The NFL trade deadline is just a week away and we have already seen several transactions. The Philadelphia Eagles completed a deal for former Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard, Mecole Hardman is back with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams sent Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons. What’s the next surprise?
Below, we discuss the top players at each position that could be dealt before the end of October. These are not necessarily players who are likely to be moved, but rather players on expiring deals who could be targets for trade deadline buyers or players who have been the subject of trade deadline rumors.
Click here to read our CBS Sports NFL trade deadline primer.
Let’s get a little creative here. I’m taking Kirk Cousins off the trading block after Minnesota moved to 3-4 with this upset win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, and then Ryan Tannehill is battling an ankle injury that will certainly impact his trade value. So who is the best quarterback available and who needs one? How about Teddy Bridgewater?
The Lions have a lot of quarterbacks. Jared Goff is the starter, David Blough is on the practice squad and rookie third-round pick Hendon Hooker is on the NFI list. Maybe it could be activated soon. Journeyman Bridgewater could be available if a team is interested.
The Titans are another team that has a tough decision to make next week, and after sending Byard to the Eagles, new general manager Ran Carthon may have hinted that Tennessee will sell assets.
Tennessee is currently 2-4 and in last place in the AFC South, and Tannehill just suffered an ankle injury that could potentially force him to miss some time. Add to that the fact that the Titans don’t exactly have enough draft capital for 2024, and you can expect the team to make some decisions.
Henry, who has been the face of the Tennessee offense for years, could be an attractive name if Jonathan Taylor is locked up and taken off the market. I don’t expect a top running back to be moved, but Henry is the top running back that could potentially be moved. “King Henry” ranks 10th in the NFL over the last seven weeks (425).
There are a few interesting wide receivers who could move in the next week, but Jeudy is someone who needs a change of scenery. The former No. 15 overall pick from Alabama didn’t live up to his selection, but had a career year in 2022 with 972 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 67 receptions. However, Jeudy is only averaging 47.7 receiving yards per game in 2023.
The Broncos are reportedly not conducting a fire sale, but teams should take a look at Jeudy.
Ertz turns 33 next month and hasn’t played more than 53% of offensive snaps for the Cardinals over the past two weeks. With Trey McBride seemingly on the rise — he targeted a season-high six on Sunday — Ertz could be on his way to a late-round pick. The 26.7 receiving yards per game he is averaging this year is a career low.
I don’t know how likely that is, but it’s fun to mention Brown here. The Patriots left tackle was the best tackle in the entire league this season, according to PFF, but is expected to become a free agent this offseason. If the Patriots wanted to be sellers at the trade deadline, Brown is a player who will command attention.
Maybe Cleveland is actually a tackle, but he has been a guard for the Vikings for the past four seasons. The 25-year-old’s contract is expiring, and with the Vikings a potential seller at the deadline, Cleveland is someone teams could consider.
If Burns were traded, this NFL trade deadline would be one of the best in recent memory. The Athletic recently reported that the Panthers are still fielding calls about Burns, but it seems unlikely that he has moved on. Remember, the Rams reportedly offered the Panthers a deal last year that included at least two first-round picks! Carolina declined, viewing Burns as a future backup, but the Panthers were unable to sign him to a lucrative extension this offseason.
Burns is one of the best pass rushers in the game. He recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2022 and recorded four QB takedowns in six games this season.
Williams had a fantastic game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday and even blocked a field goal in the fourth quarter. Still, the Giants are 2-5 and in last place in the NFC East and could be sellers at the trade deadline. Williams is in the final year of a three-year, $63 million contract he signed after posting a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2020. His cap hit in 2023 is high, but teams looking to solidify their defensive interior could take a look at Williams.
Jewell and Alex Singleton form a two-headed tackling monster in Denver. Jewell recorded a career-high 128 combined tackles and 2.5 sacks and two interceptions in just 13 games played last year, and he’s on pace to reach 120 tackles again this year.
This is another player on an expiring contract who would be a sneaky addition for a team looking to improve its linebacking corps.
Yes, another Bronco. But of the three Broncos we’ve discussed here, Surtain is probably the one with the least likelihood of being moved. The Alabama product is already considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and was PFF’s second-best cornerback last year behind Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner. It’s more likely that Surtain stays in Denver and probably revitalizes the cornerback market at some point, but teams will definitely be asking about him.
Baker actually requested a trade last offseason, but returned with a revised contract that gave him raises in 2023 and 2024. In 2020, Baker signed a four-year, $59 million extension that made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history at the time.
Baker just returned from injured reserve and recorded six combined tackles in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Maybe this could be his last game as a Cardinal? First-year head coach Jonathan Gannon probably isn’t actively looking to move Baker — a five-time Pro Bowler — but with the Cardinals at 1-6, it might be best to trade him for some draft capital.