We are now a little over a week away from the NFL Trade deadline (November 10, 4 p.m.). A handful of sizeable deals have already been made, and I’m sure one or two more could shock the system.
If you hoped the Patriots would be in on anything that costs something substantial, I don’t get the sense that’s in their future. They made their big moves in the offseason, signing Alijah Vera-Tucker in free agency and trading for A.J. Brown. Neither is making the impact Mike Vrabel and company hoped for, but there is still time.
Meanwhile, the Pats still have holes that an infusion of outside talent could plug. The team can make a trade or two without giving up any day-one or day-two picks. Yes, draft capital can be overrated, but given how talent-starved the 2024 (one player), 2023 (two), 2022 (one), and 2021 (two) drafts were, you should understand why cost-controlled, younger players matter for the Pats going forward.
That said, I’d gladly part with some day-three selections; the team has two fifths, four sixths, Minnesota’s seventh in 2027, and an extra sixth in 2028, to help this team. So, with an eye on the budget (an NFL-low $1.5 million in cap space, which obviously can be rectified quickly if they choose) and sensibility (no “Trade Schooler, Will Campbell’s knee brace and a 2031 7th-round pick for Vita Vea’ nonsense here), here are some targets:
I won’t apologize for how I feel about Roy Lopez. The 29-year-old inked a two-year deal with the Cardinals this offseason, and quite frankly, I thought it was a mistake for the Pats not to be involved, especially for the cost (2 years, $10.5 million). They were willing to pay Khyiris Tonga somewhere in that neighborhood, but after they butchered those negotiations, they decided not to address the position at all. Then, lo and behold, they realized they weren’t good enough there and added DaQuan Jones on a short-term contract worth up to $6.5 million this season. Ummmm…
I can't quit you, Roy Lopez. https://t.co/54OenENCQh
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) October 30, 2026
Lopez is a 6’2”, 318-lb mountain of a man who is hard to move in the run game, an obvious issue for the Pats. His 14 stops (defined as tackles that constitute a "failure" for the offense) are tied for fourth amongst all interior defensive linemen who have played at least 100 snaps. His 17 solo tackles are tied for 5th. Lopez has also added a sack, a QB hit and two hurries. He’s owed about $1.3 million in cash from today through the end of the season and is set for a modest number next year. Sign me up.
If you want to stay in that same player profile, Tampa Bay’s A’Shawn Robinson (31) would fit the bill. There’s only one problem: if the Bucs win this weekend, they'll likely resist selling. Robinson comes cheap, with only $2.2 million in cash owed before he becomes a free agent. He’s 6’4”, 320 pounds and has been one of the better run defenders in his part-time role. He has half as many stops as Lopez, but he’s also played 45 fewer snaps.
Indy’s Grover Stewart makes the list, but at 33, he’s more of a declining player (though he had two of his better games in weeks 6 and 7). Stewart is also far more costly ($6.8 mil remaining on his deal before he becomes a free agent). But we know the Colts are more open for business than anyone.
I’d also throw in veteran tight end Mo Alie-Cox, also on that sad team in the Midwest. He is Indy’s best run-blocking tight end, and while he's not on the level of what Julian Hill was supposed to be, Alie-Cox would be an upgrade over some of these Eli Raridon reps. He only costs $1.3 million (all the finances are courtesy of Spotrac).
Khalil Mack is another interesting name, and the Chargers should turn into sellers at 0-6. However, Albert Breer of SI reports that thus far, they have turned away all suitors. Illogical, just like their season. Mack has been productive as a pass rusher in ‘26, especially when LA limits his snaps to sub-40 per game. Put him in a rotation with Jones, Ponder and Jacas and there’s no question you’ve upgraded the position.
Others who may become available and could be of interest: DT Dalvin Tomlinson (Chargers), edge Anthony Nelson (Bucs), edge Bud Dupree (Chargers), A.J. Epenesa (Eagles), and CB Tariq Woolen (Eagles/pending Carlton Davis’ health).
COME ONE, COME ALL
Was it all a dream?
