The 2026 NFL trade deadline is creeping up fast, and the rumor mill is already spinning hard around a handful of big names. With Nov. 10 set as the cutoff, teams have roughly two weeks to decide whether they’re buying, selling or bracing for a reshuffle that could change the league’s landscape.
At the center of it all is the Indianapolis Colts’ shaky 2-4 start, a record that has put Jonathan Taylor squarely in the middle of trade chatter. But Taylor is only the beginning of the conversation. Adam Schefter pointed to five players to keep an eye on Sunday, and the list suggests Indianapolis could be one of the busiest teams on the market if it chooses to tear things down.
“There’s going to be a lot of interest in Taylor around the league,” he said. “Teams like the Seattle Seahawks, the Minnesota Vikings, the Denver Broncos and the Green Bay Packers made a run at Jonathan Taylor a couple of years back. (They) could decide to call Indianapolis again.”
Schefter didn’t stop with Taylor. He also included Colts guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, a sign that the Colts’ roster could be under real scrutiny if the franchise decides to move pieces before the deadline.
Brian Thomas Jr. was another name on the watch list. His situation has drawn plenty of attention lately, even though the Jacksonville Jaguars are said to be reluctant to deal him.
The final name on Schefter’s list was Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack, with the Kansas City Chiefs mentioned as a possible destination. That said, the Chiefs may not have the market to themselves if Mack becomes available.
More names could surface before Nov. 10, but for now, the Colts are the team shaping the trade conversation.
In Other News...
Cowboys Linked To Young Pass Rusher Who Could Change Their Ceiling
The trade deadline chatter around the Chargers has included one of their more intriguing young defenders, as edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu has surfaced in reports tied to Dallas. The Athletic identified him as a possible target for the Cowboys as they look for help on defense, and it is easy to see why a player with his production and age would draw interest if Los Angeles is willing to listen.
Tuipulotus situation adds another layer here, since he is operating on the final year of his rookie contract after the Chargers and his camp did not come to terms on an extension over the offseason. The Chargers have stumbled this season, which only fuels the possibility that they could entertain offers, but for now there is no deal in place and no indication of how far these conversations might go. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Just Got Pulled Into A Stunning Quarterback Debate
The Chargers uneven start has already prompted plenty of scrutiny, and now the conversation has drifted into one of those hypothetical quarterback debates that says as much about the leagues frustration as it does about either team. Former quarterback Boomer Esiason recently suggested that a trade involving Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott could make sense in theory for the NFL, a notion that instantly links Los Angeles to a much bigger what-if discussion.
Of course, the idea only gets so far before the real football questions take over. Both the Chargers and Cowboys have been stuck searching for answers, but their issues appear to run deeper than the quarterback position alone, with roster construction and coaching also under the microscope. Even if the speculation is far-fetched, it is another reminder that Herberts future will keep coming up whenever Los Angeles struggles to look like a complete team. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Face A Khalil Mack Decision That Could Reshape Things
Khalil Mack is suddenly back in the middle of trade chatter as the Chargers stare at another disappointing stretch and try to decide what the rest of this season is really about. NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter have both pointed to the possibility that Mack could become available, and the veteran pass rusher would immediately draw attention around the league because of what he still brings as one of the most accomplished edge players of his era.
The twist is that Los Angeles has not signaled any urgency to move him yet, even as outside interest starts to sharpen. Mack, who has 116 career sacks and once played for Chicago, would make obvious sense for a defense looking for help, and the longer the Chargers linger in their current spot, the more this becomes one of the bigger roster decisions hanging over the franchise. [Read more 🡒]