HEADLINES

Giants Were Hesitant To Trade Stars Due To Job Security

November 5th, 2025 at 10:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Despite rumblings about a few of their players, the Giants had a quiet trade deadline.

Trading Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence never felt realistic. Teams seemed unlikely to pony up a first-round pick for edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has just 2.5 sacks this season. And the Giants could not find takers on offensive lineman Evan Neal or wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, two players on expiring deals they were open to moving.

Uncertainty around the team’s future also lent itself to standing pat on Tuesday, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. The Giants’ current regime desperately needs to show proof-of-concept with their current vision for the walker. Jettisoning two of their top young defenders could make the team look bad enough down the stretch to threaten the jobs of general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

However, the Giants are still realistic about their current standing and need to add talent in the offseason. They were only interested in players under contract through at least 2026, as trading draft picks for rentals would not better the team’s future.

There’s a careful balance to be struck there. At 2-6, the Giants may be content with a losing season if it means a top draft pick. Given the scrutiny on Schoen and Daboll, they may not be intentionally tanking, but adding a rental could help them win an extra game or two without boosting their overall playoff chances. At that point, the extra victories may not be worth the resulting drop in the draft order.

In a way, though, the Giants’ quiet deadline suggests that Schoen and Daboll believe that they have one more year in charge, but their jobs are not secure beyond that. Investing heavily in this year would suggest that they are on the hot seat right now, while trading Lawrence or Thibodeaux for future picks would indicate that they are committed to a long-term rebuild with Dart under center.

Instead, it seems like New York will be approaching the 2026 offseason with the hope of improving their roster around Dart and contending for an NFC playoff spot to show they’re capable of even more.

Chiefs Made Offer For RB Breece Hall; Jets Did Not Budge On Asking Price

November 5th, 2025 at 10:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Isiah Pacheco is out once again, forcing the Chiefs to lean on 30-year-old Kareem Hunt and seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith. Kansas City was linked to running back trades since August, even though the team believed Pacheco would deliver a strong contract year. Nothing materialized, but it was not for lack of trying.

The Chiefs are believed to have made an offer for the top running back available, with SNY’s Connor Hughes reporting the three-time reigning AFC champions sent a fourth-round proposal to the Jets for Breece Hall. The Jets held out for a third, according to Hughes and ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Only one running back (Tank Bigsby) ended up being traded in-season, and that deal occurred in mid-September.

After the Jets’ explosive deadline, Aaron Glenn said (via Hughes) Hall is “not a guy I want to get rid of.” This, of course, came after Hall made a last-ditch trade request following the Jets’ trades of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. But the Jets will now move into position to potentially discuss a second contract for the former second-round pick. They will hold exclusive Hall negotiating rights until the March legal tampering period.

Glenn spoke against a Hall trade before the deadline, and previous reporting pegged the Jets as setting a Day 2 asking price for the contract-year back. The Chiefs backed down on offering what will likely be a late-Day 2 selection, given their success under Andy Reid, and will move forward with Hunt, Smith and eventually Pacheco.

Kansas City has been unable to find a dynamic back since Hunt’s first stint, one that brought an abrupt ending due to the running back being shown kicking a woman on the ground at a Cleveland hotel. That video led to the Chiefs waiving Hunt, and the Patrick Mahomes era has since included low-end investments at the position. While the Chiefs have seen some players make memorable contributions — from Pacheco to Damien Williams to pass-down specialist Jerick McKinnon — they have not had a player on Hall’s level since waiving the younger Hunt version seven years ago.

The team did make efforts here, missing on Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the 2020 first round and then seeing a 2024 Josh Jacobs free agency push fall short. But the AFC power has understandably prioritized higher-value positions, letting the likes of Pacheco (a 2022 seventh-round pick) and low-end free agents (Williams, McKinnon, Hunt 2.0) handle ball-carrying duties.

The Chiefs rank 12th in rushing, but Mahomes’ 285 yards has contributed heavily to that number. Pacheco is not on IR, being deemed week-to-week with an MCL sprain, so it is possible Kansas City will be at full strength coming out of its Week 10 bye. But the Chiefs’ Hall push shows a sense of urgency — but ultimately a price point — with regards to adding a back this season. This also would have been at least a regional homecoming for Hall, who went to high school in Wichita, Kansas.

