Day: October 29, 2026

A few big dominoes have already dropped ahead of the NFL trade deadline, and if we had it our way, there would be many more before 4 p.m. ET arrives on Nov. 10. Last week, we looked at which player on all 32 teams is the top candidate to be dealt before the trade deadline. This week, we’re looking at which player every playoff hopeful should try to land before the deadline comes and goes. A couple of our choices are repetitive, as there are a few teams that should clearly take advantage of the Indianapolis Colts’ fire sale and try to land star running back Jonathan Taylor. Some of our picks aren’t the sexiest names, either, as there are a handful of teams who could be better served trading for depth. And a few of our selections are a bit outside the box, as we think of creative ways for certain teams to get better before gearing up for a playoff run. So, which player should your favorite team try to trade for before Nov. 10 arrives? Here’s one player every playoff hopeful should target. Trade target: New York Jets edge rusher Will McDonald IV Greg Auman: Atlanta has gotten by surprisingly well at edge rusher despite Jalon Walker being out for the year and James Pearce about to finish an eight-game suspension. If the Falcons are really looking to make a push to end their playoff drought, they could double down by trading for Will McDonald IV, who played for defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in 2023-24 and had 10.5 sacks in their second year together. He’s under contract on his fifth-year option for 2027, so it’s not just a rental. Another cheaper potential reunion? Get much-needed receiver help and add Jerry Jeudy from the Browns, where he played for current Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski. Trade target: Los Angeles Chargers S Derwin James Steven Ruiz: The history is there. Derwin James played two seasons under Ravens coach Jesse Minter during his time with the Chargers, and general manager Eric DeCosta said he would have taken the safety if they hadn’t traded down in the 2018 NFL Draft. Bringing in James, who could take over as the full-time nickelback, would free up Kyle Hamilton to move around the defense. The Ravens haven’t gotten much out of their deep safeties, but Hamilton could solve that. In 2024, Baltimore moved Hamilton into a deeper role, and it transformed the defense for the better. Bringing in another versatile piece like James could turn this defense into a top-10 unit. And with the Chargers at 0-6, they’ll likely be open to offers for their expensive vets. Trade target: Arizona Cardinals S Budda Baker Ben Arthur: The Bills are getting uneven play at safety and have pass-defense woes overall. They’re giving up 285.8 passing yards per game, ranked second-worst in the NFL, and sit 30th in scoring defense (28.5 points allowed per game). Despite being 30 years old, Budda Baker is still a big-time playmaker who would give Buffalo a major boost. Through seven games this year, he already has a career-high 3.5 sacks to go with an interception and four passes defended. Baker has no guaranteed salary left on his contract after this season, which makes it palpable for a team like the Bills to trade for the older safety. Trade target: Philadelphia Eagles CB Riq Woolen Auman: There’s so much of a Seattle presence in Carolina between head coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan, both longtime Seahawks guys and where Tariq Woolen began his career. The Eagles’ struggles make Woolen available as a rental, and Carolina has had both starting corners on injured reserve for the past month. Backups aren’t likely going to get them a repeat division title, so upgrading the secondary would be a priority if they were to be active at the trade deadline. Trade target: Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack Auman: The Chargers’ unexpected disaster should have them dealing veterans at the deadline, and the Bears have traded for Khalil Mack before. He’s 35 and has an 0-6 career playoff record, so you’d think he’d be thrilled to join a legit contender like Chicago. It’ll cost more, but the Chargers may make a much younger edge rusher, Tuli Tuipulotu, available. He’s only 24, had 13 sacks last season and will be a free agent next year, but you’d have to give Los Angeles a pick comparable to the one they’d get as a compensatory pick in 2028 for losing him in free agency. Trade target: Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Arthur: This Bengals’ season is about making big swings, right? Cincinnati has already seen the major impact of DT Dexter Lawrence, who was acquired for the 10th overall pick in the past draft, on their once-maligned defense. One of the NFL’s superstar running backs, Jonathan Taylor, could be that piece on offense that takes the Bengals to the next level. Chase Brown has been a solid lead back in the past (990 rushing yards in 2024, over 1,000 rushing yards in ‘25), but his production has regressed significantly this year and the Bengals rank 30th in total rushing (81.2 rushing yards per game). That puts way too much pressure on Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to carry the load. The addition of Taylor would give Cincinnati a true pick-your-poison offense. Trade target: Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert