Let's propose NFL trade deadline moves: Eight experts build deals for Pollard, Woolen, others

• Matt Bowen

  Close

  

  Matt Bowen

  ESPN Writer

  Matt Bowen is a fantasy football and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent multiple years on "NFL Matchup." After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played safety in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons.
  , 

• Jeremy Fowler

  Close

  

  Jeremy Fowler

  senior NFL national reporter

  Jeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.
  , 

• Aaron Schatz

  Close

  

  Aaron Schatz

  ESPN Writer

  Aaron Schatz is an NFL analyst for ESPN.com. He has more than 20 years of experience working in NFL analytics and is the creator of the DVOA and DYAR metric. He also serves as the Chief Analytics Officer at FTN Network.
  , 

• Ben Solak

  Close

  

  Ben Solak

  ESPN

  Ben Solak joined ESPN in 2024 as a national NFL analyst. He previously covered the NFL at The Ringer, Bleeding Green Nation and The Draft Network.
  , 

• Seth Walder

  Close

  

  Seth Walder

  ESPN Analytics

  Seth Walder is an analytics writer at ESPN, specializing in quantitative analysis. He is also a regular on "ESPN Bet Live" and helps cover sports betting. Seth has been at ESPN since 2017. He previously worked at the New York Daily News covering the Jets and Giants. You can follow Seth on X via @SethWalder.
  , 

• Cameron Wolfe

  Close

  

  Cameron Wolfe

  ESPN Staff Writer

  Cameron Wolfe is a reporter for ESPN and NFL Network based in Miami. Wolfe, a native of Jackson, Mississippi, previously covered the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans for ESPN and the Denver Broncos for The Denver Post.
  , 

• Field Yates

  Close

  Field Yates

  ESPN NFL Insider

  Field Yates is a fantasy football expert and NFL draft analyst for ESPN. You can find him on Fantasy Football Now on Sunday mornings and regularly on NFL Live throughout the week, as well as the Fantasy Focus and First Draft podcasts. A graduate of Wesleyan University (CT) and native of Weston, Mass., Yates has previous experience interning with the New England Patriots on both their coaching and scouting staffs.

Nov 7, 2026, 06:35 AM ET

The NFL trade deadline is three days away, and we've already seen a handful of major moves from teams. The Colts traded away cornerstones on both sides of the ball, with guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers. And the Bears dealt a package that included two first-round picks to land Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Two quarterbacks have also switched teams, with J.J. McCarthy going to the Giants and Jacoby Brissett joining the Ravens.

But what other big deals could be on the horizon? Ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, we asked eight experts from ESPN and NFL Network to pitch realistic trade offers that they would love to see get done. They laid out the compensation for each team and then explained why the deals would make sense for both parties involved.

Here are the trades they are proposing, starting with the running back on everyone's mind ahead of the deadline.

Jump to a deal for a player:
Bates | Brown | Downs | Ojomo
Pollard | Suamataia | Taylor | Woolen

Judy Battista's offer

Minnesota Vikings get: RB Jonathan Taylor
Indianapolis Colts get: 2027 second-round pick, 2027 third-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick (acquired from NYG)

Why this deal makes sense for both sides: It's a haul (similar to one that sent RB Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers in 2022), but the Vikings need Taylor's home run threat to pair with QB Kyler Murray's explosive rushing ability. Up until this point of the season, their offense has been largely stagnant despite the presence of receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

The Vikings have arguably the best defense in the league, but they'll need to score points for a deep playoff run. The Colts, engaged in a fire sale and potentially hoping to get a first-rounder for Taylor, get plenty of draft picks to help kickstart what looks like a total rebuild.

Matt Bowen's offer

Chicago Bears get: CB Riq Woolen
Philadelphia Eagles get: 2027 fifth-round pick

Why this deal makes sense for both sides: The Bears already made an aggressive trade for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons -- a game changer in the front -- but they still need more top-end speed in the back end. Woolen brings the physical traits and boundary speed to play man coverage with his 6-foot-4 frame, plus he fits in coordinator Dennis Allen's split-safety schemes as a ball disruptor (12 interceptions and 59 pass breakups in his career).

For the Eagles, they get a Day 3 return on Woolen, who is set to be a free agent in 2027 after signing a one-year deal with Philly.

