Category: Football

The NFL’s latest trade deadline featured eight Tuesday trades, but a total of 22 in-season swaps occurred this year. Some teams made multiple trades; several others stood pat. Two of the biggest trades in deadline history went down this week.

While not quite on the Herschel Walker/Eric Dickerson level, the Sauce Gardner blockbuster rivaled the Rams’ Jalen Ramsey addition from 2019. Like the Ramsey exchange, the Gardner value brought two first-rounders and another asset (wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, in this case) for a 25-year-old All-Pro cornerback. Barely an hour later, the Jets followed through with a teardown by sending Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys for first- and second-round picks and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

As we detailed Wednesday in the latest Trade Rumors Front Office post, the Jets’ perspective brought strong value for young players toiling on a downtrodden team. The three first-rounders plus the 2026 second will give New York’s new decision-makers a chance to retool while having assets to either find a quarterback in the draft or trade for a veteran. While it will be difficult to replace Gardner and Williams, the Jets’ Darren Mougey-Aaron Glenn regime made the decision to cash in their top assets to launch a true rebuild — one that suddenly features plenty of QB ammo.

From the Colts’ perspective, Gardner brings an accomplished starter at a young age. Indianapolis received a player signed through 2030, though New York’s contract structure on the July extension limited the Gardner dead money to $19.75MM — far less than the Dolphins just took on for Ramsey or what the Saints absorbed upon trading Marshon Lattimore last year.

The Colts, after building from within for years, now have three high-cost DB contracts added this year in the Gardner accord and those given to Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum. Tied for the best record in the AFC (at 7-2), the Colts made a move and watched the Patriots, Broncos, Bills and Chiefs hold off on buyer’s trades.

Dallas’ stance is a bit more complicated. The Cowboys went from trading Micah Parsons for two first-rounders ahead of his age-26 season to acquiring Williams, who will turn 28 in December. The team still has three first-round picks between 2026 and ’27, but sending the higher-value ’27 first to the Jets strips away a prime asset for a player not on Parsons’ level.

Jerry Jones harped on the team’s run defense upon acquiring Kenny Clark in the Parsons trade, but that unit has faceplanted this season. Williams joins Clark and Osa Odighizuwa in a suddenly pricey Dallas D-tackle corps, and the longtime Jet had angled for a contract rework — something the Cowboys may now have to navigate.

The Cowboys also added Logan Wilson, after trying to grab Quincy Williams from the Jets in a two-brother trade, but the younger Williams brother represents the obvious talking point here. Dallas’ interior D-line is well stocked. Will Quinnen Williams help transform a sub-.500 Cowboys team in the way Amari Cooper did after the team surrendered a first at the 2018 deadline?

Deadline day also brought two wide receiver moves. The two wideouts most likely to be traded were, in fact, dealt. The Jaguars gave up fourth- and sixth-round picks for the Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers, a deal that may have crystalized the Rashid Shaheed market. Shaheed cost the Seahawks fourth- and fifth-round choices.

Meyers will help the Jags replace Travis Hunter and provide some stability in a receiving corps also dealing with a Brian Thomas Jr. injury. Shaheed joins a surging Seattle squad, reuniting with 2024 New Orleans OC Klint Kubiak, and will be an interesting complementary piece for All-Pro candidate Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With Smith-Njigba, Shaheed, Cooper Kupp and rookie Tory Horton, the Seahawks look to have one of the NFL’s best receiving cadres.

Jacksonville also engaged in a cornerback swap, prying contract-year cover man Greg Newsome from the Browns in October. Newsome has started two games with the Jags and has incentive to perform well this season, as he is uncontracted for 2026. Tyson Campbell is signed through 2028, giving the Browns some cost certainty — albeit now carrying two upper-crust CB contracts, along with Denzel Ward‘s — at a premium position.

Cleveland did not aggressively sell, keeping its guards, David Njoku and other rumored trade assets, though they did do Joe Flacco a solid — to Mike Tomlin‘s chagrin — by trading the demoted QB within the division. Flacco immediately became the Bengals’ starter and has rejuvenated Cincy’s offense.

