What every NFL team should do at the trade deadline: Buy, sell or stand pat?

There typically is no telling how busy the market will be at the NFL’s trade deadline, which falls on Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. ET this year.

While the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets didn’t need long to know a move was necessary, Week 7’s results might have nudged other teams in one direction or another.

Do you buy or sell? Or is it safe to stand pat? That’s what The Athletic’s NFL beat writers discuss below for all 32 teams with two weeks remaining before the deadline.

The best thing the inconsistent Cardinals have going for them is the NFC West, a division in which no team has taken control. A team with potential should buy, but that’s not the Cardinals. Not this season. And that means one thing: Trade Budda Baker. The All-Pro safety will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. He is a team captain and its strongest voice. And at 28, he is still playing at a high level. But entering Monday’s game against the Chargers, the Cardinals had not looked like a team that was ready to contend. That means making tough decisions. Moving Baker won’t be popular among fans, but it might be the organization’s best move. — Doug Haller

Atlanta is in the NFC South race even though it’s last in the league in sacks with a paltry six. The Falcons already have tried to fix this via trade, adding Matthew Judon during training camp, but it hasn’t helped yet. Their pass rushing options dimmed again this week when Lorenzo Carter was out after being put in concussion protocol. Coach Raheem Morris keeps saying the pass rush is slowly improving, but that progress is way too slow at the moment. — Josh Kendall

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The Ravens have some salary cap challenges that could make completing a deal difficult and they typically draft and develop, so they won’t move draft picks unless they feel like there is a deal out there that really moves the needle. General manager Eric DeCosta, however, is always going to explore every opportunity to add a quality player. The Ravens have a good roster and they’ve stayed mostly healthy, but there are certainly positions like edge rusher and safety where they’d benefit from adding more quality and depth. DeCosta will likely be aggressive at deadline, but not desperate. — Jeff Zrebiec

The Bills already showed their hand about what they believe their chances are in 2024. In acquiring Amari Cooper last week, it was a big statement to boost a receiver room that sorely needed an upgrade. General manager Brandon Beane didn’t rule out making another move ahead of the deadline either. Injuries could always change priorities, but their two biggest needs currently are either at safety, or at backup offensive line due to the huge dropoff from starters to reserves. At safety, though, the Bills have left the door open on a potential Micah Hyde reunion if he chooses to return to playing, which would fill another big need. — Joe Buscaglia

The Panthers are on their way to a seventh consecutive losing season. Andy Dalton has made the offense competent, but the injury-plagued defense is threatening to give up more points than any team in NFL history. So yes, first-year GM Dan Morgan should be in major pick-recouping mode. Teams have called about Bryce Young, but Morgan isn’t going to just give away the 2023 No. 1 pick. With rookie RB Jonathon Brooks soon set to make his debut, Miles Sanders should be on the block. Ditto for veteran receivers Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen, edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney and defensive backs Jaycee Horn and Xavier Woods. — Joseph Person

Here’s the thing: the Bears can be buyers and sellers. It wouldn’t be surprising if the team moved running back Khalil Herbert or guard Nate Davis for draft picks. It also wouldn’t be surprising if the Bears traded some draft capital for help on their defensive line. Standing pat feels right, though. The Bears open the 2025 draft with a first-round pick and two in the second. It’s best to keep those picks for real investment in their trenches on both sides of the ball. — Adam Jahns

The Bengals clawed their way back into the mix after a disastrous 1-4 start. They’ve proven capable of making runs over the second half of the season during the entirety of the Joe Burrow era so they won’t be waving the white flag now. Plus, director of player personnel Duke Tobin essentially never trades away pieces making the current team worse with an eye on the future. He won’t be doing it with their top asset wide receiver Tee Higgins, even though he’s likely to walk in free agency after this season. They should be more likely to buy, but the defensive line getting healthy and rounding into better shape took desperation off the table there and it’s very hard to see them parting ways with future picks. — Paul Dehner Jr.

