2023 NFL Trade Catalog: Final Trade Deadline Update

By
Logan Ulrich
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One little bit of history trivia that’s always stuck with me from my grade school days was learning about the Sears catalog. Launched in the late 1800s, the Sears catalog was basically Amazon before the Internet. It was a mailer that was free for anyone to subscribe to, order a product and have it shipped directly to them. The Sears catalog sold everything you could think of — even houses — and lasted until the mid-1990s. 

Catalogs may be a relic but that’s the inspiration for this post — a 2023 NFL trade catalog designed to shop through what the options might be for your favorite team ahead of the NFL trade deadline on October 31st. 

Need a run-stuffing defensive tackle? Or depth at running back? More punch at pass rusher or wide receiver? A star to get the fanbase believing again or solidify a potential run to the Super Bowl? It’s all here, position by position, and we’ll be updating it in the coming weeks as things change ahead of the deadline:

Update log, Week 9

Quarterback

It’s tough to trade for quarterbacks during the season because most teams don’t want to move on from either their starter or backup and it’s a tough position to change teams midstream. Nevertheless, there are a few slim possibilities. 

Sink or swim, it seems like the Commanders are rolling with QB Sam Howell this season, relegating Brissett to a backup role. He signed a one-year deal to compete for a starting job after a solid season with Cleveland in 2022. But now the Browns’ quarterback position is in turmoil again with QB Deshaun Watson battling poor play and an injury to his throwing shoulder. Brissett would already know the system, removing one major hurdle to midseason quarterback trades. Cleveland desperately needs some stability at quarterback with a lights-out defense and solid supporting cast on offense, so it makes a lot of sense to go after Brissett to try and rescue the season. 

Rudolph re-signed with the Steelers in May after spending most of the offseason as a free agent, so that tells you right there what the NFL at large thinks of him. Still, as a third-stringer in Pittsburgh he’s more disposable than some other options, and he has more experience than most third-stringers. 

Now that the Texans have C.J. Stroud, Mills’ days in Houston are clearly numbered. He’s also third on the depth chart behind veteran backup Case Keenum. Mills has this year and next remaining on his rookie contract so they could look to flip him for a pick at some point during that window. It’s worth noting they rebuffed interest in Mills during the preseason, though. 

Running back

Most teams in need of running back help will trust their current depth chart or the plethora of veteran options who are usually available. But running back trades do still happen from time to time.

If the Titans were willing to let go of S Kevin Byard, a respected team leader with a long history of success in Tennessee, it’s a signal to the rest of the league that the team is open for business on its other veteran players. The biggest name on the list might be Henry and there are a couple of teams who are reportedly looking for help at running back ahead of the deadline per FOX Sports Jay Glazer, including the Ravens, Browns and Packers. Baltimore and Cleveland were the two best fits we identified for Henry last week and Packers HC Matt LaFleur overlapped with Henry in Tennessee. It’ll be interesting to see how the Titans handle things, as a few insiders have noted the report from earlier this weekend that they told Henry they “don’t plan to trade him” might be a leverage tactic to draw out bigger offers. For as good as Henry has been over his career, it’s hard to see the Titans getting anything close to what the 49ers gave up for RB Christian McCaffrey last year.

If the Giants didn’t plan to try and extend Barkley this offseason, it would make sense to explore their options considering how tense things got this past offseason and New York’s poor start to the 2023 season. To be clear, Barkley has said he does not want to be traded and reports indicate the Giants don’t want to trade him. The two sides were unable to come to an agreement on a long-term deal after New York placed the tag on Barkley, and things were contentious until the Giants made a peace offering to get Barkley back in the fold for training camp with some extra incentives. However, the extension for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor might provide a path for future running back contracts. 

Foreman scored three touchdowns in Week 7 against the Raiders and has made the most of the opportunity presented by injuries after he had slipped behind a few other players on the depth chart and had no role earlier this season. Does he go back to obscurity once everyone is healthy again? The Bears have to consider that question if Foreman’s work the past few weeks earns trade interest from another team. 