Jeremy Fowler's offer

Kansas City Chiefs get: WR Josh Downs
Indianapolis Colts get: 2027 fourth-round pick

Why this deal makes sense for both sides: Kansas City has been looking for receiver help, and Indianapolis is weighing trade options for Downs, who wants out. The Colts would love a third-round pick for him but might need to settle for a fourth. The Chiefs would get a much-needed additional playmaker, and the Colts would strengthen their rebuild, though Downs' absence would badly hurt an already struggling offense.

Aaron Schatz's offer

Los Angeles Rams get: WR Dyami Brown, 2027 seventh-round pick
Washington Commanders get: 2027 sixth-round pick

Why this deal makes sense for both sides: Don't be fooled by Brown's low average of 10.4 yards per reception; he's primarily a deep threat who stretches the field. And though it feels like he has been around for years, he's still only 27 years old.

For the Rams, Brown would probably be a better receiving option than Tutu Atwell. And more importantly for coach Sean McVay's offense, Brown is a better run blocker with 30 pounds on Atwell. Brown shouldn't demand much of a return, and the Rams don't have a 2027 seventh-round pick (it was flipped to the Ravens in 2024 as part of a deal involving CB Tre'Davious White).

Ben Solak's offer

Green Bay Packers get: RB Tony Pollard
Tennessee Titans get: 2027 fourth-round pick

Why this deal makes sense for both sides: Even if the Packers trust they'll have running back Josh Jacobs for the rest of the season after his six-game stint on the commissioner exempt list, his lack of explosive runs is disqualifying from consistent 15-plus-carry games. Jacobs' longest run of the season is 10 yards, and he is 26th out of 35 running backs in 10-plus-yard rush rate since the start of last season. Meanwhile, Pollard is 11th and has the necessary pass-catching chops to play all three downs in Green Bay's offense.

The Packers have an extra fourth-round pick, thanks to the Rashan Gary trade with Dallas in March, and could easily flip it to introduce more balance to their playoff-contending team.

Why Tony Pollard's fantasy outlook is trending up

Seth Walder's offer

Buffalo Bills get: S Jessie Bates III
Atlanta Falcons get: 2027 third-round pick, 2028 sixth-round pick

Note: Atlanta would convert all but the minimum of Bates' remaining 2026 base salary into a signing bonus prior to this proposed trade.

Why this deal makes sense for both sides: The release of C.J. Gardner-Johnson means there is a perfect opening for Bates -- one of the game's best safeties -- in Buffalo's secondary. But the sneaky reason why this could happen? The Falcons have over $109 million of 2027 cap space (most in the NFL), per OverTheCap.com. So they're almost guaranteed to be active in free agency, which in turn means there's a chance they wouldn't get a compensatory pick for Bates (because signings cancel out departures when compensatory picks are distributed). If the Falcons keep Bates through the deadline, the risk they lose him for nothing is high.

Buffalo is in the opposite cap situation, so this would be like a short-term signing. But Bates probably would net them something like a fourth-round compensatory pick in 2028 if he signed elsewhere next offseason, significantly softening how much draft capital Buffalo is giving up in this scenario.

Cameron Wolfe's offer

Jacksonville Jaguars get: DT Moro Ojomo
Philadelphia Eagles get: 2027 third-round pick, 2028 fourth-round pick

Why this deal makes sense for both sides: The Jaguars were already looking heavy into interior defensive line upgrades before their elite run-stopping nose tackle DaVon Hamilton suffered a season-ending quad injury Sunday. Now an addition feels mandatory for this Super Bowl-contending team. Ojomo looks like the best option available, and he would be an excellent fit as a three-down disruptor next to Arik Armstead.

At times, Ojomo has looked like the Eagles' best defensive lineman on tape this season. And though they value him a lot, he is a free agent after this season on a team that already granted big deals to DTs Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. This move would allow the 2-6 Eagles to load up on more draft capital, locking in two middle-round picks instead of one potential compensatory pick if Ojomo left in free agency.

Field Yates' offer

Green Bay Packers get: OL Kingsley Suamataia
Kansas City Chiefs get: 2027 fourth-round pick

Why this deal makes sense for both sides: After starting all of last season for the Chiefs, Suamataia has been benched twice this season despite backup options yielding less than optimal results in his stead. However, he could still be a valuable asset to another team given he's just 23, has positional versatility and is under contract through next season. The Packers must continue to hurl resources at an offensive line that has battled injuries and ineffectiveness through eight weeks, so giving up a fourth-round pick is worth it.