7 realistic trades we want to see before the deadline
Several big-name players have already been traded ahead of the NFL's Oct. 30 trading deadline, including Amari Cooper landing with the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick, and Carlos Hyde being shipped to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But the fun likely isn't over yet.
This year's deadline could see more action than in the past, with a host of star players possibly on the trading block. Here are seven trades we'd like to see:
Le'Veon Bell ➡️ Philadelphia Eagles
Let's finally put this painful saga to bed.
Both the Steelers and Le'Veon Bell desperately need a fresh start, and with James Conner proving himself capable of being the team's featured back, Pittsburgh should feel comfortable moving on.
The Steelers are unlikely to get the level of compensation they would have received in return even a year ago for the franchise-tagged back. Bell hasn't played all season and he probably isn't in football shape. He'll also be a free agent after this season with an injury and suspension history, and he turns 27 in February.
Still, the risk is worth it for the struggling defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. Jay Ajayi is on injured reserve, and Corey Clement and Darren Sproles have had issues staying healthy. Carson Wentz has played well since returning from his 2017 ACL tear, but he still needs more support than a 21st-ranked rushing attack.
Bell would be an enormous upgrade, and because the Eagles' roster remains among the league's best despite a 3-4 start, the team can afford to give up several mid-round picks while pushing for another deep playoff run.
Potential trade package: Bell for third- and fifth-round picks
Chandler Jones ➡️ New York Jets
Trade rumors are surrounding Patrick Peterson in Arizona, but the star cornerback is committed to the Cardinals. So what about the team's other game-breaking defensive player?
Chandler Jones has quietly cemented himself as an elite pass-rusher since joining the Cardinals in a trade with the New England Patriots. He's produced 34.5 sacks in 39 games in Arizona, and at 28 years old, Jones should be a double-digit sack producer for at least the next two or three seasons.
The New York Jets need a threat off the edge and a pass-rusher who can consistently win one-on-one matchups. They're tied for 20th with 15 sacks through seven weeks.
This move would be about 2019 and beyond for the Jets, a team unlikely to make a playoff push this season. Fortunately, Jones is under contract through the 2021 season and is a relative bargain considering he makes $7 million less per year than Khalil Mack.
Potential trade package: Jones and a fourth-round pick for two third-round picks
Janoris Jenkins ➡️ Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have brought themselves back from the brink after starting the season 0-3, rattling off five wins to sit atop the AFC South on the back of a rejuvenated defense.
J.J. Watt and Co. have allowed just 59 points over the team's past four games. However, the once-struggling pass defense hasn't faced a strong aerial attack during that time. Few remain on the schedule, but the Texans can't stand pat and wait for a team like the Patriots to carve them up in the postseason.
The Texans are the fourth-best team in the league against No. 1 receivers, according to Football Outsiders' DVOA metric. But they rank 29th against opponents' No. 2 receiver, and 16th against every other receiver. And Houston lacks strong depth at cornerback after Johnathan Joseph was injured on Thursday night.
Janoris Jenkins' play has fallen off following his 2016 Pro Bowl appearance, but he still has a nose for the football (82 passes defenses and 18 interceptions during his career) and that should be highlighted behind Houston's strong pass rush. The Texans should also be able to get Jenkins for a good price after the New York Giants let go of Damon Harrison for a fifth-rounder in a cap-shedding move.
Potential trade package: Jenkins for a fourth-round pick
Tyrod Taylor ➡️ Jacksonville Jaguars
It's obvious that the Jacksonville Jaguars' last drops of patience with Blake Bortles have finally evaporated. Head coach Doug Marrone benched his starting quarterback for Cody Kessler after Bortles had another ineffective and turnover-filled performance in the first half against the Houston Texans in Week 7. But he's still sticking with Bortles this week after naming him the starter again.
The Jaguars don't have an option beyond Bortles, which is a trap of their own making. Teddy Bridgewater and a host of other veterans were available this offseason, but Jacksonville placed all its chips on Bortles while only bringing in Kessler as competition.
