From the start of free agency to the beginning of the NFL season, establishing a backup plan is necessary for every team. A franchise’s season could go south for many reasons. One of the biggest is that long-term injuries pressure owners to go out and fill the position for the time being. Another situation is when there is a missing piece to the puzzle, either on the offense or defense. Several teams are experiencing these reoccurring issues this season and as trading expires on Nov. 5 at 4 p.m., things will start to ramp up.
The market for receivers is at large this season, as that is where teams are hurting the most. Starting the domino effect, the New York Jets reunited Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, followed by the New York Buffalo Bills acquiring Amari Cooper. Getting in on the action, the Kansas City Chiefs added Deandre Hopkins to their receiver room. This is just the beginning of the effect.
Impacted by injuries, the San Francisco 49ers’ weapons continue to deplete week after week. Losing their wide receiver duo, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, this past weekend, the franchise is walking on a thin line. Samuel is dealing with pneumonia while Aiyuk’s season was cut short after suffering a torn ACL during last Sunday’s game. Stepping up in their absence has been Jauan Jennings, but he is recovering from a hip injury suffered in week six against the Seattle Seahawks. Not to mention George Kittle endured a sprained foot in the Chiefs contest and is considered day-to-day. It is safe to say that the team needs help, so seeing a trade from them would be no surprise.
Another team sitting in a tough position after this past weekend is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who also lost their pair of wide receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Dealing with a hamstring strain prior to Monday Night Football, Evans sits on the IR after leaving the matchup early, reinjuring the hamstring. A couple of quarters later, Godwin was carted off the field after dislocating his ankle. With Evans and Godwin as the main targets, the organization is forced to look around the league. A perfect option for replacing Godwin is Cooper Kupp. Both play the position similarly, thriving from the slot. In addition, Kupp is familiar with the schemes that new offensive coordinator Liam Coen runs, as the two worked together while Coen coached the offense for the Los Angeles Rams.
Showing interest in a few players in the last several months, the Pittsburgh Steelers are rumored to make a move. While searching for a new wide receiver after trading Diontae Johnson at the beginning of the 2024 offseason, the team’s interest in Aiyuk spiked. In recent weeks, before making the final decision to go to the Jets, the Steelers put their name in the hat, attempting to get Adams. Trading for a player is still up in the air as the team is succeeding with the third-year receiver George Pickens.
Looking at the defensive side of teams, the Minnesota Vikings need to add depth to their cornerback position. After securing the veteran corner Stephon Gilmore through the 2024 free agency market, the position struggles to stay constant. Going out to get the New England Patriots corner, Jonathan Jones is a match made in heaven. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores brought creative schemes to the Vikings’ defense and the 31-year-old is a great fit for that. Proceeding with this trade guarantees a win for both franchises. Starting out on the wrong foot in the new era in New England, getting value out of Jones now is the best decision, knowing that he is an older player.
Looking at other possible trades, rumors sprung out of the Carolina Panthers’ Facility. Wide receiver Johnson and running back Miles Sanders could see themselves with another team by the deadline. Getting weapons for quarterback Bryce Young was a must, but that fell through as he is no longer starting. Ever since leaving the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, Sanders’ production decreased tremendously.
Seeing a change in teams is always fun to watch, as trading can either benefit a team or keep it the same, we will just have to wait and see.