Five NFL Deadline Deals Fans Hope Patriots Avoid Making

WHO:

CBS Sports - The article lists additional potential trade targets: Houston running backs David Montgomery, Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears and Alvin Kamara; Buffalo safeties Derwin James and Amani Hooker; and potential Dallas edge rushers Khalil Mack, Maxx Crosby, Josh Sweat, Jermaine Johnson II, Shemar Stewart, Tuli Tuipulotu, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Josh Uche, Will McDonald IV, K’Lavon Chaisson and Dorance Armstrong Jr.

CBS Sports - The article lists Jordyn Brooks of the Dolphins and Daiyan Henley of the Chargers as potential linebacker targets for Cincinnati.

CBS Sports - Potential trade options for Cleveland include tight end Dallas Goedert of the Eagles and Tip Reiman of the Cardinals.

CBS Sports - The article lists potential cornerback options for Pittsburgh, including Riq Woolen, Donte Jackson, Alontae Taylor, Amik Robertson and Nahshon Wright.

CBS Sports - The article identifies Landon Dickerson, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Cesar Ruiz, Andrew Wylie and Teven Jenkins as potential Patriots interior offensive-line trade targets.

Bleacher Report - NFL insider James Palmer said the Detroit Lions “would love some cornerback help,” and the Pittsburgh Steelers were seeking wide receiver help.

Pats Pulpit - Patriots players Mack Hollins, Romeo Doubs, Cory Durden, Ben Brown, Matt Pryor, Walter Rouse, Mike Onwenu, Reggie Gilliam, Brenden Schooler, Marcus Bryant, Greg Van Roten, Dell Pettus and Khalil Jacobs are discussed in connection with injuries, depth and potential return designations.

Pats Pulpit - Patriots beat writer Brian answers readers’ trade-deadline questions.

FOX Sports - The article identifies Jim Leonhard as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator and says he played a similar do-it-all role under Rex Ryan with the New York Jets.

FOX Sports - The Bills were 5-1, the Cowboys had traded for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., and the Panthers’ receiving options included Parker Washington and Jakobi Myers.

Bleacher Report - NFL insider James Palmer reported trade-deadline activity involving the Chiefs, Broncos, Vikings, Lions and Steelers; Minnesota general manager Nolan Teasley was described as “a madman on the phones,” according to an unnamed source.

FOX Sports - The article proposes potential deadline trades involving the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.

FOX Sports - Players discussed include Jonathan Taylor, Brian Thomas Jr., Xavier Worthy, Vita Vea, Budda Baker and Josh Downs, along with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Trevor Lawrence, Dak Prescott, George Pickens, Bryce Young, Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker.

Musket Fire - New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and beat writer Mike Reiss are named; the article also discusses owner Robert Kraft’s spending approach, executive Elliot Wolf and players A.J. Brown, Christian Gonzalez, Milton Williams, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Harold Landry III, Keion White, Kyle Dugger and Drake Maye.

Heavy NFL - The Minnesota Vikings, defensive coordinator Brian Flores and an unnamed NFL insider are mentioned.

WHAT:

CBS Sports - The article says Houston running back David Montgomery was dealing with a groin injury and the Texans’ run game continued to struggle; New Orleans defensive tackle Bryan Bresee suffered a torn ACL in training camp and was lost for the season.

CBS Sports - The article says Philadelphia had traded away Cam Jurgens, and Landon Dickerson was rumored to be on the trade block.

CBS Sports - The article says Seattle had upgraded at offensive guard but had not fully replaced Boye Mafe, who signed with Cincinnati in free agency.

CBS Sports - The article says Rams receiver Davante Adams would miss an extended period, while Puka Nacua was also dealing with injuries.

CBS Sports - The article says the Chargers were 0-6 and potentially moving into full sell mode.

CBS Sports - The article identifies defensive line as a potential need for Jacksonville, listing Daron Payne, Grover Stewart, Moro Ojomo, Roy Lopez and Zach Sieler as options.

CBS Sports - The article identifies quarterback Fernando Mendoza as a rookie the Raiders have supported and suggests Las Vegas could pursue a vertical receiver such as Brian Thomas Jr.

CBS Sports - The article says Tampa Bay receiver Emeka Egbuka was dealing with a concussion and had not been as dynamic as in 2025; Chris Godwin’s performance had declined.

