One of my good friends asked me on Monday when they could expect NFL transactions to happen since the deadline for cutting deals is November 5th. I didn’t have an answer for them because there isn’t enough track record to share with any authority as to when trades between teams would be completed.

WELP, it turns out we have a new data point to play with after a handful of notable trades at the start of week seven. The start happened on Monday when the Jaguars transferred Roy Robertson-Harris to the Seahawks. But not to be outdone, on Tuesday, wide receiver Davante Adams was sent from the Raiders to the Jets, fellow wideout Amari Cooper was traded from the Browns to the Bills (via Daniel Oyefusi), and running back Cam Akers left the Texans for the Vikings (via Tom Pelissero). What a mess!?

We get an idea of ​​what it will cost to get a deal done before the 2025 NFL trade deadline

On the surface, Amari Cooper’s move from Cleveland to Buffalo doesn’t have much of an impact on the Bears. Neither the Bills nor the Browns are on the Chicago football team’s remaining schedule. And it’s not like Bears general manager Ryan Poles would make a trade for Cooper. But still…if we see Cooper (and a 2025 sixth-rounder) move from Cleveland to Buffalo (with the Browns getting a 2025 third-rounder and a 2026 seventh-rounder), we know what it might cost to sign an impact player NFL trade deadline 2025. The Bears probably won’t add another pass catcher, but at least we know what it will cost other teams that want to do so.

As for the Cam Akers deal, this one is a little closer. The Minnesota Vikings strengthening their roster to 5-0 before the trade deadline is telling. Clearly, the Vikes believe their enthusiasm for the 2024 NFL season is sustainable. Or maybe the team just wants insurance behind Aaron Jones. And Akers, who played for the Vikings last year, provides that (and more) for Minnesota’s roster. Akers, a second-round pick of the Rams in 2020, is two years removed from a mini-breakout as he ran for 786 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2022. At 25 years old, he may not be the type of back for the Vikings, but you could do worse if your team is looking for a backup.

As a Bears fan who has watched Khalil Herbert’s role diminish in 2024, I wonder if general manager Ryan Poles would entertain the idea of ​​acquiring the running back after seeing the Akers deal. For what it’s worth, the Texans receive a conditional sixth-round pick from the Vikings as part of the trade. This shouldn’t make any difference for the Poles. But it’s worth keeping in mind for now. The NFL trade deadline is still three weeks away. Buckle up.