The Browns are looking at a multi-year rebuild given Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed contract, and they’ll need to make decisions based on the salary-cap implications not only of what they ultimately do with Watson, but with other players in whom they’ve heavily invested. It’s not as easy as trading Myles Garrett to the highest bidder — many hard conversations need to be had before even exploring that — but the Browns absolutely should look to trade veteran defensive linemen Za’Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson. — Zac Jackson

Despite the optics of the Cowboys’ losses this season, they are still in play for the division, and should start getting back key injured players soon. Micah Parsons, Brandin Cooks and DaRon Bland all appear to be on the cusp of returning, with DeMarcus Lawrence and Marshawn Kneeland expected to return later. Even with those reinforcements, the Cowboys have significant holes on the roster, namely at running back and defensive tackle. If the Cowboys actually are all in and have hopes for a late-season surge into the playoffs, they’ll need to address what they can on the trade market. — Saad Yousuf

At 4-3, with a winnable home game Sunday against the Panthers, the Broncos are already ahead of where many thought they’d be at this point. They have a defense that has the makings of an elite unit, a rock-solid special teams unit and a running game that is starting to show life. While it may be tempting to search for another weapon for rookie quarterback Bo Nix, the Broncos still need to have an eye on the future this season. They gave up a combined six first- and second-round picks from 2022 to 2024 in trades for head coach Sean Payton and former quarterback Russell Wilson. They appear to have found some key contributors with their last two draft classes and need the capital to keep building the team that way. — Nick Kosmider

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The loss of Aidan Hutchinson was a brutal blow to a Detroit defense that had found its groove. He was having a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season, leading the league in sacks and pressures before fracturing his tibia and fibula. And while the Lions were able to win without him on Sunday, adding another player who can create pressure off the edge should be Brad Holmes’ No. 1 priority at the deadline. Both starting defensive ends, Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, are out for the season. On Sunday, the Lions at times showed looks with rookie UDFA edge Isaac Ukwu and rookie sixth-round defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo at the two defensive end spots. It doesn’t have to be a Maxx Crosby-level addition, but the Lions need another body. — Colton Pouncy

Last season, at 2-5, they dealt starting cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Bills for a third-round pick. Through seven games this season, the Packers are 5-2 and a Super Bowl contender. If anything, they could buy, but I don’t see a position desperately in need of an upgrade worth premium draft capital. Before Sunday, you might say the pass rush needed a boost, but then that unit had a stellar game against the Texans. The Packers aren’t traditionally big buyers at the deadline and this year should be no different given they have the necessary pieces to contend already in house. — Matt Schneidman

The Texans have a chance to add to their 2025 draft picks by capitalizing on their depth at wide receiver. Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell are locked in, but Houston also has Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods and John Metchie III. A number of contenders are still in need of additional help at wide receiver, Baltimore and Kansas City among them. A savvy veteran like Woods, who has been targeted only five times all season (three catches for 28 yards), should be able to pick up a new offense and contribute fairly quickly. Metchie, a 2022 second-round pick, has had trouble wrestling playing time away from Collins, Diggs and Dell. He also could potentially net the Texans a pick for the future while helping another team now. — Mike Jones

The Colts still don’t fully know what they have in dual-threat QB Anthony Richardson, who’s scored four total TDs and thrown six picks this season. Richardson has also missed two games due to an oblique injury, which has further hindered his development. It’s hard for me to see a middle-of-the-pack team — with a question mark at the most important position in football — being a buyer or seller at the trade deadline. Plus, the Colts have only made one trade during the regular season in GM Chris Ballard’s eight-year tenure with the franchise. — James Boyd

The Jaguars are surprising contenders for the No. 1 pick, so they’ll be selling. But how’s the vibe in the building with the urgency to move players while jobs are on the line with the front office and coaching staff? That can create a challenging dynamic. Wide receiver Christian Kirk, tight end Evan Engram, tackle Cam Robinson and running back Travis Etienne Jr. could draw trade calls. The Jaguars can’t do anything that severely jeopardizes Trevor Lawrence’s development, but they do have to consider the future since the current group isn’t working. — Jeff Howe

If the Carolina Panthers are sellers and Kansas City Chiefs are buyers, could WR Diontae Johnson (5) be a fit for the defending Super Bowl champions? (Ian Maule / Getty Images)

Yes, the Chiefs are the league’s lone undefeated team. But general manager Brett Veach has to help increase the margin of error for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense by trading for a receiver as soon as possible ahead of the deadline. There are plenty of options available, too, including Diontae Johnson, Demarcus Robinson and Darius Slayton. Compensation shouldn’t be an issue either, as the Chiefs have two 2025 third-round picks, the higher one from the Titans. Although Mahomes prevailed against the 49ers, the Chiefs likely cannot have tight end Noah Gray as their leading receiver. — Nate Taylor

The ol’ internet was in a tizzy when the Raiders traded Davante Adams because that surely meant the Raiders would then deal Maxx Crosby to the Lions for two first-rounders so Crosby could replace Aidan Hutchinson. Boom. But … the Raiders are not in rebuild mode. They need a QB (and now a No. 1 receiver) next year and hope that a Crosby- and Christian Wilkins-led defense can surprise some people. Unless new minority owner Tom Brady decides differently. — Vic Tafur