CBS Sports - The article says Carolina fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero after poor defensive performances.

CBS Sports - The Patriots moved Jared Wilson to center after trading Garrett Bradbury; Michael Onwenu suffered a broken ankle and was expected to miss most, if not all, of the season, leaving Walter Rouse and Ben Brown at guard.

CBS Sports - Cincinnati could benefit more from linebacker help than from pursuing Jonathan Taylor; potential linebacker targets listed were Jordyn Brooks and Daiyan Henley.

CBS Sports - The article lists potential trade targets for Kansas City including Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley, Jauan Jennings and Quentin Johnston, in addition to Josh Downs and Brian Thomas Jr.

CBS Sports - The article identifies interior offensive line as a potential need for Minnesota and lists Dickerson, Powers-Johnson, Ruiz, Wylie and Jenkins as options.

Bleacher Report - Tyquan Thornton led Kansas City’s wide receivers with 219 receiving yards and had played four of the team’s six games after dislocating his left ankle.

Bleacher Report - Denver averaged 3.4 yards per carry; Jonathan Taylor had 765 total yards and eight touchdowns.

Bleacher Report - Minnesota ranked 23rd in points per game despite having the NFL’s best scoring defense. Detroit had allowed 16 passing touchdowns, second-most, and ranked 26th in scoring defense.

Bleacher Report - Pittsburgh receivers Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr. were on injured reserve with a dislocated left-hand finger and left-foot plantar fasciitis, respectively.

Pats Pulpit - The Patriots had used two injured-reserve return designations on A.J. Brown and Marcus Bryant and had six remaining; reaching the playoffs would add two. Brenden Schooler does not count toward the total, and Harold Landry III would not count if he returns.

Pats Pulpit - Alijah Vera-Tucker, Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs were identified as likely return candidates; Mike Onwenu could also return, likely in the playoffs. Reggie Gilliam’s availability was uncertain because of a season-long knee injury.

Pats Pulpit - Ben Brown allowed no quarterback hits in three starts; Matt Pryor’s size helps him anchor and move defenders, while Walter Rouse showed promise at left guard but needed to improve his awareness against stunts.

Pats Pulpit - New England ranked in the bottom 10 in success rate against heavy personnel groupings. The article said another linebacker capable of playing base defense could help address that issue.

Pats Pulpit - Grover Stewart and Dalvin Tomlinson were suggested as possible run-stuffing nose-tackle targets who might not require significant draft capital or money.

FOX Sports - The article says Kansas City and Jacksonville were reportedly interested in adding receivers for the deep passing game.

FOX Sports - The article describes Brian Thomas Jr. as a possible downfield 50/50-ball target for Kansas City and Xavier Worthy as a speed option for Jacksonville, potentially serving as a decoy.

FOX Sports - The article says the Cowboys’ offense was as good as it would be, while the NFC East was up for grabs.

FOX Sports - The article says Josh Downs had accumulated 147 receiving yards against man coverage, behind six receivers, according to Next Gen Stats.

FOX Sports - The article says Jonathan Taylor ranked fifth in NFL rushing yards entering Week 8.

FOX Sports - The article describes Brian Thomas Jr. and Xavier Worthy as 2024 first-round picks and says neither had lived up to pre-draft expectations.

FOX Sports - The article says Dallas had traded for Joey Porter Jr., whose arrival helped shore up the secondary, and that DeMarvion Overshown returned from injury the previous week.

FOX Sports - The article says Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was 33 and that George Pickens could become a free agent after the season.

FOX Sports - Budda Baker is a four-time All-Pro; the article says he had not looked great in 2026.

FOX Sports - The article says the Panthers’ offense could rise into the top 10 and make Carolina a favorite in the NFC South with Josh Downs.

Bleacher Report - The article reports that Quenton Nelson went to Seattle, DeForest Buckner to San Francisco, Jeffery Simmons to Chicago, Marvin Harrison Jr. to Houston and Joey Porter Jr. to Dallas.

Bleacher Report - Denver was 5-2, Detroit 4-2 and Pittsburgh 5-2; the Vikings were the last undefeated team.

Musket Fire - New England defeated Atlanta 24-23 during a six-game winning streak before last year’s deadline and was 7-2 at the time.

