This year, the NFL Trade Deadline is right after the Week 9 games, which is later than it’s been in years past. This gives teams a chance to really evaluate who is and who isn’t very good. Sure, teams could still talk themselves into a late-season run after nine weeks, but there are way more teams looking to 2025 ahead of Week 10.
It's already been a wild trade season with Davante Adams going to the Jets and Amari Cooper going to the Bills. That is on top of the rumors surrounding Haason Reddick and the Detroit Lions trying to replace Aiden Hutchinson after his gruesome injury. Honestly, every single team is making calls right now. The teams at the top of the standings are looking for game changers, while the teams at the bottom are looking to buy low on talented prospects.
So let’s take a trip around the league. Who makes the most sense on each roster?
Arizona Cardinals - Courtland Sutton
The Arizona Cardinals is a hard one to peg down at the time of this writing. They at one point looked like they could be a playoff contender, but they got blown out by the Green Bay Packers and might be that tweener who’s just one year too early.
That will impact how the Cardinals move forth at the deadline. They won’t want to mortgage the future, as their present doesn’t warrant that type of price. Even if a superstar becomes available, the Cardinals aren’t the right team to make the move. The timing just isn’t there, and that’s okay sometimes.
That’s how we landed on Courtland Sutton. We feel like this is still a long shot, but Sutton provides the Cardinals with a player who could provide some assistance to Marvin Harrison Jr. He also gives Kyler Murray another weapon, and they can given him a long-term contract. Of course, that latter part is necessary to make this deal work. Would he be willing to give up a chance at free agency to tie himself to Arizona?
Atlanta Falcons - Jayden Peevy
The Carolina Panthers are once again in the running for worst team in the NFL. They have benched their first-overall pick from a year ago for Andy Dalton. The offense has some players on it, even with Adam Thielen on IR. The defense has some talent, but it leaves something to be desired. Still, all Panthers players are probably available for the right price.
Would they consider trading within the division? Sure, why not? The Panthers are not going to compete with the Atlanta Falcons anytime soon, and the South is going to be the most competitive division down the stretch. That likely means they are going to pay the best prices for veteran talent.
We can see the Falcons going after a pass rusher at the deadline to help with their defensive efforts. The Falcons are at the bottom of the league with just five sacks this season. There aren’t many pass rushers on the market, although there are some. However, Jayden Peevy would be a very reasonable option.
The Panthers made the bizarre decision to cut Peevy despite leading the team in sacks from the defensive tackle position last week. They re-signed him to the practice squad, which makes this an even stranger situation. The Falcons could just sign Peevy themselves if they guarantee a roster position, but we see the Panthers putting Peevy back on the main roster and accepting what they can for him.
Baltimore Ravens - Tee Higgins
The Cincinnati Bengals are known for bad starts under Joe Burrow and Zac Taylor. However, this season is ridiculous. Even with the win against the New York Giants in Week 6, the Bengals are still 2-4 and have little chance to make the postseason. Some would argue the talent should change their postseason chances, but you are what your record says you are, and it says the Bengals need to make up ground and pass multiple teams in doing so just to get a Wild Card.
With the reality in their face, hard decisions are coming up, and the hardest decision is that of Tee Higgins. The Bengals placed the franchise tag on him this past offseason, and now he’s marching straight to free agency next year. If the Bengals don’t re-sign him, which they can’t until the season ends, then they will lose him for nothing.
That is, unless they trade him. Then they’d at least get a decent package for their second wide receiver, and they can finally just give Ja’Marr Chase the bag.
Some might consider this an insane landing spot, but the Baltimore Ravens are one of the few teams willing to take a chance on a one-year rental with no agreement even possible until the season is over. Yes, the Bengals and Ravens are rivals, but that doesn’t change the fact they would likely be the highest bidders.
Buffalo Bills - Trey Sermon
The Bills have no money after the Cooper trade. They need to be very strategic if they want to get any other pieces. They would love a player in the secondary or some help on the defensive line, but they just can’t afford anyone worthwhile. They made their move at wide receiver, and that was a necessary function for them. Now, they are legit contenders in the AFC.
However, we’re trying to find trades for everyone. So, looking at the roster, we could see them bringing in a high-upside running back to back up James Cook. Ty Johnson is not a good enough player to start, so the Bills take a shot on the Indianapolis Colts’ Trey Sermon.
Sermon is a player who has dominant talent but something has been missing on the NFL level. He had a rough game against the Titans on October 16th, but he had a good game against the Jacksonville Jaguars the week before (include six receptions and a rushing touchdown). The former Ohio State standout is still 25 years old, so there’s a chance he could find himself and become a quality NFL running back, at least as a backup.