The recent resurgence of starting Jets RB Breece Hall has nerfed the number of available touches for their backfield, and the struggles on offense aren’t helping. Both Carter and Cook are names to watch ahead of the deadline. Carter had some friction with the coaching staff earlier this season that should be noted. However, Carter has out-snapped Cook in recent weeks and seems to have more of a role on passing downs. Cook was the higher-profile addition this summer but has the bigger contract. So it’s not surprising that Carter seems to be drawing more interest than Cook.  

Penny was a free-agent signing this offseason who has failed to make much of an impact for his new team. He’s been deactivated in a few games for the Eagles this year and is clearly fourth in the pecking order in their backfield rotation. However, reports indicate the Eagles value having depth at running back in case attrition strikes later in the season. So unless Penny pushes the issue for a bigger role, this situation might stay static. 

Spiller was just drafted in the fourth round last year but with Chargers RB Austin Ekeler back he’s third on the depth chart. If Los Angeles likes UDFA RB Elijah Dotson, they could try and flip Spiller for a pick. 

Johnson will have limited appeal for most teams compared to their options in free agency but it’s worth pointing out he has familiarity with the Browns who keep losing backs to injury. 

If the Commanders pivot to sell mode, anyone on an expiring contract should be on the watch list. Gibson is finishing out his rookie deal and is firmly the No. 2 behind Brian Robinson in the backfield. What’s interesting to note is Washington has started to work seventh-round RB Chris Rodriguez into the rotation a little more, perhaps seeing if he’s ready for a bigger role…

Wide receiver

We dove into the situations for some of the bigger names on this list from earlier this month, but there are some updates worth covering. 

Jeudy remains available and based on the latest reports the Broncos do have some interest in the former first-round receiver. But just like it’s been for the past 12 months or more, the Broncos don’t seem to like the offers that are on the table. Deadlines drive action, so this will be a fascinating situation to watch leading into tomorrow. Does Denver get what it wants? Or do they settle for the best offer on the table? 

And while Jeudy gets a lot of the attention, the Broncos do have another receiver potentially available in Sutton. I suspect Denver is stuck with him given he’s the older of the two and has a sizable contract. 

As Adams’ frustrations with the Raiders’ lack of success and his inconsistent role on the offense have become more vocal, the team has indicated behind the scenes that they don’t plan to trade the veteran wideout before the deadline and have rebuffed the teams who have called. So while there’s still a strong argument that the Raiders should trade Adams — which has been the case since February — the actual odds of that happening continue to look slim. 

Brown was a name that made sense as a trade deadline target if the Cardinals didn’t view him as a long-term piece. He’s in the final year of his contract and was acquired by the previous regime. However, a report from the Athletic that the Cardinals have turned away trade interest in Brown seems to indicate the Cardinals like what they’ve seen from Brown so far and will try to keep him in the fold. 

The Raiders have apparently been trying to shed Renfrow for weeks but teams have been waiting them out. Renfrow’s contract and his scheme-specific fit are likely limiting factors. If the Raiders can’t trade Renfrow, it will be interesting to see if he asks for his release. 

Mooney is in the final year of his contract, and unlike his disgruntled former teammate who just dealt he is in much better standing with the organization. The former mid-rounder from Tulane has a thousand-yard season under his belt but has had a hard time transcending the offense’s struggles since 2022. If the Bears don’t anticipate being able or willing to extend him, it would make sense to listen to offers. 

It would be embarrassing for the Patriots to trade Smith-Schuster after he was the only wide receiver of note they added this offseason but at the moment he just does not have much of a role in their lackluster pass-catching group. Sometimes it behooves teams to just admit a mistake and not compound things. Smith-Schuster might also be a better fit in a decent scheme. For as much as he’s struggled this year, the Chiefs sure miss his impact right now. 

