The NFL‘s Oct. 31 trade deadline is just around the corner. Teams have become far more aggressive in player acquisition in recent seasons, and the total number of pre-deadline trades only increases each year.
Which players could be on the move at the end of this month? Today, we’re examining trade candidates in the AFC East, which looks like a two-team race through five weeks.
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed.
AFC East Trade Candidates
Buffalo Bills | EDGE A.J. Epenesa
While the Buffalo Bills are clear AFC contenders, their roster has taken quite a few hits in the last several weeks. Top cornerback Tre’Davious White is out for the year after rupturing his Achilles in Week 4, while linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones suffered season-ending injuries in Week 5.
As such, Sean McDermott’s squad will likely be adding rather than subtracting at the trade deadline. But if the Bills want to add depth elsewhere on their defense, could they deal from their surplus of edge rushers?
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A.J. Epenesa drew trade interest during the summer, but Buffalo decided to trade another former second-round pass rusher — Boogie Basham — instead. While he’s struggled to develop in past seasons, Epenesa has played the second-most snaps of any Bills edge defender this year while posting 11 pressures and three sacks.
Buffalo probably doesn’t want to trade Epenesa now that he’s semi-broken out, but they have edge depth now that Von Miller has returned from IR to play alongside Greg Rousseau and Leonard Floyd. If the Bills want to find a CB or LB on the trade market, could they sell high on Epenesa before he hits free agency in 2024?
Miami Dolphins | WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Week 5 marked Cedrick Wilson’s most significant impact for the Miami Dolphins. He played the most snaps (29) and posted the most catches (four) and yards (52) of his South Beach career, and head coach Mike McDaniel said the Dolphins were planning to get Wilson more involved.
However, Wilson has been a popular name in the rumor mill since the offseason. And Miami potentially acquired a new WR3 when they picked up Chase Claypool from the Chicago Bears earlier this month.
Wilson is earning just $2 million after accepting a pay cut in September. He could be a straight salary dump for the Dolphins, or Miami could try to use him to find additional OL or CB depth before the deadline.
New England Patriots | TE Hunter Henry
If the New England Patriots keep playing as poorly as they have been in recent weeks, they might be willing to trade any number of players before Halloween. Wide receivers like Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker could become available, although it’s unclear what kind of return they would fetch.
Hunter Henry is a more intriguing trade candidate. He’ll have roughly $6.3 million remaining on his contract after Week 6, but the Patriots — who project to have the second-most cap space in the NFL in 2024 — could offer to pay down some of his salary to receive better draft pick compensation.
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While Henry was quiet in New England’s Week 5 loss, he’s posted three games with at least 50 receiving yards this season. That’s excellent production in the current tight end landscape.
Henry, who will be a 2024 free agent, could be attractive to TE-needy clubs like the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
New York Jets | WR Mecole Hardman
Mecole Hardman is as good as gone. Earlier this week, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said the New York Jets were “looking at options” for Hardman, including a potential trade. But the club’s thought process has reportedly expanded beyond mere consideration.
According to Fowler’s colleague, Jets beat reporter Rich Cimini, Hardman will either be traded or cut in the near future. Gang Green is trying to “do (Hardman) a solid” by moving him to a team where he can receive more playing time.
Hardman — who signed a one-year, $4 million deal this offseason — has not been a part of New York’s game plans in any way, shape, or form. He played 22 offensive snaps and received one target over the Jets’ first four games before being made a healthy scratch for Week 5.
Earlier this week, we theorized that the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buccaneers might make sense as Hardman landing spots.