But again, this is about price. The Bills have no money, so they can only get so much at the deadline. A 25-year-old backup running back with a little experience should be plenty good.
Carolina Panthers - Cooper Rush
We will get to the Bryce Young saga in a few slides, but the Carolina Panthers are going to fully move on from the franchise’s biggest mistake. Instead of going into Sunday’s with Caleb Williams and Jalen Carter, they have a disgruntled backup quarterback who hasn’t shown even a semblance of NFL ability. And honestly, it is what it is at this point. No point in crying over spilled milk and bad trades. Just accept the consequences and move on.
The Panthers could try to make the most of the end of their season and trade for another quarterback who could prove himself valuable. Andy Dalton has no long-term value to the Panthers. He’s a stand in. Dalton is here to keep the ship afloat while they figure out what’s next. Well, there are some interesting players who could be given a chance in the right system.
The Dallas Cowboys have had Cooper Rush as the backup for eight years (with a very quick stop on the Giants in between). He made his NFL debut with the Cowboys back in 2017, when he relegated Kellen Moore from locked-in backup to released to the practice squad. He continues to stay in Dallas behind Dak Prescott, but this seems to be the last hurrah for these two.
So, with the Cowboys still having Trey Lance as their backup, Rush is expendable. This is a strange season for Dallas, who is coming off a blowout loss. We could see them trying to mine their roster for assets. Rush would at least get them a draft pick, and that’s more than he’s contributing to the roster at this moment.
Chicago Bears - Cam Robinson
The Chicago Bears have one major need, and it’s about to rear its ugly head. After a few weeks of really positive offensive play, the Bears are going to soon play some better defensive teams. They’ve enjoyed matchups with the Colts, Rams, Jaguars, and Panthers, but they still have two games against the Vikings, Packers, and Lions on the schedule, along with games against the Commanders, 49ers and Seahawks on the horizon.
The Bears offensive line will be tested in the second half of the season, but we’re not sure they are ready for such a test. The offensive line has struggled. It’s not a secret. So these teams with actually good defenses, especially those in the NFC North, won’t be afraid of what we’ve seen from Caleb Williams because they’ve seen the gameplan to stop him. Hit him.
So, the Bears need to make a move for offensive line help. There are some teams who might have some interesting names available, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to be selling hard after what’s just been an awful season. They might leave everyone on the coaching staff in London after this week. One person they should book a different flight for is offensive tackle Cam Robinson.
Robinson is a veteran and one of the few reliable options available via trade. The Bears will have competition, and that might drive up the price, but they have some very desirable assets (like the Panthers second-round pick) that will move the needle for the Jaguars.
Cincinnati Bengals - Azeez Ojulari
We have a feeling that nothing will make the Cincinnati Bengals feel like they are completely out of the race. Yes, we have some Bengals on this list getting traded away, but they are pieces they are trying to take advantage of. Here, the Bengals are still trying to be contenders.
The Bengals desperately need help on defense. They are hugely bad on the other side of the ball, and Joe Burrow is having trouble keeping up with other teams scoring flurries. The Bengals need to give him some help, even if they are taking away help on the offensive side. It makes so much sense to take assets from the offensive side and use them for defense. Burrow will get the Bengals in a better spot offensively as long as Ja’Marr Chase is on the roster.
Which position should the Bengals target? Cornerback makes sense, but the Bengals won’t want to pay the prices it would take to get one. They should have signed Stephon Gilmore in the offseason, but that ship has sailed. So they go with linebacker, targeting the Giants Azeez Ojulari.
It also helps that Ojulari was amazing against the Bengals just this past week. He was playing where Kayvon Thibodeaux would usually play, and he was a game breaker along with Dexter Lawrence (who wouldn’t get traded no matter the price). He’s everything the Bengals want. He does the little things right, and he helps the stars stand out. The Bengals might have to pay a price for his services, but the Giants would definitely let him go for the right price.
Cleveland Browns - Tyler Lacy
Honestly, the Cleveland Browns are desperate for something, but it’s more than likely their season is over. They moved Amari Cooper, and they already have some high-upside receivers in Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy. The offensive line is shot, but they will likely use a very high draft pick to take one to protect Deshaun Watson (who they haven’t been able to protect due to the draft picks they sent to Houston, ironically).
So, the move is to take a completely and utter chance on someone. What makes sense is taking a chance on a quarterback like Trey Lance or Kyle Trask, but they won’t do that with the albatross Watson contract still intact. So, they go for a defensive lineman.