If the Panthers do end up addressing their receiving corps as multiple reports suggest they’re looking to do, someone like Marshall who has yet to find his footing in the NFL could be made expendable. Even if Carolina doesn’t add to its receiving corps, Marshall could be moved. He didn’t play in Week 5 against the Lions and was granted permission to seek a trade in Week 7. 

Shepard has been buried on the Giants’ depth chart as he works his way back from a torn ACL. Giants HC Brian Daboll recently said he needs to play more but the team has a glut of slot receivers already. Assuming Shepard can still play, a change of scenery might be best at this point. 

However, the Giants could choose to move a different slot receiver. They signed Campbell to bring more speed and dynamic ability to their wide receiver group but he’s seen his role shrink since WR Wan’Dale Robinson returned. He’s played 31 and 22 percent of the snaps respectively the past two weeks. 

With the Vikings losing WR Justin Jefferson to a significant hamstring injury and dropping to 1-4 on the season, the idea of a fire sale before the trade deadline in Minnesota has to be discussed. It hasn’t been the team’s style to this point, though. If they do decide to trade away pieces, Osborn is someone to watch as a player in the final year of his rookie contract. He’s also one of the players the team will lean on most to replace Jefferson, however, so a trade seems unlikely for now. 

Bourne tore his ACL in Week 8 against the Dolphins, which officially ends the trade speculation.

If Titans QB Ryan Tannehill’s injury is serious enough to keep him out a while, and if it becomes clear in the coming weeks that Tennessee is not going to be able to remain competitive, we could see the right circumstances for a Hopkins trade to a contending team. Money was the big holdup for Hopkins during the summer, scuttling potential deals and forcing the Cardinals to cut Hopkins outright. It took time before the two-year, $26 million deal with the Titans materialized. But if a team were to trade for Hopkins now, they’d only owe him the prorated remainder of his veteran minimum base salary which was a little over $1.1 million. 

Hopkins’ contract runs through 2024 but there are no further guarantees remaining on the deal, which is also interesting to note regarding his future with the Titans. The veteran has played reasonably well despite the overall offensive struggles in Tennessee to start the season and could still be part of their future plans. He also has played well enough to conceivably draw interest from a team better positioned to be relevant.

Tight end

Cardinals TE Trey McBride had a huge game this past week with Ertz going on injured reserve, so it’s clear who the future at tight end in Arizona is. Unfortunately, Ertz’s injury will severely curtail any trade market the Cardinals might have had, as teams tend to avoid trading for injured players as a rule. A trade is not impossible but it’s certainly not likely. 

Part of what has keyed the Jets’ recent success was a move to more multiple tight end formations, so they might not be in much of a rush to trade Uzomah. But they have promising former third-round TE Jeremy Ruckert in need of snaps and Uzomah would be a potential cap casualty next season. He’s not a big receiving threat but he does a lot of the dirty work that teams ask from their tight ends. 

Panthers HC Frank Reich has a well-known infatuation with tight ends, so it’s notable that his current group is not much of a factor in their offense. Sometimes teams want to start fresh in those situations, so someone like Tremble who is on track to be a failed draft pick from the previous staff might be expendable. 

In Indianapolis, the Colts have a lot of young, promising tight ends who need snaps, which could squeeze out Alie-Cox, particularly when former third-round TE Jelani Woods returns from injured reserve. There’s quite a bit of overlap between his skill set and Alie-Cox’s. 

Cincinnati signed Smith this year in the hopes that he’d give them a more explosive playmaking element at tight end. Instead, he has six catches in the four games he’s been available. Smith has battled injury issues his entire career and those have continued with the Bengals. He’s failed to build much of a rapport with QB Joe Burrow and now there’s talk in Cincinnati that he could cede snaps to practice squad TE Tanner Hudson. If another team wants to try and make things work with Smith, who signed a cheap deal, Cincinnati should be amenable.

