The trade deadline in the NFL is quickly approaching and every single team has its weaknesses that need to be addressed before the deadline hits.
With less than two weeks, what are the biggest upgrades that teams need to make in order to make a playoff push or get out of the bottom of the division.
Rank Seattle Seahawks (5-0)
1 Prev. (2 ↑1)
Upgrade: Secondary
The Seahawks have found a way to win every game this season, that does not mean that they are without their weaknesses. Overall, the Seahawks rank as the worst team when it comes to the pass and while the rush would certainly help with this, the secondary needs to improve. Losing Jamal Adams early in the season made it even tougher for them, now they need someone who can fill in and help this secondary which will lead this team to be the best overall team in the league.
Rank Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)
2 Prev. (3 ↑1)
Upgrade: Edge Rusher
Frank Clark has had a decent season so far, but he has been the primary rusher so far. The Chiefs defense has not been bad this season and they have been good in the pass game, but adding another edge rusher will make them even better in the pass game. Not only will that help in the pass game, but it will also help in the run game where the Chiefs rank as one of the worst in the league. It may not be necessary to get a true pass rusher but get a player who can help in both the run and the pass.
Rank Pittsburgh Steelers (5-0)
3 Prev. (5 ↑2)
Upgrade: Linebackers
It is really tough to say what position before last game needed an upgrade for the Steelers. No position necessarily played great, but all were good enough to lead them to a 5-0 record. Then last game, LB Devin Bush got injured and is now out for the remainder of the season. Bush is still young and there is no need looking to find a replacement for him, but a rental player will be needed to help fill the void that the young linebacker left. The Steelers should still be great without him, but he has been a tackling machine.
Rank Baltimore Ravens (5-1)
4 Prev. (4 ⏤)
Upgrade: Edge Rusher
Like most teams there is more than one area that the Ravens need to upgrade, but the biggest is on the edge. The Ravens have 22 sacks on the season which doesn’t seem bad, but considering most come from non-linemen, it is a problem. Getting a consistent rusher to go on the other side of Judon, or even replace him, will be big and it will help a team that is forced to blitz if they want to get to the QB. The Ravens have the number one defense in the league without that, imaging what they could be with one.
Rank Tennessee Titans (5-0)
5 Prev. (6 ↑1)
Upgrade: Edge Rusher
Has Jadeveon Clowney been worth the money the Titans paid him, no, not one bit. This doesn’t mean that he won’t get there this season, but so far, the Titans defense has seven sacks and Clowney has zero. Getting an edge rusher is vital for the Titans, especially when they go up against great pass offenses. Every team needs a player who can consistently get to the quarterback and the Titans need that player, they are in a good position without that, imagine what they could be with one.
Rank Green Bay Packers (4-1)
6 Prev. (2 ↓4)
Upgrade: Wide Receiver
Aaron Rodgers is always able to do great things with little to no help and while the receivers he currently has have been fine, imagine him with two top receivers. Rodgers will not be in the league for ten more or possibly five more years, so the time to win is drawing near. Rodgers is playing like an MVP and you have to do anything you can when Rodgers is looking good to win, adding a top receiver will be something that could help them win now, and that is what they need to do.
Rank Buffalo Bills (4-2)
7 Prev. (7 ⏤)
Upgrade: Edge Rusher
Buffalo’s defense is not nearly as stout as it was last season as of right now, that could change with one simple move, get an edge rusher. Only one player on the team has more than three sacks. Three sacks are alright but adding another edge rusher to go opposite Addison and it will force the ball out quickly which could lead to more turnovers. The defense has all the potential, they are just missing one piece, let’s see if they add the piece.
Rank Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
8 Prev. (14 ↑6)
Upgrade: Tight End
Entering the season, Tampa Bay was supposed to have one of the best offenses in the game. While they have failed to live up to that they have still managed to go 4-2. Rob Gronkowski and O.J. Howard were going to be a great duo, then Howard got injured so Gronk is the only tight end. Gronk has always flourished by himself, but he becomes even better in a two tight end system. Go out and get another great receiving tight end and this offense should start looking like it was supposed to.