Tyler Lacy was a top 100 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He hasn’t lived up to anything, barely getting on the field in his first two years. He’s not able to make this Jaguars defense. Is his issue something the Browns could afford to fix? Maybe they think they have a better defensive coaching staff (likely) and they can fix him. Or, they can even find something out of him that makes him worthy of a roster spot.
The trade would likely cost a seventh-round swap, so why not. The Jaguars might even cut Lacy if they need the roster spot. Both these teams stink, but the Browns could use some extra bodies on the defensive line since offensive line likely isn’t the target mid-season.
Dallas Cowboys - Rhamondre Stevenson
The Dallas Cowboys need a running back. They are last in the NFL as of this writing in rushing yards per game with 77. Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle are not the answer in the backfield. Who knew? Now, the Cowboys are looking at a sputtering offense that isn’t going anywhere, and their defense is leaking like the Titanic post-iceberg.
There’s one problem for the Cowboys: they ignored the situation this offseason when there were about a dozen really good running backs available in free agency. So, that leaves the Cowboys looking for a new starter when most teams just committed to new players. They could have had Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, or even Aaron Jones, but they spent exactly no money to bring back Elliott.
It’s time to rectify this if the Cowboys want to save their season. Sure, rushing is not as important as it was even 10 years ago, but it’s not like a team can ignore the concept completely.
The Cowboys will look to a player that Elliott once called a teammate. Rhamodre Stevenson has had a rough season. He’s had a fumbling issue that had the Patriots demote him to backup duties. He still forced his way into the lineup (when healthy), as he’s a much better player than almost anyone on the Patriots' offense. The Cowboys could get Stevenson for a decent price since the Pats stink and the team hasn’t put a focus on him after his issues.
Denver Broncos - Chuba Hubbard
Speaking of team that’s desperate for a running game, the Denver Broncos could very much use a great back. Chuba Hubbard has been the one bright spot on the Panthers this season. He’s third in the NFL in rushing yards with just under 500 in six games, ahead of the likes of Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs, and Alvin Kamara. He’s done this on just 86 attempts, while the two players ahead of him (Derrick Henry and Jordan Mason) have 119 and 114 attempts, respectively.
Hubbard is able to be incredibly efficient with his runs. He’s averaging 5.6 yards per rush, but he only has three rushes for over 20 yards. That means his averages are coming from good, hard runs in the trenches. You know who would love that type of player? Sean Payton.
We know why the Broncos would love Hubbard. They could have a true thunder-and-lightning situation with Hubbard on the roster. He’s shown a propensity to take the brunt runs while someone else can break out. Maybe Javonte Williams could be that player this season and someone else can jump into that role next year. Plus, we just don’t want to see Bo Nix throwing the football anymore.
Why would the Panthers do this? Well, they did draft Jonathan Brooks pretty high, and he will be returning from his torn ACL recovery relatively soon. The Panthers should just go all in on him and get something decent for Hubbard, who has always played above his head for the Panthers.
Detroit Lions - Keion White
The Detroit Lions need to get a pass rusher. They lost the sack leader in the NFL when Aidan Hutchinson suffered a serious injury that will cost him all of the regular season. We might have seen the last of Hutchinson this season. It’s devastating news for the Lions, but they have to move on. This is the closest the Lions have been to legit Super Bowl contention in… maybe ever.
They cannot waste this opportunity. It’s time to put your money and your assets where your mouth is. This isn’t a team that doesn’t take a chance, and they must do it with their assets here. There are some interesting pass rushers on the market, but the move that makes sense for the Lions now is to call the New England Patriots, a historical trade partner for them.
Keion White has four sacks in six games. He’s a 2023 second-round pick, so the Patriots won’t let him go for nothing. He is a monster on the defensive line (6’5, 285 lbs.). It has everything the Lions will look for. White is good enough to take over for Hutchinson in the short term, and when he returns (whether that’s the playoffs or next season), he’s good enough and cheap enough to play alongside Hutchinson.
The Patriots might put an insane price on White due to his youth and where they are as a franchise, but that price should be met. Asking for a first-round pick? Sure. Add another pick to that? Do it. White isn’t the best pass rusher in the league, but he’s growing and could be something great.
Green Bay Packers - Bradley Chubb
The Green Bay Packers are steeped in the most competitive division in the NFL. The Lions, Vikings, Bears, and Packers could all theoretically win the division. Anything can happen, and truly all four teams could make the playoffs. That sounds insane, but every team in this division has at least a .667 win percentage. The Vikes are undefeated, and the Lions have one loss in six games.