A fourth-rounder would have been nothing to scoff at regarding a rental trade for the Jets. While Gang Green dealt Gardner and Williams, the team held onto players who drew more pre-deadline rumors — Jermaine Johnson, Quincy Williams, Allen Lazard. The Jets, however, now have more time to evaluate Hall in Tanner Engstrand‘s offense.

Hall, 24, is on pace for his first 1,000-yard season. A report indicated the Jets — who had not shown interest in an extension this year — have seen some in the facility show more interest in signing Hall to a second contract. While the RB market has seen a gradual depression, some high-value deals for stars notwithstanding, Hall’s age and his ACL tear having occurred back in 2022 should give him a reasonably strong market come March.

Commanders Work Out S Marcus Maye, Three Others

November 5th, 2025 at 9:01pm CST by Ben Levine

The Commanders are looking to add some safety depth. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the team worked out four safeties yesterday: Marcus Maye, K’Von Wallace, Daryl Worley, and Jaylen Mahoney.

Maye is the most accomplished of the bunch, as the former second-round pick has 92 games on his resume. The veteran got into 15 games in stints with the Dolphins and Chargers in 2024, and that campaign ended on injured reserve after Maye suffered an ankle injury in December. While the safety hasn’t recently come close to matching his Jets run, he still graded out as an above-average safety during his age-31 season.

Worley has gotten into even more games, as the journeyman has 99 appearances since his debut in 2016. While the West Virginia product was a starter earlier in his career with the Panthers and Raiders, he’s settled into more of a backup role in recent years, starting only 15 of his 42 appearances since the 2020 campaign. Wallace got a chance to start in 2023 when he was with the Cardinals and Titans, but he reverted back to his reeserve role with the Seahawks in 2024.

Mahoney is the only inexperienced option out of the foursome. The former Vanderbilt star joined the 49ers as a UDFA in 2024 and ended up getting into three games as a rookie. He stuck with San Francisco through the offseason and landed on their practice squad following the 2025 preseason. He was cut from the 49ers taxi squad last month.

Quan Martin exited Sunday night’s game with a hamstring issue, and Tyler Owens popped up on this week’s injury report with the same issue. While the Commanders should eventually get Will Harris back on the field, the team could be temporarily tapped at the position. Jeremy Reaves, Darnell Savage, and Percy Butler represent the team’s only healthy options at the position, with Robert McDaniel also around on the practice squad.

Jets Bench LB Quincy Williams, Discussed Trade With Cowboys

November 5th, 2025 at 8:25pm CST by Ben Levine

After trading two defensive leaders yesterday, the Jets continue to shake up their personnel on that side of the ball. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the team is benching linebacker Quincy Williams.

[RELATED: Jets Trade Quinnen Williams To Cowboys]

“My coaches told me I was underperforming, that I’ve been underperforming since training camp,” Williams told Cimini. While the former All-Pro admitted that he is “not thrilled” with the decision, he clarified that he’s “not mad” and hopes to win his job back.

The Jets added Williams off waivers ahead of the 2021 campaign, pairing him with his brother, Quinnen Williams. The acquisition had an immediate impact in New York, collecting 110 tackles during his first season with the Jets. That started a streak of four-straight 100-plus-tackle campaigns, including a 2023 season where he earned an All-Pro nod after finishing with a career-high 139 stops.

Williams’ production has been down in 2025. He missed four games with a shoulder injury, and he’s otherwise been limited to 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks in four starts. Pro Football Focus seems to back the coaching staff’s assessment, as the site currently ranks Williams 57th among 82 qualifying linebackers.

While Quincy watched as Quinnen was shipped off during yesterday’s trade deadline, the linebacker was almost included in the same deal. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Cowboys discussed a deal with the Jets that would have seen Dallas acquire both Williams brothers. That specific deal obviously didn’t come to fruition, and the Cowboys ended up pivoting to former Bengals defender Logan Wilson to fill the linebacker void.

