NFLTR Review: Five More Blockbuster Deals That Could Happen Before The NFL Trade Deadline

By
Logan Ulrich
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In this issue, we look at some possible trade scenarios ahead of Tuesday’s deadline:

  • You know the Rams are plotting, what could they pull off? 
  • Landing spots for a pair of big-name Broncos
  • Plus more running back action

Around The Trade Block

The NFL trade deadline is days away and we’ve already seen some pretty big deals go down in the leadup week. But it still seems like there are several balls still in the air and the possibility for even more trade action before Tuesday afternoon. 

We dive into some of those situations, looking at the biggest names flying around in rumors and some of the possible deals that could come together: 

Chargers trade a fourth-round pick for Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki

Realistically, Gesicki is almost untradable even if he is miscast in Miami’s offense. He’s playing out the remainder of a $10.9 million franchise tag, so there are only around 10 teams who could even afford to fit him under the cap right now. The Dolphins don’t need to eat any of that unless they’re getting a real sweetheart deal, and there’s also no incentive to give him away when they could be in line for a decent compensatory pick when he walks in free agency next offseason. The asking price would be at least a fourth-round pick, if not a third, and that’s a lot for what could end up being a half-season rental given Gesicki’s contract situation. 

This column isn’t about killing your blockbuster trade dreams, though. And while it takes some stretching, you can cook up a world where a Gesicki trade comes together. You need a contending team in need of additional pass-catching threats, ideally one with a long-term vision for utilizing Gesicki’s unique skillset, which is basically that of a 6-6 slot receiver and not a true tight end. 

Jimmy Graham had a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses when he played, and current Chargers OC Joe Lombardi overlapped for most of Graham’s career with the Saints. Los Angeles is in decent shape right now at tight end with Gerald Everett. But he’s only on a one-year deal. Gesicki would give the Chargers another weapon on offense and short of the Saints or wherever Sean Payton ends up in 2023, Lombardi will have the clearest vision of how to maximize his unique talents. 

In this same vein, the Packers could be another team to watch. They need pass-catching help but reports have indicated they’re open-minded to adding a tight end and not necessarily locked in on a wide receiver. Graham spent a year under HC Matt LaFleur in 2019, so they also would have an idea of how to maximize a player like Gesicki. What both offenses truly need is an influx of speed to open things up for everyone else, which is something Gesicki won’t bring to the table. He can still be a useful piece, however. 

Browns trade a third-round pick for Commanders DT Daron Payne

There’s more speculation around the Browns giving away pieces rather than adding ahead of the trade deadline given their 2-5 record. Still, this is a team that sees itself as a potential contender sooner rather than later once Deshaun Watson returns to the lineup, so they could look to fortify some weaknesses. 

Right now the biggest issue is on defense. The Browns can’t stop anyone right now, as opponents are shredding their defense week after week in both the run and pass game. Some of it is due to injuries, with both DEs Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney banged up. Shutdown CB Denzel Ward has missed two games and if we based things off of just this season, probably hasn’t earned the shutdown label. Several other players in the secondary have underperformed too, despite significant resources allocated to the position the past few years. 

The only solution to underperforming is to keep coaching and hope the players snap out of it. But there are very real personnel weaknesses the Browns can address that will have an impact on the whole defense, specifically at defensive tackle. The Browns’ issues stopping the run start here, and they don’t have anyone particularly impactful against the pass either. 

The Browns have made a deliberate choice to go light at defensive tackle. Jordan Elliott is the only one above 300 pounds and he barely squeaks by the marker. Everyone else is in the 290s or below. It’s a sign the Browns value quickness and the capacity for rushing the passer at the position, which makes sense given how modern football is played. But they’re not getting much in either phase of the game from their current group. 

Trading for Payne would put a big body in the middle of the Browns’ defense to clog up running lanes. That’s been a strength of his throughout his career. But the 6-3, 330-pound Payne is also nimble of foot enough to be a factor as a pass rusher. He has 3.5 sacks this season and is in the upper tier of the league this season in terms of pass rush win rate at the defensive tackle position. 

