Several deals have already been made on the open market ahead of the upcoming midseason NFL trade deadline set for Tuesday, Nov. 10. Here’s hoping the busy transactional fun has just begun.
The NFL trade rumor mill isn’t lacking in marquee names. Although some big tickets (see Jeffery Simmons and Quenton Nelson) are off the board, there are still many high-impact performers at all positions available for the right compensation.
The reality is, some rumors have greater truth attached to them than others. Nothing is set in stone, from a player getting his wish to get out the door until his team doesn’t get good offers, to a team having no plans to move a player before it gets an offer it can’t refuse.
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Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
Taylor was as good as gone at some point, but the rumors have cooled a little with the team trading Nelson and DeForest Buckner first. But there are too many contending teams interested for the Colts not to take the best offer. Expecting a first-round draft pick in return might stall those talks, but a package that includes a second-rounder is fair and tempting.
Taylor can help the Colts best rebuild for the future while he can provide a huge immediate backfield upgrade to a playoff-bound team.
Best team fits: Packers, Vikings, Broncos
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Josh Downs, WR, Colts
Taylor has a chance to stay but he’s the bigger asset than Downs. Indianapolis’ talented slot receiver has battled injuries and not lived up to some high expectations as a playmaker, but he can get open quickly on short-to-intermediate routes to play well off a top downfield outside receiver.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars
The Jaguars should have been inspired by the fact that the Cardinals got a second-round pick back from the Texans in exchange for Marvin Harrison Jr. Thomas, unlike Harrison, flashed with a star rookie season, but that was in a different, non-Liam Coen offense with mostly a different starting quarterback (former Jaguars backup Mac Ones). Thomas still helps out when Jacksonville stretches the field and spreads the field in the red zone, but he’s the fourth target for Trevor Lawrence at best and can yield some return to help the Jaguars in 2027.
Best team fits: Falcons, Giants
Josh Sweat, EDGE, Cardinals
Sweat, the former Eagles star under Jonathan Gannon, followed Gannon to Arizona after helping the Eagles win Super Bowl 59 with his pass-rushing contributions to Vic Fangio’s scheme. He’s still effective as a pass rusher at 29 and is solid against the run. He can help plenty of teams, for either the stretch run or the long run.
Best team fits: Packers, Cowboys, Browns
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Khalil Mack, EDGE, Chargers
“Return of the Mack” has been an earworm for Bears fans who want more all-time great defensive pressure after landing Simmons that significantly upgraded the interior. The Bears connections are obvious. Chicago was his second NFL team and it has a red-hot defense coordinated by his first NFL head coach in Dennis Allen. Everything makes too much sense, including the Chargers being 0-7 and Mack playing on a one-year deal at age 35.
Jauan Jennings, WR, Vikings
The Vikings have talked about sending Jennings to the 49ers, but after a beef with that team, he doesn’t want to return to the offense in which he’s been most productive. Jennings doesn’t really have any regular offensive role for a team hurting for a little extra pass-catching pop behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.
Best team fits: Rams, Seahawks, Raiders
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Jackson Powers-Johnson, G, Raiders
The team’s second-round pick from 2024 has fallen out of favor in Klint Kubiak’s offense, in which no underachieving player is safe from the bench. He can start at right guard elsewhere, or provide at least three-position interior depth. He’s super cheap contract-wise on his rookie deal and wouldn’t require sending Las Vegas more than a late-round pick.
Best team fit: Packers
Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles
Goedert’s trade chances have fluctuated. Although he’s on an expiring contract, he’s also fading as a downfield receiving threat ahead of turning 32 in January. He isn’t the “tight end of the future”, but rather a reliable short-area pass catcher for teams who need inside help. He can also serve as a big slot, but he needs to land on a contending team that has issues at the position.
Best team fit: Rams
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Budda Baker, S, Cardinals
The Cardinals really don’t want to trade their beloved defensive leader. Baker has also expressed that he really wants to stay in Arizona. But that can change quickly should an AFC contender offer up a needed high draft asset as part of an aggressive package to acquire this big-impact playmaker.
Best team fits: Bills, Jaguars
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