The 29-year-old is set to hit free agency after this season, and it seems pretty clear that the current regime is souring on the former defensive star. Considering Williams’ demotion, it’s a bit surprising that the Jets didn’t jump at the opportunity to move off of the linebacker.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/5/25

November 5th, 2025 at 7:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: LS Peter Bowden

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: DT Coziah Izzard

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: OL Karsen Barnhart
  • Placed on IR: OL Tyler McLellan

Washington Commanders

NFL Minor Transactions: 11/5/25

November 5th, 2025 at 7:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Lions DE Josh Paschal, OL Miles Frazier Return To Practice

November 5th, 2025 at 6:37pm CST by Ben Levine

The Lions started the practice clock on a pair of players today. According to Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network, defensive end Josh Paschal returned to practice today. Meanwhile, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that lineman Miles Frazier was also designated to return today.

Paschal has been sidelined all season while tending to a back injury that required surgery. A former second-round pick, the defensive end is coming off a 2024 campaign where he got into a career-high 549 defensive snaps. He finished last season with two sacks and eight QB hits.

He’ll likely settle into a rotational role when he’s ready to return to the field. Al-Quadin Muhammad has performed well playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson this season, meaning Paschal will have to compete with Tyler Lacy (and eventually Marcus Davenport) for any leftover reps.

Frazier is working his way back from a knee injury that landed him on PUP before the season started. The Lions moved up in this past year’s draft to select the LSU product in the third round, and they clearly have high hopes for the rookie. However, coach Dan Campbell cautioned that the Lions will slow-play Frazier’s practice window.

“No training camp, no nothing, so this will be a little bit of a baby fawn at the beginning and then he’ll quickly grow,” Campbell said today (via Tim Twentyman of the team’s website). “It’s a little bit like (Christian) Mahogany (last year). It took a while but once we got him, he just quickly grew with practice reps.”

Of course, the Lions could use Frazier’s versatility sooner than later. Mahogany is sidelined for at least the next month thanks to a broken bone in his leg, while tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell both missed practice today as they nursed injuries. Per Twentyman, the Lions used their rookie lineman at both guard spots and right tackle during today’s practice, and Frazier’s ability to play multiple positions should help him see the field sooner than later.

Texans Place Two On IR, Add K Matthew Wright To Practice Squad

November 5th, 2025 at 5:31pm CST by Ben Levine

A pair of Texans defenders are heading to injured reserve. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the team is placing cornerback Jaylin Smith and defensive end Darrell Taylor on IR.

Smith will miss at least the next four games while he nurses an undisclosed injury. The rookie third-round pick has played sparingly in 2025, getting into 31 defensive snaps and 78 special teams snaps in four games. The USC product was serving as a back-of-the-depth-chart boundary corner for Houston, and journeyman Tremon Smith will likely soak up any remaining backup snaps at the position.

Taylor has also barely seen the field during his first season with the franchise. The defensive lineman has gotten into four games, and he’s mostly split his 64 snaps between defense and special teams. The former second-round pick compiled 21.5 sacks in three seasons with Seattle before spending the 2024 campaign in Chicago. An ankle issue will sideline him through November.

Elsewhere in Houston, the team made some adjustments to their practice squad. According to Wilson, the team added kicker Matthew Wright and released tight end Dalton Keene.

Per Wilson, Texans starting kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn is dealing with a lower body injury that will put his status for Week 10 in doubt. Jonathan M Alexander of the Houston Chronicle is a bit more definitive with his report, noting that Fairbairn isn’t expected to play this weekend. The veteran is coming off a Week 9 performance where he connected on five of his six field goal attempts.

Wright is apparently the team’s solution to temporarily fill that spot. The Texans represent the veteran’s 11th NFL team, although he’s mostly been limited to cameos in his previous spots. In total, Wright has appeared in 31 career games, connecting on 87.5 percent of his field goal tries (56 for 64) and 95.6 percent of his XP attempts (43 for 45).