Rank Chicago Bears (5-1)
9 Prev. (13 ↑4)
Upgrade: Running Back
Honestly, you could make the argument that almost every position on the offense could use an upgrade, but let’s look at the run game. David Montgomery has been average at best running the ball, he helps in the passing game, but outside of him no one helps in the run game. Adding another back will help the run game and allow Montgomery to not do everything by himself. Tarik Cohen was the secondary back, but once he went out for the season, they never replaced him, go out and get a back to help in the run game.
Rank Los Angeles Rams (4-2)
10 Prev. (8 ↓2)
Upgrade: Defensive Ends
Aaron Donald is great, but he can’t do everything by himself. Donald needs some help on the line otherwise they will get manhandled like they did against the 49ers. Maybe that was just a bad outing, but either way it is too tough to risk in this tight of a division. Adding another weapon will be necessary for any team from the NFC West to make the playoffs and adding another body on either side of Donald will make them a close to unstoppable line.
Rank Arizona Cardinals (4-2)
11 Prev. (16 ↑5)
Upgrade: Tight End
DeAndre Hopkins is no doubt great and there is a reason why he has 600 receiving yards, but he has just under half of his team’s total receiving yards, that is a problem. The Cardinals have some good young receivers to go along with veteran Larry Fitzgerald, but they don’t have a reliable tight end in the pass game. Dan Arnold is the leading receiver from the tight ends with 97 yards or about 1/6th of what Hopkins has. The tight end does not need to lead the team in receiving but give an option that is an alternative to the wide receiver.
Rank Las Vegas Raiders (3-2)
12 Prev. (12 ⏤)
Upgrade: Inside Linebacker
The offense has been really good for the most part, but the defense basically cancels it out with the issues they have had. Overall, the defense has had issues everywhere the outside linebackers of Morrow and Littleton have done a good job, but Kwiatowski has struggled a bit. Upgrading in the linebacker position will help them out in the short run plays which will help on the third down conversions. Currently, the Raiders rank 25th in 3D% and 24th RZPct, adding a true inside linebacker will help get these numbers up.
Rank New Orleans Saints (3-2)
13 Prev. (10 ↓3)
Upgrade: Linebackers
If we strictly looked at yards when discussing the defense then the Saints would not be bad, however, we look at points and though they limit yards they cannot limit the points. This is why the linebackers, specifically the inside linebackers need an upgrade. Linebackers are supposed to be the best tacklers on the team and the person you need to most make a stop when needed. The Saints currently do not have a player to stop the opposing team in big situations, if they get a true inside linebacker, they could lead the division once again.
Rank San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
14 Prev. (17 ↑3)
Upgrade: Edge Rusher
The 49ers, like many other teams have dealt with numerous injuries this season and that has affected the rush that they had from last season. Nick Bosa was one of the most feared rushers entering the season and when he went down it felt like they lost some of the intimidation factor that they previously had. Going into their seventh game they only have 10 sacks on the season, go out and get a deadly rusher to add some intimidation back to the defense.
Rank Cleveland Browns (4-2)
15 Prev. (9 ↓6)
Upgrade: Edge Rusher
The Browns are a team who for most of the season have come together in chemistry and that has led them to a 4-2 record. In all of their wins they have scored more than 30 points and in their two losses they have scored less than 10. This could be seen that the offense needs and upgrade, but let’s get another rusher. Myles Garrett is having a great season as he has half the team’s sacks, now add someone on the other side of him and that helps the pass defense
Rank Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
16 Prev. (15 ↓1)
Upgrade: Wide Receiver
The Colts offense has not been good this season for what was expected. Sure, you could blame this on not having wide receivers, but in all honesty, it has been Phillip Rivers. While Rivers has been the issue, they are not getting rid of him, so they need to do something else to make the pass game better. Currently, no wide receiver has more than 250 yards, so getting a wide receiver is huge. There is no need to get a number one receiver, but someone who can consistently get open for Rivers in necessary.
