Philly Front Office

The NFL Trade Deadline is November 4 at 4pm. Even after the BG signing, the Eagles still need help with the pass rush, at CB, and could use some interior offensive line depth. Last week we went through the definite sellers (Jets, Dolphins, Saints, Browns, Titans), now it’s time to look at the next tier, the Get-Your-Head-Out-Of-You-Ass-And-Sell Sellers.

NFL Trade Deadline Primer Week 6: The Definite Sellers

Las Vegas Raiders

The caveat all year with the Raiders is that Pete Carroll only unretired because he wants to win which might make selling a nonstarter. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t do it! This team, all caps, STINKS. They have their bye this week, then play the Jaguars. If they lay an egg at home against Trevor Lawrence, they can’t fight the inevitable anymore. Tank the rest of the season and GET A GODDAMN QB!!! Anyway…

• Geno Smith – QB: If a QB goes down over the next 2 weeks, the Raiders should get on the phone faster than a “concerned” neighbor offering support after hearing about a breakup. His contract isn’t as onerous as you would think. An Acquiring team would be on the hook for about $13m this season and only $18m guaranteed for next year. Desperation is a hell of a motivator.
• Jakobi Meyers – WR: Meyers is in the last year of his contract paying a $10m base. That means he’d cost the new team the prorated 9 game amount of about $5.5m. Meyers is incredible average, the Robert Woods of this deadline, but a guy like that has value and would probably cost a Day 3 pick. After Mike Evans went down last night, I would offer him up to the Bucs.
• Michael Mayer – TE: My dream of the Eagles adding Mayer will likely have to wait until the offseason, but there is simply no reason for the Raiders to hang on to him even with Brock Bowers missing the last few games. He makes close to the minimum and will next year too.
• Maxx Crosby – EDGE: I almost didn’t even consider Crosby because he just signed that big extension in the offseason and figured it would be too painful for the Raiders to cut bait. Well, I’m glad I did. Turns out the Raiders did NONE of the cap tricks teams like the Eagles do and simply agreed to pay gigantic base salaries each year of the deal. That means any trade for the Raiders comes with very little dead cap worries. The team that gets him though would need to fit about $18m in salary on their balance sheet plus his $30m next year and $29m in 2027. SIGN ME THE HELL UP!!! The bidding will likely start at a 1st and go up from there.
• Tyree Wilson – EDGE: The star of my post-hype prospect trade review two weeks ago, there is still a lot to like in the long term and could be worth a very late draft pick. He has 2 sacks this season and still has 1 year left on his rookie deal for the minimum.

New York Giants

Last week was a rough one for the G-Men, improbably blowing an 18-point lead in the final 6 minutes. Honestly, it was the best possible outcome for them. To start the season, I wrote that one of the worst outcomes would be Dart looking good and saving the jobs of the coach and GM. Last week was threading the needle of the QB looking good and the coach looking bad. Let Dart continue to progress while losses beget a better draft pick.

• Kayvon Thibodeaux – EDGE: After drafting Abdul Carter, the Giants found themselves with 3 solid pass rushers. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to move one of them. Why KT? Because he is the worst of the 3 and will want a new contract in the offseason. Do the Giants really want to give him one? They won’t be able to get back his top 10 Draft equity but could probably nab a Day 2 pick for him.
• Brian Burns – EDGE: Burns was livid after the loss and apparently criticized his teammates. No judgment there from me, but if the Giants choose to move one of their 2 movable pass rushers, that might make Burns the favorite. The problem is that they would take on a $33m dead cap hit for moving him. On the other hand, they could probably recoup the picks they sent out to get him and more in any trade. In just 7 games, Burns has 9 sacks matching his total from all of last year and beating his 2023 campaign. He has the juice and the contract to get the Giants some solid draft capital which they could use to build around Dart. I’m talking 1st round pick plus more.
• Russell Wilson – QB: Why in the world did they sign him? Granted he didn’t cost much, but it just never made much sense. Considering his base salary is only $2m, there are teams out there that might want to acquire him as insurance for their own QB. He is a backup at best at this point. Honestly, maybe they would be better off trading Jameis Winston instead, he probably has more value.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have some keepers including Paris Johnson, Trey McBride, Will Johnson, and even Marvin Harrison Jr despite his rough start. That said, they play in a tough division and have no shot at the playoffs again. I’m very dubious of Kyler Murray, but even besides his faults they should aim younger

• Josh Sweat – EDGE: I don’t think Sweat would want to come back to the Eagles, but he is having a solid year so far with 5 sacks. This is what Sweat is, a solid 10-ish sack per season guy who won’t tilt any games (except the Super Bowl) but will always produce. He just signed with the Cardinals, but his contract was set up seemingly accidentally to make him an ideal trade candidate. Only around $15m of his signing bonus would be dead cap, while his next team would have to pay very little this year and just pick up the contract where it left off. He would cost around $11m next year.
• Budda Baker – S: Baker is having his worst season and it sure seems like the Cardinals waited a year too long to trade him, deciding to extend him before last season instead. His contract isn’t a killer though as his 2026 base isn’t guaranteed and he only costs around $4m for the rest of this year. The Cardinals wouldn’t even have to worry about much dead cap. If Andrew Mukuba continues to play out of position, Baker would be a very solid safety net to bring in.
• Calais Campbell – DT: Campbell is 39, has played all over the league and is still good. I would love him to join the Eagles DT rotation for about 15 snaps per game. The Mayor of Sacksonville would not cost much in terms of draft capital or cash.

Houston Texans

As the Colts keep winning, the Texans playoff hopes are fading. Considering the Chiefs aren’t even in the playoffs as of today that is a serious uphill climb for Houston at 2-4. Now they have the 49ers next week and the Broncos after that. At 2-6, the season is over. This is remarkable as they were probably the easiest choice outside of Buffalo to win their division going into the season. It’s time to start planning for next year if they can’t win both games coming up. It doesn’t get easier from there either with Buffalo, KC, and Indy twice on the schedule. Will Anderson and Derek Stingley aren’t going anywhere, but they have pieces to sell.

• Danielle Hunter – EDGE: Hunter may be 31 with only 4 sacks, but he is still a dominant force on the defensive line and would instantly and exponentially upgrade a team like the Eagles. While his salary wouldn’t be that bad to take on, it would be a killer to trade though with about $30m in dead cap coming due next season. My fingers are crossed.
• Dalton Schultz – TE: Schultz is in the last guaranteed year of his contract and has been pretty solid. I don’t think he’s an Eagles target, but he should still be moved.
• Sheldon Rankins – DT: Rankins was signed from the bargain bin this offseason and has been a rock for Houston in the middle of their line. DT has become a thin position for the Eagles and picking up someone like Rankins would be great insurance at a likely cheap cost.