There are still two weeks left until the NFL trade deadline on October 31st, and we’ve already seen four notable deals come to fruition: Denver Broncos defensive end Randy Gregory to the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears wide receiver Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams Wide receiver receiver Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback JC Jackson to the New England Patriots.
Last year’s trade deadline was full of action, with 12 players moving on the deadline alone. That was the highest in 30 years, but it remains to be seen whether this year’s deadline will be just as active.
Rumors have started and will continue to circulate. Some have substance, others are just that: rumors.
Ahead of the deadline, let’s take a look at six trades we’d like to see. We discuss why our proposed deals make sense and why they may not happen.
GO DEEPER
Brian Burns, Jerry Jeudy and potential trade candidates for every NFL team
Mike Jones’ three trade suggestions
The Jets trade WR Mecole Hardman to the Chiefs for a 2024 fifth-round pick
Why it makes sense
Jones: The Chiefs’ point output is down this season and, unlike previous years, there are no pass catchers among the league leaders. Hardman is part of a crowded receiving corps in New York and had productive years in Kansas City before a groin injury and surgery cut his 2022 season short. A reunion could potentially benefit both parties.
Why it won’t happen
How: Because the Chiefs will reunite with JuJu Smith-Schuster instead. No, I don’t know, but this is the perfect situation where a team brings back a familiar face to improve depth and give a little more reliability at quarterback. But since Hardman has no role with the Jets and would be more valuable to the Chiefs than anyone else, I can’t say it wouldn’t make sense unless Patrick Mahomes will just make it work with Kansas City projects whoever is always in uniform.
The Broncos are trading CB Pat Surtain II to the Lions for 2024 and 2025 second-round picks
Why it makes sense
Jones: The Lions are on track to win the NFC North, but Emmanuel Moseley’s right ACL tear, which he suffered last week (he tore his left ACL in his first game), is a major blow. They would like to have another crucial player in their secondary as they try to prepare for a strong playoff run. People around the league say the Broncos are in selling mode (even though Sean Payton says that’s not the case). So future picks for improving a Broncos squad that isn’t nearly as close to win-now mode as Denver executives believed could prove tempting.
Why it won’t happen
How: I don’t even want to say it won’t happen. This would be a great trade for the Lions. But I don’t think it would happen under these parameters. The Broncos believe Surtain is the best cornerback in the league, so they can’t let him go for anything less than a first-round pick and probably another center fielder. That should be fine for the Lions, as they had additional first-rounders in the last two drafts with the Matthew Stafford trade.
There isn’t much incentive for Kirk Cousins to waive his no-trade clause. But would the right team be tempting? (David Berding/Getty Images)
The Vikings trade QB Kirk Cousins to the Jets for 2024 third-round and 2025 second-round picks
Why it makes sense
Jones: That’s an insane stretch because Cousins has a no-trade clause and because people familiar with the situation say the Vikings aren’t giving up on the season. But Minnesota would be smart to make a deal like this. Cousins is on an expiring contract and little has happened this year. Now that wide receiver Justin Jefferson is on injured reserve, winning victories that are already hard to come by could become even more difficult. The 2-4 Vikings might as well get something for Cousins rather than lose him on the market next offseason.
As for the Jets, they would be getting an upgrade over Zach Wilson and a quarterback familiar with Nathaniel Hackett’s system. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell is an extension of Mike Shanahan’s coaching staff, as is Hackett, who coached under Matt LaFleur in Green Bay. LaFleur was Cousins’ quarterbacks coach at Washington. The Jets could force their way back into a playoff race with a quality veteran quarterback to give their talented roster a run for their money.
Why it won’t happen
How: Wilson has finally turned things around and now you want him back on the bench?!? However, there are two larger factors here. First, it’s unrealistic to believe that a starting quarterback could switch systems in the middle of the season and run the offense at a high enough level in the final months. Second, I’m not sure I see any incentive for Cousins to waive the no-trade clause. If he struggles — and in theory he should to some extent — teams will use that against him when negotiating in free agency. Cousins will almost certainly be the most coveted QB on the free agent market, so continuing to put up numbers with the Vikings would make financial sense.