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts looked like the best team in football and, as such, made a move that had plenty of GMs spitting out their coffee, even if they weren’t drinking any.
Then GM Chris Ballard sent not one, but two first-round picks to the NY Jets for Sauce Gardner. Gardner played a meager four games for the Colts, quarterback Daniel Jones blew out his Achilles and that franchise has descended into the abyss ever since.
Ballard has been fired; Jones is teetering on the verge of being benched, and the fire sale has commenced. On Tuesday, Indy shipped out franchise cornerstones on both sides of the ball, trading guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle for third- and fifth-round picks, then, an hour or so later, returned DT DeForest Buckner to San Francisco for a fourth-rounder.
"I have the ultimate respect for those two guys," head coach Shane Steichen said a day after the trades. "What they meant to this organization, this team, this city. Two of the ultimate competitors, the best to ever do it. They're the definition of the standard in what you want in a football player. Definitely going to miss those guys. Like I said, I can't say enough good things about them. Building a relationship with those guys over the past three years has been phenomenal, and I know they're going to do well on their new teams.”
At 2-5, with little hope of turning this around, these moves made sense for the Colts, especially for two players on the wrong side of 30 and in the last years of their respective deals, but still…
Somebody get me a cigarette.
“I didn't sugarcoat it. Anytime you lose those guys, they're tough to replace,” Steichen added. “But we got to understand that we're in a business, and this is a business. And there are tough decisions that have to be made in a franchise. And everyone's got a job to do. And we all signed up for it, and we get paid to go do a job. And we got to improve and get better every single day.”
Steichen looked like he had just seen a ghost, but when your team underperforms, he’s right: this is what happens.
Oh, and the Colts aren’t done. RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Josh Downs (has asked for a trade/played with Drake Maye at UNC), and DT Stewart could all be had, if the price is right. Maybe even Gardner himself.
"It's definitely tough," Gardner said. "It's different than when I first got here. But we're battle-tested. I'm a man of faith, so it's one of those things where it's like everything happens for a reason. We're going to overcome this thing.
"I embrace everything ... I feel like I'm fit for a rebuild or anything. It doesn't matter what it is. I feel like we can turn all around and be contenders. I'm not the type of guy to just say that for no reason. I truly believe in that, and I truly know that's going to happen."
Meanwhile, Nelson had a good idea he'd be on the move. In fact, he spoke with interim GM Ed Dodds, and the Seahawks were one of the teams mentioned.
“He said, 'How do I feel about it?'” Nelson recalled. “I was like, 'If that's what you guys got to do, then great.' I was happy when he called me in the next day and told me it's Seattle."
Nelson will stay at his familiar left guard spot, meaning 2025 first-rounder Grey Zabel will move to right guard and Anthony Bradford will head to the bench.
"I think the style of play is the first thing you think of when you think of Quenton," Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said. "Obviously he's got incredible ability, but the physicality, the relentless play, we talk about decisive, shocking, relentless - that's probably a good way to sum up what it looks like on tape.
"It's going to be a process. We've put a lot of time and effort into the chemistry of our offensive line and we've got a couple things shaken up right now, but the guys will do a great job of meshing and getting on the same page and I think we'll be better for it."
The ‘Hawks have struggled running the football. Nelson will almost certainly change that.
WHOA
At the beginning of the week, Jeffery Simmons said he didn’t think he’d be traded. In fact, no one had mentioned the possibility. But when Chicago GM Ryan Poles made a grandfather offer, Simmons wasn't just on the block; he was as good as gone.
"It was hard, really hard," Titans GM Mike Borgonzi said of making the move. "I don't think Jeff wanted to leave here. I thanked him for everything he's done here, on and off the field. It's a really hard conversation for him, but I think it's a really great opportunity for him, too, as I told him. To go someplace and have an opportunity to compete now, for a Super Bowl."
"I told our guys, when you don't close out games, and you're standing here at 1-6, teams are going to start fishing," Titans HC Robert Saleh said. "And eventually a team threw a hook big enough that I don't think any of us could have said no to."
