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NFL trade candidates: 16 players who could be on the block ahead of 2024 deadline
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- NFL trade candidates: 16 players who could be on the block ahead of 2024 deadline
With the NFL trade deadline almost three weeks away , the most consequential in-season swaps might already be in the books.
On Tuesday, two AFC East teams made major splashes to acquire marquee wide receivers, as the New York Jets reunited Aaron Rodgers with Davante Adams before the Buffalo Bills brought aboard Amari Cooper . With those moves, two of the most high-profile figures believed to be on the market had already been accounted for.
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But that doesn't mean that there won't be action ahead of the Nov. 5 cutoff. Still, with few teams likely to truly embrace a fire sale, this year might not feature many more stars changing places. The potential dynamic was captured well by Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, who on Tuesday seemed to quell any notion that his team would make an all-out pursuit for the likes of the Las Vegas Raiders ' Maxx Crosby or Cincinnati Bengals ' Trey Hendrickson – both seeming to be long shots to be moved – to replace Aidan Hutchinson after the Pro Bowl defensive end suffered a broken tibia and fibula on Sunday .
"I think if anything you're looking for really a role player," Campbell said.
With that said, there are still several notable names who could be on the trading block ahead of this year's deadline. Here are 16 players who could be in consideration for a swap leading up to the deadline:
James Conner , RB, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona signaled a forthcoming changing of the guard in its backfield when it selected Trey Benson in the third round of April's NFL draft. With the Cardinals standing at 2-4 and Conner set to become a free agent after the season, why not make the transition now? Conner, 29, might not have a robust market, but he's a physical runner who can handle a heavy workload.
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Travis Etienne Jr. , RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
With owner Shad Khan having given this regime a vote of confidence prior to Sunday's loss to the Chicago Bears in London , the Jaguars don't seem inclined to make sweeping changes. That mentality filters down to the lineup, where Etienne has remained the lead back despite second-stringer Tank Bigsby outgaining him by 67 yards (297-230) this season on 15 fewer carries. Etienne isn't always the most reliable ball carrier, but he's coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and offers significant value as a receiver. A hamstring injury that coach Doug Pederson called "week-to-week" likely hurts his chances to be moved, as does his $6.1 million in guaranteed salary for 2025 after his fifth-year option was exercised.
Diontae Johnson , WR, Carolina Panthers
The widespread problems with the Panthers' aerial attack – which prompted the benching of Bryce Young and installation of Andy Dalton as the starter after just two weeks – can't be pinned on Johnson, who has 24 catches for 306 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the four games since the quarterback switch was made. Carolina therefore might resist any inquiries into acquiring the figure who, outside of Dalton, has played the biggest role in helping the offense establish a baseline of competence. Coach Dave Canales also seemed to throw cold water on rumors in early October, saying "I don't see that happening" when asked about a potential trade. But Johnson, 27, could be of great interest to a playoff-caliber team as a half-season rental. If the Panthers aren't confident that he'll be a franchise fixture beyond this year, they should try to boost their draft capital by moving him to the highest bidder.
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Christian Kirk , WR, Jaguars
While the initial shock of Kirk's four-year, $72 million deal signed in 2022 has worn off thanks to the explosion of the wide receiver market and the veteran pass catcher's solid contributions, rookie standout Brian Thomas Jr. should be the focal point of the passing attack for years to come. With tight end Evan Engram returning from a hamstring injury to serve as Trevor Lawrence 's primary safety valve, Kirk could be expendable for the right price. With $14.5 million in base salary this season, the slot target might need to work out a contract restructure similar to what Adams did with the Jets, though Kirk has no guaranteed money in the final year of his contract next season.
Darius Slayton , WR, New York Giants
Parting with one of the scant few weapons for Daniel Jones might seem like an odd move for the Giants. But with rookie wide receiver and new offensive centerpiece Malik Nabers trending toward a return in the near future as he advances in the concussion protocol, New York could recoup some draft capital for a player who likely has far greater value for a contender. An eight-catch, 122-yard performance against the Seattle Seahawks helped showcase Slayton's solid skill set, and his downfield ability has never been fully unlocked by an offense still grappling with Daniel Jones' deep-ball woes. While he likely will remain a secondary or tertiary option even if dealt, Slayton is a relatively cheap ($2.5 million base salary for 2024, the final year of his deal) solution for a team looking to add a big-play spark.
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Jalin Hyatt , WR, Giants
If the Giants are reluctant to send off Slayton, perhaps they'd be willing to give up Hyatt as a low-cost alternative. The 2023 third-round pick has just one catch on seven targets this season, and opportunities likely will remain scare with Nabers, Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson ahead of him in the pecking order. Yet the speed that Hyatt exhibited in posting an 18.9 yards-per-catch average in his final season at Tennessee might still be attractive to any organization hoping to find someone to stretch the field.