The Chargers are playing great defense. They have quarterback Justin Herbert, who is continuing to get healthier after his early-season high ankle sprain. They have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league. That combination means the Chargers will likely be in the playoff mix in what remains a pretty wide-open AFC. There are some clear roster holes they could address via trade, namely receiver and pass-catching tight end. They could also look to make a move at cornerback, as they are dealing with a number of injuries at that position. — Daniel Popper

It’s hard to know what to make of this Rams team at 2-4 for two reasons. No. 1: They’re so banged up on offense that they’re struggling to find any sort of identity there, while at the same time expecting to get some injured players back over the next month — starting with receiver Cooper Kupp this Thursday night. No. 2: The NFC West is still fairly open. Could they go on a run? Possibly, but they aren’t protecting quarterback Matthew Stafford and teams are calling about Kupp, according to a league source. With so much especially about this offense operating in a gray area, my instinct would be to wait it out — general manager Les Snead does not often act in the same manner. They don’t really need to go out and get anyone, because the guys they need are already on the roster … just hurt. We’ll see what happens. — Jourdan Rodrigue

I hate advocating for inactivity, but that’s the position the 2-4 Dolphins (and a weak AFC wild-card race) have put me in. They’re probably not good enough or bad enough to advocate buying or selling. When QB Tua Tagovailoa returns this season, which looks like it will be this Sunday, there’s no reason Miami still can’t compete for a playoff spot. Now, maybe squeaking into the playoffs shouldn’t be the goal, but this team was built to win now, so why not try to figure it out with a favorable upcoming schedule? That said, even with Tagovailoa’s return, there’s still a decent chance things go south in Miami, and it shouldn’t be mortgaging any portion of its future to add ancillary pieces. — Jim Ayello

Talk to Vikings coaches and players, and they’ll all tell you seasons and locker room vibes like this one in Minnesota do not come around often. If that’s the case, why not add to the mix (or at least fortify the depth) if an opportunity presents itself? Three aspects feel important to mention if the Vikings are to acquire talent. First, Minnesota is not loaded with 2025 draft picks (they currently have just three selections), so it’d probably have to dip into the future reserves. Second, a team is a delicate chemistry, and part of the Vikings’ success this season can be attributed to the current concoction. So adding someone to that could affect the dynamic. Third, the Vikings are loaded with future cap space, so it’s not outside the realm of possibility that they could jump-start forthcoming free agency by acquiring a big-name player and giving him a new contract. — Alec Lewis

On the one hand, this seems obvious. They have arguably the worst roster in the NFL with basically no chance of making the playoffs this season. Two players at premium positions come to mind as potential trade candidates: edge rusher Joshua Uche and cornerback Jonathan Jones. Both are in the final year of their contract and could likely be had for a Day 3 draft pick. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be the most shocking thing in the world if the Patriots added a low-level offensive tackle given their struggles and injuries there, plus the need to protect rookie Drake Maye. They can search for left tackle depth without being true buyers. — Chad Graff

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The Saints have been outscored 60-10 in the last six quarters and the defense looks like it has quit on coach Dennis Allen. They’ve lost five consecutive games, the last two in impressively awful fashion. It’s probably time to start selling off parts. An easy choice would be defensive end Chase Young. He’s on a one-year deal and there’s little doubt some team in the NFL could use a pass rusher. Perhaps the Lions, who just lost a premier pass rusher to injury in Aidan Hutchinson and whose head coach and defensive coordinator have former ties to the Saints? — Larry Holder

Sunday felt like a new low for this year’s Giants team as Saquon Barkley returned with a vengeance against his former team to help lead the Eagles to a 28-3 thrashing. Oh, and the Giants benched quarterback Daniel Jones. But in trying to “create a spark,” Brian Daboll has nonetheless created quarterback uncertainty despite committing to Jones going forward. So yeah, this team doesn’t seem playoff bound, especially with a primetime date at Pittsburgh next Monday. If the Giants want to acquire assets to move forward this offseason, one candidate would be wide receiver Darius Slayton who has proven to be a relatively reliable veteran. — Charlotte Carroll

The Jets should be sellers. But owner Woody Johnson seems intent on throwing money at the Jets problems — see: Davante Adams trade, convincing Haason Reddick to end his holdout by paying him — and it has not gone well. Johnson has been fully committed to this being an all-in year, and until he stops making these aggressive decisions, it’s difficult to assume he won’t keep doing it. The Jets still have needs on the defensive line and have been decimated by injuries in the secondary. On the other hand, the Jets also should come to their senses at some point. They are 2-5 with a 40-year-old quarterback who is playing like he’s a 40-year-old quarterback, and a team that doesn’t seem to have the juice to turn the season around as it fades away. Wide receiver Mike Williams seems likely to be on the way out in the coming days or weeks, and perhaps others will join him before the trade deadline. — Zack Rosenblatt

