Expert Analysis
10/30/24
9 min read
AFC Teams With The Most Pressure To Complete a 2024 Trade Deadline Deal
The trade market in the NFL follows the basic economic principle of supply and demand.
That’s especially true at wide receiver this year with so many teams seeking help at the position, so the demand is high, but the supply of top receiver talent has dwindled with the recent trades of Davante Adams, DeAndre Hopkins, and Amari Cooper.
Then there’s the broken collarbone suffered on Sunday by Jacksonville’s Christian Kirk and the successful return last week of Cooper Kupp for a Rams team in contention in the NFC West, which removes two potential high-end targets from the market.
There are still several fine receivers who could be dealt by Tuesday’s trade deadline, and at least three AFC teams are likely checking out possible deals (along with several NFC teams, including two injury-ridden teams—Tampa Bay and San Francisco). The price in future draft choices is probably rising a bit for Darius Slayton and others due to this high demand.
Defensive help is also a big need for several playoff contenders as we hit the 2024 season’s halfway point (more or less considering the 17-game season).
After listing the six NFC teams most needing to make trades last week, here’s my list of six AFC teams who should be under the most pressure to get deals done by Election Day on November 5:
AFC Teams With Trade Deadline Pressure
BALTIMORE RAVENS 
The Baltimore Ravens' offense ranks first in the league, but the defense has uncharacteristically fallen from No. 6 last season to 25th due to having the NFL’s worst pass defense through eight games, allowing 291.4 yards per game. The problem is in the secondary, as the team ranks fourth with 24 sacks.
The difficulties at cornerback were especially apparent in Sunday’s upset loss in Cleveland when Browns backup QB Jameis Winston replaced the injured Deshaun Watson and threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns.
Marlon Humphrey (knee) and first-rounder Nate Wiggins (shoulder) are dealing with injuries and missed the Browns game. They should return soon, but Brandon Stephens has struggled in coverage, and Arthur Maulet had to be activated last week after August knee surgery.
The Ravens need to add help at cornerback to improve their chances of defending their AFC North title and finally talking down the Chiefs to reach the Super Bowl. At 5-3, they’re one game back of the Pittsburgh Steelers and have a big three-game stretch upcoming. They'll play two home games in five days against 5-3 Denver and division rival Cincinnati, followed by a pivotal game at Pittsburgh.
Baltimore should trade for a quality corner like Jonathan Jones of the New England Patriots, who could be available since the Patriots are not a playoff threat at 2-6.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
The Cincinnati Bengals are only one game behind in the wild-card race and should be buyers, not sellers, at the trade deadline, so I don’t expect them to trade free agent-to-be Tee Higgins, who is having a productive season but missed last week’s loss to the Eagles with a quad injury.
When Higgins inevitably departs due to a massive extension forthcoming for Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati will likely receive a third-round compensatory pick, so there’s no need to trade him without a big return.
Joe Burrow and Chase are having excellent seasons, and they along with Higgins (when healthy), are capable of leading a run to the playoffs if the 21st-ranked defense can step up in the second half of the season.
The Bengals have only 12 sacks, the fourth fewest in the league. Their 24th-ranked run defense has also been a problem. The team has all its 2025 draft picks, so it can make a move to acquire a pass rusher, like Chase Young from the 2-6 Saints, to help Trey Hendrickson (seven sacks).
He can step into the rotation with Sam Hubbard and Myles Murphy, who have two sacks between them at defensive end. Young is also on a one-year deal, which may be attractive to teams such as the Bengals seeking pass-rush help.
A run-stuffing defensive tackle also could be a target for the Bengals.
DENVER BRONCOS
The Denver Broncos have capitalized on a relatively soft recent schedule and their third-ranked defense to win five of their last six games (with the only loss to the lone winning team during that stretch to the 4-3 Chargers). It will get tougher in the next three weeks with games at Baltimore, at Kansas City, and home vs. Atlanta, but at 5-3, Denver is in the AFC wild-card mix.
