NFL trade deadline best fits: Where could Breece Hall, top RBs end up?
- - NFL trade deadline best fits: Where could Breece Hall, top RBs end up?
Jacob Camenker, USA TODAYNovember 2, 2025 at 5:06 AM
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The running back position has been somewhat devalued in the NFL over recent seasons, but it still matters significantly to contenders.
Take, for example, last year's Philadelphia Eagles squad. They relied on 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley as the driving force of their offense and rode him all the way to a Super Bowl 59 victory.
Several other NFL teams may want to follow a similar blueprint, but will need upgrades in the backfield to make it happen.
makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
">Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
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1 / 4Best images of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.
Luckily, a handful of running backs could conceivably be on the move before the 2025 NFL trade deadline, which will pass on Nov. 4. Several non-contenders may be willing to part with potential starters or role players at the position who could end up being key parts of playoff or championship teams.
New York Jets running back Breece Hall represents the biggest potential running back trade chip who might become available. Other notable trade candidates include breakout Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle and Tennessee Titans starter Tony Pollard.
Where are the perfect potential landing spots for these running backs and a few more potential role players? USA TODAY Sports breaks down the best fits for some of the top trade candidates at running back.
RB trade candidates, landing spotsBreece Hall: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers lost veteran Najee Harris for the season to a torn Achilles, while Omarion Hampton is expected to remain out long-term with an ankle injury. Kimani Vidal has flashed at times in place of the two backfield leaders while performing well in pass protection, but there's little doubt Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman will want to add another starting-caliber running back, given their preference for a run-heavy offense.
Hall is averaging 5 yards per carry and is on pace for 1,613 scrimmage yards despite playing in a struggling Jets offense. Justin Herbert would love throwing to him out of the backfield while Hall's explosiveness would add another dimension to Los Angeles' current running game.
Omarion Hampton: Latest injury updates on Chargers RB
Rico Dowdle: Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City's running game got off to a slow start in 2025. Patrick Mahomes led the team in rushing for most of the early stages of the season. Isiah Pacheco has since passed him, but the veteran suffered an MCL sprain in the Chiefs' Week 8 win over the Commanders.
Dowdle has enjoyed a stellar three-week run for the Panthers. The 27-year-old is well-built and has a nice mix of contact balance and power that could allow him to emerge as the No. 1 back in Kansas City's rotation.
Dowdle may not have an elite trait, but he would add to a solid but unspectacular Chiefs running back room headlined by Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Having Dowdle as the leader while Pacheco, Hunt and receiving back Brashard Smith provide a change of pace would give the Chiefs a solid backfield committee as they look to emerge as a Super Bowl contender again.
Tony Pollard: New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel doesn't yet seem willing to trust second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson but will need some insurance for the fumble-prone Rhamondre Stevenson after Antonio Gibson's season-ending ACL tear.
Pollard has fumbled just 10 times across 1,366 career touches. The dual-threat runner could work in tandem with Stevenson and be trusted as New England's workhorse if the Oklahoma product has another fumbling flare-up.
The Patriots have nearly $55 million in cap space, per OverTheCap.com, so they would easily be able to fit Pollard's $6.74 million salary for 2026 into their payroll.
Jerome Ford: Indianapolis Colts
It's hard to find too many issues with the Colts' offense, but their running back depth is a bit shaky. Currently, 32-year-old Ameer Abdullah is their primary backup, and he hasn't handled more than 66 carries in a season since 2017. So, if Jonathan Taylor goes down, the Colts are thin at the position.
Ford might not necessarily look like a sexy fix on paper. He's averaging just 3.5 yards per touch on 42 touches this season, after all. Still, he has averaged a decent 4.3 yards per carry during his career, has handled as many as 204 carries in a season, and has shown he has the receiving skills to be a solid third-down back.
That would be enough to make Ford a better backup for Taylor, especially when factoring in the uptick in efficacy he would likely see playing a limited role behind a top-tier Colts offensive line.
Jaylen Wright: Dallas Cowboys
Wright has fallen behind De'Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II in Miami's backfield rotation. That could prompt the team to move on from the fourth-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys may need a long-term starter at running back with Javonte Williams playing on a one-year deal. They could also use competition for Jaydon Blue to back him up with Miles Sanders out for the season, and Wright's speed would make him an intriguing option for the Cowboys. They could dangle a mid-Day 3 pick for his services while trying to unlock the Tennessee product's potential.
Keaton Mitchell: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have a couple of bigger-bodied bruisers behind Barkley in Tank Bigsby and A.J. Dillon. They could stand to add some speed to that rotation, especially since Will Shipley has had just five total touches since leaving Philadelphia's season opener with a rib injury.
Mitchell is buried behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill with the Ravens but could earn a role as a gadget weapon with the Eagles thanks to his 4.37-second 40-yard dash speed. Philadelphia could also explore using Mitchell as an explosive return man, given the team's plans to use Bigsby in that role have not been fruitful.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL trade deadline: Top RB trade candidates, landing spots
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