The NFL trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after the close of Week 9, and the coming days should reveal which franchises believe they are still in the race and which are already thinking about the 2027 draft. Week 9 provided no shortage of evidence for both camps.
In Los Angeles, the Rams watched Myles Garrett dominate the Commanders with three sacks in his first fully healthy game of the season, a reminder of what the defense looks like at full strength. Because the Rams dealt away much of their draft capital in the offseason, largely to acquire Garrett, another splashy addition appears unlikely, and his return from injured reserve may effectively serve as their deadline move. Wide receiver and cornerback remain areas of need.
Cincinnati opened Sunday with a 34-17 win over the Falcons in Madrid, improving to 6-2 and pulling even with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North, though the Steelers hold the head-to-head tiebreaker ahead of a rematch next Sunday night. Joe Burrow went 24 of 29 for 271 yards and three touchdowns, adding a rushing score for the second straight week, while Ja'Marr Chase piled up 142 receiving yards before halftime. After the Steelers game, the Bengals' only remaining opponents with winning records are the Chiefs once and the Browns twice. Having already traded the 10th pick in the 2026 draft for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, Cincinnati could still look to upgrade at running back, on the offensive line or at safety, with names such as Budda Baker and Jessie Bates III circulating as possibilities.
Dallas won Sunday despite blowing another double-digit second-half lead and trailing the Colts 23-20 in the final two minutes. At 4-5, the Cowboys sit three games behind the Giants in the loss column in the NFC East, and with only four picks in next year's draft, further defensive additions would be difficult. The Cowboys already acquired cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from Pittsburgh earlier this year, and their most valuable trade chip may be wide receiver George Pickens, who is playing on the franchise tag and missed Sunday's game with an injury.
Wide receiver could be the busiest position at the deadline. Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr. has drawn interest since the spring, Indianapolis would likely move Josh Downs and Keenan Allen, and Calvin Ridley could be had from Tennessee at a modest price. The Chargers insist they are not selling, but teams keep calling about Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey, and the Eagles, losers of seven straight, have little use for Hollywood Brown. The Chiefs, Patriots, 49ers, Steelers, Seahawks and Rams all need receiver help, with the Broncos and Giants possibly in that group as well, and last season's Rashid Shaheed pickup in Seattle showed how one move can matter.
The Giants improved to 5-2-1 with a sloppy win in Philadelphia over an undermanned, Joe Milton-led Eagles team, holding their NFC East lead. J.J. McCarthy left briefly with a hip injury, and Jameis Winston threw the game's only touchdown. With Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. still out, the Giants averaged just 2.6 yards per carry, but reports Sunday indicated they pulled an offer for Jonathan Taylor, suggesting restraint rather than a splashy move in John Harbaugh's first season as head coach.
Green Bay's Jordan Love starred in a 45-27 win at New England, throwing for 372 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-29 passing and running for another score, as the Packers set a record for points by an opponent at Gillette Stadium on a day the Patriots honored Rob Gronkowski. Even so, the run game remains a concern. The Packers entered averaging a league-worst 60.6 rushing yards per game, and Josh Jacobs left in the first quarter with a hand injury, leaving Kaleb Johnson and Pierre Strong Jr. to carry the load in a division where every team is at least three games over .500.
On the fantasy front, the week's judgments were mixed. Shedeur Sanders is not worth adding in all leagues given uncertainty about whether he starts next week. Eagles rookie Makai Lemon looks like a genuine second-half difference maker, while Seth McGowan holds value mainly as insurance in case Jonathan Taylor is traded. Denver's Jonah Coleman has emerged as an every-week starter under Sean Payton, at least until RJ Harvey returns, and Kansas City's Kenneth Walker III has a strong case as the fantasy MVP of 2026.