It’s time for Broncos GM George Paton and coach Sean Payton to give their first-round QB Bo Nix more help at wide receiver. Nix had a rocky start to the season, with four interceptions in the first two games (losses to Seattle and Pittsburgh), but he’s improved since then with eight touchdown passes and only one pick in the last six games.
Courtland Sutton is having a fine season with 29 catches for 377 yards and two touchdowns. Marvin Mims has been a disappointment with only six receptions, and the other wide receivers currently playing — Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Troy Franklin — are not making enough plays while Josh Reynolds is on injured reserve.
It would be a smart move for the Broncos to acquire Slayton, or another quality vet wide receiver who may be available, like the Panthers’ Adam Thielen or the Jets’ Mike Williams, to help their 27th-ranked passing attack. After several seasons with few draft choices due to trades for Russell Wilson and Payton, Denver has the future draft capital to step up now.
HOUSTON TEXANS
The 6-2 Houston Texans should cruise to their second straight AFC South title. Houston is a team with Super Bowl aspirations after loading up on veterans like DE Danielle Hunter and WR Stefon Diggs following its surprising success last season.
The Texans’ pass defense is second-ranked, but there have been troubling signs in its two losses this season. Sam Darnold threw four touchdown passes in the Vikings’ Week 3 win, and Jordan Love tossed three touchdown passes and led a winning field goal drive in the Packers’ Week 7 win.
To knock off teams like Kansas City in the postseason, Houston should add quality depth at cornerback. Derek Stingley Jr. is a Pro Bowl-caliber corner, but the rest of the corner group is average, although second-round rookie Kamari Lassiter has long-term potential.
Jonathan Jones or another quality veteran corner would be a nice addition to help the secondary hold up behind one of the league’s best pass-rushing groups led by Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.
Another area of concern is the offensive line and pass protection for C.J. Stroud, who has been sacked 22 times, third most in the league. The Texans would help their postseason prospects by adding a quality interior offensive lineman, as 2022 first-rounder Kenyon Green has not yet developed into a quality starter at guard.
And now the Texans may need a wide receiver, too, following Diggs' placement on season-ending injured reserve.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
One of the teams the Broncos are competing within the wide receiver trade market is their division rival — the Los Angeles Chargers.
Coach Jim Harbaugh has his team firmly in the playoff mix at 4-3. The next three games are against teams with losing records: Cleveland, Tennessee, and Cincinnati. Then, the schedule toughens with Baltimore, Atlanta, and Kansas City.
The Chargers' offense ranks 23rd with the passing game 24th despite having an elite quarterback in Justin Herbert, who could use another weapon at wide receiver after the offseason departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
Second-round rookie Ladd McConkey is coming off his best game with six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns against the Saints. He leads the team with 30 catches for 376 yards and four touchdowns. Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston have only 29 catches between them, but Johnston has three touchdown receptions. D.J. Chark has been hampered by hip and groin injuries as he’s been on injured reserve this season.
There have been rumblings that the Chargers are in the hunt for another wide receiver to bolster their receiver corps. That would make sense for a team with a strong defense and a good enough run game.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Here’s another team in the wide receiver derby leading up to the trade deadline. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the somewhat surprising leaders of the AFC North at 6-2, but it will be challenging to fend off Baltimore and perhaps Cincinnati if the Bengals get on a roll.
Pittsburgh has a rough next two weeks at Washington and home against the Ravens before divisional road games at Cleveland and Cincinnati.
The Steelers have a top-10 rushing attack and defense. The passing game ranks 25th. Russell Wilson has settled in at quarterback and is getting better each week. Like Herbert and Nix, Wilson needs another quality wide receiver. That player would join forces with No. 1 George Pickens and the rest of the group which includes Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin, who had a season-best three catches for 54 yards (including a 29-yard TD) in the Monday night win against the Giants.
Perhaps Pittsburgh could trade for Slayton, Thielen, Williams, or a wild card like Jakobi Meyers if the 2-6 Raiders are in fire sale mode after already trading Adams. The Raiders could add draft choices with an eye toward selecting a high first-round quarterback next April.
