With the extensive health protocols currently in place, NFL trade deadline news and rumors have already been churning. Yannick Ngakoue had his ongoing feud with the Jacksonville Jaguars front office finally acquiesced by a trade to the Minnesota Vikings, only for the Vikings to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens. The Arizona Cardinals re-acquired Markus Golden (the 2015 Cardinals second-round selection) from the New York Giants after losing Chandler Jones for the season. Some organizations will be pushing their proverbial chips to the center of the table and say “all in.”
When is the NFL trade deadline?
Date: Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020
Time: 4 PM Eastern
Teams have to decide if they are buyers or sellers in the trade market and make no mistake about the business side of the NFL; everyone has a price. This is a last-ditch effort for NFL clubs to bolster their rosters here and now, to hell with the future. If you have the window to hoist a Lombardi trophy, you entertain any and all avenues to patch any glaring weaknesses you have. In being this first year of an expanded playoff field, we may see more buyers than sellers compared to year’s past.
Be sure to monitor the news after the 4 PM ET cutoff — NFL clubs are like everyone else in that they might pull a trade at the last moments before the deadline. For any deal that was struck close to the deadline, the reporting of said transaction may be delayed by a tad and not hit cyberspace until after 4:00 PM ET on November 3.
Latest NFL Trade News and Rumors: Who are the potential trade targets that could be on new teams?
The NFL trade deadline may not get the hoopla of the NBA or MLB, but considering over 40% of the league makes the playoffs now, we could see that tide changing a bit (it’ll never be the full-scale pandemonium due to the differences in salary cap situations). In 2017 and 2018 (Amari Cooper), there was a flurry of transactions, and in 2019, players like Kenyan Drake, Jalen Ramsey, Marcus Peters, Emmanuel Sanders, and Leonard Williams were traded to new teams. Here are the NFL trade news and rumors that have been swirling.
A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
A.J. Green has looked pedestrian for much of the year, but name recognition alone could intrigue a team in need of a reliable boundary receiver. Green’s inflated contract could prove to be too hard to move.
Anthony Harris, Minnesota Vikings
According to Albert Breer, the Vikings are willing to deal Harris before the NFL trade deadline.
Bradley McDougald, New York Jets
The Jets are steamrolling towards the #1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and after already moving two players before this year’s trade deadline, it’s entirely possible they are not done, including their starting quarterback Sam Darnold. The team stinks and has no choice but to start acquiring assets and planning for the future. If the Jets are enamored with Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, you could see the Jets try and squeeze every drop of his value, much like the Cardinals with Josh Rosen after selecting Kyler Murray #1.
McDougald is a talented guy in the secondary who should have a market, and with the scoring bonanza going on in the NFL, you might see some front offices pull the trigger on adding talent to the back end. Also, keep an eye on Jamison Crowder – a reliable possession receiver for any team lacking WR depth.
The entire Dallas Cowboys defense?
The Cowboys were trying to move both DT Dontari Poe and CB Daryl Worley. Unfortunately, they were not able to get a deal done and decided to cut both players instead. With the trade of Everson Griffen, it looks like this Dallas team has decided to start selling assets.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
This may be a case of the Browns trying to salvage something before Njoku hits free agency. The first-round pick has been unable to consistently produce in Cleveland and was mentioned to have asked for a trade from the Browns organization during the Bengals/Browns Sunday broadcast. With Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant commanding playing time, the Browns may look to unload him.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Browns are not actively shopping Njoku, but because they have so much depth at the position and Austin Hooper will be returning after the bye, they are listening to offers. Rapoport says it would likely take a mid rounder for the team to move him.
Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Los Angeles Chargers are actively shopping former All-Pro defensive back and punt returner Desmond King. There are teams that have reached out showing interest. This comes the day after the Chargers ruled King out from Sunday’s loss to the Broncos for non-injury related reasons. Following the game, coach Anthony Lynn said King not playing was a “team decision.”
Dwayne Haskins, Washington Football Team
The Washington Football Team, though not trailing by much in the NFC East, made a move early in the season to bench first-round pick, Dwayne Haskins. Couple that with a new coaching staff who didn’t draft him, and you could be seeing a short-lived stint in D.C. for Haskins.
Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
According to several media reports, the Bengals have turned down teams regarding pass-rushing DT Geno Atkins.
Golden Tate, New York Giants
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, even after an impressive highlight catch last night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR Golden Tate could be someone that is moved today during the deadline.
Houston Texans: Everyone except Deshaun Watson?
According to reports, the Green Bay Packers inquired about the availability of Will Fuller. According to The Athletic’s Aaron Reiss, no deal is imminent and the Texans are not willing to trade players just to trade.
Albert Breer reported on Thursday that the Texans have told teams only four players are untouchable: QB Deshaun Watson, OT Laremy Tunsil, DE JJ Watt, and OT Tytus Howard.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Texans owner Cal McNair is not ready to give up on the season just yet. He says the price is still high for players like Will Fuller, who is drawing a lot of interest, but would need the right deal to make a move. The Green Bay Packers continue to be a team that is mentioned as a possible destination.
Jacob Hollister, Seattle Seahawks
Teams believed that Seahawks TE Jacob Hollister was available for trade because many knew Seattle was looking to add a pass-rusher and clear cap space. However, since they traded B.J. Finney for Carlos Dunlap, Hollister may be safe.