Adding that size and ability against the run without sacrificing too much in terms of being able to collapse the pocket could be huge for the Browns’ defense. Payne is also just 25 and a potential long-term building block for the team. He’s in the final year of his contract playing out the fifth-year option, and Cleveland currently has more than $30 million in cap space. Plenty to take on his deal this year and roll over to next offseason for a potential extension. If the Commanders are willing to take just a third-round pick, which is currently the major holdup in Payne’s market, it makes a ton of sense. 

Packers trade second and fourth-round picks for Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy

Year after year, it seems like the Packers have thumbed their nose in the face of all the fans, analysts and even their own quarterback urging them to address the wide receiver position. They finally added some young talent to the position the past couple of years — 2021 third-rounder Amari Rodgers, 2022 first-rounder Christian Watson and 2022 fourth-rounder Romeo Doubs — but those players don’t look ready to contribute at the level Green Bay needs right now. 

There are multiple issues with the Packers’ offense right now, including instability on the offensive line and overall health, but the biggest problem is that they don’t have anyone who is a threat to beat man coverage or to take the top off the defense down the field. In the past, that was Davante Adams, and he opened things up for the running game and for the rest of Green Bay’s uninspiring pass-catching corps to take advantage of the openings created by defenses focusing on him. 

With Adams gone, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has relied on aging slot WR Randall Cobb, blocking specialist Allen Lazard, Doubs, TE Robert Tonyan and the RB duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. But defenses have taken away the run game and squatted on the backs in the passing game. Jones is talented, but it’s hard for a running back to be the sole focus of an NFL passing game with no one to draw attention down the field. 

What the Packers need is someone who can defeat man coverage and is speedy enough to threaten defenses down the field. Out of all the receiving options available to them right now, Jeudy fits that bill the best. He’s shown explosiveness in the deep passing game even with Broncos QB Russell Wilson’s struggles this season, and his route running skills have translated from college. He’s not a great contested catch receiver but he’d still immediately be the Packers’ best wideout. 

The asking price will probably be steep, but considering Jeudy’s potential and what the wide receiver market did this past offseason, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst might think a second and a fourth worth parting with. It would help the Broncos recoup draft picks to try and salvage the situation they’ve gotten themselves into, and they do have enough depth going forward at wide receiver that they could withstand the loss of Jeudy. This would be one of the most aggressive moves Gutekunst has made in his tenure, and truth be told it’s out of character enough that I have a hard time seeing it happen. But the Packers have tried half-measures at wide receiver for a while. This move would bring in a young, proven NFL playmaker at the position and hopefully be the first step in getting the rest of the offense back on track. 

Rams trade a fourth-round pick for Browns RB Kareem Hunt

The offensive line has been the biggest issue with the Rams’ sluggish start to the 2022 season, as it’s hard to find another single position group across the league that’s been hit as hard by injuries. Five of them are on injured reserve right now and three (LT Joseph Noteboom, third-round G Logan Bruss and G Tremayne Anchrum) are for sure done for the year. Former starting G David Edwards had multiple concussions in the span of a couple of weeks, so his return is cloudy. 

But there is some hope that things could come together. The Rams should get starting C Brian Allen back and they have high hopes for Alaric Jackson at left tackle. Between Bobby Evans, Matt Skura, Oday Aboushi and eventually Coleman Shelton, the hope is the Rams can find two guards who can at least tread water. 

So while ordinarily trading for a running back instead of an offensive lineman would be like putting the cart before the horse, in this case there’s an argument that’s the path the Rams should take. For one, there aren’t many starting-caliber linemen NFL teams are looking to give away. Depth is at a premium. Running backs can be had much more easily with how abundant the talent is around the league. And the Rams can definitely stand to improve at running back. 

Cam Akers is on the outs with the team and wasn’t playing well even before that. Darrell Henderson hasn’t been particularly impressive this season either. Los Angeles is talking up a big role for fifth-round RB Kyren Williams, but he’s a rookie who missed most of camp with an injury and then promptly went on injured reserve after Week 1. He has a single special teams snap to his name right now. I’d pump the brakes on the idea of him being an impact player right away.