The Packers lost Jordan Love for a few weeks, but they survived. Now he’s back, and he’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. The offense seems unstoppable, so the way to beat the Packers is to outscore them. That hasn’t really worked, either, as the Packers defense has been solid. They’ve only allowed 20 points per game, good for top 10 in the league.
It still makes sense to add talent on the defense, especially when the Packers can buy low on a superstar. Bradley Chubb once cost the Miami Dolphins a first-round pick, but he’s coming off a major knee injury, and they are going nowhere. They already have his replacement in Chop Robinson, and Chubb would be better served rushing the passer on a contender.
The Packers are a pretty good fit, and Chubb can still continue to rehab his torn ACL until he’s ready to go. The Packers need him in the second half of the season, and he’s on pace to be ready then.
Houston Texans - Bryce Young
The irony here is impeccable, but this often happens in the NFL. Bryce Young going to the Houston Texans, the team with the second-overall pick who saw C.J. Stroud fall into their lap, giving them one of the great young quarterbacks in the NFL, would just be fantastic. They still have Davis Mills, but they’ve been pretty clear they don’t trust him when Stroud goes down. DeMeco Ryans could get the most out of Young, and he can better mimic what Stroud is doing with this offense.
This wouldn’t be a rehabilitation project. Young is broken, and it’s not likely he’s an NFL starting QB. We want to believe in the talent, but we’ve seen too much. He might be worse than JaMarcus Russell when it comes to talent, but we have fewer issues with his work ethic. If he goes to Houston with a good mindset, he has an outside chance to play a style that works with his talent set.
Young has just been awful to start his career, and the price of acquisition is basically nothing. The Panthers gave up way too much for Young even if he was a decent quarterback, but the calamity of what was given hurts so bad. If the Panthers just did nothing, they’d have Caleb Williams and Jalen Carter today.
Oh well. We cannot go back in time and reverse the trade, so they have to deal with the situation in front of them. They will take a quarterback at the top of the draft again this season, so just take the fifth-round pick you can get for Young.
Indianapolis Colts - Mark Andrews
Let’s get spicy. The Baltimore Ravens have two decent tight ends, but in reality, they might have two great tight ends who are pilfering from each other in a rush-first offense. When the team has Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, the team doesn’t need a ton of pass catchers. This isn’t exactly the Greg Roman offense, but it’s not much different.
It puts the Ravens in a very enviable position. They have two very strong options at tight end, and they really don’t need either of them. Mark Andrews was once the best tight end not named Travis Kelce. He could do amazing things on the field, and he put up big numbers. Three seasons ago, he had 107 catches and more than 1,300 yards. He hasn’t hit those heights since, but those heights exist.
Andrews has had some injuries since 2021, but he’s also shown flashes of his old self. If he’s on a team with opportunity, then he’d likely put up those same stats. Andrews would be amazing on the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts offense is interesting. When healthy, they have possibly the best running back in the sport in Jonathan Taylor and a very good receiver in Michael Pittman. They also have just a pure boom or bust under center in Anthony Richardson. Adding Andrews gives them a weapon at every position, plus they have Josh Downs who’s growing into his own.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Robert Spillane
This one might be the hardest team to land on. The Jacksonville Jaguars are a bad football team. The head coach might not leave London after this week, and the quarterback just got paid, but he might not be the answer. They will likely trade away multiple pieces, including two offensive tackles we’ve already mentioned on this list. It’s really hard to find a player they would target.
On other rebuilding teams, they targeted former draft picks who might need a change of scenery. The Jaguars need help on defense, so they might make a bigger move than others might expect.
If you don’t know the name Robert Spillane, get to know it. He might be the most important player on the Las Vegas Raiders defense not named Maxx Crosby. The linebacker is playing out of his mind, putting up a league-leading 62 tackles up to this point. He’s one of the better linebackers in the league today, especially when compared to those who nobody is talking about.
This won’t be a cheap acquisition for the Jaguars, but if they are really trying to turn things around, they need help on the defense. Spillane would change the Jaguars' defense entirely, but it would not be cheap to get him. We’re not saying risk the first-round pick, but the Jags should figure out how to compensate the Raiders.
Kansas City Chiefs - Tyler Lockett
The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of receivers, but none of them are really that good. After Patrick Mahomes hurt Rashee Rice, they lost the chance to have a number-one receiver. They have Xavier Worthy, but he’s a rookie. Juju Smith-Schuster was picked up off the scrap heap. Hollywood Brown got hurt and is out for most, if not all, of the season. Justin Watson, Skyy Moore, and Mecole Hardman are just there. The Chiefs need a number one to help with a sputtering offense (he says while the team is 5-0) as Travis Kelce still finds his sea legs.