Arthur: With Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson back from injury, the Browns are in good shape at running back. But they could really use help at pass catcher for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Outside of Harold Fannin, Cleveland doesn’t have a dependable tight end option. After Fannin, who’s averaging 36.7 receiving yards per game, the team doesn’t have a tight end touching six receiving yards per game. Dallas Goedert’s presence would open up two tight end sets for the Browns, which could make coach Todd Monken’s scheme more versatile. Browns GM Andrew Berry was also the Eagles’ vice president of football operations in 2019, so there is a connection to the front office in Philadelphia, which could be a seller ahead of the NFL trade deadline with a 2-5 record. Trade target: Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat Ruiz: The Cowboys could solve a lot of their defensive issues by just getting to the quarterback more often. Unfortunately, teams aren’t just giving away pass-rushing talent, but Josh Sweat and the Cardinals have been headed for a split for the past year, so he could come at a reduced price. Defensive coordinator Christian Parker was on the Eagles coaching staff when Sweat notched eight sacks for Philadelphia during its Super Bowl run. It’s a no-brainer from a fit perspective, but the 29-year-old hasn’t been productive this season, with just two sacks and seven hurries on a bad Cardinals defense. A trade to a playoff-contending team might bring out the best in him. Trade target: Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Ruiz: Well, since it’s unrealistic for the Broncos to trade for a new starting quarterback, we’ll go with the offense’s second-biggest need: a running back who can produce big plays on the ground. Denver has the offensive line and scheme to produce a good running game, but it doesn’t have a back who can capitalize on those advantages. We saw what Jonathan Taylor can do in a friendly offensive environment in 2025 when he played himself into contention for Offensive Player of the Year with the Colts. Broncos coach Sean Payton seems to love Jonah Coleman, who just returned from a preseason injury, but if the 2026 fourth-round pick doesn’t impress in Week 8, Payton could get desperate on deadline day. The Denver coach loves explosive plays, and Taylor can provide them. Trade target: Kansas City Chiefs CB Kristian Fulton Ruiz: The Lions need cornerbacks who can hold up in man coverage if they want to continue running defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s aggressive scheme. Those can be hard to find on the trade market, as teams typically covet man corners. But the Chiefs have a bit of a surplus at cornerback right now with rookie Mansoor Delane, Nohl Williams, and LaJarius Snead at the top of the depth chart. Kristian Fulton, who’s at his best in man coverage, hasn’t played more than 10 coverage snaps since Week 2. If the Chiefs are in the market for a receiver, they may look to flip Fulton for draft capital to help facilitate a trade for one. Detroit has too many holes in its defense to give away draft picks, but adding Fulton shouldn’t cost much. Trade target: Philadelphia Eagles G Landon Dickerson Henry McKenna: The Packers have been connected to basically every trade candidate around the NFL, from Quenton Nelson (now with the Seahawks) to Jonathan Taylor. How about someone who’s unhappy — but under the radar? How about Landon Dickerson? The Eagles have moved him in and out of the lineup and onto injured reserve, and his play has been … downright bad. But it’s not like the 28-year-old turned into a bad player overnight. The Packers should kick the tires and bring him in, maybe for a relatively small price on the trade market. Trade target: New York Jets S Andre Cisco Arthur: Safety Reed Blankenship, who signed a three-year deal with the Texans in the offseason, has had an uneven tenure so far in Houston. Andre Cisco would bring much-needed stability at safety and to Houston’s larger secondary, which has been a big disappointment and needs to get on track if the Texans are to turn around their 2-5 start. The Texans are currently allowing 244.0 passing yards per game, which ranks 27th. A former third-round pick, Cisco is allowing just a 76.2 passer rating as the nearest defender in coverage, according to Next Gen Stats. He’s seen his playing time dwindle in New York this season, so he could be available, and the Texans already have plenty of familiarity with him from when he played with the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars (2021-24). He’s due just over $910,000 in base salary for the rest of this season, after which he’ll be an unrestricted free agent. Trade target: Los Angeles Chargers CB Donte Jackson Auman: Jacksonville has the NFL’s best run defense, but the Jaguars are 30th against the pass, some of which is opponents trailing and throwing much more often. Having another veteran option at corner would help them in the playoffs and prevent someone like Josh Allen from having a big day, like he did last year when he completed 80% of his passes in Buffalo’s wild-card win in Jacksonville. Having more talent at corner also helps you let Travis Hunter freelance more on offense, so it could end up helping both sides of the ball. Donte