Even if the Rams weren’t in such trouble at running back, Hunt would be a major upgrade for at least half the backfields in the NFL right now. He’s a legitimate talent at running back who is capable both as a runner and a receiver. Hunt would be the best back the Rams have had since Todd Gurley and could be used in some of the same ways, even if they might want to be more cautious about his workload. 

Reports say the Browns are willing to part with him for a fourth-round pick, which makes sense considering his age, the position he plays and the fact that he’s in a contract year. Even if he signs a lucrative deal in free agency, the market dynamics for running backs make it unlikely to qualify for more than a fifth or sixth-round compensatory pick, and that’s assuming the Browns don’t sign anyone to cancel that out. The Rams gave up a fourth-round pick for Sony Michel last year, and Hunt is a much better player. They could even recoup a comp pick by letting Hunt walk at the end of the season. It really should be a no-brainer move. 

This would also leave the Rams with enough wiggle room to make one more splash…

Rams trade a 2023 2nd and 2024 1st for Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb and a 2023 third

Los Angeles’ aggressive, all-in style of team building actually has some method to the apparent madness. The goal is to use premium draft capital on proven players at high-impact positions, like quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback and pass rusher. While the Rams were deeply involved in trade talks for RB Christian McCaffrey, he’s a unique case as an offensive weapon more than a running back — and they still did not put their first-round pick on the table or outbid the 49ers when the asking price got too steep. 

That leaves the Rams with all of their picks still, plus a need at edge rusher that would fit the criteria they look for with their splash moves. Rams beat writer Jourdan Rodrigue, who writes for The Athletic and is one of the more plugged-in reporters when it comes to the particular team they cover, has been banging the drum for months at this point to keep an eye on a big move for an edge rusher. A reunion with Robert Quinn would have made sense, but the Eagles got him for just a fourth-round pick which the Rams did not have after trading it away last season. 

At any rate, finding a potential longer-term solution if possible has been Los Angeles’ goal, per Rodrigue. There have been multiple reports heavily implying the Rams were the team that offered two first-round picks to the Panthers for DE Brian Burns. He would give them another top-tier pass rusher next to Aaron Donald, and someone to build around in the future when Donald decides to call it a career. 

If Burns is truly off the table, Chubb is the next best option for what the Rams are seeking. He’s probably a tier lower than Burns considering his injury history and age. However, from a production standpoint, both have been remarkably similar so far. Despite being drafted a year earlier, Chubb has played virtually the same amount of snaps as Burns so far in their NFL careers — 2,487 for Burns, 2,443 for Chubb. Here’s how they compare, with stats from Pro Football Reference and Pro Football Focus:

Stat Burns Chubb
Sacks 30.5 26
QB Hits 62 58
Total Pressures 167 158
Hurries 99 98
TFLs 34 33
Forced Fumbles 6 6
PDs 9 5

 

Chubb might be having a better 2022 season so far, too. They’re close in most categories but Chubb has the No. 3 highest pass rush win rate in the NFL as defined by ESPN. The asking price won’t be cheap but if it gives the Rams a long-term answer at a high-value position, history has shown they’re willing to make that kind of move. 

Reports have indicated a second and a third — the same price Denver traded Von Miller for last year — could be enough for the Broncos to part with Chubb. That seems light to me given he’s still just 27 and a strong candidate to stay in Denver either via the tag or an extension. It also seems like that trade offer would be on the table this offseason. I think it will take more to convince the Broncos to part with Chubb, even if they’re deep at edge rusher. If the Rams were willing to give up two firsts to get Burns, a first and a swap of Day 2 picks isn’t too far-fetched for Chubb considering how similar their production has been. 

From Denver’s perspective, it would be important to add another first-round pick to give them two in 2024, as well as recoup a second in 2023. They have two third-round picks next year, so they’re still left with one in this scenario and essentially have recovered a major chunk of the capital they gave up to get Wilson. They’re locked into his contract for at least another season, but that extra first could give them some options in 2024 if things don’t get better. 