Rank New England Patriots (2-3)
17 Prev. (11 ↓6)
Upgrade: Wide Receiver
Tom Brady made small receivers look like they were can’t miss draft picks, Cam Newton, not so much. This is not a knock-on Newton, few quarterbacks, if any, could do what Brady could do with undersized receivers. This means that getting a true number two or three receiver will do wonders for Newton. The Patriots are coming off a very tough loss to Denver and in which they only had 171 pass yards, oddly enough that is the third most they’ve had all season. The run game is great and all, but if you cannot pass when needed, well, that is why they are 2-3. Add a receiver to help Newton and fight for a playoff spot.
Rank Dallas Cowboys (2-4)
18 Prev. (18 ⏤)
Upgrade: Every Single Defensive Position
The Cowboys defense is just plain not good, there is nothing good to say when talking about their defense. Yeah, they have dealt with injuries and have some key players coming back, but now is not a time to spare during the trade deadline. The NFC East is wide open and without your starting QB you need the defensive side to step up, do anything in your power to upgrade at any position on the defense, it’s needed.
Rank Miami Dolphins (3-3)
19 Prev. (23 ↑4)
Upgrade: Wide Receiver
Ryan Fitzpatrick has done decent and he has led this team to a 3-3 record through six games, but now it’s Tua time. It’s definitely an interesting move to move to a rookie QB when the team is .500, but obviously they feel Tua is a better option moving forward. The best thing to help him is give him receivers to throw to. DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, and Mike Gesicki have been good options for Fitzpatrick, add another option and that helps Tua immensely. It is entirely possible that Fitzpatrick comes back to start later in the season, even if he does, the more receivers the better the offense will be.
Rank Carolina Panthers (3-3)
20 Prev. (19 ↑1)
Upgrade: Tight End
Greg Olsen was the staple piece in the middle of the Panthers offense for the longest time and when he left before the season, we pondered who was going to be the man at tight end. Well, they have been Ian Thomas and Chris Martinez, but neither of them has over 50 yards in six games. Obviously, the role of tight end is more than just catching the ball, but a tight end who is a threat in the receiving game is invaluable and something that the Panthers could desperately use to help Bridgewater.
Rank Denver Broncos (2-3)
21 Prev. (26 ↑5)
Upgrade: Offensive Line
Denver has dealt with numerous quarterbacks playing for them this season, but even with the changes under center the one underwhelming area has been the offensive line. The Broncos have allowed 15 sacks in five games which isn’t awful, in fact they have actually gotten better as the season has gone on, but there is always room to improve. The Broncos sit in the bottom third in the run and the pass. Drew Lock may not be the answer, but Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay are good RBs and if they still sit in the bottom third then the issue may fall in the offensive line.
Rank Detroit Lions (2-3)
22 Prev. (24 ↑2)
Upgrade: Defensive Line
In both of the wins for the Lions, they have held opponents to under 110 yards on the ground, in games they’ve lost teams have had 145+. The defensive line sets the tone when it comes to stopping the run and that seems to be the biggest issue. Danny Shelton and Nick Williams are not getting the penetration that they need for the linebackers to slip through the gaps. The key to an effective run d is having one linemen who can eat up double teams, find that and it could help in a playoff push.
Rank Philadelphia Eagles (1-4-1)
23 Prev. (21 ↓2)
Upgrade: Offensive Line
The Eagles are dealing with a massive amount of injuries which include basically almost every offensive position. Since they are dealing with injuries everywhere it would be easy to say that any part of the offense needs to be upgraded, but the line is what sets the tone for the offense. Currently, the Eagles have one starter playing on the offensive line, this makes it tough to get the pass game or the run game going. The NFC East is not good so there is still time, but time is running out to get better, who knows if you can wait to get healthy.
Rank Houston Texans (1-5)
24 Prev. (22 ↓2)
Upgrade: Defensive Line
Houston is not in a good position to make the playoffs at this point. Honestly, that doesn’t even matter for them right now, what should matter is just winning a game. Part of the reason they can’t seem to stop anybody is because they cannot stop the run. In every game they’ve lost they have allowed 150+ yards on the ground, get some big bodies on that defensive line to allow the linebackers to get in and disrupt the run. The defensive ends are also mainly effective in the pass rush, something needs to change to stop the opposing run game.