FOX Sports - Cincinnati running backs had combined for 12 runs of at least 10 yards, compared with Jonathan Taylor’s 17; only three teams had fewer such runs than the Bengals.

FOX Sports - The Bengals received a compensatory third-round pick in 2027. The article said Indianapolis would likely want a first-round pick for Taylor, though a pair of Day 2 picks could be enough.

FOX Sports - The article said Josh Downs had requested a trade from Indianapolis. Carolina’s offense ranked 12th in expected points added.

FOX Sports - Dallas defensive coordinator Christian Parker had Kenny Clark and Otito Ogbonnia playing nose tackle; Clark had logged the most nose-tackle snaps for Dallas and struggled over the center.

FOX Sports - Buffalo’s defense ranked 31st in expected points allowed. Budda Baker turned 30 in January and was coming off a subpar 2025 season.

FOX Sports - The article said the Patriots had struggled to extend drives against Seattle in Super Bowl LX, while their defense failed to significantly affect quarterback Sam Darnold.

Musket Fire - Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler’s list of 25 potential trade candidates did not mention the Patriots.

Bleacher Report - The Chiefs have been working the phones for weeks to find a wide receiver for Patrick Mahomes, weighing Brian Thomas Jr. and Josh Downs among other options, Palmer reported.

Bleacher Report - Denver is monitoring Jonathan Taylor, though Palmer said Taylor is more likely to remain in Indianapolis.

Bleacher Report - The Vikings are looking at running back and tight end; Palmer said the Lions want cornerback help and the Steelers are seeking a wide receiver.

Bleacher Report - The Chiefs’ leading wide receiver in yardage was Tyquan Thornton with 219 yards; he had played four of six games after dislocating his left ankle.

Bleacher Report - Denver averaged 3.4 yards per carry. Taylor had 765 total yards and eight touchdowns.

Bleacher Report - Minnesota ranked 23rd in points per game despite having the league’s best scoring defense. Detroit had allowed 16 passing touchdowns, second-most, and ranked 26th in scoring defense.

Bleacher Report - Steelers receivers Roman Wilson and Michael Pittman Jr. were on injured reserve with a dislocated left-hand finger and left-foot plantar fasciitis, respectively.

FOX Sports - The article proposes five trades: Taylor to Cincinnati; Thomas and Worthy swapping teams between Jacksonville and Kansas City; Vea to Dallas; Baker to Buffalo; and Downs to Carolina.

FOX Sports - The article says the Colts traded Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner for draft picks, while the Titans traded Jeffery Simmons to Chicago for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick.

FOX Sports - Bengals running backs have 12 runs of at least 10 yards this season; Taylor has 17. Thomas recorded 1,282 yards in 17 rookie games and 812 yards in 20 games since the start of last season.

FOX Sports - Downs has 147 receiving yards against man coverage this season, ranking behind six receivers, according to Next Gen Stats.

Musket Fire - The Patriots’ only notable moves at last year’s deadline were trading Keion White and Kyle Dugger for late-round pick swaps. The article says New England had $1.5 million in cap space, the league’s lowest figure according to NFL Players Association records.

Musket Fire - Spotrac figures cited by the article put the Patriots’ 2026 player salary spending at $342.5 million, about $41.3 million over the $301.2 million cap. Jacksonville was reportedly nearly $50 million over the cap.

Heavy NFL - The Vikings are described as 6-0 and in win-now mode, with a defense the article calls arguably the NFL’s best.

WHERE:

FOX Sports - The proposed trades involve teams based in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Dallas, Buffalo, Arizona and Carolina; Simmons was traded to Chicago.

Musket Fire - The Patriots’ salary-cap and deadline situation is discussed in connection with New England and Foxboro; their Super Bowl LX opponent was the Seattle Seahawks.

Heavy NFL - The article concerns the Minnesota Vikings.

WHEN:

FOX Sports - The article identifies Tuesday, Nov. 10 as the trade deadline.

Musket Fire - The article identifies Nov. 10 as the 2026 trade deadline and says the Patriots’ next two games were against the Dolphins and Packers.

Heavy NFL - The article identifies Nov. 10 as the approaching trade deadline.