Bonus Trades

These deals wouldn’t make nearly as many waves as the five above, but these are the type of lower-stakes transactions that tend to go down more often than not ahead of the deadline over the big ones. 

Packers trade a 2024 sixth-round pick for Giants WR Darius Slayton

If Green Bay was looking for a bargain option to try and fix their issues on offense, acquiring Slayton is probably their best bet. He has an established reputation as a deep threat and had back-to-back seasons in the neighborhood of 750 receiving yards to start his career, with eight touchdowns as a rookie. Drops have been an issue and he fell out of favor with the new coaching staff, but that should make him attainable for the Packers even with the Giants’ injury woes at wide receiver. He’d be able to help the Packers stretch the field and open up room for the rest of their offense to operate. 

Panthers trade OL Cameron Erving for Rams RB Cam Akers

Erving isn’t a starting-caliber lineman but he is a competent backup and can play all five positions on the offensive line, which makes him a useful piece. He’s in a contract year and likely won’t be back in Carolina next year, who have enough depth to manage without him. He’s exactly the type of player they should be pushing to unload, and the Rams have one of the bigger needs for offensive line help among teams that see themselves as contenders. 

Carolina could prefer a draft pick but Akers is under contract for one more season and at one point looked like a promising player. That was before he tore his Achilles last summer, and while he made a remarkable return to play after just five months, he hasn’t been nearly as effective. Supposedly all of his athletic testing numbers are the same or better than before the injury, but if that’s the case, then he’s been playing tentative and not showing that on the field. 

Still, maybe all Akers needs is a fresh start in a different environment to get back on track. There’s a clear vacancy in Carolina’s backfield, so it’s worth taking a stab at a player with Akers’ pedigree to see if they can cash in on a scratch-off ticket. 

Titans trade a 2023 sixth for Seahawks CB Sidney Jones and a 2024 7th

Seattle’s homerun 2022 draft class has come at the expense of a few veterans, and the flipside of rookies Tariq Woolen, Coby Bryant and Michael Jackson all winning starting jobs is that Jones has been pushed to the side. With Artie Burns and 2021 fourth-rounder Tre Brown coming back from injury, the Seahawks have plenty of depth without Jones. They probably won’t be able to get much for him, but enough teams need help at cornerback that they could get something. The Titans have been hit hard by injuries in the secondary, and while they’re still in first place in the AFC South, reinforcements could help them make some noise in the AFC later in the season. 

Eagles trade a conditional seventh for Raiders S Johnathan Abram

The new Raiders regime of HC Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler have been going about putting their mark on the team, bringing in their guys and shipping out guys brought in by the Gruden/Mayock team. Las Vegas already declined Abram’s fifth-year option, and unlike RB Josh Jacobs he’s not having a breakout 2022 season. Veteran Duron Harmon and 2021 second-rounder Tre’Von Moehrig have been running ahead of Abram, though he’s still playing a fair amount of snaps. 

Abram wouldn’t fetch much in a trade since he’s in a contract year but a team that liked him coming out of Mississippi State and needed some safety depth could take a flier. The Eagles fit the bill on both accounts, as they hosted him for a pre-draft visit back in 2019. He could fill a similar role to former S Malcolm Jenkins as someone more effective in the box than deep down the field. 

Rams trade a sixth-round pick for Broncos RB Melvin Gordon

If the Rams don’t want to pay up for Hunt, Gordon is a potentially cheaper alternative. He’s in a contract year and his usage this season has been curious. There were rumors he was on the verge of being shelved completely due to fumbling problems before Javonte Williams tore his ACL. In Week 6, he played the opening series then didn’t get a snap the rest of the night with newcomer Latavius Murray leading the way. He was back in the starting lineup in Week 7 and had his second-highest snap count of the season. 

Still, he’s probably not an indispensable part for the Broncos this season even after they put Mike Boone on injured reserve. A sixth-round pick would get the job done and give Los Angeles a potential backfield upgrade. 

