While the NFL trade deadline is less exciting than some leagues, there should still be a handful of names that see themselves getting dealt. Typically, bad teams opt to trade some of their vets in favor of draft capital in hopes of rebuilding. While the NFL season is still young and a lot can change, there are some teams that need to be prepared to sell during the trade deadline.
Selling doesn’t make sense for all bad teams. The Raiders boast one of the lower records in the league, but their contracts will be hard to get out of. The Bears have also been bad, but they are lacking talent in most areas and are trying to build around Justin Fields. As for these four teams though, selling at the trade deadline makes the most sense.
4 NFL Trade Deadline sellers in 2022
Washington Commanders
It hasn’t been the start of the season that the Commanders wanted. Despite boasting a talented defense and an offense with quite a few intriguing pieces, this team has come out flat and has limped to a 2-4 record. Much of this has been because of the hot and cold play of Carson Wentz.
While his contract may be hard to deal, names like Andrew Norwell, Antonio Gibson, and Logan Thomas could all fetch mid-late-round picks. The prize may be Daron Payne, as the defensive tackle in the final year of his deal and is a dominant run stopper. The Commanders have plenty of trade chips, and the odds seem to point to them selling them before the deadline.
Houston Texans
Initially, many thought that the Texans would be hands down one of the worst teams in the league entering the current season. While they have been far from good, they have thrived on a surprising pass rush and a potent rushing attack headlined by Dameon Pierce. That said, this team is still lacking talent at a lot of positions.
They do have some valuable veterans that could be dealt though. Jerry Hughes is off to an extremely hot start despite this being his age-34 season. A competing team in need of some pass-rushing boost could look to add him. Steven Nelson and Christian Kirksey could also be dealt for picks.
One of the top names that could be moved is Brandin Cooks. While the receiver is a fine starter, he will likely not be on this team long-term, so getting something for him now is a wise move. Trimming some of their fat in favor of draft picks makes sense. This would allow the Texans to be in a position to land a top quarterback in the draft.
Carolina Panthers
There is little doubt in my mind that the Panthers are the worst team in the NFL right now. Despite boasting quite a few talented players, their coaching and quarterback play has been abysmal. There is very little hope for them this season, so it makes sense for them to try and flip some of their rosters.
That isn’t to say everyone is for sale, as core defenders like Brian Burns and Jaycee Horn should remain safe. That said, there is a slew of veterans that can and should be made available. Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, and even Shaq Thompson could all realistically be dealt away as this roster rebuilds.
Some of the names above have legitimate star power, while there are other mid-range veterans that could still be dealt for picks on top of those names. The Panthers aren’t anywhere close to competing this season. They should trim their roster, set themselves up for a top quarterback, and attempt a rebuild in the offseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers
While no one expected the Steelers to be a great team this season, their poor performance has been shocking to most fans. While the upset against the Buccaneers was nice, it does little to alleviate the woes of this team. A rebuild behind new quarterback Kenny Pickett may be in order, as this roster has plenty of fat to trim.
Devin Bush, Chase Claypool, and Terrell Edmunds headline a list of solid veterans that could be dealt. The Steelers could be even more aggressive though. Mitch Trubisky could be dealt to a quarterback-needy team as his time as the starter is essentially done. Najee Harris has been outplayed so far and could also be dealt.
This roster isn’t in a good position to succeed right now, and while wasting a year of their quarterback on a rookie deal isn’t ideal, it may be best for the team right now. They aren’t built to compete as of now, and it would make a lot of sense for the Steelers to be sellers heading into the NFL trade deadline.
While these four teams could, in theory, still turn their seasons around, it seems like a better bet that they turn into sellers at the NFL trade deadline. Turning players into draft picks makes the most sense for these rosters, as their current positions make it hard to believe that they are going to succeed for the remainder of this season.