NFL TRADE DEADLINE- TOP 10 NFL PLAYERS POTENTIALLY ON THE MARKET
2022-10-30 · 5 min read · NFL/Football
NFL.com
The start of a new month signals the final opportunity for NFL teams to upgrade their rosters in hopes of making a run to the postseason.
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In a bizarre and unpredictable season so far, numerous clubs could be buyers or sellers when the deadline comes on November 1.
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In no particular order, here is a look at my top 10 players who could be available and what team would fit them best.
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1. Brandin Cooks
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Lovie Smith’s return to the head coaching ranks has not gone as he would have hoped, as the man who led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl appearance has the Texans dead last in the AFC South.
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Brandin Cooks is a productive player who would make a fantastic veteran addition to several clubs out there in need of a sure-handed receiver who has found consistency since entering the league.
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The Houston wide receiver has put up at least 42 receptions over the last eight seasons and is averaging 73 catches per year, while he has 28 grabs in 2022 for 281 yards and a touchdown.
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- Ideal Fit- Green Bay Packers
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The Packers are in win-now mode, but Aaron Rodgers has struggled to find someone reliable to throw to since Davante Adams left for Las Vegas.
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Even at 29, Cooks still has plenty of speed and is a consistent downfield threat, two things that Rodgers and this offence have been missing.
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2. J.J. Watt
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Heading into the final year of his contract with the Arizona Cardinals, Watt may not be the Mr Everything that we saw in Houston, but he is still a threat to get to opposing QBs in the backfield.
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The Wisconsin native has 2.5 sacks this season, is a three-time defensive player of the year winner and has produced two seasons of 20 sacks or more, an NFL record.
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While his recurring injury problems are a concern, he could be an excellent rental player to a team looking to make a Super Bowl run.
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- Ideal Fit- Kansas City Chiefs
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Under a tight cap which the Chiefs are facing, Watt being near the tail end of his career could be a solid rental player for KC, who are in the mix for the Super Bowl once again.
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A rush rotation of Watt, alongside George Karlaftis and Carlos Dunlap, could bring some heat to opposing quarterbacks come playoff time.
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3. Kareem Hunt
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Nick Chubb is unquestionably the go-to guy in the Cleveland backfield, but I still believe some teams out there will need Kareem Hunt.
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Since 2017 he has averaged over four yards per carry, while he has only lost one fumble in his regular-season career.
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He is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of 2022 and is currently earning $6.25 million this season.
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- Ideal Fit- Loa Angeles Rams
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The reigning Super Bowl champions could use a dependable back to alleviate some of the pressure on the shoulders of Matthew Stafford, who has not gotten a lot of help outside of Cooper Kupp in the receiving game, while Cam Akers seems to have lost a step.
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Hunt may not be breaking as many tackles as he was in past seasons with the Browns, but he is still an upgrade from Darrell Henderson and Akers at the moment, plus he’s a solid pass-catcher who is reliable in the red zone
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4. Cameron Erving
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Few offensive linemen might be available at an affordable price, but Carolina’s Cameron Erving could check both boxes.
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A former Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs, Erving has not only experienced a championship, but he has started 56 games in his career, so he knows the grind of a long season.
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He would also come at a low price, and I think he does not want to be on the sidelines in Carolina anymore.
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- Ideal Fit- Los Angeles Rams
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Stafford needs time to throw the football, as his offensive lineman are not getting the job done, and even though Erving has not seen regular action in a while, he is still an upgrade when you consider who Sean McVay has at his disposal at the moment.
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5. Jerry Jeudy
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Currently having his best season as a pro since he joined the Broncos, Jeudy could help many offences in need of a receiver.
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While he did have four drops before their London game against the Jaguars, he has put up some good numbers with a pair of TD grabs heading into their game on Sunday, plus he had 24 catches.
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- Ideal Fit- New York Giants
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New York have put themselves in a great position to get into the postseason, and adding another player for Daniel Jones to throw to, I believe, is worth the risk in the Meadowlands.
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Jeudy and Brian Daboll have a history as the Broncos wideout played under him at Alabama.
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Given the Giants' injuries at that position, Jeudy could be an excellent short-term fix for a team who look like they will be in the playoffs.
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6. Matthew Ioannidis
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The 28-year-old native of New Jersey has had a fine season under challenging circumstances in Carolina.
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Ioannidis has done well to fight off blockers and has played the run exceptionally well all season.
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- Ideal Fit- Cincinnati Bengals
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With Ja’Marr Chase reportedly out for 4-6 weeks, the Bengals might be a little more dependent on defence than usual as they aim to prove that their run to the Super Bowl last year was no fluke.
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Heading into the weekend games in Week 8, Cincy were 29th according to ESPN’s run-stop win rate metric, and Ioannidis would fill a massive hole for this team at shutting down opposing rushing attacks as the Bengals gear up for an AFC North battle in the coming months.
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7. William Jackson
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He may deny that he wants out of Washington, but ultimately William Jackson does not look like a good fit in Ron Rivera’s setup.
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Jackson had 36 tackles a year ago, the second-highest in a season for his career, while he is still a solid corner who does not get burned often when he’s healthy.
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- Ideal Fit- Miami Dolphins
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I believe the Dolphins are one of the top teams shopping around for some help at corner, with Byron Jones still not ready to play and Nik Needham on injured reserve.
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The 29-year-old cornerback should be a good addition to Miami’s secondary scheme, and he could provide them with plenty of help as they push for a playoff berth.
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8. Daron Payne
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A former first-rounder in the final year of his contract in Washington, I do not think he is in the long-term plans of the Commanders.
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They might take this opportunity to move him before his contract expires as I do believe he still has value, while Washington could get something good in return as Payne is a big body, capable of plugging the middle and pushing the pocket.
- Ideal Fit- Los Angeles Chargers
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The Chargers are in a dogfight for a wildcard berth despite their up-and-down play, and Payne’s presence could shore up that defensive unit.
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A splash move like this could, I believe, propel LA into the postseason, as he is great against the run and can hurry the quarterback in certain blitz packages.
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9. Bradley Chubb
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It seems inevitable that Chubb will be on his way out of Denver sooner rather than later, and the Broncos might want to regain some draft capital lost in the Russell Wilson trade, which I think will leave Chubb on the trading block.
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Chubb has played well on the edge this season in the Mile-High City, posting 5.5 sacks and 24 pressures in seven games in 2022.
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- Ideal Fit- Arizona Cardinals
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The Cards failed to adequately replace Chandler Jones over the offseason, and they have paid the price for that in 2022, ranked 27th in sacks heading into Week 8 action.
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Chubb had his best season as a professional under current Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, posting 12 sacks in his rookie campaign, and the Cardinals are still in the playoff hunt.
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They could be in the market for a player of Chubb’s calibre.
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10. Mike Gesicki
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It may sound crazy to move a man who had the franchise tag placed on him in Miami earlier this year, but I believe there are reasons why the Dolphins might want to move on from Gesicki at tight end.
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He does not seem ideal for Mike McDaniel's offence, which is more about speedy wide receivers like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
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- Ideal Fit- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Life in Tampa Bay has not been great this year, and the retirement of Gronkowski and all the personal issues surrounding Tom Brady have left the Bucs reeling.
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Seeing how much Brady loves to utilize his tight ends, Gesicki might slot in nicely in a new city in Florida and help kickstart an offence in need of a spark.
By: Joel Lefevre
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