The Jags also collected fifth- and sixth-round picks from the deadline’s top buyer. The trade-happy Eagles finished their 2025 by making 12 trades (excluding pick-for-pick transactions). In-season, Philadelphia made four. Following the Bigsby move, the defending champs acquired cornerbacks Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander during their bye week, before sending the Dolphins a third-rounder for Jaelan Phillips. Philly now has Brandon Graham and Phillips in an edge-rushing corps housing Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. Carter and Alexander provide potentially better answers compared to Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo alongside Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

The Rams quietly bolstered their CB contingent by obtaining Titans contract-year slot player Roger McCreary, while Tennessee also sent Dre’Mont Jones to Baltimore. The Ravens added Jones and Alohi Gilman, the latter becoming an immediate starter and helping maximize All-Pro Kyle Hamilton. Jones, who has 4.5 sacks this season, replaces Odafe Oweh — traded to the Chargers in the Gilman swap — in Baltimore’s OLB rotation. A former 3-4 defensive end, Jones gives Baltimore some pass rush options after Gilman supplied them with a deep safety. Gilman is also in a contract year.

While the Dolphins did not dive into full sales mode, retaining Jaylen Waddle and Bradley Chubb, after parting with longtime GM Chris Grier, they did obtain a third-round pick for Phillips — who is in his fifth-year option season. The Chargers also added two more trades before the 3pm buzzer Tuesday, most notably adding Trevor Penning — a three-position starter for the Saints — for a late 2027 draft choice. A contract-year blocker, Penning will be an option for a battered Bolts’ tackle corps.

The Steelers’ long-rumored wide receiver quest did not lead to a deal, but the team did add veteran safety Kyle Dugger, who had fallen out of favor with the Patriots despite signing an eight-figure-per-year extension as a transition-tagged player in 2024.

Who do you think did the best job at this year’s deadline? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

Asante Samuel Jr.‘s schedule is starting to look like a draft prospect’s itinerary of “30” visits. After the former Chargers cornerback received clearance to return from a troublesome injury, three more teams have entered the fray.

Following a report indicating the Packers, Panthers and Vikings had lined up visits, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes the free agent corner is set to meet with the 49ers, Bears and Steelers as well. While the Broncos not being in this mix will keep the Mountain Time Zone out of the mix, Samuel will otherwise — should he take all the meetings — make a cross-country trek over the next week.

After today’s Panthers visit, Samuel will meet with the Packers on Thursday and the Vikings on Friday. The 49ers, Bears and Steelers meetings will go off, respectively, Monday through Wednesday of next week. This jampacked schedule will give a host of teams the opportunity evaluate a player who spent his four-year Chargers run as a regular starter.

Cleared after spinal fusion surgery, Samuel will have met with a fourth of the league this year if he takes all these meetings. He met with the Saints and Cardinals during the spring and was later connected to the Dolphins’ months-long CB search. This will certainly provide Samuel quality intel on a chunk of the league’s facilities and schemes, something that could be relevant for a 2026 free agency foray, while the upcoming meetings should determine which team lands a young starter-level cover man following the trade deadline.

The 49ers have used Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and rookie Upton Stout as their primary starters this season. Pro Football Focus has rated Stout as the league’s second-worst CB regular — ahead of only the since-retired Xavien Howard. The 49ers have flexibility here, as both Lenoir and Green have slot experience. Lenoir has operated in a hybrid capacity in multiple seasons, giving San Francisco options if a Samuel signing comes to pass. Samuel has primarily been a boundary corner as a pro.

Pittsburgh has transitioned Jalen Ramsey to safety, following their 2023 move with Patrick Peterson. The Steelers have also seen Darius Slay‘s age-34 season produce some bumps. PFF grades Pittsburgh perimeter corners Slay and Joey Porter Jr. 68th and 71st among corners, respectively. The team also has Brandin Echols, who has logged nearly half of his snaps in the slot this season.

Battling uphill at corner due to Jaylon Johnson‘s early-season injury, the Bears rank 25th in pass defense. Kyler Gordon also missed a chunk of time earlier this season, but the high-paid slot patrolman is back. PFF ranks Chicago fill-in options Nick McCloud and Nahshon Wright outside the top 100 among CBs this season.