Offensive tackle

It’s rare for tackles to be available on the trade market, let alone quality starters like Bolles. Here’s more on why Denver might or might not be willing to trade him. 

Although Noteboom started at right tackle in Week 8, he had been the sixth offensive linemen in Los Angeles before that. The team initially envisioned him as its left tackle of the future, but Noteboom struggled before getting hurt last year, then lost the left tackle competition to Alaric Jackson this year, then failed to push his way into the starting lineup at right guard. Teams value offensive line depth but Noteboom doesn’t have much of a role outside of injuries and is due $15 million in 2024 that the Rams almost certainly don’t envision paying him. On the flip side, his $1.5 million 2023 base salary is affordable for any team this year that needs offensive line help and wants to roll the dice with no future financial strings attached.  

Other less accomplished but potentially more available options include Nijman, Beachum and Niang. Nijman was fourth on the depth chart before the season-ending injury to Packers LT David Bakhtiari, and former seventh-rounder Rasheed Walker got the nod instead of Nijman to replace the veteran. Nijman is in a contract year after being tendered as a restricted free agent, so while teams are usually loathe to trade away offensive line depth, Green Bay might prefer to lock in a pick instead of playing the compensatory formula. The Packers have more depth than most teams up front as well. 

Beachum is another veteran who might not fit Arizona’s timeline. He’s currently the backup swing tackle. Niang is a former third-round pick who has struggled to stay healthy or establish himself. The Chiefs might prefer salvaging something for him at this point. 

Interior offensive line

After being benched in Week 6 as a center following a move from left guard, Whitehair was back in the starting lineup for the Bears at right guard in Week 7. It’s fair to say guard is his best position but at this point the Bears seem to prefer Teven Jenkins and Nate Davis ahead of Whitehair when all three are healthy. Offensive line depth is something teams value but Whitehair is likely not in the team’s future plans beyond this season. None of his $10 million 2024 base salary is guaranteed and he’d be a prime cap casualty candidate, so it would make sense for the Bears to take a pick if they can get it this month. A hurdle to clear would be the remainder of his 2023 base salary, which is $9.8 million. An acquiring team would likely ask Chicago to assume responsibility for some of that.

For the sake of QB Kirk Cousins, the Vikings might rule out trading any starting offensive linemen. But it’s worth noting Minnesota is not happy with the play of its interior right now, as evidenced by signing G Dalton Risner who is immediately competing for a starting job. He’s more of a threat to replace starting RG Ed Ingram, but the 2022 second-rounder has seemingly more standing with the team as a recent high pick by the current regime. Cleveland meanwhile is in a contract year. Maybe signing Risner is just about providing competition and allowing Ingram time to develop without costing Cousins. It’s worth noting it does give the Vikings more options, however. 

Onwenu is in the final year of his rookie deal and has been one of the Patriots’ biggest draft hits over the past few years as their overall drafting success has declined. He’s been outstanding at guard and has even shown some ability to flex out to right tackle in a pinch. But he’s been banged up this year and the Patriots didn’t extend him this summer. His future in New England would be unclear even if things were more stable. I personally doubt Belichick would consider trading him given how much the Patriots need stability on the offensive line, and his injury issues would hurt his market from other teams. You just can’t 100 percent rule it out because of his contract status, however.

Driscoll is also in a contract year and someone the Eagles could look to move if they get a strong offer. It’d take something like a third or fourth-round pick to tempt GM Howie Roseman to trade a reliable backup in the middle of a Super Bowl window, however, especially since Driscoll can play tackle. 

Bartch is another guard in a contract year who had some chances to play early this season, but was benched for veteran Tyler Shatley and is now further buried by the shuffling from the return of LT Cam Robinson. A fresh start could be in order. Same for Harris who is in a contract year and behind some other options in Cleveland at center. 