We’ve heard the interesting names but with Davante Adams and Amari Cooper off the board already, the Chiefs have to get creative. Tyler Lockett would be an amazing addition to this team.
The Seattle Seahawks have Lockett’s replacement in Jaxson Smith-Njigba. He’s looked better and better each week. Lockett has been decent this season, but the Seahawks could be really good with or without Lockett. So, they can get a decent return for Lockett while not losing much on offense.
It really feels like the right match. The Chiefs won’t have to give up everything to make the deal happen, and the Seahawks can get the most out of the Chiefs because they don’t hoard assets as they try to make a three-peat happen.
Las Vegas Raiders - EJ Speed
What are the Indianapolis Colts going to do this season? Anthony Richardson is still trying to figure out the NFL, and Joe Flacco looks like the better option for a team trying to win. Still, the Colts have to think about the future here, so they will keep playing Richardson. Could that go badly? Yes, and it would give them an opportunity to recoup assets for their assets. That includes EJ Speed, who has seen a lot of people praise his play.
Speed is third in the NFL in total tackles (60, two behind the Raiders Robert Spillane who is also on this list). He would add an incredible element to the Las Vegas Raiders. Why would the Raiders trade Spillane just to replace him with Speed? They are both UFAs next offseason, and their numbers are relatively similar (around $3.5 million to $4 million).
It’s all about assets and price. The Raiders can get more for Spillane than the Colts can get for Speed. The Raiders would have to work out a future contract for Speed if that’s the case, but it makes sense to keep this Raiders defense powerful in the future. They’d be in a much better spot if they fixed the quarterback position. They don’t want to strip the roster too bad, but they also want to make positive acquisitions. This is an example of having your cake and eating it, too.
Los Angeles Chargers - DeAndre Hopkins
The Titans have said they don’t plan on trading DeAndre Hopkins before the NFL Trade Deadline. We don’t believe them. Hopkins could fetch them a decent price, even with his advanced age. He’s doing what he can to help this Titans offense, which is not performing well with Will Levis under center. With the additions of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd this offseason, many thought the Titans could be sneaky on offense. They have not been. At all.
Let’s find the best landing spot for Hopkins. Looking around the league, there are intriguing options. The Bills made a lot of sense, but they have no money left after the Amari Cooper trade. We like the fit with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but we have them targeting a different (and cheaper) receiver who has term. Many might mention the Chiefs, but they need a different type of receiver.
The Los Angeles Chargers make all the sense in the world. Rookie Ladd McConkey is providing them with that possession receiver, similar to what they had with Keenan Allen. Adding a threat like Hopkins would give Jim Harbaugh a complete offense, something he’s been tinkering with all season.
Justin Herbert hasn’t looked his best this season, but he’s finally starting to shake out of the funk. Maybe with Hopkins, the Chargers could make a run.
Los Angeles Rams - Romeo Dobbs
It’s just receivers on receivers at the trade deadline this season. It seems like every team in the league is either targeting or offering up a wide receiver. Romeo Dobbs is more than likely getting traded this season after he was suspended for his conduct. He didn’t do anything heinous, but the Packers felt him missing practices was enough to sit him down for a game. He returned last week and played well, but the Packers don’t need him. This is going to lead to more animosity.
The Packers won’t send Doubs to a contender, so they settle for moving him to the Los Angeles Rams. Many think the Rams are completely out of it, and they are ravished by injuries. Both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp have missed time with injuries. They need someone for Matt Stafford to throw to.
The Packers might consider the Rams season over, but we doubt they think that. If that was the case, Stafford would have been on this list.
Doubs at least gives the Rams a receiver with top-of-the-depth-chart talent until Kupp and Nacua get healthy. Then, if Kupp retires, they have the player who could replace him. Doubs isn’t as good as Kupp, especially at his peak, but he would pair nicely with Nacua to make a formidable duo in LA.
Miami Dolphins - Gardner Minshew
What’s happening under center in Las Vegas is pretty odd. It seems like the Raiders just can’t quit Gardner Minshew. Someone needs to take the Gardner Minshew from this coaching staff. If they are going to go with youth, they need to go all in on it. Minshew under center does not good for anyone.
So the Raiders send Minsher to the Miami Dolphins, who are still alive this season. It’s pretty perfect. Minshew has saved seasons before when star QBs go down with injuries. With Minshew, the Dolphins can go slow with Tua Tagovailoa’s rehab.