This Week In Football

  • Buckle in. This might be the biggest news week we’ve had this year since free agency or the draft, with trade rumors, injuries and other developments to get to. We’ll start with some of the big names floating around in trade rumors, some of whom we just finished discussing. While the Panthers arguably kicked off the action last week, it does not appear they have any more blockbusters up their sleeves. ESPN reported they turned down two first-round picks for DE Brian Burns, though CBS Sports clarified they were in 2024 and 2025, not 2023. Still, that shows Carolina is pretty serious about keeping their promising young players, including WR D.J. Moore, apart from a Laremy Tunsil-style monster offer. They don’t think the roster is that far away from competing, and the 21-3 upset over the Buccaneers this past week seems like a validation of that. 
  • The biggest trade deadline domino seems to have shifted from Carolina to Denver, as the Broncos have a pair of big-name players who could possibly be available in OLB Bradley Chubb and WR Jerry Jeudy, among others. If the Broncos lose to the Jaguars on Sunday in London, it will drop them to 2-6, all but eliminating them from postseason contention. At that point, the focus will shift toward putting the team in the best position possible for 2023, which means potentially reallocating resources given they are stuck with Wilson’s contract and pretty much have no choice but to try and make it work for another year or two. Trading Chubb and Jeudy could bring back high picks the Broncos traded away to acquire Wilson thinking he was the missing piece to push them over the top, and Denver does have some depth at edge rusher and receiver to lean on. Still, it will take high picks, probably closer to the asking price I outlined above. 
  • More big names worth keeping an eye on:
    • At least three teams — the Chiefs, Packers and Rams — reportedly inquired with the Texans about WR Brandin Cooks. He’s a veteran with six thousand-yard seasons under his belt and could absolutely help a number of passing games. But he’s due $18 million guaranteed next year when he’ll be 30. It’s hard to see any team taking that on. 
    • The other big-name receiver rumored to be available is Steelers WR Chase Claypool, but Pittsburgh’s asking price is steep. Given Claypool’s inconsistent career so far, it’s hard to see another team ponying up what it would take to get him out of Pittsburgh. 
    • RB Kareem Hunt requested a trade in August but the Browns weren’t willing to let him go then. Now that they’re 2-5, their stance has apparently changed and Hunt is now on the block. 
    • Washington has an interesting situation on its hand with DT Daron Payne. You take these kinds of reports with a grain of salt this time of year but the Commanders apparently could get a second or third-round pick by trading the standout defensive tackle. Payne is in the final year of his deal and the tea leaves suggest he’s not in Washington’s plans to re-sign with all the other investments they have on the defensive line. Getting a Day 2 pick seems like a no-brainer if it’s on the table, but HC Ron Rivera is under some pressure to show results in his third season. Trading Payne won’t help them win this season. 
  • There have been four trades this week so far. In order of magnitude: 
    • The Cowboys acquired DT Johnathan Hankins from the Raiders in exchange for swapping their 2023 sixth-rounder with the Raiders’ 2024 seventh. Hankins was leftover from the previous regime and had been passed by some younger options. He’s an experienced run-plugger, however, and that’s evidently a need the Cowboys felt they had to address. It’s worth pointing out they spent a fifth-round pick on DT John Ridgeway to fill a similar role but lost him on waivers when they tried to sneak him to the practice squad. 
    • The Jets had a need at running back after an injury, so they flipped a conditional sixth that can become a fifth-round pick for Jaguars RB James Robinson. The pick upgrades if Robinson has 260 yards rushing with the Jets. That’s decent value for the Jets, who needed to ensure their running game remains reliable as it doesn’t look like QB Zach Wilson is ready to shoulder too much of a load on offense. From the Jaguars’ side of things, it makes it crystal clear that Robinson wasn’t in their future plans. Travis Etienne took over the backfield in Week 7 and Robinson is due to be a restricted free agent this offseason. 
    • After quietly switching gears on DE Robert Quinn after rebuffing trade interest earlier in the offseason, the Bears acquiesced to logic and traded Quinn for a fourth-round pick to the Eagles, eating all but the minimum of Quinn’s salary. Chicago could have gotten a better deal if they’d been willing to shop Quinn back in March or April, but this is solid value for a rebuilding team. From the Eagles’ point of view, Quinn isn’t having as good a season as he was last year when he notched a staggering 18.5 sacks. Offenses were giving him more attention with no Khalil Mack to worry about, and his production has lagged. But he’ll be asked to play a rotational role, probably off the bench, and that makes Philadelphia’s pass rush a lot scarier. They recognized they’re in a Super Bowl window this year, and even if Quinn is a one-year rental (likely) the Eagles had enough draft capital to take this gamble. 
    • The Dave Gettleman era keeps on giving for the Giants. Late in his tenure, Gettleman had two huge character misses in the first round with CB Deandre Baker and WR Kadarius Toney. Baker ended up in Kansas City after being cut following a bizarre arrest for larceny, and now Toney is with the Chiefs too after being traded on Thursday for third and sixth-round picks. In his short time in New York, Toney flashed jaw-dropping talent but he also regularly missed games and practice with seemingly minor injuries. It caused people behind the scenes with the Giants to question his commitment to the sport, per reports, and the regime change to HC Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen accelerated Toney’s loss of favor. He has the talent to turn into a star with the Chiefs, and will probably be used in similar ways to early-stage Tyreek Hill. But the bust factor is quite real, and this could just as easily turn into a steal for the Giants to get what they can out of a failed pick. 