Glowinski struggled mightily earlier this season and was demoted. But due to injuries and a resurgence in his play, he has reclaimed a starting spot, which might make the Giants less likely to move him. Still, the team is getting healthier up front and Glowinski is in a contract year. 

Edge rusher

Earlier this month we did a deep dive into some of the stars on this list like Burns and Hunter. Plenty of that is still relevant but there are updates with the trade deadline looming. 

I was skeptical the Commanders would be sellers in a year that’s huge for HC Ron Rivera‘s job security. But after losing to the Eagles for the second time this season to drop to 3-5, that’s the direction the winds in Washington appear to be blowing. Both Young and Sweat are in contract years and the team has just one franchise tag, so if they can get a good pick for a player you’re going to lose anyway, it makes a lot of sense from a long-term perspective. Ideally, the Commanders would flip one for a first-round pick like the Broncos did with OLB Bradley Chubb last year. The latest reports don’t show that strong of a market, however. If all Washington can get is a second-round pick for either player, it still makes sense to do a deal. In the meantime, they’ll hope the market heats up for their two talented edge rushers.

After an 0-3 start to the season, the Vikings just won their third straight to pull back even at 4-4 at the season’s halfway mark. Unfortunately, they just lost starting QB Kirk Cousins for the rest of the year with a torn Achilles, a massive, crippling blow to Minnesota’s playoff hopes. So despite the win, it makes more sense than ever for the Vikings to be sellers before the upcoming trade deadline, and Hunter is their best chip. The NFL’s current sack leader is in a contract year and turning 29 soon but still should command a solid Day 2 pick from a contending team trying to bolster its edge rush. The San Francisco 49ers, who just unexpectedly lost their third straight, are a team I’m personally keeping an eye on. 

Burns is the other big headliner but so far Carolina has been resolute in turning away interest. A more attainable option might be Uche, one of the rare hits for the Patriots in the draft in recent seasons who’s in the final year of his rookie contract without a long-term deal. The latest buzz makes Uche seem a lot more attainable than you’d expect for someone who had 11.5 sacks last season. The Patriots have a history of letting pass rushers walk for greener pastures in free agency, and Uche is a bit of a one-trick pony at this point. It’s a good trick, though, one NFL teams are always looking for, and that makes the odds of New England getting a good pick by trading Uche solid going into Tuesday.  

It makes a lot of sense to try and get a mid-round pick for Lawson with how much depth the Jets have at edge rusher. Lawson had already fallen behind Jermaine Johnson in the pecking order at defensive end in New York with the 2022 first-rounder’s improvement. The Jets have also gotten a big step forward from DE Bryce Huff, who has been one of the top situational rushers in football the past couple years and is now starting to round out his game. We haven’t even seen much of first-round DE Will McDonald yet. 

Barnett requested a trade a few weeks ago but the Eagles typically like to hoard pass rushers. If they feel like they’re in a better spot with their depth, particularly with first-rounders Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith playing well, they could flip Barnett for a pick. He’s a useful rotational player. 

With Bills DE Von Miller back, Lawson is fifth in the pecking order. Depth at edge rusher is important for a team like Buffalo with championship aspirations, but GM Brandon Beane has to think about the future too, and if someone is willing to offer a pick for Lawson, it’d be tough to turn down. 

Smith-Williams is in a contract year, and while he’s a solid part of Washington’s rotation, they do have other younger rookie ends they could work into the lineup. Someone like Casey Toohill or Efe Obada (if/when he’s healthy) could also fit this description. If Washington is going to consider trading Young or Sweat, they absolutely should be open to moving one of their rotational players. 

Malone was a third-round pick just last year but does not look like a scheme fit for new DC Ryan Nielsen. Martin has been traded a couple of times already and is playing less than 20 percent of the snaps on defense for the Colts right now. 