This could potentially save the Dolphins season. They should honestly do this deal now. The team is once again starting Tyler Huntley, who they picked up off the street after he couldn’t make the Cleveland Browns. He’s a fine backup in the right system, but this isn’t the right system. Minshew makes some mistakes, but he’s consistent for the most part. He has an over 70% completion percentage this season.
With this receiving core, Minshew could get the ball in their hands and let them do their dirty work. We’re not sure Huntley can do that, and we’re positive Skyler Thompson can’t. Minshew can at least move the ball down the field. One doesn’t need much with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Odell Beckham Jr. on the depth chart.
Minnesota Vikings - Haason Reddick
Sometimes, negotiating from a position without need is a strength. The Minnesota Vikings have a great defense led by defensive coordinator Brian Flores. They lost Danielle Hunter this offseason, but they replaced him with Jonathan Greenard. They don’t technically need help on the pass rush. The Vikings are tied for third in the league with 20 sacks as a defense. Let’s add to that and make this defense pure devastation.
Haason Reddick has been a menace for the New York Jets, and they are just looking for a resolution. They likely don’t care much about what the compensation is, they just want Reddick to go somewhere else. Minnesota is somewhere else, and Flores won’t deal with this nonsense. Reddick would come in with something to prove, and the Vikings can afford to give him a long-term deal.
What is Reddick looking for in a contract? It could be an insane ask, but he did just fire his agents and hire new ones. We’d be terrified for Reddick’s prospects of playing this season if he didn’t hire any agents, but adding new ones says this isn’t a completely crazy ask.
The Vikings are playing with house money, riding Sam Darnold to an undefeated record. They should take advantage of this by making a money move at the deadline, and bolstering an already incredible defense feels like a smart move.
New England Patriots - Peter Skoronski
What do the New England Patriots need? Everything. Is there a trade that could get them everything? No? Then we’ll probably have to sit here and wait for the rebuild to continue.
The Patriots are in dire straits, and they need to wholesalers this trade deadline. Outside of the 2024 draft picks and Christian Gonzalez, everyone should be available for trade. They should trade the Gillette naming rights, and a team could even get their famous lighthouse. Who cares if it means building future assets? This team needs to be thinking of the future, and any trade adding "assets" needs to be a deal that makes more sense in the future than it does now.
We chose Peter Skoronski because the Patriots are in desperate need for offensive line help, but they should take their time building this unit. He’s had it rough this season, committing five penalties and allowing at least two sacks. His grades as a lineman are below average, but it’s possible he just needs a change of scenery.
Skoronski is a former 11th-overall selection by the Titans, and he has the talent to become a really good lineman. The Patriots have time to give him a shot, and he could build chemistry slowly with Drake Maye. And if it doesn’t work, the Patriots can send him on his way.
New Orleans Saints - Mac Jones
After watching Spencer Rattler get destroyed on Thursday Night Football at the hands of the Denver Broncos, the New Orleans Saints have to be keenly aware that they are letting this season slip through their hands. It’s not fair for a fifth-round rookie to have this kind of responsibility in his hands. He could be decent one day, but that day isn’t today.
If Derek Carr is going to be out a little bit longer, the Saints need to figure out another solution. Yet, they won’t want someone looking to take over the everyday job. That’s where Mac Jones steps in.
The former first-round pick was absolutely awful in New England last season, but there have been some high remarks about his growth in Jacksonville. He’s able to play behind Trevor Lawrence, and even though their season is going terribly, he has no pressure to do anything. With the season going towards another tank, the Jags are going to get what they can for their assets.
If they can recoup the sixth-round draft pick for Jones they sent to the Patriots, they might make the move. It might cost a little more, and then the Jaguars can claim this situation was a win. There are other backup quarterbacks out there, and the Jaguars know if Lawrence goes down, it’s curtains for their season. Jones is just an extra body at this point, so might as well see if he can go keep the Saints above water.
New York Giants - Tre'Davious White
Are the Giants going to go for this thing? They know they are one of the bad teams in the league, right? They haven’t convinced themselves that they are good and could compete for the playoffs, right? Right?
We actually think the Giants are going for it. Their defense is pretty defense, and they’re trying to survive without Malik Nabers, who was the early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year before his injury. He could come back as early as this week, so the Giants will look to chip away at the Eagles NFC East lead. There is so much on the line for the Giants, with Daniel Jones, Brian Daboll, and Joe Schoen all doing what they can to keep their jobs.
Trading for Tre'Davious White is a low-budget move with high upside. White hasn’t been very good since his release from Buffalo, but he has a relationship with Daboll from their time in Buffalo. White was a first-round pick in Schoen’s first season as assistant general manager. It’s almost like they all grew up in the business together. There’s sentimental value here to go along with the pure football sense here.