WHY:

CBS Sports - The article says Carolina’s secondary injuries and poor defensive performances contributed to its decision to fire defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero; the team remained atop the NFC South despite being 3-2 before Tampa Bay’s win.

CBS Sports - The article says Dallas ranked low in every pass-rushing category and identified edge rusher as a need after Rashan Gary had not provided the answer.

CBS Sports - The article says New Orleans could pursue defensive-line help because, beyond its edge rushers, the defense had few notable contributors.

CBS Sports - Cincinnati may benefit more from linebacker help than from a Jonathan Taylor trade, while veteran support could stabilize the unit and defensive-tackle improvements could reduce the burden on linebackers.

CBS Sports - Pittsburgh may seek cornerback help after trading Joey Porter Jr.; the article also cites the team’s effort to maximize its competitive window with Aaron Rodgers.

CBS Sports - The article says Denver’s return of Jonah Coleman, described as its best running back when available, reduces the team’s need at running back.

CBS Sports - The article says New England’s guard need stems from Onwenu’s injury and the decision to move Wilson to center.

CBS Sports - The article says Cincinnati’s young linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter would benefit from veteran support and improved defensive-tackle play.

Pats Pulpit - The article said New England’s heavy investment in wide receiver and guard, along with players already filling in adequately, made a significant trade at those positions unlikely; it expected any move to be a depth addition for late-round draft capital.

Pats Pulpit - The article cited inconsistent play from the Patriots’ nose-tackle group, including Cory Durden, as a reason to consider adding an experienced run-stuffer.

FOX Sports - The article says Cincinnati’s opponents can focus on the passing game with light boxes and two-deep coverages because the Bengals lack an effective running-game counterpunch.

FOX Sports - The article says adding Jonathan Taylor could draw defensive attention, change the math for Cincinnati’s offense and reduce Joe Burrow’s degree of difficulty.

FOX Sports - The article says a role change could help Brian Thomas Jr. and Xavier Worthy, despite neither meeting pre-draft expectations.

FOX Sports - The article says Josh Downs could provide Bryce Young with a quick-opening target and another way to beat man coverage.

Musket Fire - The article says the Patriots may avoid a deadline trade because the Krafts’ cash-spending budget may be exhausted and Drake Maye’s major contract extension is expected next offseason.

FOX Sports - The article says adding a fast receiver could give Jacksonville more speed, while Kansas City could use Brian Thomas Jr. to add size and a downfield 50/50-ball target.

FOX Sports - The article said Dallas could use Vita Vea to improve run defense and add defensive-line depth; Buffalo could use Baker’s versatility in its zone-based scheme.

Musket Fire - New England could seek help at guard, nose tackle or defensive end; the article said a serious injury could change the team’s trade plans.

FOX Sports - The proposed additions are presented as ways for contenders to address weaknesses: Taylor could improve Cincinnati’s running game; Vea could strengthen Dallas against the run; Baker could add versatility to Buffalo’s defense; and Downs could help Carolina beat man coverage.

Musket Fire - The article says injuries and roster needs could prompt a Patriots trade, but low cap space and possible limits on owner cash spending may constrain moves. It says New England could create cap room through contract restructuring, dummy years or prorated charges, but those options require upfront cash.

HOW:

Musket Fire - Patriots beat writer Mike Reiss said cap space could be created through a contract restructure, but he noted that such moves require cash upfront through bonuses.

FOX Sports - The article suggests Cincinnati offer a pair of Day 2 picks for Taylor, and Carolina use a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick for Downs, potentially packaging its own 2027 fourth-round pick with Minnesota’s 2027 fourth-round pick.

FOX Sports - The article says a Thomas–Worthy player-for-player swap would resemble the Chiefs’ 2013 trade of Jon Baldwin to the 49ers for A.J. Jenkins.

Musket Fire - Reiss reported the Patriots entered the league year with about $52 million in cap space, which had fallen to $1.5 million. The article says A.J. Brown’s $27.4 million option bonus was paid at the start of the season.

Trade-deadline interest centers on receivers, cornerbacks, linebackers and offensive linemen across the NFL. Kansas City and Jacksonville reportedly want deep threats, while Pittsburgh and Detroit seek help. New England faces major line injuries, and Minnesota may pursue interior offensive-line reinforcements.