The Cardinals cut Myjai Sanders, a third-round pick last season, to avoid having seven edge rushers on their 53-man roster. They still have six which is the kind of surplus you can deal from to either address a weakness or add more picks. The rest of Arizona’s edge rushers are under contract in 2024 at affordable rates, so there’s not necessarily a rush to make more deals. Out of the bunch, I think Collins would be the most likely to be dealt next. He’s a high draft pick by the former regime and has converted from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher under the new staff. He’s flashed in the new role and leads the edge rushing group in snaps but there have been plenty of learning moments too. Collins has the draft pedigree and athleticism that could intrigue other teams and Arizona has plenty of other players to plug in to replace him. 

Gardeck is the other name to know, as the veteran actually leads the team in sacks with four in six games. The former undrafted free agent out of Sioux Falls makes up for what he lacks in size with burst, effort and tenacity. He’s a key glue guy signed to an affordable deal, but in terms of production, he might be the most attractive trade asset among Arizona’s edge group. 

With four straight losses, it might behoove the Packers to lean even further into the youth movement this season. Smith is a likely cap casualty in 2024 and on the other side of 30. While his play has dipped this season, he’s still an experienced pass rusher who could help a rotation. Smith carries just a veteran minimum base salary in 2023, so his contract is very tradable. 

Interior defender

Both Autry and Tart have been mentioned as players the Titans might be willing to listen to offers for and guys who could help a contending team. Autry is 33 and in the final year of his contract but has been one of the team’s best defensive players this season. He’s a disruptive, versatile and experienced defensive lineman. Tart is a former undrafted free agent who will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in 2024. He’s just 26 but if Tennessee knows they don’t want to bring him back, it makes sense to gauge the offers out there.

Jones was signed last year to be a run-plugging nose tackle. He hasn’t been Denver’s biggest problem on defense but he hasn’t been as much of a part of the solution as you’d like to see. His deal has an out next year, so Denver will likely be open to trading him. They’d have to eat most if not all of his $10 million 2023 base salary, however. 

Nichols was a free agent signing by the current regime and has been starting. But the Raiders have some other young players, and if this is a rebuilding year it makes sense to funnel the snaps to them. He’s playing well enough that another team could have interest. 

Pittsburgh has a glut of players on the defensive line and also needs to free up snaps for youngsters. Between Adams, Breiden Fehoko and Armon Watts, I think Adams might have the most speculative trade value to other teams. 

The Eagles have seven defensive tackles right now, which speaks to how much they value depth in the trenches. But it’s hard to carry that kind of depth for the full season, so they’d have to consider trading someone if they got calls. Street is probably the most expendable. 

Linebacker

Linebacker is a position that has been de-emphasized in the modern NFL. It’s not so much that it’s not important, modern linebackers have to do more than ever. But true game-changers who can do everything at a high level are hard to find. So most teams just find a way to make do and it becomes less of a priority for draft picks or spending. Plenty of organizations go with just three or four on the active roster at a time. Teams in need of help at linebacker at this juncture are more likely to look to street free agents than making a trade. Still, there are a couple options worth mentioning. 

Campbell has played in just three games and 32 percent of the defensive snaps. Injuries are a factor but even when he’s been available, he hasn’t been clearly running ahead of guys like Eric Wilson or Isaiah McDuffie. It’s sparse pickings at linebacker so it’ll be interesting to see if a team like the Eagles wants to roll the dice on Campbell providing a boost to their unit. Campbell has three more years left on his deal but no more guarantees.

Houston has been a refuge in free agency for veteran linebackers the past couple of seasons and the Texans might think too highly of their depth to part with any of it. But they do have a glut of linebackers, and of that bunch Perryman could be interesting to another team looking for a solid run defender. Trading Perryman would free up more snaps for younger options, though he’s been solid for the Texans. 

Hicks has also been a solid player for the Vikings despite their struggles on defense. But given his age and contract status, it makes too much sense for Minnesota to trade the veteran. They have other younger players who they could give the snaps, so trading Hicks isn’t necessarily just a fire sale move. 

