The trade market is already moving, and the next wave could be even louder before the Nov. 10 deadline at 4 p.m. ET.
Chicago jumped first with the biggest splash so far, landing All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from Tennessee for two first-round picks. Simmons wasted no time making his presence felt, recording a sack in his Bears debut during a 34-17 win over the Seahawks.
Seattle, meanwhile, made its own major move by sending third- and fifth-round picks to Indianapolis for six-time All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson. The Colts also dealt defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers for a 2027 fourth-round pick, sending Buckner back to San Francisco, where he played the first four years of his career.
And that may only be the start. League sources expect more action over the coming week, with several teams openly positioned to sell.
The Chargers’ 0-7 start has not changed the outlook on Justin Herbert. Even with a disastrous season for both player and team, a trade remains extremely unlikely.
Herbert is under contract through 2029 and has mostly played like a top-10 quarterback over his career. This year, though, he leads the league with 10 interceptions.
One front-office executive told our Gilberto Manzano that any Herbert deal would have to begin with at least three first-round picks, plus additional pieces such as lower selections and/or established players. The executive compared that kind of package to the Deshaun Watson trade and the Bears-Panthers deal that centered on the No. 1 pick in 2023 and became the Bryce Young selection.
Indianapolis has already been one of the league’s busiest teams, and more moves are expected. An AFC general manager described the Colts as a fire-sale situation, with the goal of clearing the books and building draft capital that would also make the general manager opening more attractive.
The Colts do not have a first-round pick because of last year’s Sauce Gardner trade, but they could get one back depending on the price for Jonathan Taylor. Through eight games, Taylor has rushed for 610 yards and eight touchdowns and is on pace for his fifth 1,000-yard season. Josh Downs is another player to watch; the 25-year-old receiver is scheduled for free agency after the season and has 30 catches for 330 yards and a touchdown.
Philadelphia is also expected to be active. The Eagles are 2-6 and without Jalen Hurts while he recovers from a blood clot issue.
They have already moved center Cam Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-rounder to Baltimore for a 2027 fifth-round pick and a 2028 second-rounder. The bigger names on the roster are DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley, both under contract through 2028, but either would require a major offer before Howie Roseman would seriously consider moving them. On the other end of the spectrum are expiring contracts such as Moro Ojomo and Riq Woolen, who could bring back mid-round picks from contenders.
The Jets are not viewed as quite as eager to deal, even though Garrett Wilson has come up in conversations. Darren Mougey stood firm on Breece Hall last year and extended him in the offseason, and Wilson’s situation carries similar intrigue. He signed a four-year, $130 million extension last July and is under contract through 2030, though there is no guaranteed money beyond next year.
One general manager said the Jets would not even entertain a Wilson trade unless the return included two first-round picks and a player. New York already has three first-rounders in the 2027 draft, so it is not in a hurry to pile up more capital. The alternative is keeping Wilson alongside rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and Hall to give the future franchise quarterback a strong supporting cast.
If Wilson or Philadelphia’s Smith prove unavailable or too expensive, receiver-needy teams have other names to chase. Kansas City is one of them.
A source close to the situation said the Chiefs are willing to part with premium draft capital for the right player, and they do not see their limited cap space - less than $2 million - as a dealbreaker. A restructure or a better pick with salary coming back the other way could solve that issue.
The Chiefs are expected to be aggressive in their search for a receiver, with Downs viewed as a likely target or another option on the market. Stefon Diggs is another name to keep in mind. Kansas City monitored him this offseason before he signed a one-year deal with Washington, and if the Commanders decide to sell, Diggs, 33, would fit as a low-cost addition in both draft capital and money, with less than $3 million left to pay out and a Day 3 pick likely enough.
And while some teams may be tempted to hold onto picks in hopes of landing one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 draft, that may not be the way the league plays it. An executive said only a handful of teams will truly be in position to chase quarterbacks that high, and those clubs are likely to be sellers anyway.
With the standings tight, especially in the NFC, the market could get even hotter. Teams believe they are a move or two from making a real January run, and by this time next week, most general managers should have their rosters set, aside from the occasional off-the-street addition.
In Other News...
Eagles Defense Has A Growing Issue Fangio Couldnt Ignore
Vic Fangio spent part of the week trying to put a finger on why the Eagles defense has felt uneven, and the answer starts with the usual mix of self-scouting and opponent prep. He pointed to the Giants offense as a unit with real strengths, while also noting the ongoing work the Eagles are doing to clean up their own issues and keep younger players like Andrew Mukuba and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. moving in the right direction.
The bigger concern, though, is that some of the moving parts up front and in the rotation have made consistency harder to find. Fangio said Jonathan Greenards limited practice time because of injuries has affected his adjustment, and he also addressed Jordan Daviss recent stretch, which has been part of the broader conversation around a defense still searching for its best version. For now, Fangio said there is no need to chase trade chatter, but the Eagles clearly have a few things to sort through before the defense feels settled again. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Face A Tough Moro Ojomo Trade Decision
The Eagles season has tilted into sell mode, and that makes even a young rotational piece like Moro Ojomo part of the conversation as the NFL trade deadline approaches. Philadelphia sits last in the NFC East at 2-6, with injuries and offensive issues piling up, including the loss of Jalen Hurts for the season, so the front office is now weighing more than just the present roster. Ojomo, a 2023 draft pick who has outperformed his draft slot, has quietly become the kind of player other teams notice when they start looking for help inside.
For Philadelphia, the dilemma is straightforward but uncomfortable: keep a promising defensive tackle as part of the next phase, or move him while interest is building and the roster is still being reshaped. The Eagles have to decide whether Ojomo is too useful to part with in a season that has already gone sideways, or whether this is the sort of asset a seller should be willing to cash in. In a year when so much has already gone wrong, the trade deadline could force one more hard choice. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Fans Have Even More Reason To Love The Cam Jurgens Trade
When the Eagles moved Cam Jurgens to Baltimore, it looked like the kind of deal that could pay off for Philadelphia well beyond this season. The return gave the Eagles extra draft capital, and the move also fit a familiar front-office pattern of cashing in on a player before the full risk of his on-field issues could drag down the value any further. Jurgens had already shown trouble in pass protection, and those concerns followed him after the swap.
Baltimore has kept turning to Jurgens at center, even as the problems have continued. For Philadelphia, that only sharpens the appeal of the trade, because the Eagles got out with assets in hand while another team absorbed the burden of trying to make it work. It is the sort of transaction that can look even better with time if the player never settles in, and right now the early returns suggest the Eagles may have timed it well. [Read more 🡒]