The 2026 NFL trade deadline is still weeks away, but the league has already started moving. With the Nov. 10 deadline looming, teams have wasted little time making deals, and this season has already brought a flurry of action before the calendar even turned to October.
Among the earliest headline-grabbers: the Giants landed J.J. McCarthy, and the Steelers sent Joey Porter Jr. to the Cowboys. Then came another major shakeup on Sunday, when the Cardinals and Texans finalized a deal for Marvin Harrison Jr.
The Cardinals sent Harrison and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Houston in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. The move followed Saturday’s report that Harrison would be inactive for Sunday’s Week 5 game against the Lions and would be traded.
Houston, fresh off its first win of the season, added a receiver as it tries to climb out of an 0-4 start. Arizona, meanwhile, moved on after Harrison never became a steady part of the offense.
He has 5 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown this season. Harrison will now join former Ohio State teammate C.J.
Stroud in Houston.
Philadelphia also made a notable swap, dealing Cam Jurgens to Baltimore. The Ravens received Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick, while the Eagles got a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.
Baltimore needed help at center after a string of injuries there and after Tyler Linderbaum left in free agency. Jurgens had struggled after the Eagles shifted him to guard because of Landon Dickerson’s injury, and Philadelphia was willing to move him once Baltimore put a price on the table the Eagles couldn’t pass up.
The Eagles also felt good about their younger linemen, including Willie Lampkin, who stepped in for Jurgens at guard.
The Steelers-Cowboys deal came together on Sept. 30.
Pittsburgh sent Joey Porter Jr. to Dallas in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Porter wanted to get beyond $30 million per year in salary, while the Steelers were unwilling to go past the high $20s in new money.
Porter had already missed the first three games because of a back ailment, and after he pulled himself from practice and told coaches his back was bothering him again, Pittsburgh shopped him once more. Dallas had its own obvious reason to strike, sitting last in the league in EPA per pass allowed at 0.36 and needing cornerback help badly.
The Giants’ move for J.J. McCarthy came on Sept. 28, when Minnesota sent him to New York for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
McCarthy had dropped to third on the quarterback depth chart after competing for the starting job in the offseason with Kyler Murray, then losing that battle and also slipping behind Carson Wentz. The Giants needed another backup quarterback after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2, and the Vikings moved on from the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft, closing the book on McCarthy’s short and rocky run in Minnesota.
In Other News...
Titans Had An Even Rougher Day Than Texans Fans Realized
The Texans 26-3 win over Tennessee already stood out for how firmly Houston controlled the game, but one of the more unexpected side notes came from across the field. Cornerback CorDale Flott drew plenty of attention on social media for wearing a notably oversized helmet, turning an ordinary NFL broadcast moment into a running joke as the Titans tried to keep pace in a lopsided game.
Flotts afternoon got even worse after he suffered a chest injury and entered concussion protocol, ending his day and opening the door for Micah Robinson to step in. For Houston, the result was a needed first win to move to 1-4, while Tennessee left NRG Stadium still searching for its first victory at 0-5, with the on-field issues matched by an injury scare that only added to the rough day. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Win Came With A Strange Titans Moment Fans Couldn't Ignore
During Tennessees loss to the Texans, one unexpected sidelight had fans doing a double-take: cornerback CorDale Flotts helmet became a topic of jokes on social media. It was the kind of odd in-game detail that briefly cut through the usual division-rival noise, even as the Texans kept control of a game that mattered plenty in the AFC South race.
Flotts night also took a more serious turn when he suffered a chest injury and left the field, opening the door for teammate Micah Robinson to step in. For Tennessee, it was another rough chapter in a season that has opened with five straight losses, while Houston walked away with the win and an extra bit of postgame chatter it probably never expected. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Snap Counts Hint At Two Injury-Driven Changes Fans Need To Watch
The Texans Week 5 snap counts against the Titans offered a clearer look at how quickly injuries can reshape a game plan, especially on a roster that is still sorting out roles on the fly. David Montgomery was limited to just nine snaps because of a groin injury, which opened the door for Woody Marks to see more work, while rookie Kayden McDonald made his return from injury and logged 11 snaps as Houston eased him back into the defense.
Jalen Pitres shoulder injury added another wrinkle, with the veteran leaving the game and rookie Kamari Ramsey stepping in to help fill the void. Both Pitre and Montgomery are considered week-to-week, and that leaves the Texans watching a pair of important spots closely as they head into the next stretch, with the snap distribution from Sunday serving as an early clue to how the staff may have to adjust. [Read more 🡒]