The final week for NFL teams to make trades this season is upon us.
With a Nov. 5 deadline, it's time to get busy.
We've seen several big swaps already, with Davante Adams landing in New York, Amari Cooper going to Buffalo and DeAndre Hopkins moving to Kansas City. With the NFL pushing the trade deadline back a week in 2024, clubs were given additional time to evaluate their standing as buyers or sellers. We'll see how it plays out.
NFL teams, by and large, have been reticent to make significant in-season changes, but in the past handful of seasons, we've seen an uptick in moves. Not as many as there probably could be, mind you, but it's better than in previous decades, when front offices basically refused to take action.
The best teams aren't afraid to move and shake. If the back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, currently boasting a 7-0 record, are plugging holes at will, others should be following suit.
With that in mind, let's look at a few trade fits that could make sense for all parties.
I'm still not convinced the Bengals will be sellers despite a dismal start to the season. It's simply not how they usually operate. However, Hendrickson did make a contract-driven trade request in the offseason, and perhaps Cincy will make a move now rather than risk going through a similar situation heading into the final year of Hendrickson's deal in 2025.
If Raiders star pass-rusher Maxx Crosby is truly off the table, the Lions should chase Hendrickson. Detroit presumably has institutional knowledge of the player, given that head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn were both part of the staff in New Orleans during Hendrickson's time with the Saints (2017-2020). He plays with the type of motor Campbell loves and would fit in the locker room. With seven sacks and 36 QB pressures so far this season, Hendrickson has continued to be a weapon on the edge.
Aidan Hutchinson's season-ending injury in Week 6 highlighted a massive need for the Lions. Even in Sunday's blowout win, facing a Titans team that had been a turnstile on the right side, Detroit struggled to generate consistent pressure, sacking Mason Rudolph only once. The Lions have the overall talent to reach mid-January without making a move. However, to lift a Lombardi trophy in February, they need help.
The most surprising part of the Ravens' loss to Cleveland on Sunday was all the time Jameis Winston had in the pocket to pick apart a banged-up Baltimore secondary. Zach Orr's unit needs aid. The Ravens could trade for DB help, but getting more pass rush would be optimal. Kyle Van Noy has played well this season, generating a team-high seven sacks, but at 33 years old, he could use a few more breaks than he's been allotted early this season. Adding another piece alongside Van Noy and Odafe Oweh would help buoy a Ravens defense that has struggled to get off the field in 2024.
Smith (who spent the first four seasons of his career in Baltimore) is one of several former Ravens who could potentially return to provide a boost, with Calais Campbell (currently in Miami) and Jadeveon Clowney (currently in Carolina) being others. Yes, this move would be an in-division trade between rivals, but even after Sunday's upset, the 2-6 Browns should be in sell mode. The Ravens, meanwhile, should be heavily motivated to make the most of 2024; Tuesday's addition of Diontae Johnson to the passing attack should not preclude them from shoring up this weakness. Smith is 32 but still has punch off the edge (he has five sacks so far this season), and his size against the run would help fortify a Ravens defense that can't stop a nosebleed of late.
Trades of offensive linemen are rarely executed in-season, with a variety of reasons likely to blame (the lack of quality players available being one), but the Texans have to do something about their blocking problems. C.J. Stroud is being pummeled week after week, and that is an untenable situation. It's not just a matter of Houston giving up pressures; it's that many of the pressures are immediate, off-the-snap blow-bys and whiffed blocks. Sunday against Indianapolis, the Texans allowed a mind-boggling 17 quick pressures. An offense can't function that way. It's a daggum good thing that Stroud is as effective as he is at managing pressure -- otherwise, this would be another David Carr situation.
On Sunday, Houston tried to bench left guard Kenyon Green, taking him out for a series, but his replacement, Jarrett Patterson, was immediately injured. How about trading for a potential solution? After spending nine seasons in New Orleans, Peat is currently a backup in Las Vegas, playing just 36 offensive snaps this season. The 30-year-old brings versatility as a left guard and can play tackle, which might come in handy.
Another option for Houston could be Evan Neal, a 2022 first-round pick by the New York Giants who hasn't played an offensive snap in 2024. If the Texans view the 'Bama product as a potential guard, he might be worth a flier. Benched Bears guard Nate Davis is another possibility. Unlike some position groups, the offensive line does not offer teams with a lot of great trade options. But standing pat and watching Stroud take shot after shot is dangerous to Houston's future.
Can the Bucs keep their heads above water until Mike Evans returns from a hamstring injury? The apparent game plan against Atlanta on Sunday was to force-feed tight end Cade Otton and the running backs. That isn't sustainable long-term if the Bucs are to get back into playoff position. Baker Mayfield has shown the ability to make plays, but he needs some help, particularly from the kind of big-bodied field stretcher he lost with Evans' injury.
Williams wouldn't replace Evans -- no one would. But he could be the boundary weapon that Mayfield and the Bucs currently lack. It's of little surprise that in the week after losing Evans and Chris Godwin, Mayfield's yards-per-attempt figure fell to 6.6, his second-lowest of the season (ahead of only the anomalous loss to Denver). The former No. 1 overall pick has been impressive in Tampa, but dinking-and-dunking isn't where he's at his best. He needs a pass-catcher who can open the offense and land bombs.