Rank Los Angeles Chargers (1-4)
25 Prev. (25 ⏤)
Upgrade: Secondary
It is tough to really say where the Chargers should upgrade, on one hand you have the pass defense, which is the weak point of the team, on the other you have an offense who can’t seem to find the endzone. Since it’s hard to say just find a player to find the endzone it is easier to say upgrade the secondary. The secondary is not playing great, but once Derwin James is back and healthy then they should be a lot better. If the Chargers really think they are going somewhere this season then they should trade for a rental, if not it honestly may be better to not make a move at all.
Rank Cincinnati Bengals (1-4-1)
26 Prev. (27 ↑1)
Upgrade: Offensive Line
The Bengals need to upgrade the offensive line desperately if they don’t want to ruin Burrow in a couple of seasons. Overall, the Bengals have one of the worst lines in the game and when you have a rookie quarterback, especially the future of your team, you need to make him feel safe when going to pass. Burrow has been knocked down 24 times this season and when he does get the ball out, he does not have a whole lot of time. Burrow has a ton of potential, but if he keeps getting hit this hard then his shelf life may not last as long as it should.
Rank Atlanta Falcons (1-5)
27 Prev. (30 ↑3)
Upgrade: Secondary
With the way the Falcons are playing right now they are not going anywhere this season, the best thing to do is trade for either an upgrade in the secondary or trade for draft picks. The Falcons clearly have the capital to upgrade the secondary with the talent that they currently have on the offense. The biggest problem with upgrading the defense is that you would have to sacrifice offense in order to upgrade defense. That leads to the conundrum, do you trade offense for defense knowing that it won’t make a difference this season?
Rank Minnesota Vikings (1-5)
28 Prev. (20 ↓8)
Upgrade: Cornerbacks
The Vikings definitely have their issues, but maybe the biggest issue on the team is their pass coverage. It’s not necessarily their fault that they have young corners, but with seven teams making the playoffs there is still a chance they could come back from four games under .500 to steal a playoff spot. If they are going to do that though they need to get better at covering the pass and that means getting a veteran corner who can help the young players. This does not mean they need a star corner, but they need a good veteran who can provide leadership to the young players who will hopefully improve over the course of the season.
Rank Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
29 Prev. (29 ⏤)
Upgrade: Running Back
The Jaguars were not supposed to be a good team and after starting the season out with a win and a close loss they have dropped to being one of the worst teams in the league. Part of the reason is that the offense is so one dimensional in the pass game. The pass ranks in the top half of the league while the run ranks in the bottom third of the league. This is not the fault of RB James Robinson as he is doing pretty well for an undrafted rookie who had to take over for Leonard Fournette, but they fail to have a second back who can provide damage when needed. The defense has its own issues, but adding another back will add another dimension to this offense that could lead to some more victories.
Rank New York Giants (1-5)
30 Prev. (31 ↑1)
Upgrade: Offensive Line
Losing your star running back early in the season is never easy on a team, but even when Barkley was playing, he had nowhere to go due to the play of the line. The line is one of the worst in the league and they give virtually no time for the run game to open up or the pass game to open up. As of now the Giants rank in the bottom three in both the pass and the run game so while trading for an offensive lineman may not help in the immediate, it should help in the long run which is the only thing they can hope for right now.
Rank Washington Football Team (1-5)
31 Prev. (28 ↓3)
Upgrade: Wide Receiver
The Football team has more issues that just at the receiver position. Honestly, it may make sense for them to be in a similar situation to the Jets and just try to increase their draft stock, but they have some bright spots, so we focus on the now. Washington’s offense ranks as one of the worst in the league and that is partly due to the entire offense, but outside of Terry McLaurin who is there to throw to. McLaurin almost has 500 receiving yards and your best receiver in yards is a running back in J.D. McKissic. No wonder quarterbacks cannot last in Washington, there is no one to throw to.
Rank New York Jets (0-6)
32 Prev. (32 ⏤)
Upgrade: Draft Picks
There isn’t any trade that the Jets could do that would salvage this current season, therefore the most logical solution is to try to sell any capital that would increase the draft stock. Currently the Jets are the only team in the league that do not have a win in the league and the way things are going they could easily lose the final 10 games and go 0-16. Now, do they have any pieces that they could trade that are first round worthy, probably not, but they already have two first round picks, at this point any picks will make it worth it.