John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals
John Ross appears to be on the outside looking in when it comes to Joe Burrow’s favorite targets, but with the first-round status, they could still entertain some trade value around the league before the NFL trade deadline. On Friday, Ross confirmed that he had indeed requested a trade.
Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have every appearance of entering the fire sale and trying to acquire draft capital. Gardner Minshew does have several passing targets, and the team could look to move one to a WR-needy team, including one of Minshew’s most reliable targets in Keelan Cole.
Marcus Maye, New York Jets
New York Jets safety Marcus Maye’s name has been floated about on the trade block. Maye’s been one of the best single high safeties in the NFL in 2020, and with his contract up at the end of the year, many are wondering if the Jets would be best served trading him now. However, on the NFL Draft Insiders podcast, Pro Football Network Insider Tony Pauline reported that the Jets aren’t looking to move Maye.
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Let’s address the elephant in the room. An elephant is more likely to win the three-cone drill at the combine this year than Matt Ryan getting moved; it’s too fiscally irresponsible. The Falcons may acquire assets in other ways, but the chances of them coming from Ryan are monumentally low. There isn’t any news to this NFL trade scenario, just people trying to connect dots that are omitting key context. Alex Mack is more likely the player to get dealt from this struggling Falcons team.
New England Patriots
Per Albert Breer, the Patriots may be shopping Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore. Many have been linking Gilmore to the Seattle Seahawks, but NFL Lead Analyst Mike Tanier doesn’t see how this can be a realistic scenario.
Gilmore may not be the only Patriots player on the move, as Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated is reporting the Patriots have told teams they will listen to a trade offer on “almost anyone”.
New York Jets
According to Albert Breer, teams have asked about players such as LB Avery Williamson, OTs George Fant, and Chuma Edoga, and CB Quincy Wilson. There is not much interest in CB Brian Poole, WR Jamison Crowder, or S Marcus Maye.
Odell Beckham, Cleveland Browns
According to Ian Rapoport, Beckham may have played his last game for the Browns. Beckham is currently injured so will not be traded imminently, but could be a candidate to be moved during the upcoming offseason.
Ryan Kerrigan, Washington Football Team
According to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Washington Football Team’s Pro Bowl pass-rusher Ryan Kerrigan has requested a trade. However, the team has told interested parties that they won’t move him. He will be a name to watch as the deadline approaches.
Update: Yesterday, it was reported that another source insisted to ESPN that Kerrigan has not requested a trade. Multiple people around the NFL believe that Kerrigan values loyalty to the franchise and his family over money.
Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
Conflicting reports have been circulating regarding the status of New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Williams is reportedly being shopped by the Jets; another report mentions that the Jets are not shopping him.
Pro Football Network Insider Tony Pauline put the rumor to rest during the latest NFL Draft Insiders podcast stating, “The Jets aren’t looking to move Quinnen Williams.” Williams is having a strong second season and looks to be a building block for the Jets’ future. It’s unlikely he’ll be on the move before the deadline.
Will Parks, Philadelphia Eagles
According to Albert Breer, the Eagles are willing to deal Parks before the NFL trade deadline.
Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins
According to a report from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Xavien Howard is being shopped by the Miami Dolphins. A short while after the Sun-Sentinel report, the Miami Dolphins released a statement through Miami Herald reporter Adam Beasley: “The report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is factually inaccurate and based on rumors. The paper practiced poor journalism by not reaching out to the team for comment or the chance to respond prior to publishing the story.”
The Pro Bowl cornerback was signed to a five-year deal worth $75.25 million before the 2019 season. He has been playing well for the Dolphins, with four interceptions in his last four games. However, the team is incredibly deep at the position, having added Byron Jones in the offseason as well as Noah Igbinoghene with the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
A source familiar with the Dolphins thinking tells PFN that if the report is true, it’s because the Dolphins believe they can get good value for Howard, given his recovery from his most recent surgery and his play throughout the 2020 season thus far.
Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
The latest NFL trade news and rumors around Zach Ertz are that two teams inquired about his availability before getting injured.
Official NFL Trade Deadline Transactions
November 02
The Chargers have traded DB Desmond King to the Tennessee Titans for a sixth-rounder.
The San Francisco 49ers traded LB Kwon Alexander to the New Orlean Saints. In return, the Saints received a 2021 fifth-round pick and LB Kiko Alonso.
November 01
The Jets traded LB Avery Williamson to Pittsburgh Steelers. The teams swapped picks in the deal: Steelers’ 2022 fifth-rounder for the Jets’ 2022 seventh-rounder.
October 28
Carlos Dunlap was traded to Seattle from Cincinnati Wednesday in exchange for offensive lineman B.J. Finney and a 2021 seventh-round draft pick. Dunlap has 18 tackles, one sack, and two pass deflections this season and should help with Seattle’s pass rush.
October 27
Everson Griffen is traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Detroit Lions for a conditional 2021 sixth-round pick.
October 22
Yannick Ngakoue is traded from the Minnesota Vikings to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2021 third-round pick and a conditional 2022 fifth-round pick.
October 21
Jordan Willis is traded from the New York Jets to the San Francisco 49ers. The Jets receive a 2022 sixth-round pick, while the 49ers obtain Willis and a 2021 seventh-round pick.
October 18
Steve McLendon is traded from the New York Jets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets receive a 2020 sixth-round choice while the Buccaneers get McLendon’s services along with a 2023 seventh-round pick.