The NFL trade deadline is on November 10, and teams have already proven they are ready to make substantial moves.
While it typically feels like losing teams or teams with their stock way down are the ones moving players at the deadline, are there any players on contending teams that could be traded away?
There might just be. Whether there are players stuck in a logjam at their specific position group, or perhaps a team using one player to acquire someone else at a position of need, there are three players we're going to put under the microscope as possible trade candidates.
Brian Thomas Jr. leads players on contending teams who could be moved at the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline
1. Brian Thomas, WR, Jaguars
It's been said that the Jacksonville Jaguars don't want to trade 2024 1st-round pick Brian Thomas Jr., but actions speak louder than words.
Thomas didn't play the second half of the Jaguars' Week 6 loss (in London) against the Houston Texans. His 15 snaps in that game was his lowest snap count of the season. He's only had 8 targets over the Jaguars' last 4 games combined, and only has 10 more total snaps than rookie Josh Cameron over that timeframe.
It certainly feels like the Jaguars have been phasing Thomas out of their offensive plans, and his name has continued to pop up in rumors as a result.
There will be plenty of suitors interested in a player of this caliber, but would anyone be willing to meet Jacksonville's asking price? Would the Jaguars actually trade Thomas to another AFC contender like the Chiefs?
2. Riley Moss, CB, Broncos
Over the past few seasons, Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss has become one of the most polarizing players in the NFL.
Moss is a talented cornerback with outstanding athletic traits, but he's also been "grabby" and led the NFL in penalty yardage last season.
Moss has been picked on in multiple ways over the past two years by both quarterbacks attacking him deep downfield, and officials maybe getting a little too generous with their flags when he's in coverage, but he could still upgrade a lot of secondaries right now.
Why would the Broncos consider trading him?
Well, Moss is one of three key players in Denver's secondary -- Ja'Quan McMillian and Brandon Jones the others -- who is in the final year of his current contract with the team. He missed some time this year due to a rib injury, and both Kris Abrams-Draine and Jahdae Barron played great football in his place.
The Broncos invested a 1st-round pick in Barron, and might not have plans to keep Moss beyond this year. If he could be traded somewhere that has a clear path to a starting cornerback job while also helping the Broncos acquire another impact player (maybe a RB or TE), they might consider it because of his contract situation and their depth.
3. Sam LaPorta, TE, Lions
Sam LaPorta is probably the least likely player on this list to be traded before the deadline, but his name has also popped up on a number of occasions.
The Lions are obviously in contention for the NFC North, and they have a pivotal matchup in Week 8 -- at home -- against the Minnesota Vikings. A win on Sunday likely pushes the Lions into "buyer" mode, and they would have no issues waiting until after the season to get a deal done with LaPorta.
With that said, Detroit has shocked us all before by trading TJ Hockenson in-season, and they pulled off that trade with a division rival on top of it all. Those were different circumstances, but you just never know.
If LaPorta's asking price is so far out of Detroit's range that they know they are going to let him go after this season, they could get something really good for him now.
Add us as a preferred source on Google