Tyrod Taylor struggled in his short stint as the Cleveland Browns' starter in 2018, but he has a history of managing games effectively (he threw just 16 interceptions in three seasons starting for the Buffalo Bills). His presence could allow the Jaguars to play as desired and rely on their rushing attack and defense.
With Baker Mayfield entrenched as their starter, the Browns can afford to trade Taylor, and the freefalling Jaguars can't allow their hole under center to drag down a championship-caliber roster.
Potential trade package: Taylor for a fifth-round pick
Chris Harris ➡️ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Denver Broncos' most recent win ended their four-game losing streak and pushed them back to 3-4. But they still sit far behind the 6-1 Kansas City Chiefs and the 5-2 Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West, and shouldn't get cold feet about selling off valuable assets while looking toward 2019 and beyond.
Aside from Von Miller, cornerback Chris Harris is probably Denver's most impactful defender, and he should garner significant trade interest from contending teams that need an upgrade in the secondary. Harris is Pro Football Focus' seventh-ranked corner, and although he'll turn 30 years old in 2019, he's been remarkably durable. He relies more on his smarts and technique than athleticism to lock down opposing receivers.
Pittsburgh could use the consistency Harris offers. Despite recently making moves to fortify the secondary, the Steelers haven't been able to fix the back end of their defense, and they're giving up the sixth-most passing yards per game in the league.
Former first-rounder Artie Burns simply shouldn't be starting on a team with championship aspirations. Joe Haden and Harris would give the Steelers a versatile and experienced cornerback duo, and while the price might be high, Pittsburgh needs to be active while pushing for the AFC's top tier.
Potential trade package: Harris for third- and a sixth-round picks
Demaryius Thomas ➡️ Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield's stats don't look good at first glance. The Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback has thrown almost as many touchdowns (six) as interceptions (five). He's also fumbled four times (losing two), and perhaps most worryingly, is only completing 57.8 percent of his passes. The only quarterbacks with a lower completion percentage than Mayfield are the three passers taken directly after him in the 2018 draft.
However, Mayfield's numbers would look a lot better if his pass-catchers could, well, catch passes. The Browns have the highest percentage of dropped passes in the league at 7.4 percent, and they also own the worst mark on third down at nearly 10 percent, according to ESPN. The rookie quarterback needs some more reliable weapons to play alongside receiver Jarvis Landry and tight end David Njoku.
Demaryius Thomas isn't a slam-dunk option for Cleveland. He'll turn 31 in December, his average of 11.3 yards per catch in 2018 is the lowest of his career, and he'll have an enormous $17.53-million cap hit in 2019. Thomas also isn't the most sure-handed wideout, and he has four drops of his own this season, according to The Washington Post.
But none of that should matter too much to the Browns, and it should help to lower Thomas' price.
While he's no longer a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver, Thomas is still a huge upgrade over rookie Antonio Callaway. He might just be a rental for the rest of the season if a one- or two-year extension can't be reached, but the cap-rich Browns can afford to make this kind of move to improve the situation around their young franchise pivot.
Potential trade package: Thomas and a sixth-round pick for a fourth-round pick.
Gareon Conley ➡️ Indianapolis Colts
The fire sale in Oakland should continue, and Jon Gruden could ship out another former first-round pick.
It would perhaps be premature for the Raiders to give up on talented cornerback Gareon Conley. But he's already been benched and wasn't on the field for a single defensive snap against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6. He also missed the majority of his rookie season due to injury.
The Indianapolis Colts would be a good landing spot for Conley, who showed good instincts for zone coverage, Indy's preferred defensive style, during his standout career at Ohio State.
The Colts' defense is an up-and-coming unit, but one that needs an infusion of talent at cornerback to free up playmaking safety Malik Hooker.
Potential trade package: Conley for a 2019 third-round pick