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Five teams that should be salespeople

Caradoc Wyn October 23, 2024

On November 5th, the NFL world will have its own decision day – but with much lower stakes than the election.

A few hours before polls close, the league’s annual voting deadline expires, marking the last opportunity for teams to add to their rosters. Some teams decided not to wait before making a significant deal, as the New York Jets acquired wide receiver Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders last Tuesday before the Buffalo Bills acquired Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. And on Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs secured wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans.

But who else could join in before the movement closes in 13 days? Separating top talent — even those who plan to become free agents after the season — can be difficult for any decision maker without solid job security. And in a league known for its postseason parity, front offices often tend to hold things out while clinging to the idea of an end-of-season rally. But the NFL pushed back the deadline by a week this year to give franchises a little more clarity on how close — or far — those playoff ambitions might be.

While it’s still too early to say exactly which teams will be sellers at the trade deadline, here are five that should be.

2024 NFL Trade Deadline Sellers

Cleveland Browns

Cleveland is tied to Deshaun Watson for two more seasons – at least financially – and finds itself in the unenviable position of having to undertake a rebuild without being able to seriously launch one. But the sale of Cooper, even before Watson tore his Achilles tendon, made it clear that the next six months are likely to involve a series of difficult decisions.

Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett is likely untouchable at the trade deadline, as are cornerback Denzel Ward and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, both in their mid-20s and coming off Pro Bowl campaigns. But the Browns’ roster has been depleted of young talent after being without a first-round draft pick in the past three years due to the Watson transfer, and the salary cap outlook is even more dire. At some point, Cleveland should consider whether moving one of its cornerstones could help accelerate revitalization efforts.

There are still good options to sell in the short term. 32-year-old defensive end Za’Darius Smith could be the most valuable piece for contenders in need given the lack of edge rushers on the market. Elijah Moore was able to follow Cooper out the door after coach Kevin Stefanski refused to reveal why the receiver was benched for Sunday’s first two series of losses against the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite his injury history, offensive lineman Jack Conklin has some appeal as a loan player because he has no guaranteed money on his contract beyond this season. Cornerback Greg Newsome II and defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris could also draw interest.

New England Patriots

Although he later retracted it, coach Jerod Mayo’s assertion that New England is “a soft football team across the board” appears to be a harbinger of a shakeup. There’s no doubt there will be personnel changes this spring, when the Patriots will have a significant amount of cap space again. But it would be wise to ramp up those efforts early by shedding any players who are surplus to a franchise that is thinking long-term in addressing its numerous roster deficiencies.

In his ninth season with the team, cornerback Jonathan Jones is one of the Patriots’ longest-tenured prospects and one of the club’s most reliable starters. Sending him to a playoff-caliber team looking for help in the secondary would be a win-win. Sub-rusher Josh Uche doesn’t seem to fit the no-nonsense approach Mayo wants from its defense at the moment, and there are likely to be at least a few teams attracted to a low-cost spark off the edge. And while wide receiver Kendrick Bourne re-signed to a three-year deal in March and is still working to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered last December, the veteran’s reliability might be a better fit elsewhere given New England’s widespread youth movement on offense be .

Carolina Panthers

Shouldn’t the dismantling process be almost over for a franchise of which there seems to be so little left? Somehow, the restart effort under first-year coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan has stalled, with former No. 1 pick Bryce Young traded after two games in 2024 and the defense on track to score the most points of all teams in NFL history. With no significant success in the last three draft classes, collecting more picks remains one of the most important steps for Carolina.

There isn’t a Brian Burns-level piece that could spark a bidding war, but the Panthers still have players of interest to contenders. Diontae Johnson was the focal point of the offense with 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns, but he lamented Sunday that he “can’t play every position on the field and make every play.” It doesn’t sound like anyone is eager to re-sign once their contract expires in March. So Carolina should see what they could secure for a target that many teams would like to have as a high-profile No. 2 option. Adam Thielen could also fit in as a backup in a receiving lineup, although the 34-year-old has been out since Week 3 with a hamstring injury. While Carolina has resisted the idea of moving Young, the lack of urgency to chart his course back into the lineup suggests it’s time to seek a breakup. On defense, edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney can still turn heads, and safety Xavier Woods could also draw interest as a multi-talented back end.

New York Giants

Although general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll would like to hope for a midseason resurgence, Sunday’s 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a weak horse for the season. Not even a pass rush with a league-leading 31 sacks is enough to compensate for a rudderless Daniel Jones-led offense that only surpasses the injury-plagued Miami Dolphins in points per game (14.1).

The most significant changes likely won’t come until the offseason. Then the organization can fully evaluate its options for replacing Daboll and/or Jones. For now, the Giants should play a more active role in generating interest in at least two players whose contracts are expiring.

Darius Slayton appeared while Malik Nabers was logged with a concussion, but the in-demand rookie’s return has once again sidelined the veteran. His big-play potential, both as a scorer and a run-after-catch threat, makes him a solid secondary for teams looking to bolster their passing attacks. Elsewhere, fullback Azeez Ojulari doesn’t seem likely to return next season given investments in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns on the sidelines. But after two injury-riddled years, Ojulari has once again shown that he is an extremely efficient pass rusher, recording three sacks in his last two games. Selling high is the right decision.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Embarking on a fire sale could be a backfire considering owner Shad Khan has called this group “the best team the Jacksonville Jaguars have ever assembled.” But there’s no guarantee that either coach Doug Pederson or general manager Trent Baalke will be safe beyond the week, and the 2-5 Jaguars face an upcoming five-game stretch against opponents who all have a winning record. If it’s time to cut bait and recoup some draft capital, it’s now.

Assuming tight end Evan Engram is off limits as one of Trevor Lawrence’s favorite targets, wide receiver Christian Kirk could be the most important piece on the block for Jacksonville. The slot target appears to be losing importance next to Engram and breakout rookie Brian Thomas Jr., so it would be wise to offload him — and his nearly $24.4 million 2025 cap hit — while the return is there true. Cam Robinson and Walker Little are both close to becoming free agents and could help a team looking for someone to fill in at left tackle. And playmaking safety Andre Cisco, also in the final year of his contract, appears ready for a change of scenery after he said the Jaguars showed “a lot of production” in their first appearance in London.

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Five teams that should be salespeople