Three NFL Trade Deadline Trade Ideas

Ariel Arevalo

Anchor Staff Writer

Over the past few weeks, we've seen several major NFL trades. It started on Sep. 28 when the Vikings sent quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants. Since then, we’ve seen cornerback Joey Porter Jr. shipped to the Dallas Cowboys, center Cam Jurgers moved to the Ravens, and most recently, former 2024 No. 4 overall pick wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. reunited with his college quarterback, C.J. Stroud, in Houston. 

However, there’s still a couple of weeks before the Nov. 10 deadline, and that’s plenty of time for big trades to happen. In the upcoming weeks, teams likely not competing in January will start looking to sell.  Contenders also have one more shot at improving their teams for a potential Super Bowl run, and they’re running out of time fast.

We at The Anchor have proposed six realistic NFL trades that could happen before this year’s trade deadline. We believe these trades will help both the buyer and the seller. 

Josh Sweat goes to the Chicago Bears

Chicago receives: EDGE Josh Sweat and a 2028 Arizona seventh-round pick

Arizona receives: 2027 Chicago third-round pick and 2028 Chicago sixth-round pick.

This trade is simple to explain: The Chicago Bears desperately need more pass rush, especially with Montez Sweat suspended for the next two games, their best pass rusher over the past few years. Although Austin Booker is having a nice season with four sacks and nine pressures in five games, the other defensive linemen have been underwhelming. Josh Sweat provides an immediate upgrade to a pass rush that needs it, as he was awesome last season, with 12 sacks, tying him for seventh in the NFL with Will Anderson Jr. and Byron Young. He also won’t break the bank draft pick-wise and is under a nice contract for the next two years. 

Arizona would also get solid value for a player who’s on the wrong side of 30 and not part of the team’s long-term future output. They are 1-5 and not competing for the playoffs. They also have a lot of holes on their roster, and getting a late-day two pick will help in their rebuild. They already sold Marvin Harrison Jr., so why not sell everyone else that isn’t part of the future while they still have value, including someone else featured in this article. 

Khalil Mack moves upstate to San Francisco

San Francisco receives: EDGE Khalil Mack

Los Angeles Chargers receive: 2027 fifth-round pick.

Same concept as the Josh Sweat trade idea: a bad team trades a veteran pass rusher to a contender that needs pass rush. Only this time it’s an older, worse player that’s going for much cheaper. While a reunion in Chicago would be nice to end his legendary career, San Francisco may rather go after a rental like Mack than Chicago. They are currently undefeated and firmly Super Bowl contenders, and in January you need plenty of pass rush to win it all, but the 49ers are a little thin on pass rushers, especially with Nick Bosa out for a bit with an injury. Keion White leads the team in sacks with 3, and Oso Odighizuwa leads in pressures with 15, but they, and Bosa, may not be enough when push comes to shove. Khalil Mack will provide the extra pass-rush depth required to win the Super Bowl. 

As for the Chargers, they sell off an aging veteran on an expiring contract. They have been terrible to start the season at 0-5 as I write this, and should look to sell off expiring veterans before they walk for nothing next season. 

Budda Baker joins the Bills Mafia

Buffalo receives: Safety Budda Baker

Arizona receives: 2027 Buffalo fourth-round pick and 2028 Buffalo sixth-round pick.

Arizona continues its fire sale with this trade, sending franchise legend Budda Baker to the Buffalo Bills for some day-three selections. Moving on from a player as important to your franchise as Baker might be hard to stomach. But sometimes moving on is right for both the player and team. The only thing stopping this trade is that Budda could nix the trade if he wants to retire a Cardinal.

As for Buffalo’s side of this trade, they get an experienced upgrade at safety for relatively cheap. Even though he’s not the same player he was a few years ago, he’s still a good football player with an interception, three sacks, and two pass breakups this season. Buffalo’s safeties haven’t been good this season; the team ranks 31st in the NFL in pass defense, and safety play is a big reason why. Budda Baker will help stabilize a unit that desperately needs it.