Jackson turns 31 next month, but is the kind of ballhawk the Jaguars love, with nine interceptions in 2024-25. Trade target: New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson McKenna: If I’m the Chiefs, I’d happily settle for Brian Thomas Jr. He and Garrett Wilson have similar styles of play. But if we’re talking about who the Chiefs should target — above everyone else — then Wilson absolutely qualifies as the No. 1 candidate. He has already realized the form that you’d have to (very optimistically) project Thomas could achieve. The price difference would be substantial, with Wilson likely requiring a package that might be something like a first- and second-round pick (or thereabouts) — whereas Thomas might cost something around a second-rounder. But the Chiefs have been too patient for too long about their WR position. Time to get aggressive. Trade target: Philadelphia Eagles G Landon Dickerson Eric D. Williams: The Raiders need help along the offensive line, and Landon Dickerson provides a veteran presence from an organization with a championship pedigree with a workable contract. The Eagles have lost five in a row and are cratering. Dickerson is working his way back from a knee injury, but this is more of a long-term play to get another veteran offensive lineman to grow with Fernando Mendoza. Trade target: Minnesota Vikings WR Jauan Jennings Williams: Davante Adams will be out at least six weeks with an injured hamstring and Puka Nacua has already missed two games this season due to injury. Jauan Jennings is a tough receiver who brings a lunch-bucket mentality and would fit in nicely to L.A.’s receiver room. Jennings should be familiar with Sean McVay’s offense from his time with Kevin O’Connell and Kyle Shanahan. And Jennings has not found a meaningful role in the passing game of Minnesota’s offense. Trade target: New England Patriots RB TreyVeon Henderson McKenna: TreVeyon Henderson quietly has not worked out for the Patriots — with minimal success as a pass protector and too many instances where he simply runs into the back of the offensive line. Henderson’s splash plays have made rounds on social media, but his lack of consistency has given way to a guy like Corey Kiner (who?!) getting more work. So what if the Vikings took the opportunity to give Henderson a change of scenery and in a different scheme (which Minnesota just adopted this year)? Henderson could be better suited as a 1-2(-3) punch with Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones. ‘ Trade target: Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack McKenna: There are a handful of enticing names on the market, from edge Josh Sweat to defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. But the Patriots already gave up a first-round pick in the last few months. I don’t see them doing it again here at the deadline. So Khalil Mack would make sense, given that he’s a veteran who can help in a rotational role — and for a late-round pick. It won’t move the needle much. But the Patriots probably don’t think they need to move the needle much, with the effects of A.J. Brown still pending. When he finally starts contributing, the Patriots should improve — perhaps substantially. Trade target: Indianapolis Colts DT Grover Stewart Ralph Vacchiano: The Giants never really replaced Dexter Lawrence in the middle of their defensive line, and that’s easy to see from a run defense that’s giving up 128.1 yards per game. They have enough weapons on offense, as long as QB J.J. McCarthy keeps playing well. What they need to do is fortify a defense that has been battered by season-ending injuries to LBs Brian Burns and Tremaine Edmunds. Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons is the DT star of the market, but he’ll likely cost a first-round pick. Grover Stewart, 33, should cost less than the fourth-rounder the 49ers dealt for Stewart’s old teammate, DeForest Buckner, though. And at 6-foot-4, 315 pounds, he could be a cheap way for the Giants to bulk up their defensive line and add a little interior push, too. Trade target: Los Angeles Rams TE Colby Parkinson Vacchiano: It’s pretty clear that the Eagles need to be big sellers at the trading deadline, but GM Howie Roseman is a wizard at playing the long game, so there’s no reason he can’t do a little buying too. It would have to be strategic, though, and adding a tight end to replace the soon-to-be-departing Dallas Goedert would definitely be a good strategy. Colby Parkinson, 27, is a vastly underrated receiver and a huge (6-7, 266) red-zone target, who is just lost at times in the deep and talented Rams offense. With L.A.’s season teetering, and Parkinson’s contract expiring after the season, he’d be a low-cost addition for Philly. And if they can re-sign him in the offseason, he’d fill a huge 2027 need, too. Trade target: Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. Vacchiano: With injuries to Michael Pittman and Roman Wilson, the Steelers desperately need to add passing game weapons to help out aging QB Aaron Rodgers on his last ride. And adding a potential deep threat like Brian Thomas Jr. would surely help, especially since WR DK Metcalf has been erratic in that role. Thomas is still only 24 and a former first-round pick who had a monster season as a rookie just three years ago (87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns), but