It’s unlikely the Ravens would trade away depth considering their injury issues this year but Harrison is behind both Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen on the depth chart and the Ravens did just draft LB Trenton Simpson in the third round. They would probably listen to offers on Harrison as he finishes out his rookie contract. 

Rice has struggled with injuries and has not been able to get on the field despite his draft status as a former third-round pick. Tennessee might not get anything besides a conditional late-round swap from a team that liked Rice as a prospect, if that, but if he’s not in their plans that’s better than nothing. 

Very few players in Denver should be considered off the market entirely. Jewell is in the final year of his contract and has several years of NFL starting experience under his belt which could help teams in need of a boost at linebacker overlook his role in the Broncos’ struggles on defense this season.

Cornerback

Unlike a couple of the other veterans on this list for Green Bay, Douglas is actually playing pretty well this season and has a major role as a starter. However, that would put Douglas’ prospective trade value significantly higher than those options, so the Packers might have to give something to get something. Should they trade Douglas, there are a plethora of younger cornerbacks who the team could get on the field to evaluate for the future.

Fuller is in the final year of his contract and would represent a solid No. 2 cornerback for a contending team to upgrade its secondary. He’s reportedly one of the players getting some interest from other teams anticipating the Commanders being sellers ahead of the trade deadline.

Mills is the last of a number of Patriots players in contract years who bear watching ahead of the trade deadline. He’s experienced and versatile, with a lot of reps at both safety and cornerback. If New England is willing to part with him, there are a lot of teams who are in the market for secondary help before Tuesday.

Johnson has been a solid cover corner for the Bears since they drafted him in the second round, good enough to be a high-end No. 2 or low-end No. 1 for most teams. Finding a value on an extension has been tough for the two sides since Johnson had only one career interception before tripling that total in Week 7 against the Raiders. As he plays out his contract year, that could prompt the Bears to consider their trade options if they get a good offer. 

Jackson’s name has come up as someone Carolina would potentially be willing to move to recoup some draft capital ahead of the trade deadline. He’s battled some injuries this season and in the past but when he’s on the field he’s a solid No. 2 corner who has learned to better harness his speed and play with more discipline as he’s matured. The Panthers have already restructured his deal this year, so he’s owed just the minimum base salary plus $100,000 for every game he’s active. His deal in 2024 is reasonable as well with a $4.7 million base salary plus a $4 million roster bonus and $1.7 million in per game roster bonuses. None of that is guaranteed, so there’s little risk for an acquiring team. It’s also possible Jackson would not be back at that number in 2024 for the Panthers when he’s going into his age-29 season. 

Elam didn’t play at all for the Bills as a healthy scratch until they lost top CB Tre’Davious White for the season. He then played over 90 percent of the snaps in the next two games before heading back to the bench with zero defensive snaps in Week 7 against the Patriots. Recent reports indicate the Bills aren’t necessarily opposed to giving up on the former first-round pick after less than two seasons if the right opportunity comes along.  

Pittsburgh has some depth at cornerback they could part with if second-rounder Joey Porter Jr. pushes into the lineup. Sullivan and Pierre would be the most expendable. Sullivan is a slot-only option while Pierre can play inside or outside. 

While Fulton has flashed in the past, he’s struggled to be consistent this season. Titans HC Mike Vrabel has shown exasperation with him in the past, like when he chose to stay away for voluntary OTAs, and he sounded short on patience again when asked about Fulton recently. Even though Tennessee has struggled in the secondary, it does not sound out of the realm of possibility that they decide Fulton isn’t part of the solution regardless. Another team might have interest at that point. 

The competition for snaps in the Raiders’ cornerback group was wide open this summer and despite signing as a free agent, Long has so far failed to distinguish himself. Las Vegas has signaled to teams it wants to trade players for players and add ahead of the trade deadline. Long is one chip they have to play. 