GO DEEPER
Russini: What I’m hearing about Kirk Cousins, QB injuries and more trade talk in Week 6
Jeff Howe’s trade suggestions
The Bears are trading QB Justin Fields to the Falcons for the 2024 second-round pick, the conditional 2025 third-round pick and QB Taylor Heinicke
Why it makes sense
How: Remember: These are trades we want to see – not necessarily the ones we expect to happen. The Bears are on track to get the No. 1 pick in the draft, either with their own selection or from the Panthers, leaving them in play for USC’s Caleb Williams or North Carolina’s Drake Maye. With big changes likely to come again, it may be best to maximize Fields’ value. Meanwhile, the Falcons have been linked to Fields (who hails from Kennesaw, Georgia) ahead of the 2021 draft, and he appears to be a pretty good fit in Arthur Smith’s offense.
Fields’ thumb injury complicates that idea, but this would be more of a move toward the future. Desmond Ridder was struggling, and the look on Falcons coach Arthur Smith’s face Sunday after each interception said a lot about that situation. Again, in a midseason trade, it might be a lot to ask for Fields to step in for Ridder relatively soon, but he could take a leap forward on offense and position himself to relieve Ridder if needed, assuming the Thumb heals. The additional time in the system could better prepare Fields for 2024.
Why it won’t happen
Jones: Bears GM Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus didn’t draft Fields, so they may not be as invested in him as someone who did. But Chicago has done a lot to surround Fields with young talent, and after a rocky start to the season, things could be looking up. Before injuring his thumb on Sunday, Fields had had his two best games behind him, having thrown four touchdown passes in consecutive weeks while earning his first win of the season. If he makes it back to the field in a timely manner, the playoffs aren’t out of reach, so I don’t see the Bears parting ways with a talent like Fields this season. If this season is a disaster, they can always do it again in the offseason.
The Patriots are trading OLB Josh Uche to the Jaguars for a conditional 2024 second-round pick
(The Jaguars will not have a second-round pick if Calvin Ridley signs an extension. If Ridley signs, the Jaguars should trade a 2024 third-rounder and a 2025 fourth-rounder.)
Why it makes sense
How: The Jaguars need pass rushers to help Josh Allen and Travon Walker. They don’t want to see them lose another opportunity in the playoffs because they couldn’t get to the quarterback. As for the Patriots, their last second-round pick was Rob Gronkowski, who signed a second contract with the team. Their season is winding down and they might as well get something for Uche if the string of failed draft pick extensions continues.
Why it won’t happen
Jones: That would make sense, but I don’t know if Patriots coach Bill Belichick can bring himself to part with a young, impactful defensive player like Uche. The chance of getting some sort of compensation for him rather than losing him in the market is intriguing. But it seems unlikely that Belichick wants to wave the white flag and signal that he faces another lost season.
The Broncos are trading WR Jerry Jeudy to the Panthers for 2024 third- and sixth-round picks
Why it makes sense
How: The Panthers need more help from Bryce Young, especially at receiver. While the Broncos have rejected trade offers for Jeudy in the past other than first-round picks, time isn’t exactly on their side here and Jeudy doesn’t have the trade value they were looking for. He has around $13 million on the books for his fifth-year option in 2024, and the Broncos will need to recalibrate the books as they decide their future at quarterback. Things just didn’t work out for Jeudy in Denver, whether due to injuries, QB play or coaching, so he would likely welcome a fresh start. The Panthers would be hoping to revive a 24-year-old who was once considered an undoubted NFL star.
Why it won’t happen
Jones: I can’t disagree with that. Jeudy could certainly help Young, who lacks reliable playmakers with the explosiveness needed to win one-on-one duels. The Panthers only have one player in the top 50 in receiving: Adam Thielen, who ranks ninth with 509 yards on 49 receptions. Payton says the Broncos won’t be sellers on the trade market, but can you really believe that? On the one hand, I understand if they don’t want to leave quarterback Russell Wilson without someone to throw to. But this team isn’t going anywhere and might as well get ready to clean house and find some new building blocks.
(Photos by Mecole Hardman, Josh Uche and Pat Surtain II: Cooper Neill, Michael Reaves and Kathryn Riley / Getty Images)
The Football 100, the definitive ranking of the 100 greatest NFL players of all time, hits shelves this fall. Pre-order here.