Prior to knowledge about Samuel’s surgery — which took place in April — PFR ranked him 32nd on our top 50 free agent list. Samuel, 26, profiled as a younger alternative to the deep late-20s crop at the position this year. But the surgery tabled interest, which has now come flooding back following the report of his clearance. This could go down as a lost season for Samuel, but he could potentially avoid the “prove it” FA tier in 2026 by catching on with a member of his suitor sextet and making notable contributions to close this season.

Jalen Ramsey has starred at cornerback since entering the NFL as the fifth overall pick of the Jaguars in 2016. Nine years later, a position change may be in store for the seven-time Pro Bowler. After Ramsey lined up at free safety in a 27-20 win over the Colts last Sunday, he’ll work “exclusively” at the position as the Steelers prepare to face the Chargers on Sunday, according to head coach Mike Tomlin (via Brooke Pryor of ESPN).

When discussing Ramsey this week (via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Tomlin said that his ability to handle multiple positions “will provide opportunities for Brandin Echols to step up, which he did, and play more nickel. It will give guys like James Pierre more reps outside. We have more depth at corner than we do safety right now. We’re simply pivoting and doing what’s required to keep the train rolling.”

As Tomlin alluded to, the Steelers were severely shorthanded at safety against the Colts’ top-ranked offense, necessitating Ramsey’s switch from corner. DeShon Elliott, Jabrill Peppers, Chuck Clark, and Miles Killebrew were all out with injuries and/or illnesses. Meanwhile, Kyle Dugger played his first game as a Steeler after they acquired him from the Patriots last Tuesday. Ramsey (78) and Dugger (77) ended up among Pittsburgh’s leaders in defensive snaps during a six-turnover, five-sack performance.

Just months after trading safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami in a June blockbuster that delivered Ramsey (and Jonnu Smith) to Pittsburgh, the Steelers are now relying on Ramsey to help strengthen the position. As Pro Football Focus’ 32nd-ranked corner out of 107 qualifiers, Ramsey has been a bright spot on a struggling Steelers defense this year. While the team is 5-3 and atop the AFC North, its pass defense ranks last in the NFL.

Unless the Steelers move Ramsey back to corner, he’s in line to join Peppers, Clark, Dugger, and Juan Thornhill as their choices at safety for the rest of the season. Elliott and Killebrew (primarily a special teamer) are on IR with knee injuries and questionable to return in 2025. Ramsey said back in 2021 that he’d one day like to emulate Charles Woodson, a Hall of Famer who made a successful transition from corner to safety late in his career. Four years later, Ramsey may be getting his wish.

A big trade domino will fall in the AFC, but the suitor has not been a regular in the oft-rumored receiver mix. The Raiders are trading Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Las Vegas will collect fourth- and sixth-round picks from Jacksonville, per Schefter. The Steelers joined the Jags in pursuing Meyers, but it appears they were not willing to part with this level of draft capital to land the rental chip.

The Jags held two fourth-rounders entering deadline day; NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the higher of the AFC South team’s two fourths will go to the Raiders. This move comes after the Jags placed Travis Hunter on IR and saw Brian Thomas Jr. suffer an ankle injury in Week 9. The Jags received an up-close view of Meyers, having faced the Raiders in that OT matchup. Meyers will now finish out his three-year, $33MM contract in Florida.

Meyers, 29 this week, had angled for a Vegas departure for a while. He asked for a trade this summer, as extension talks stalled, but the Raiders refused at the time. When the AFC West team struggled early this season, it became more receptive to moving on. Even with Meyers having played with minority Raiders owner Tom Brady — a factor in multiple signings elsewhere on the roster this offseason — the Raiders are separating for two Day 3 picks.

Jacksonville gave up its 2026 first-round pick in the three-spot jump for Hunter in April, but the team was still well-stocked with draft capital for 2026. The team came into the day with 13 picks (h/t Schefter), making the losses of fourth- and sixth-rounders passable, as an 11-selection arsenal is obviously still high for a single draft. The Liam Coen-James Gladstone regime continues to retool the Jags’ receiver position, something that began early this offseason.