Jackson’s name has come up ahead of the trade deadline because he’s in the final year of his contract, New York didn’t have much interest in extending him this offseason and the Giants’ season has spiraled to put them in the conversation as sellers. The 28-year-old is playing well enough to help a contending team as a No. 2 corner, and he has some versatility to play in the slot. But his $11 million 2023 base salary is likely too big an obstacle to a deal.

Holmes agreed to a pay cut in the preseason to avoid being released, as he had qualified for an increased base salary under the proven performance escalator for playing so much in his first three seasons. While he kept his roster spot, he has had minimal involvement for New York on defense this season despite injuries in the secondary. I don’t think New York would hold onto him tightly if they got trade interest.

Safety

Byard’s name came up in trade rumors this offseason after the team asked him to take a pay cut. They worked through that to keep him on the roster but now that the Titans are struggling again, teams seem to be revisiting the situation and calling Tennessee with interest. The veteran hasn’t gotten his hands on a football yet this season but has a long track record of quality play from the safety position. He has a very affordable $4 million 2023 base salary and no guarantees on the final year of his deal in 2024. 

UPDATE: A few hours after writing this, the Titans traded Byard to the Eagles in exchange for fifth and sixth-round picks in 2024 and S Terrell Edmunds.

Baker is healthy now, returning to the lineup in Week 7 after a stint on injured reserve. That opens up some options for the Cardinals. Baker was unhappy with his contract this past offseason and there were some trade rumors, but ultimately Arizona made some minor concessions to get him in the fold for camp. He has one more year left on his deal and will be 28 in 2024. If the Cardinals don’t view him as a long-term piece, it makes sense to see what they can get back in a trade. 

Simmons is older but he’s playing at a high enough level to likely merit some interest from other teams as they explore whether the Broncos are willing to trade away a bunch of pieces. His contract presents some potential savings for Denver in 2024 if cut as well, which might be a consideration in whether or not they decide to trade him. 

Chinn has seen his snaps reduced under new DC Ejiro Evero as the Panthers work to figure out the best place to line him up. So far that’s been as a big nickel but that’s not been an every-down role and the team’s injuries at safety didn’t lead to more snaps either. That makes things interesting looking ahead as Chinn is in a contract year. The former second-rounder is talented but it’s not clear if Carolina will value him highly enough in his role to pay more than other teams. If he’s not in their future plans, it makes sense to consider offers at the deadline this year. The big catch: Chinn just went down with a major quad injury that will keep him out until September. If that doesn’t scuttle his trade market entirely, it will at minimum undercut the asking price. 

If Minnesota gets offers for someone like Smith, they almost have to listen and consider it at this point. 

McCain was signed as veteran insurance by New York this offseason but so far they seem to be happy with their younger safeties. A team less fortunate at the position might have interest. 

The Jets like Davis and have kept him for a while despite him failing to meet the expectations they had when he was drafted. His athleticism has made him an asset on special teams. However, he’s in the final year of his rookie contract, so if the Jets get an offer they’d have to think about cashing out for a pick. 

Jackson’s name has come up in trade rumors, but I’m not sure how much interest the 14-year veteran would actually garner. He was a free agent for two months before returning to the Broncos on a one-year deal, and he was initially expected to be the third safety and play more of a depth or situational role. Injuries have pushed him into the lineup as a starter and the results have not been pretty. But the Broncos look like a fire sale candidate and Jackson’s past resume could earn him a look. 

Most teams wouldn’t have a lot of interest in Jackson (the Chicago one) given his nagging foot injury and $13 million 2023 base salary. However, it’s worth noting that a couple of defensive coaches Jackson has played for in the past, Vic Fangio with the Dolphins and Brandon Staley with the Chargers, are running defensive units with a big need at safety. Chicago would need to eat money regardless to move Jackson but at this point he’s looking like a goner in 2024 with his $14 million non-guaranteed base salary. 

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