White isn’t going to fix all the Giants' problems, but if Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. continue to grow, there might be enough here to get to the playoffs while the Cowboys and Eagles fall apart (but it’s much more likely that’s the Commanders job).
New York Jets - Bryce Huff
After the Davante Adams trade, it’s very likely that the New York Jets made their move for the season. Adding a superstar like Adams to an offense looking for a spark made all the sense in the world. Aaron Rodgers is only here for a limited time, and the Jets truly think they have a championship roster. They already fired the head coach, so making a move like this was the logical next step to save a 2-4 season.
One major need for the Jets is pass rush. They traded for Haasan Reddick this offseason after Bryce Huff signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, but it’s not working out for literally any party involved. The Eagles miss Reddick, Reddick hasn’t reported to the Jets, Huff has been awful in Philly, and the Jets are desperate for pass rush help.
The Jets do have 16 sacks this season, but they’ve seen 225 passing attempts against them. Only two teams have seen more, and that’s surprising when considering that awful Bo Nix game exists. The Jets need sustained pass rushing, and that’s what they got from Huff last season.
Maybe the Eagles want to play this out, or maybe they just want to cut off a mistake and send him back “home.” If Huff is a better player in New Jersey, then let him be that there.
Philadelphia Eagles - Budda Baker
Meanwhile, the Eagles aren’t sitting back if they trade Huff. They know there is help to be had for this defense. Some of their stars in the secondary haven’t lived up to their name or contract this season, but it’s not the worst thing we’ve seen, either. The Eagles have allowed one of the highest completion percentages against, but they’ve only given up six touchdowns in five games through the air.
Still, this is a team with Super Bowl aspirations. They need to be crisp across the board, so even though there’s this perceived logjam in the secondary, adding to it can help, especially when it’s a player with the name value of Budda Baker.
Baker asked for a trade two seasons ago, and we never heard another peep from him. He’s been a good soldier for the Arizona Cardinals, but it’s time for that team to give him a shot to play with a contender.
The Eagles need something to get this season back on track. It’s not completely off the rails, but something is off with this locker room. Baker is the kind of player who won’t sit back and allow a team to fall into a black hole. He doesn’t care about who the coach is fighting with or what the media is saying. He’s going there to win, and that’s why he fits so well with what the Eagles need.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Kendrick Bourne
The Pittsburgh Steelers desperately need wide receiver help. They need it more than anyone else in the league. They’ve been in on Brandon Aiyuk, Davante Adams, Mike Williams, and a few others. Aiyuk and Adams are off the board, and Williams hasn’t been very good. With the Steelers playing the role of bridesmaid, it’s time to find someone they can actually acquire.
Enter the New England Patriots and their six mediocre receivers. The Patriots honestly do have an interesting wide receiver room, but Ja’Lynn Polk has under performed, they cut Juju Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker this past offseason, and now they have a young movement at the position. This is all despite giving Kendrick Bourne a three-year deal this past offseason.
Bourne has been working his way back from a torn ACL, but he’s back on the field now. He’s played two games and he has three catches for 15 yards. It’s a rough start, but the Patriots know what he can do, and Drake Maye is now under center. It didn’t matter last week.
Bourne is still a good player, and the Steelers just need someone behind George Pickens. They need options for whoever starts at QB, and Bourne is going to get better each week. The Steelers can’t go into the playoffs with this wide receiving core.
San Francisco 49ers - Walker Little
The San Francisco 49ers could go in a few different directions, but we think they bolster the offensive line. It hasn’t been that bad, but it could always use reinforcements, and the Jacksonville Jaguars actually have two offensive tackles who could be available. Walker Little is an interesting prospect for them, as he can play swing tackle. That gives the 49ers even more autonomy to open the playbook.
Little is a decent player who hasn’t had a chance to make it in the starting lineup for the Jaguars. The former second-round pick is a literal giant, standing at 6’7. He’s also a free agent at the end of this season, so the 49ers have the option to keep him or let him go for free.
This is a player who could absolutely play in the right situation, which would cause teams like the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears to call about him, as well. It makes sense for the 49ers because of their offensive playbook and Trent Williams's importance to this team. We see the drop in production from this offense when Williams is out. It would be important if they could find someone who can at least replace some of his impact without demanding a starting spot.
Seattle Seahawks - Ikem Ekwonu
It would be undoubtedly funny if the Seattle Seahawks added Jamal Adams back after he was released by the Titans, but that’s not going to move the needle. Adams is cooked, but the Seahawks are not. Despite some struggles, they are very much still in the race for an NFC playoff spot. At 3-3, they are tied with the 49ers for the division lead (they are second because they lost the head-to-head matchup).