he’s been completely buried in Liam Coen’s Jaguars offense. The speedy 6-2, 209-pounder could be a really low-cost addition (though several teams could be interested and turn it into an odd bidding war). And the upside could be huge for an offense that needs a downfield threat and a boost. Trade target: Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack Williams: Even if Nick Bosa eventually returns from injury and after Tuesday’s trade for DeForest Buckner, the 49ers still need help at edge rusher to improve the pass rush on a team that has Super Bowl aspirations. After mulling retirement, 35-year-old Khalil Mack decided to return and play one last season in Los Angeles. But he didn’t expect to potentially end his career for one of the worst teams in the league. Mack still has gas left in the tank and could contribute to a veteran team in position to make a deep postseason run. Trade target: Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard Williams: Seahawks GM John Schneider already made a move to bolster the offensive line with the addition of Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson. He won the battle of optics by Seattle’s defense shutting down former teammate Kenneth Walker III in his return to Lumen Field with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, even with the eventual returns of first-round pick Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet on the horizon, the Seahawks still need more juice in the running game to protect Sam Darnold if they want to defend their Super Bowl title. Tony Pollard provides that on a team that Seattle made a midseason trade with a few years ago, landing linebacker Ernest Jones IV from Tennessee.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The Seahawks reminded why they have the best defense in football. The Lions have an ideal quarterback to spoil the Vikings’ perfect record. The Giants might have a new starting quarterback. Each week, I dive into the All-22 coaches’ film before offering a few insights to watch. Here are three developments that could be long-term storylines involving some of the best teams and players in the NFL. Whenever a defense gets to face a former teammate who has teased and tormented them in practices for years, the unit can’t wait to spot the ball and shut down their ex to earn bragging rights. With star running back Kenneth Walker III returning to Seattle to face the league’s top defense in prime time this past week, the football world couldn’t wait to see how the “Dark Side” would treat K9 in his homecoming. Walker, of course, didn’t enter the matchup as merely the reigning Super Bowl MVP. He was the NFL’s rushing leader after averaging a whopping 133 yards per game while forcing 51 missed tackles through five games. The fifth-year pro was picking up 9.2 yards per carry when not hit behind the line of scrimmage, which led the NFL by over a full yard (minimum 25 carries). However, the Seahawks are a sure-tackling team, with a 90.1% tackling rate (third-highest) and hit running backs in the backfield on 48.5% of their carries, with 22.7% of those hits resulting in a tackle for loss or no gain. A long, hard look at the tape from this Week 7 showdown revealed a lot about the Seahawks. Namely, they boast the best defense in football. Defensive-minded head coach Mike Macdonald has installed a scheme that lets his playmakers play fast, but from various spots and alignments. As a proponent of positionless football, the Seahawks run five and six defensive backs on the field at all times, and their clever use of Nickel and Dime personnel, regardless of the offensive grouping, speaks to the unit’s versatility, with defensive backs deployed as quasi-linebackers on blitzes. Against Kansas City, Seattle didn’t stray from that approach, playing five or more defensive backs on 100% of the snaps. With Macdonald keeping his defensive backs deep to eliminate explosives through the air, the Seahawks impressively kept Walker in check without loading the box. They finished with a 7.1% stacked-box rate, per Next Gen Stats, while holding the Chiefs to 4.3 yards per play and limiting Walker to just 36 rushing yards total. The stellar performance snapped Walker’s 11-game streak with at least 50 yards and offered a blueprint for containing the NFL’s top rusher. Studying the All-22 coaches’ footage, the Seahawks contained the Super Bowl MVP with a high school-like game plan featured on Friday nights across the country. The defense stayed in a traditional two-deep zone or single-high safety coverage with five defensive backs on the field. They overwhelmed the Chiefs at the point of attack with interior size and outran Walker to the corner, with a speedy collection of linebackers and defensive backs running the ball with urgency. Seattle’s outstanding effort and flawless tackling stopped Walker in his tracks and disrupted the rhythm of an offense that has dictated its terms to opponents with a balanced but explosive attack. Although Macdonald added some tricks and gimmicks throughout the game, the Seahawks simply overwhelmed the Chiefs with their talent, toughness and tenacity. If they continue to play to their standard, the defending champs will have a lot to say about which team represents the NFC in Super Bowl LXI. Under aggressive defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the Minnesota Vikings have lived and died by the blitz. But the blitz-heavy tactician’s diabolical methods will be tested Sunday against Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions in America’s Game of the Week (1 p.m. ET on FOX). The Vikings enter Week 8 with the highest blitz rate in the NFL, coming off a game in which they registered the highest blitz rate in a single game (85.2%) in the Next Gen Stats era. Flores has pummeled quarterbacks into submission with an exotic pressure scheme that taxes the mind, body and soul. His unit relentlessly stresses opponents with five- and six-man pressures, complemented by simulated blitzes that radically change the picture for quarterbacks, with only four defenders rushing and seven falling back into coverage. Flores’ psychotic, high-pressure approach has turned the Vikings into a defensive juggernaut, and the football world is buzzing. In studying the All-22 coaches’ footage from the Vikings’ 16-10 win in Week 7 over the Colts, persistent pressure and constant harassment forced Daniel Jones into one of the worst performances of his career (he completed 13 of 22 passes for 108 yards and an interception), as Minnesota scratched out its sixth win with minimal contributions from the offense. Although Jones wilted under pressure, the Vikings will face an unflappable quarterback this weekend in Goff. The former No. 1 overall pick has become comfortable amid chaos, as shown by his remarkable numbers against the blitz. He enters Week 8 with a higher completion percentage (70% to 66%), passer rating (123.3 to 107.5) and yards per attempt (8.2 to 7.9) when blitzed compared to coverage. He surgically carves up defenses when under pressure, whether blitzes come up the middle or off the edges to disrupt his rhythm. Goff’s poise and pinpoint accuracy let him punish opponents for risky approaches. Against the Vikings, Goff must be prepared for “all-out” blitzes with everyone attacking the pocket from “mug” alignments (both linebackers positioned in the gap between the center and guard). An ultra-aggressive blitz from a hyper-aggressive alignment sets the tone for the rest of the game because it immediately speeds up the clock for the QB, forcing him to face his fear of a physical beatdown. Additionally, constant pre-snap movement and post-snap trickery can lead to countless mistakes and blunders from newbies and veterans alike. Moreover, it creates a scary-movie effect, making Flores the “Boogeyman” everyone fears around this time of year. Given his experience against Flores and his high-pressure scheme, Goff has a chance to crack the code on a defensive scheme that has quarterbacks and playcallers up late at night. Before you laugh at the thought of Minnesota castoff J.J. McCarthy becoming a permanent QB1 for his new squad, consider how the former first-rounder has quickly adapted to the Giants’ culture and energized an offense that suddenly looks competent under his direction. Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised by his early success after connecting with John Harbaugh, who likely received operating instructions from his brother on how to maximize the young quarterback’s talent. It was just a few years ago, after all, that McCarthy led Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines to a 28-1 record and a national championship while running an old-school offense that bludgeoned opponents with a hard-hitting running game and a complementary aerial attack. Although skeptics questioned whether McCarthy could carry an offense as a designated playmaker, Jim Harbaugh advocated for him, calling McCarthy the “best quarterback” in the 2024 class during league meetings and after Michigan’s Pro Day. Harbaugh praised McCarthy’s arm talent, intangibles and competitiveness, and highlighted his exceptional command of the Wolverines’ offense. In New York, McCarthy has been as good as advertised despite his struggles with the Vikings. The underrated dual-threat has energized the Giants’ offense with his playmaking potential, adding an explosive element to an offense that needed a shot of energy. Despite playing less than a quarter of Week 6, McCarthy connected on five passes for at least 20 yards. That tied a career-high. After adding another five such completions in Week 7 — he trails only Caleb Williams (11) in the entire league over the past two weeks — it is time for the football world to reconsider its opinion of the polarizing passer. John Harbaugh’s tough love and blue-collar environment, combined with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy’s experience with young quarterbacks (see: Mitch Trubisky) leading playoff-caliber teams, could give the Giants a chance to hang onto the NFC East crown by season’s end. The Giants’ new QB1 has the right mix of gunslinger and game manager to enhance a ground-and-pound offense and complement an aggressive defense that can control the game with a dynamic crew of defensive linemen and linebackers. Should the Giants continue to build confidence with McCarthy under center, don’t be surprised if he ultimately forces an unexpected QB competition in 2027 with Jaxson Dart that determines which former first-rounder owns the starting job for years to come.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports