The cell phone screen time for NFL general managers might be very high with the Nov. 4 trade deadline fast approaching.
It’s evident that GMs have been fielding several trade offers, considering how many reports have emerged of star players possibly not being moved. The Raiders reportedly aren’t shopping Maxx Crosby, and Alvin Kamara was supposedly told he’s not leaving New Orleans. There was also a report of the Titans not being expected to trade star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
But, hey, things can change quickly. It just takes the right offer and some persistence.
GMs should be hounding the Raiders, Saints and Titans to trade their best players after a rough seven weeks this season. These are three of six teams that desperately need to be sellers ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Let’s examine what these six losing teams could do in the coming weeks.
Cleveland Browns (2–5)
Now is the perfect time to call the Browns about their veteran players.
Cleveland is all about the future and likely would be willing to listen about most players outside of star edge rusher Myles Garrett and a handful of promising rookies.
Tight end David Njoku could be a notable name on the trade market with how well rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has played this season. There’s also the possibility of the team trading cornerback Denzel Ward after sending Greg Newsome II to Jacksonville in exchange for Tyson Campbell.
The Browns deserve some criticism for trading Joe Flacco within the division, dealing him to the Bengals. But they should also be commended for thinking ahead and getting a draft pick for a veteran quarterback not in their long-term plans. The Browns might actually have something going with this promising 2025 draft class, which includes running back Quinshon Judkins, linebacker Carson Schwesinger and defensive tackle Mason Graham.
However, the team might not view rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the same light as the aforementioned rookies, especially because the team has favored rookie starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Don’t be shocked if Sanders is moved before the deadline.
Las Vegas Raiders (2–5)
For years, the Raiders have attempted the quick-fix route, whiffing on the trade for Davante Adams and settling for veteran quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew II.
Now, the Silver & Black are getting the same negative results from Geno Smith, whom the team acquired this offseason in a trade with the Seahawks. It’s time for the Raiders to go the full rebuild route and prioritize drafting a quarterback in the first round for the first time since taking JaMarcus Russell No. 1 in 2007.
This team already got burned by playing competitively through the 2023 season, winning meaningless games with interim coach Antonio Pierce, and thus costing the team a top-10 draft pick. Las Vegas drafted stud tight end Brock Bowers with the No. 13 pick in ’24, but the team missed out on Bo Nix, J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams, all quarterbacks selected in the top 12.
This team needs to waive the white flag and should listen to trade offers for every player not named Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, the first-round rookie running back. The Raiders are making a mistake holding on to Crosby, who’s their only good player on a poor defense. They should flip him for a first-round pick to spur a much-needed rebuild. The Raiders should also consider selling Smith to a quarterback-needy team.
Miami Dolphins (1–6)
There could be a handful of teams hoping that the Dolphins become sellers before the trade deadline.
After how poorly the team has played the last year and a half, they might be willing to trade several notable players, including wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill would have been on that list if it weren’t for his season-ending leg injury last month.
And don’t be surprised if the team starts to listen to trade offers for Tua Tagovailoa. It’s gotten that bad, but those talks likely won’t pick up until the offseason.
Regardless of how the Dolphins play the rest of the season, it’s time for them to repair the damage created from the reckless spending the past few seasons, such as trading for Hill, Chubb and Jalen Ramsey, who’s now with the Steelers. And the regrettable four-year, $212.4 million contract extension for Tagovailoa.
New Orleans Saints (1–6)
Saints GM Mickey Loomis has stubbornly refused to be a seller despite his team not making the playoffs since the 2020 season. This team has needed a fresh start since Drew Brees retired and Sean Payton left as head coach.
Maybe this is the year Loomis changes his mind, but that doesn’t appear to be the case after Kamara told reporters that the team has no intentions of trading him. Then again, that might be more about showing respect for a player who has done so much for the organization.
Perhaps Loomis listens to trade offers for his younger players, including wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. This could also be a good opportunity for the team to ditch edge rusher Chase Young and the three-year $51 million contract extension he signed in March. Underrated edge rusher Carl Granderson could net a Day 2 pick in a trade. There’s also safety Justin Reid, wide receiver Brandin Cooks and offensive lineman Trevor Penning.
Clearly, this roster isn’t good enough to win games.
New York Jets (0–7)
It’s obvious the Jets need to be sellers judging by their winless record, but they don’t have as many assets to trade as the other teams on this list.
Cornerback Sauce Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and a few key offensive linemen are likely on the do-not-trade list.
But the Jets could get some value in trading running back Breece Hall, who has heard trade rumors for most of this year. Hall is having a solid season, with 448 rushing yards, perhaps opening the door for at least a third-round pick.
Outside of Hall and the untouchable players, there’s not much to like on this Jets’ roster. Maybe there’s a possibility of a team being interested in quarterback Justin Fields, who was benched for Tyrod Taylor last week.
There could also be some hesitancy from New York to be an aggressive seller with a new coach and GM in Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey.
Tennessee Titans (1–6)
Outside of Cam Ward, the Titans need to sell most of the farm.
They should be begging teams to take wide receiver Calvin Ridley and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and their expensive contracts. They should have an open house with several TVs showing highlights of Simmons and starting the bid at one first-round pick.
Tennessee made aggressive trades and signings thinking it could go the quick-fix route after firing Mike Vrabel in the 2024 offseason. For their efforts, the Titans have a combined 4–20 record and fired one GM (Ran Carthon) and one head coach (Brian Callahan) since letting Vrabel go. This team needs to repair the salary cap and reevaluate how they scout players. They haven’t gotten much right in the past few seasons.
Still, the Titans likely won’t side with common sense and will keep most of their players. It’s understandable keeping offensive lineman and wide receivers to help with the development of Ward, but they could ignite a proper rebuild by trading Simmons.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Six NFL Teams That Should Be Sellers at the Trade Deadline.