.J. Gardner-Johnson
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Now the focus shifts to how Buffalo fills the void against Baltimore. With Gardner-Johnson unavailable, the Bills have to sort out the back end quickly and keep the defense from losing rhythm in a matchup that can punish even small breakdowns. Damar Hamlin is the likeliest answer in the lineup, and the Bills will need him to fit smoothly alongside Cole Bishop if they want the secondary to hold up under pressure. [Read more 🡒]