I’ll say. The return for Simmons was exorbitant. Two first-rounders and a 4th (the Titans sent back a 5th). How can you say no to that when, as Saleh pointed out, your team has just one win and the defensive lineman is 29?
Meanwhile, this is the Bears' all-in move. They are operating with QB Caleb Williams on his rookie contract, so inheriting the deal Simmons signed before the season, 3 years and $105.8 million ($100 mil guaranteed), wasn’t a deal-breaker.
A first-team All-Pro a year ago, Simmons had four sacks, six TFLs and four PBUs for the Titans. He also has a 27% pass-rush win rate. The Bears' interior is at 13%…
Chicago visits Seattle on Monday night (Simmons vs. Nelson). Oh, and they get edge Montez Sweat back from his two-game PED suspension. Sign me up.
MCCARTHY’S SECOND ACT
J.J. McCarthy couldn’t beat out Kyler Murray, but is he good enough to push the Giants into the playoffs?
Based on how he looked this past weekend, maybe.
Making his first start for the G-Men. McCarthy helped lead New York past Houston, 27-21, in overtime, passing for 252 yards. That rock-solid performance came one week after he thrilled in a relief role, throwing for 243 yards in just 11 minutes of play. New York is now 4-2-1 as it heads into its bye week.
“Obviously there were moments in the past where I was like, ‘Why me?’” McCarthy said. “A beautiful thing that was said in chapel one time was, ‘Don’t ask why; ask what’s next.’ Really just focus on the next step in front of you and how you could attack that to the best of your ability. It’s one of those things where you think you’re starting over, but no, you’re starting from experience. To be able to be plugged into this group and this culture, I’m just extremely honored.”
McCarthy was thrust into this role after Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury and Jameis Winston stinking on wheat, rye and pumpernickel. It was a shot in the dark for a third-year pro who never fully took root in Minnesota, either because of injury/or an inability to grasp Kevin O’Connell’s offense, or both. Though brief, his Giants experience has been a 180.
“He has scars,” John Harbaugh said. “He’s been wounded. He’s been broken. He’s been battered. But you heal stronger, and (he’s) become better because of it.”
Teammates embraced McCarthy after the win over the Texans in a way the Vikings may never have.
“That’s all you could ask for,” McCarthy said. “Obviously, one that believes in himself needs no convincing of others, but it feels really good when the people that are around you and supporting you really, truly have that belief in you for sure.”
NERD NUMBERS
- In Sunday’s loss to Seattle, Patrick Mahomes failed to reach the red zone for the first time in his career, a span of 153 games. The three points they scored were only the second time in the future Hall of Famer’s career that the Chiefs failed to exceed that point total. I’d be stunned if they don’t add a pass catcher or two by the deadline.
- All of Tampa Bay’s five losses have been by a touchdown or less. Seattle's three defeats have been by a combined 8 points.
- Michael Penix leads the NFL in time to throw at 2.40 seconds. And he is night and day when kept clean (+0.40) vs. pressure (-0.59). That's the biggest drop-off in the entire league.
- How much have the Ravens missed Lamar Jackson (appears on track to play this weekend)? His absence even affects Derrick Henry, who averages 4.2 YPC and a 47% success rate with Jackson, and 3.5 YPC and 31% without.
- Stefon Diggs is 22nd in the league in target share (23%). That number has a good chance of growing now that Terry McLaurin is out for the season.
- The Jets may have hit with one of their first-rounders, WR Omar Cooper Jr. In two games since returning from IR, he’s caught 11 of 12 targets for 218 yards and two scores. He’s also averaging a ridiculous 4.27 yards per route run. For comparison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba is averaging 3.34 yards per route run over the same sample size.
- Dolphins rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is third in the NFL in tackles per game, averaging just over 10 a contest. Keep an eye on fellow rook, WR Chris Bell. He is averaging 20.5 yards per route run in the four games since returning from an ACL injury that cost him his last season at Louisville.
- Lions rookie LT Blake Miller has a 91% pass-block win rate, which is 10th in the league.