Mike Williams , WR, New York Jets
Quite a week for the 6-4, 218-pound target. On Monday, Aaron Rodgers blamed Williams for running the wrong route on the game-sealing interception in a 23-20 loss to the Bills . The following day, the Jets drastically reshaped their receiving corps with a trade for Adams . By Wednesday, amid multiple reports that Williams would be shopped as an extraneous piece, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said the glut of pass catchers was "an exciting and good problem to have." Regaining Rodgers' trust at this point in a 2-4 season seems like a tall task, so Williams and Gang Green might be better off splitting, though the notion of sending him to an AFC contender might give the Jets pause. But even at 30 and coming off a torn ACL, he could be worth a shot for a team that needs a midseason pick-me-up for its passing attack.
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Cam Robinson , OT, Jaguars
While Robinson's future with the Jaguars has seemed to be an annual riddle, the left tackle is now the team's longest-tenured starter as he continues in his eighth season with the organization. But with 2023 first-round pick Anton Harrison looming as a potential successor if he flips over from the right side, re-signing Robinson after this season might not be in the cards for Jacksonville. Capable pass protectors are among the rarest and most desired assets on the trade market, so there should be no problem finding a buyer if the Jaguars make it known that they would be willing to move on.
Walker Little , OT, Jaguars
A second-round pick in 2021, Little hasn't managed to entrench himself on the Jaguars' front outside of starting 11 games last season as a fill-in. But while the bulk of Little's work has come at left tackle, he also has slid in at left guard and done spot work at right tackle. That versatility could be a major selling point, particularly if a team that gets hit with an injury or two along its offensive line comes calling.
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Emmanuel Ogbah , OLB/DE, Miami Dolphins
Though coach Mike McDaniel expects Tua Tagovailoa to return at some point this season after the quarterback's third documented concussion, the 2-3 Dolphins' campaign could slip away in short order. If it does, Miami should investigate what it can do to help recalibrate a roster dotted with stars but lacking for depth. Ogbah, who turns 31 in November, is one of the few reasonable candidates to be flipped for a pick. The 6-4, 275-pounder is a better bet to generate consistent pressure than pile up gaudy sack numbers, but he's stout against the run and can be slotted into any defensive scheme.
Azeez Ojulari , OLB, Giants
Maybe the timing is off, as the Giants are counting on Ojulari to fill in for Kayvon Thibodeaux , who landed on injured reserve with a wrist injury, for at least the next three games – the last of which lands two days prior to the deadline. But this is a chance to sell high on a player who might be a luxury for a defense that leads the NFL with 26 sacks and has a set long-term plan on the edge in Thibodeaux and two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns . Ojulari, 24, had two sacks and six pressures on 26 pass rushes against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Next Gen Stats, and he could be an incredibly cost-effective option at a position where demand always outpaces supply.
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Haason Reddick , OLB/DE, Jets
On talent alone, the two-time Pro Bowl selection is easily the best player on this list after collecting 27 sacks in the last two years. Yet there's a defining question still left unanswered for Reddick, the Jets and possibly any team interested in acquiring the standout pass rusher: What would it take to end his holdout and get him back on the field? After being acquired by Gang Green in a March trade with the Philadelphia Eagles , Reddick hasn't budged amid his pursuit of a long-term extension, losing $4.8 million in game checks and racking up millions more in fines. With both newly hired agent Drew Rosenhaus and the Jets expressing their desire to patch things up, maybe a long-awaited resolution between the two sides is finally feasible. But owner Woody Johnson acknowledged he has given Reddick's side permission to seek a trade, and surely several teams will want to poke around on this given the potential payoff.
Josh Uche , OLB, New England Patriots
Uche was the subject of trade deadline speculation last season, but New England held onto him and re-signed the 6-1, 240-pound pass-rushing specialist to a one-year, $3 million deal this offseason. But maybe the new regime that brought him back will be more open to moving him given the franchise's focus on the future. Uche, 26, still is playing only 38% of the Patriots' defensive snaps, and he'll likely never reclaim the highs of his 11½-sack season in 2022. But his modest salary and proven ability in hassling quarterbacks make him a potential bargain-bin option for teams who can't afford a splashier move for a premium role.
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Jonathan Jones, CB, Patriots
At 31 and on the last season of his contract, Jones simply doesn't seem to be operating on the same timeline as the rebuilding Patriots, who now count on budding second-year star Christian Gonzalez as their top cover man. But there should be no shortage of teams drawn to an experienced and savvy coverage asset.
Budda Baker , S, Cardinals
Sending off one of the few staples on the Cardinals' severely undermanned defense surely would cause a stir. But general manager Monti Ossenfort has repeatedly taken the long view in reworking Arizona's roster, and listening to offers for Baker, 28, seems like a shrewd move given how expansive the team's needs are. The six-time Pro Bowl selection (with one coming as a special teams choice) still has plenty of playmaking range on the back end, making him an intriguing piece for any team willing to go big with an in-season reshaping of its secondary.
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Andre Cisco , S, Jaguars
It seems that Cisco might be reaching his breaking point with the Jaguars after he said the team exhibited "a lot of quit" in its latest loss. If his message wasn't well received in the locker room or by higher-ups, it would make sense for him to play out the final year of his deal elsewhere. Though the fourth-year safety's play has taken a step back this season amid Jacksonville's widespread defensive collapse, his ball-hawking skills (eight turnovers since the start of the 2022 season) might come in handy for a contender.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL trade deadline: 16 candidates to be moved in 2024
