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 has increased each year.
Which players could be on the move at the end of this month? Today, we’re examining trade candidates in the NFC South, which is as muddled as ever through six 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.
NFC South Trade Candidates
Atlanta Falcons | EDGE Lorenzo Carter
As one of three teams jumbled together at the top of the NFC South standings, the Falcons don’t look like straight sellers at the trade deadline. But that doesn’t mean they won’t make a move.
We initially thought Atlanta might try to trade safety Jaylinn Hawkins, a 2020 fourth-round pick and 20-game starter in 2022 who had lost his starting job to free agent addition Jessie Bates III. But the Falcons waived Hawkins earlier this week.
MORE: NFL Trade Deadline — AFC East Trade Candidates
Instead, Atlanta could consider moving pass rusher Lorenzo Carter. With Calais Campbell playing as a true edge defender opposite Bud Dupree and former second-round pick Arnold Ebiketie also available, the Falcons could afford to part with Carter in a player-for-trade that could bring help elsewhere.
If Atlanta thinks it needs reinforcements along the defensive interior or in its cornerback room, the club could look for a rival team searching for edge help and try to work out a deal.
Carolina Panthers | EDGE Brian Burns
PFN’s Adam Caplan identified Panthers safety/linebacker Jeremy Chinn as a potential trade candidate, but he’s dealing with a “significant” quad injury that could sideline him for as many as six weeks, per ESPN. Teams are unlikely to trade for a defender with an uncertain health outlook.
But what about Brian Burns? Carolina had the opportunity to trade their star pass rusher at last year’s deadline when the Los Angeles Rams reportedly offered two first-round picks and a second-rounder in exchange for the now-25-year-old.
The Panthers probably regret declining that proposal, and they haven’t come close to reaching a long-term extension with Burns, who is scheduled to become a free agent in 2024. In mid-September, Burns suggested that contract talks with Carolina had essentially ceased.
Since Burns is now only months away from reaching the open market, the Panthers won’t be able to secure the type of package that the Rams sent their way last season. But they should still be able to land a first-round choice for a player who’s been one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers since entering the league.
New Orleans Saints | EDGE Zack Baun
The Saints don’t have a bevy of potential trade candidates. New Orleans’ roster is leveraged to the hilt, and the club is in win-now mode. If anything, general manager Mickey Loomis will be trying to add pieces before the trade deadline.
Still, a player-for-player move could make sense if the Saints need to add depth at a specific position. Right now, that position group might be the offensive line, where Ryan Ramczyk, James Hurt, and Landon Young are all banged up.
Zack Baun could be a candidate to be moved in that scenario. While he’s nominally a starting linebacker in the Saints’ base defense, Baun only plays roughly 20% of the club’s defensive snaps behind Demario Davis and Pete Werner. He’s a 2024 free agent, and New Orleans — already $70+ million over the 2024 salary cap — seems unlikely to re-sign him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | OL Nick Leverett
Like the Saints, the Buccaneers don’t have any obvious trade candidates. Had Tampa Bay limped through the first six weeks of its first post-Tom Brady campaign, it might have been willing to sell off assets at the deadline.
But the Bucs are 3-2 and leading the NFC South — if anything, they’ll be buyers over the next several weeks.
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Another player-for-player deal could be on the table here. Nick Leverett can play all three interior offensive line positions, started 10 games as recently as 2022, and is only making the league minimum salary.
Leverett isn’t an All-Pro or a household name, but teams are searching for extra offensive line depth. Tampa Bay might not want to part with a veteran contributor, but Leverett could become a trade candidate if the team needs to add more pass-rush help or secondary depth over the next few weeks.