  • Had it not been for the trade action, this would have been a week headlined by quarterback benchings. There were three and two of them were stunners. After the Colts lost to the Titans for the second time this season, Indianapolis responded by benching the struggling veteran Matt Ryan for former sixth-rounder Sam Ehlinger. It was a huge surprise considering the difference in resumes between the former MVP and former late-rounder, and the rest of the team was caught off guard, but considering how poorly Ryan had played to start the season, it’s understandable in hindsight. He’s just not capable of transcending the difficulties with the supporting cast right now, especially on the offensive line. It’s not what the Colts envisioned when they traded for Ryan but it’s the hand they’re trying to make the most of now. Ehlinger at least brings a mobile aspect that could help cover for the protection issues and unlock the run game. For Ryan, this might unfortunately be how his career ends. 
  • The other head-scratching move at quarterback is whatever Patriots HC Bill Belichick is doing with Mac Jones and fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe. Since Jones went down with a high ankle sprain and Zappe looked surprisingly competent, Belichick has refused to outright name a starter, dancing around the question whenever asked. Jones started Monday night’s loss to the Bears but he was pulled for Zappe when he threw an interception on his third series and did not re-enter the game. Zappe provided a brief spark but ended up turning the ball over three times. Afterward, Belichick and the quarterbacks said a rotation was the plan all along, but it sure looked like a benching at the time. This week, Jones has taken the first-team reps and appears like he will start. It doesn’t feel like anyone can reliably say what is going to happen here, however, which is a far cry from last year when Jones made a hard push for offensive rookie of the year. 
  • Finally, there had been some indications the Saints were leaning toward turning the keys over to veteran QB Andy Dalton ahead of QB Jameis Winston. And despite Dalton’s meltdown on Thursday night against the Cardinals, Saints HC Dennis Allen still feels like he gives them their best chance to turn the season around. Winston is healthy enough to play, but it will be Dalton’s show for now. This sets up an interesting situation down the road, as Winston was on a two-year deal and Dalton was signed for just 2022. Neither are a long-term solution but the Saints don’t have a 2023 first-round pick to easily find one. 
  • Once again, we have a brutal injury report, with multiple high-profile names going down this weekend: 
    • Chargers CB J.C. Jackson had been struggling, but a rough year got worse when he went down with a torn patellar tendon in the loss to the Seahawks. He faces a lengthy rehab to make it back in time for next season. The Chargers have been one of the most snakebitten teams with injuries this year and that continued with WR Mike Williams going down with a high ankle sprain. He should be back at some point this season but he’s out for probably a month at least. 
    • The Jets got hit hard with two of their most promising stars on offense going down for the season despite the win against the Broncos. Second-round RB Breece Hall, who was making a compelling bid for offensive rookie of the year, tore his ACL and will instead miss the rest of the season. And OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, who had played multiple positions to help hold New York’s offensive line together and was their best lineman, tore his triceps and will also miss the season. Both are major losses. Hall’s homerun ability had been a huge part of the Jets’ offense, and they’ll have to rely more on Zach Wilson, ready or not, without him. 
    • It was a bad week to be a star receiver. Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf also injured his patellar tendon, on the same part of the field Jackson went down funny enough (bring back grass fields, NFL). Fortunately his injury was not nearly as severe as Jackson’s and Metcalf should be back, though it’s not clear when. Meanwhile, Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase re-aggravated a hip injury, and it’s looking like it could keep him out at least four weeks and maybe longer. 
    • The Dolphins got their starting quarterback back and got back in the win column. But their secondary took another hit with starting S Brandon Jones going down with a torn ACL. Miami can make some noise in the AFC, but the secondary is going to be a challenge. 
    • Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins had made it back from a truly brutal knee injury last preseason. But a couple of weeks ago he felt his knee tighten up again, and the result was another procedure to clear out scar tissue. The timeline given was four to six weeks, which should have Dobbins back at some point this season. Still, it’s not an encouraging sign for a young player who entered the league with so much promise. 
  • Wrapping the week up with a couple odds and ends, the Lions signed P Jack Fox to a three-year, $11.325 million extension which makes Fox the NFL’s new highest-paid punter. It’s well-deserved, as Fox has been one of the bright spots for the Lions the past couple of seasons. And Chiefs DE Frank Clark was suspended two games as the result of a 2021 arrest on a weapons charge. Clark has three sacks this season but they have promising first-round DE George Karlaftis who will get more snaps. It’ll be a snapshot of the future, which looks bright with how well Karlaftis has played. 

