NFL Team Executives Expecting Bustling Trade Deadline

Newly hired executives looked poised to utilize the deadline to make transformative moves as the league continues adapting to playoff expansion.

Personnel executives across NFL teams are currently making exploratory calls and gathering information, with the trade deadline only 11 days away. Early trades include Chase Claypool moving from the Bears to the Dolphins and Van Jefferson from the Rams to the Falcons.
The trade deadline appears to be more active due to the relative ease of executing trades, especially for back-end roster players. Teams have adopted the baseball model of business, seeking value at every position while being more willing to cover large portions of a traded player's salary.
There’s been an increase in NFL trade activity over the years, partially due to the league pushing back the trade deadline in 2012 and expanding the playoff field from 12 to 14 teams in 2020. This has created a competitive environment to improve rosters and given teams more time to evaluate their playoff chances.
General managers, particularly those newer to their roles, are adopting more progressive ways of conducting business. As a result, teams are more likely to be aggressive in making roster decisions, whether to win now or rebuild through the draft.
Factors such as team performance, quarterback situations, and future draft prospects also influence trade decisions. For example, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, despite being in contention, traded away players with the long-term goal of securing top picks in the 2023 draft.