Williams might no longer be a 1,000-yard receiver, but he can still be productive on the boundary and serve as another big-bodied target in the red zone. Playing on a one-year deal, he'd simply be a stand-in while the Bucs make a late-season push. Williams never found a rapport with Aaron Rodgers and was pushed down the depth chart in New York by midseason trade acquisition Davante Adams. Moving on from Williams before the deadline makes too much sense for the 2-6 Jets.
The 49ers could use some help on both sides of the ball, but with Diontae Johnson – who might have been an ideal short-term sub for Brandon Aiyuk -- off the table, let's focus on the defense.
Kyle Shanahan's club has depth questions behind star Nick Bosa and veteran Leonard Floyd. Bosa, as per usual, leads the team with 44 QB pressures and 4.5 sacks. Floyd has shown he has some juice, putting up 24 pressures and three sacks. But the production falls off after them. Adding another rotational edge player -- just like GM John Lynch did last year at the deadline -- could jumpstart the entire unit. Picking up another interior player, with Javon Hargrave out, also could be an option.
Ojulari has been a sensation in the three weeks since Kayvon Thibodeaux went down with an injury. He's generated six sacks on the season, five over the past three games, and his 14 percent pressure rate is excellent. The 24-year-old would pair well opposite Bosa and help keep Floyd fresh for the stretch run.
The Giants sit in last place in the NFC East, and their season is on the brink. They have money tied up in Brian Burns and Thibodeaux, and Ojulari is set to hit the free agency market in the spring. Big Blue should get what they can for the young pass rusher now rather than wait until the spring.
The offseason addition of Matthew Judon hasn't had the desired effect in Atlanta; the team ranks dead last in the NFL in both sacks (six) and QB pressure rate (25.9%) this season. Judon has just 13 pressures off the edge, and opponents are double-teaming Grady Jarrett into oblivion. The issues with the defensive front are putting a ton on the shoulders of Kirk Cousins and the offense. The Falcons' limp pass rush is an eyesore that they need to fix if they're to make a deep postseason run.
So let's bring back a familiar face to help. Despite being 38 years old, Campbell can still get after it. He's generated 16 QB pressures and two sacks. His pressure rate of 12.2 percent is better than anyone on the Falcons with at least 100 rushes (Judon currently paces Atlanta with a rate of 7.9 percent). With the 2-5 Dolphins sinking toward the bottom of the ocean, they should be motivated sellers at the deadline, particularly when it comes to veterans headed for free agency in the near term, like Campbell.
When Campbell signed in Atlanta last season, he did so believing the Falcons were poised to be a playoff contender. Perhaps he can return to make that vision come true in 2024.
The Commanders are flying high following Jayden Daniels' ridiculous game-winning Hail Mary on Sunday. Now's not the time for GM Adam Peters to sit still. Assuming he follows the blueprint established by the 49ers -- with whom Peters spent the past seven seasons -- Washington should be in the market to add an ancillary piece or two before the deadline. The Commanders' secondary has played better as the season has gone along, but it wouldn't hurt to bring in an upgrade, particularly given Dan Quinn's pervasive use of DB-heavy personnel.
The Patriots have signaled their willingness to sell ahead of the deadline, and Jones, being an impending free agent, is a solid candidate to move. The 31-year-old veteran would bring savvy to the back end of the Commanders' defense. Through eight games, Jones has generated three passes defensed, one forced fumble and 28 tackles. He would slide well into Quinn's scheme. Daniels' stupendous play has helped turn Washington's resurgence into one of the stories of 2024. The Commanders should lean into their quick turnaround under Quinn by making moves at the deadline to strengthen the defense ahead of the stretch run.
The Vikings have a left tackle issue, thanks to the knee injury that ended stud Christian Darrisaw's season in Week 8. The former first-rounder has been an unsung hero of Minnesota's offense, keeping Sam Darnold's backside clean, and is an excellent run-blocker on the left side. His injury thrust swing tackle David Quessenberry into a significant role. In the second half last week, Quessenberry allowed six pressures and half a sack in 14 pass-block plays, per Next Gen Stats.
Robinson has his flaws -- per NGS, his sacks-allowed rate (2.2 percent) ranks seventh-highest among players with 150-plus pass-blocking snaps this season, Pro Football Focus grades him as the 43rd best run-blocker among offensive tackles in 2024 and he was recently replaced in the starting lineup. But he is an experienced left tackle, with 91 career starts in Jacksonville. In the final year of his contract on a floundering club, the 29-year-old should garner interest. We know Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah isn't afraid to make moves at the deadline. After a hot start by Minnesota, back-to-back losses showed some weaknesses. The most glaring now sits at left tackle. The issue could become backbreaking for Darnold if not fixed.
EDITOR'S UPDATE: The Vikings are adding a new left tackle. NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported after this post was published that Minnesota will acquire Cam Robinson in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for draft pick compensation. In addition to Robinson, the Vikings will receive a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick, which could disappear based on playing time, while the Jaguars will get a 2026 fifth-round pick that could become a fourth-rounder based on playing time.