Nickels & Dimes

Quick-hit thoughts and observations from around the NFL…

Our mentions when we posted the Burns story got lit up with people calling BS on the idea that a team offered two first-round picks, and that sentiment was shared by some other media folks. A lot of it seemed to be disbelief that Carolina wouldn’t instantly accept that kind of an offer. However, when you look at the result of trades where non-quarterbacks were traded for multiple first-round picks, it’s less of a slam dunk…

The last one is great, but that’s largely due to the weaker positional value at safety. You can make an argument all the other teams would have been better off keeping their star players…

Or to put it a slightly different way…

https://twitter.com/4mr_monty/status/1584158682144612353?s=21&t=1KxxaDYVr9Sp-7UCez7KeA

Medical science is getting better every single day, and it probably will eventually develop to a point where Achilles injuries won’t be career-killers for running backs. It might even be soon. But it does not look like Cam Akers or James Robinson will be the pioneers. There was some initial promise in their first few games back but both have become increasingly inefficient runners the more they’ve played. One was just traded and the other will probably be traded or cut in the next week or so…

There are some very interesting teams at the top of this chart…

I think collectively we all knew there would be some drop-off for the Saints and Buccaneers losing their former Super Bowl-winning coaches, even if they replaced them in-house and kept the bulk of those teams together. It’s still a little startling to see the regression, and a reminder that, yeah, you can’t expect to go from Sean Payton to Dennis Allen and not skip a beat…

What should happen: change all fields to grass

What will happen: sports science departments will get thrown under the bus for the elongated ramp-up programs this preseason, which had record-low numbers of injuries, because players weren’t “hardened enough for the season”…

Almost no one saw the rise of Seahawks QB Geno Smith coming. Almost no one except this guy. Hell of a victory lap earned here…

I think this says some positive things about the Broncos offense, grim as things are these days in Denver. More than anything, though, this feels like a wide receiver stat…

More evidence that, yes, this is a weird, wacky and maybe not all that fun year…

I mean…

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