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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Jaguars Trade Buzz Now Centers On One Name Fans Wont Like
Trade chatter around the league keeps circling back to a handful of notable names, and for Jaguars fans the most eye-catching one is Brian Thomas Jr. Multiple teams have reportedly checked in on deals involving the Colts Josh Downs and Thomas, with Downs said to be possibly open to a move. It is the sort of buzz that tends to follow a receiver who has already shown enough to draw attention, even if most of these conversations stay in the realm of due diligence.
Jacksonville is also being tied to a possible swing for Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne, which adds another layer to the rumor mill as teams try to sort out whether they want to add, subtract or simply keep listening. Around the rest of the league, Titans players Jermaine Johnson, Tony Pollard and Alontae Taylor have also come up as trade possibilities, underscoring how active the market feels. For the Jaguars, the bigger question is whether interest in Thomas is just background noise or something that will force the front office to answer calls more seriously. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Suddenly Look Like A Team That Could Swing Big Again
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Jaguars are once again being mentioned as a team to watch if the market heats up. ESPN analysts Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano both pointed to Jacksonville as a possible buyer, with Fowler even floating Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne as a name to keep in mind if Washington decides to listen.
Jacksonville already showed a willingness to make a move at last years deadline when it brought in Jakobi Meyers, and Graziano suggested the front office could be looking for more help on the defensive side this time around. For a team trying to keep pushing forward, that kind of aggressive mindset usually means the next week could be a lot more interesting than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Enter Week 8 With A Chance To Change Everything In AFC South
The Jaguars enter Week 8 carrying more than just a solid spot in SIs weekly power rankings. At No. 8, they have earned the kind of national respect that comes from steady play, and now the schedule gives them a chance to turn that into something bigger. With divisional matchups and other conference tests ahead, Jacksonville is positioned to make a real move in both the AFC South and the wider AFC picture.
For a team that has spent the early part of the season climbing into the conversation with contenders such as the Bengals, Ravens and Chiefs, the next stretch could define how far that momentum goes. The rankings are a snapshot, but the games ahead will decide whether the Jaguars stay in that neighborhood or start separating themselves from the pack. [Read more 🡒]