The Eagles swung big in free agency, and their prize signing, Saquon Barkley, is the fulcrum of a talent-laden offense whose first-quarter funks may keep the front office open-minded about adding potential sparks. Losing left tackle Jordan Mailata to injured reserve with a hamstring also raises questions if the offensive line needs more depth. A young defense may only require patience. GM Howie Roseman spent the team’s first two picks on players who are now starting in the secondary. The Eagles dominated bad teams in two weeks of touchdown-less defense, and, within their 13 sacks in that span, free agent signee Bryce Huff had his first full one. Josh Sweat’s contract expires this year. The expectations are indeed high this season. Will the Eagles dip into its draft resources to land another edge rusher who’ll ensure their pass rush remains dangerous? — Brooks Kubena

As the New York Jets slunk off the field Sunday in Pittsburgh, Steelers fans screamed out to receiver Mike Williams, “See you in a Steelers uniform next week.” Yeah, you could say Pittsburgh needs a receiver, and everyone knows it. After GM Omar Khan dealt former Pro Bowler Diontae Johnson this offseason, the WR2 position has been a hot-button topic. Pittsburgh was the team most heavily involved in the Brandon Aiyuk saga and more recently inquired about Davante Adams. But Pittsburgh still needs a more dynamic weapon behind George Pickens. Whether it’s a big swing like DeAndre Hopkins or Adam Thielen or a smaller change to round out the depth chart, the Steelers will be shopping. — Mike DeFabo

The 49ers, who made a pair of trades for defensive ends last year, could be looking for another defensive lineman this year. That’s because they lost Javon Hargrave (triceps) for the season and likely will be without Yetur Gross-Matos (knee) for several more weeks. They’re particularly thin at defensive end. After Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd, the only edge players on the active roster are inexperienced Robert Beal Jr. and Sam Okuayinonu. And they are clearly monitoring the 32-year-old Floyd’s snap count. Another potential area of need: running back. Christian McCaffrey appears to be on track to return after the Week 9 bye, but if there’s a hiccup in his recovery, trading for an ex-49er like Raheem Mostert or Jeff Wilson Jr. makes a lot of sense. — Matt Barrows

The Seahawks are an average football team hoping to be a great one by January. That’s why they gave up a Day 3 pick in 2026 to improve their D-line depth with Roy Robertson-Harris. Better health in the secondary and at right tackle would be paths to late-season greatness. Another way would be to add a piece to the second level of the defense. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect an O-line upgrade during the season, but perhaps if a team in need of assets wants to sell off members of its back seven, Seattle could improve what has been an inconsistent group, even when healthy. — Michael-Shawn Dugar

Through the first six weeks of the season, the Bucs have been one of the best teams in the NFC. But to get where they want to go, they’ll need to get past the Falcons, who put up 36 points against them in an overtime loss for the Bucs. The Bucs defense can count on players who were injured early to lift the team as the season goes on. But if GM Jason Licht can pick up an edge rusher or cornerback for a moderate price, he could provide a performance boost, as well as an emotional one. At the very least, the Bucs should be window shopping. — Dan Pompei

The argument for holding on to DeAndre Hopkins and his expiring contract is the fact that this season is devoted to developing and finding out about Will Levis. What’s the young quarterback supposed to do without his favorite target? Problem is, the Titans have already found out quite a bit, all of it bad, and a middle-round pick for Hopkins would make sense at this point. Other low-cost veterans such as Quandre Diggs and Arden Key could be in the mix as well. Would this front office consider a bigger move for a bigger return – a Jeffery Simmons or a Harold Landry? Considering all the losing they’ve done so far and the obvious impatience of owner Amy Adams Strunk, that might be asking too much. — Joe Rexrode

Hear me out because we’ve got some caveats. First off, the plan entering the 2024 offseason focused on year-over-year contention rather than a quick fix. That shouldn’t change with round 1-4 picks despite the surprising winning record and a dynamic Jayden Daniels. Washington isn’t one player away from joining the league’s top tier, especially on defense, and has several long-term holes. Now, the caveats. If there’s a young player GM Adam Peters thinks is worthy of a multi-year contract and valuable draft picks, maybe. Same if the team is at least 6-3 by the deadline, which potentially became tricker with Daniels “week-to-week” with a rib injury. Make a deal involving late-round picks (swap or straight up) for a veteran CB or DL depth, let’s talk. — Ben Standig