Geno Smith is trying to make pudding out of dirt, and he’s getting all the dirt out of his helmet because he’s going face first in the dirt way too often. Smith somehow leads the league in passing yards despite being sacked 19 times already. Only Deshaun Watson and Caleb Williams have been sacked more.
The Carolina Panthers invested in the offense line to give Bryce Young a chance, but that experiment just needs a complete explosion. So, might as well get some assets for that offensive line investment. There aren’t many teams offering linemen on the market, which gives the Panthers an opportunity they haven’t often appreciated.
Ikem Ekwonu is not having the best career after the Panthers used the sixth-overall selection on him in 2022. However, he still has a ton of value and his talent is undeniable. The Seahawks would definitely consider him an upgrade, and he might even perform better with a guy like Smith under center.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Michael Mayer
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are keenly aware of the impact of drafting the wrong tight end. They tried to make O.J. Howard work for what felt like a decade (in reality, it was just five seasons). Those years were a learning lesson for the Buccaneers that the Raiders do not have to learn. After one year with former Notre Dame standout Michael Mayer, they drafted a true game changer in Brock Bowers. The Georgia star is already making a huge impact in the NFL, and he looks like a certified superstar in his rookie season.
Mayer, on the other hand, has missed games for personal reasons and hasn’t done much when he’s active. It’s just best for the Raiders to find him a home while he still has some value. They probably won’t even get the second-round pick they spent to get him, but that’s okay. If they get a third or fourth-round pick for a player they aren’t planning to use on a team that’s going nowhere, then it makes sense.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers make a lot of sense for Mayer. They have an insane offense, which could get even better if Bucky Irving becomes a legit running back. Adding Mayer to an offense that includes Mike Evans and Chris Godwin would give him opportunities in the open field. It’s worked out for Cade Otton, who only seems to get catches during opportune times.
Otton still only has 163 yards on the season. It’s good for third on the team, but that’s nothing to brag about. This team needs a legit third receiving option. Unless they get another wide receiver, Mayer is their best bet.
Tennessee Titans - Jake Browning
Remember Jake Browning? He was that “flavor of the week” quarterback that many said could start in the league this season. No team made a move for him in the offseason, and the Bengals are fighting for positioning after another rough start. One player who is not going through a rough start is Joe Burrow. Unlikely last season, he’s come into this season with a full bill of health. He looks as good as ever. It’s the defense that’s let this team down.
The Bengals need assets to spend on the defense, and if they can get it from their backup quarterback, it feels like a smart move. Browning was pretty good last season, throwing for 1,900 yards and 12 touchdowns in just seven starts. Browning was exactly what the Bengals needed at the time, keeping their heads above water.
The Tennessee Titans are just not having a good season. Jamal Adams just asked for his release after signing there in the offseason. Will Levis went from a promising prospect to a certified problem under center. The Titans haven’t been able to get anything going on offense, and the post-Derrick Henry world is a failure so far, even if it isn’t Tony Pollard’s fault.
They have to try something. Maybe Levis will figure it out, but Mason Rudolph is a career backup who nobody is calling to take over (he did look pretty good last season). Browning would at least push Levis, and he might even take over for a few games and give the Titans a different look. It’s a Hail Mary, but we’re not sure Levis could even throw one at this point.
Washington Commanders - Tyreek Hill
We end this list as spice as humanly possible. The Miami Dolphins have seen their season fall off the rails after Tua Tagovailoa got hurt. They are only 2-3 after a miracle win against the New England Patriots, but they could lose every other game. They won’t be favored with their current quarterback situation. They are actually second in the division, but we need to be realistic here.
The Dolphins already have their number one of the future in Jaylen Waddle. They have a good veteran in Odell Beckham (although he could get traded too). Let’s talk about Tyreek Hill.
We’re at the end of the list here. We have your attention now. Hill is still either the best receiver, or one of the top three receivers in the league. Yet, he has less than 60 yards per game. He led the league in the stat last season. This season, he’s 32nd. It’s early, but that’s a concerning trend that he can’t be happy with.
If Hill isn’t happy long-term, the Dolphins would be smart to make him available. The best team to make a move is the one still feeling the high of new ownership. Josh Harris and his investment group want to make the Washington Commanders an instant hit. What better way to make a splash than to sell the farm for a superstar? Hill would legitimately make Jayden Daniels even more dangerous, and it would send a message to the NFC that the Commanders could legitimately be a contender. It felt like a long shot at first, but this seems like a smart move for everyone.