The NFL trade deadline on November 10 is creeping up fast, and we’ve already seen some wild moves, most notably the Arizona Cardinals finally ending the Marvin Harrison Jr. experiment and shipping him off to the Houston Texans just last week. That was a big one, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg of what teams are looking for: good players, expiring contracts, and struggling teams ready to offload talent.
The Big Guns Are Already Moving, But Don’t Expect a Repeat of Last Year’s Haul
We’ve watched some major pieces change jerseys already. Cam Jurgens went from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Baltimore Ravens, and Joey Porter Jr. bolted from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Dallas Cowboys. Even J.J. McCarthy, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback, is now slinging it for the New York Giants. These are deadline-caliber moves, no doubt. Remember last year when the New York Jets dealt first-rounders Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys? That was big, but let’s be real, those are exceptions. The question is, are those acquiring teams even better off now? We shouldn’t hold our breath for that kind of blockbuster impact this time around. The focus is usually on guys who are free agents soon, allowing contenders to snag them for a better pick than a struggling team would get waiting for free agency.
Who’s On The Block: From Seasoned Vets to Backup QBs
So, who’s actually on the hot seat right now? One name that keeps popping up is Kristian Fulton, the Kansas City Chiefs cornerback. He’s a free agent in March, and the dude can play anywhere, inside as a nickel or outside. If the Chiefs feel good about their depth with L’Jarius Sneed and rookie Mansoor Delane, Fulton could be gone. Any contender with a shaky secondary, like the Detroit Lions, might just overpay to fix that problem area.
Then there’s the quarterback shuffle. We’ve seen guys like Andy Dalton get cut by the Eagles and picked up by the Atlanta Falcons. But if you’re looking for an upgrade at backup, Gardner Minshew from Arizona could be a savvy grab. He’s the Cardinals’ No. 3 right now, and they might only need a pick swap to let him walk. Yeah, he’s 30 and his starting record is 2-8 in the last two years, but he’s got way more experience than most No. 2s out there. And don’t forget the younger backup QBs with serious upside: Anthony Richardson from the Colts, or either of the Cleveland Browns’ backups, Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel. Someone’s gonna snap those guys up to bolster their future.
Kayvon Thibodeaux’s Zero Sacks: The Head-Scratcher of The Deadline
But the real head-scratcher? Kayvon Thibodeaux, the Giants’ edge rusher. This guy is *always* on these lists. He’s on a fifth-year option, making nearly $15 million, and he’s got a big fat ZERO sacks this season. That’s a brutal drop from his rookie year’s 11.5 sacks, followed by 5.5, 2.5, and now nothing. The Giants already had a surplus at edge rusher before Brian Burns got sidelined with a season-ending knee injury, but that goose egg in the sack column is just wild. Still, the Giants have been working out veterans to step in, so they might be looking to net a draft pick from a team that thinks they can rekindle that rookie fire. It’s a gamble for sure, but someone’s always willing to take a shot.
The clock is ticking down to the November 10 deadline, and you know these front offices are working overtime. Contenders are looking to patch up weak spots and make a run, while struggling teams are trying to salvage what they can for future draft capital. Get ready, because things are about to get even crazier before it’s all said and done.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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