The NFL‘s Nov. 5 trade deadline is just around the corner, and we’ve already seen plenty of player movement. While the AFC’s arms race — featuring veteran wide receiver trades involving Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, and Diontae Johnson — has stolen the spotlight, teams have also bolstered depth at other positions.
Although the NFL may never achieve the trade deadline frenzy that occurs in the NBA or MLB, there has been a consistent uptick in swaps over the past decade-plus. Whether it’s due to younger general managers who are more comfortable with trades or because teams are more willing to take on salary (or dead money in the case of clubs trading players away), midseason deals are on the rise.
Let’s take a look at five more offensive players who could find new landing spots by next Tuesday.
Steelers Find WR Partner for George Pickens
Steelers acquire: WR Jakobi Meyers
Raiders acquire: 2025 fourth-round pick
The Pittsburgh Steelers were involved in ultimately unfruitful trade talks for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk earlier this year and are still searching for a pass catcher to complement George Pickens. Now that the Steelers are 6-2 and have a functioning passing attack with Russell Wilson under center, their need for another WR is even more apparent.
Jakobi Meyers should be on Pittsburgh’s radar heading into the deadline. The Las Vegas Raiders wideout’s prowess in the short and intermediate ranges of the field could be a perfect complement for Pickens’ downfield ability. Meyers has lined up in the slot on roughly 40% of his snaps this season but can also play on the perimeter.
Even better, Meyers wouldn’t be a one-year solution for the Steelers. They’d owe the 28-year-old a little over $3 million for the rest of the 2024 campaign, but they’d also have him under contract for $11 million in 2025.
Jakobi Meyers comes down with the TD!
📺: #KCvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/MjQhOBMC6M— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
General manager Omar Khan wouldn’t have to worry about signing a free agent pass catcher next offseason or trying to find another hit in the draft. Pittsburgh would already have its top two WR slots filled for roughly $13 million.
That’s why we’re projecting a 2025 fourth-round pick to go back to Las Vegas. Having already traded Adams, the Raiders might have to be convinced to give up Meyers. At the same time, Meyers’ affordable contract makes the price tag worth it for the Steelers.
Mike Williams Goes to Commanders
Commanders acquire: WR Mike Williams, 2025 seventh-round pick
Jets acquire: 2025 sixth-round pick
Mike Williams feels as good as gone. The New York Jets are trying to trade the veteran receiver, who no longer has a defined role after Gang Green acquired Adams to play alongside Garrett Wilson.
Williams, who tore his ACL while playing for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, slowly worked his way into the Jets’ starting lineup this year. His defining moment for New York came in Week 6 when his incorrect route led to a game-ending Aaron Rodgers interception. Williams was active for the Jets in Week 8 but didn’t receive a target on 36 offensive naps.
Let’s send Williams to the Washington Commanders, who still need another option to pair with WR1 Terry McLaurin. Noah Brown stepped up to catch Jayden Daniels’ game-winning Hail Mary in Week 8, but he’s not the most exciting option as the club’s WR2. If Williams stays healthy, he can become a downfield winner for Daniels, who already throws one of the NFL’s most beautiful deep balls.
First-year Commanders GM Adam Peters knows that, despite his team’s 2024 success, Washington is not one player away from a championship. That’s why it’s hard to see him sacrificing Day 1 or 2 capital for midseason reinforcements.
A late-round pick swap for a player like Williams could make more sense. The Commanders can probably even convince the Jets to assume some of Williams’ remaining $3.7 million salary.
Cowboys Add Former 1st-Round RB
Cowboys acquire: RB Travis Etienne Jr.
Jaguars acquire: 2025 fifth-round pick
Few teams need a running back upgrade more than the Dallas Cowboys, who were forced to rely on an Ezekiel Elliott-Dalvin Cook tandem when regular starter Rico Dowdle was sidelined by an illness in Week 8.
Entering Week 9, the Cowboys rank 22nd in EPA per rush, 23rd in rushing success rate, and 32nd in yards per carry. They’re dead last in explosive runs — only 3.3% of their attempts have gone for 12+ yards. Conversely, 16.4% of their runs have gained zero or negative yardage, the fifth-highest rate in the NFL.
A myriad of factors beyond the identity of the running back determine whether a team’s rushing attack is productive, but Dallas needs another option in the backfield.
The Jacksonville Jaguars could be open to trading Travis Etienne Jr. as their 2024 campaign falls apart, and Jerry Jones might be intrigued by the idea of adding a former first-round pick. Etienne has missed the past two weeks with a hamstring injury, so he’d need to get healthy for this deal to work.
The Clemson product missed his 2021 rookie season with a Lisfranc injury but surpassed 1,400 scrimmage yards in 2022 and 2023. This year has been more of a struggle, as injuries and Jaguars RB2 Tank Bigsby’s breakout have tempered Etienne’s production.
Still, he’d represent a significant improvement over the Cowboys’ incumbent running backs. The Jaguars already exercised Etienne’s 2025 fifth-year option, so Dallas would have him under contract for $6.143 million next season.
Bears Trade Pending Free Agent RB
Colts acquire: RB Khalil Herbert
Bears acquire: 2025 seventh-round pick
The Chicago Bears don’t seem to have a use for running back Khalil Herbert. The pending free agent has fallen behind D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson on the club’s depth chart and has played fewer offensive snaps than Travis Homer in 2024.
Herbert, 26, remains underrated as a pure runner. The former sixth-round pick finished ninth in attempts per broken tackle (10.2) and 11th in yards after contact per attempt (2.1) in 2023, suggesting he can generate his own yardage.
The Indianapolis Colts struggled to run the ball while Jonathan Taylor was sidelined by a high ankle sprain. From Weeks 5 through 7, Indy ranked 19th in EPA per rush and 24th in rushing success rate with backups Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson leading the way.
Herbert would be an upgrade over those options, while his decisive running style would work behind the Colts’ excellent offensive line. Taylor has previously dealt with ankle injuries, so Indianapolis needs a viable insurance plan.
Bryce Young Lands in a New Home
Rams acquire: QB Bryce Young
Panthers acquire: 2026 fourth-round pick
There’s no arguing that Bryce Young has gotten off to one of the worst starts for a young quarterback in NFL history. But if anyone can fix the broken Carolina Panthers signal-caller, it might be Sean McVay.
This was an excellent ball by Bryce Young to Jalen Coker. One thing that stands out to me here is that 9 is showing poise vs. pressure. Again, another thing that was missing from Weeks 1-2. pic.twitter.com/AJZlwtDy3u
— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) October 28, 2024
The Los Angeles Rams will eventually need a successor for Matthew Stafford, who looks as good as ever in 2024 but will turn 37 years old in February. Young hasn’t come close to delivering on his No. 1 overall draft pick billing, but he’d theoretically get more time to process while working behind Stafford in L.A.
Young’s affordable rookie deal also means the Rams would only be paying him backup quarterback money. Carolina would absorb Young’s prorated bonus earnings as dead money. Los Angeles would have Young under contract through 2026 for roughly $11 million.
Four unknown teams reportedly reached out regarding Young’s availability after Carolina benched him heading into Week 3. The Panthers have maintained they won’t trade Young, but teams who want a lottery-ticket quarterback could make attractive offers until the deadline. Carolina is trending toward drafting another QB early in next year’s draft, so they will likely move Young during the offseason if he’s not traded over the next week.