In addition to cutting tight end Evan Engram, the Jags traded Christian Kirk to the Texans and then cut Devin Duvernay, Josh Reynolds and 2024 free agency addition Gabe Davis. Attempting to build around Thomas and Hunter, the team has seen inconsistent returns from both this season. Prior to his knee injury, Hunter had not caught on as a receiver. The two-way player struggled to factor into the offense regularly, though hope existed bigger contributions were on tap post-bye. Thomas has not matched his rookie-year work, and his injury left Parker Washington as Trevor Lawrence‘s top target to close the team’s 30-29 win over the Raiders.

Meyers was linked to the Steelers at multiple points, with the Bills also contacting the Raiders on the contract-year wideout. It was believe the Raiders eyed a Day 2 pick for Meyers, but considering he is a 2026 free agent, two Day 3 selections does not qualify as underwhelming. Even though Davante Adams and Amari Cooper brought third-rounders back to the Raiders and Browns last year, the Chiefs only paid a fifth-rounder for DeAndre Hopkins last year. Meyers is not in that class, but he has been a consistent wideout — largely on struggling teams.

Although Brock Bowers became the Vegas centerpiece player on offense last season, Meyers still produced following the Adams trade/faux injury stretch pre-trade. Meyers caught 87 passes for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns last season. In 2023, he totaled 71 receptions for 807 yards and eight scores as an Adams sidekick. Meyers is riding a four-season streak of 800-plus-yard seasons, as he also served as a regular target — for Brady, Cam Newton and Mac Jones — in New England.

The former UDFA had played well on his $11MM-per-year contract, but the Raiders changed regimes twice during his short tenure in Nevada. The Brady-Pete Carroll-John Spytek contingent will build around Bowers, with a pressing WR need — Tre Tucker‘s presence notwithstanding — on tap come 2026.

The Meyers-Jags move, while casting some doubt about the team’s view of Hunter’s stretch-run capabilities, also takes a key trade piece off the market for WR suitors. The Bills and Steelers have been consistently linked to wideouts ahead of the deadline. This Jacksonville strike for Meyers will make the Rashid Shaheed market more interesting.

Even though a recent report indicated the Saints could hold onto Shaheed to go with Chris Olave, the former’s contract-year status — on a rebuilding team — has always made him a logical trade chip. Will he end up in Buffalo or Pittsburgh (or on another roster) before the 3pm CT deadline?

Marquez Valdes-Scantling reunited with Aaron Rodgers earlier this week by inking a Steelers deal. In spite of that addition, more could be coming at the receiver position.

Pittsburgh is still looking into a trade acquisition at that spot, veteran insider Jordan Schultz and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler report. The Steeler have of course been connected to a move dating back to well before the Valdes-Scantling pact. The former Packers speedster has played on four teams since the end of his Green Bay tenure and expectations will be limited in his second time around with Rodgers.

The Steelers traded away George Pickens this offseason and replaced him with D.K. Metcalf. The latter inked a four-year, $132MM deal upon arrival from the Seahawks, and he will remain Pittsburgh’s WR1 for the foreseeable future. Finding depth production has been an issue in 2025, though, with Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson struggling to make a consistent impact.

As such, Pittsburgh could stand to add further ahead of the November 4 deadline. The team has been linked to interest in Jakobi Meyers and Calvin Ridley, among others. Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms (subscription required) the Steelers have made calls about Meyers, making them one of several teams in play for the Raiders veteran. Per Russini, Pittsburgh has indeed looked into other wideouts on the trade block as well.

Sitting at 4-3 on the year, the Steelers lead the AFC North as things stand. The team’s defensive struggles and a return to health on the part of the Ravens have led to recent pessimism about Pittsburgh’s chances of remaining in that spot, however. A rental move at the receiver spot would aid the offense, a unit which ranks just 23rd in the league in passing. Improving in that regard would be a feasible goal.

The Steelers have shown a willingness to be aggressive in terms of roster-building moves under general manager Omar Khan. With over $6MM in cap space, Pittsburgh can afford a modest swap in the coming days. It will be interesting to see if the team’s ongoing interest produces a deal.