A former Patriots draft pick, Keene has spent parts of the past three seasons in Houston. He’s been limited to a single game during his Texans tenure.

Jaguars Pursued Quinnen Williams; Sauce Gardner Deal Accelerated Jets’ Willingness To Move On

November 5th, 2025 at 5:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mason Graham-to-Jacksonville was a mock-draft staple for a while, but the Jaguars moved in a different direction by trading up for Travis Hunter. Their defensive tackle need went on the back-burner, but we heard before the deadline the team had circled back to it.

The Cowboys completed the trade deadline’s second-biggest deal by sending a 2026 second-round pick, a conditional 2027 first-rounder and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the Jets for Quinnen Williams. This blockbuster, however, came after the Jaguars made what veteran insider Jordan Schultz describes as a “strong push” for the disgruntled Jet. In the end, the Cowboys made the better offer, dangling one of their four first-round picks from 2026-27 to seal the deal.

Williams came up in Cowboys-Jets Micah Parsons talks, and Dallas circled back to its target — as an enduring goal to repair its run defense now involves a second megadeal. Several teams pursued Williams, Schultz adds, and the Jets determined the offer of first- and second-rounders plus Smith was enough to move on from a player who wanted out.

A big market checks out for a player of Williams’ caliber, and we heard late last month the Jets were listening on their longtime front-seven centerpiece. The three-time Pro Bowler denied his relationship with Aaron Glenn was broken, as a Tuesday report noted the D-tackle’s one-on-one meeting with his new HC launched his quest to be traded.

While Williams confirmed he was frustrated with the Jets’ losing ways, he said (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) respects Glenn’s approach this year. Perhaps being diplomatic now that a trade has been completed, Williams will now see his reported pursuit of a contract rework fall in the Cowboys’ hands. His four-year, $96MM deal — which has just $5MM in guarantees left beyond 2025 — runs through 2027.

Although the Jets were not intent on trading Williams and Sauce Gardner, they decided on the latter move after the Colts bet big on the cornerback. Indianapolis sending New York two first-round picks and wideout Adonai Mitchell for Gardner made the Jets’ decision to moving Williams earlier, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes.

New York made the deal with Indianapolis barely an hour before the Williams swap. Prior to that, the Colts pursued Alontae Taylor in what would have been a much lower-profile trade. It would have been interesting to see if the Jets would have followed through on the Williams trade had Indy not stepped up on Gardner. The Jets will have plenty of work to do on defense, having gutted a unit that ranked in the top five in yards allowed from 2022-24. Though, Glenn’s first year has produced a 20th-place ranking in total defense through eight games.

The Jaguars are among the NFL’s best run defenses, ranking third in that area. Williams, Pro Football Focus’ No. 1-ranked interior D-lineman in run stoppage, would have provided the fringe contender a significant boost in this department. The Jags have 2024 free agency addition Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton in place as starting DTs, while Austin Johnson, former second-round pick Maason Smith and Khalen Saunders are in place behind them.

Armstead leads the Jags with 3.5 sacks, though he is not quite on Williams’ level as a 32-year-old defender. Williams made the past three Pro Bowls and notched 23.5 sacks in that span. However, he only posted one sack and three QB hits this season. The Jags also have not seen any of their DTs besides Armstead record a sack this season. They will attempt to keep getting by as is, though Armstead’s age and the Williams interest points to the franchise making moves to bolster this area in 2026.

49ers, Bears, Steelers To Meet With CB Asante Samuel Jr.

November 5th, 2025 at 3:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Asante Samuel Jr.‘s schedule is starting to look like a draft prospect’s itinerary of “30” visits. After the former Chargers cornerback received clearance to return from a troublesome injury, three more teams have entered the fray.

Following a report indicating the Packers, Panthers and Vikings had lined up visits, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes the free agent corner is set to meet with the 49ers, Bears and Steelers as well. While the Broncos not being in this mix will keep the Mountain Time Zone out of the mix, Samuel will otherwise — should he take all the meetings — make a cross-country trek over the next week.

After today’s Panthers visit, Samuel will meet with the Packers on Thursday and the Vikings on Friday. The 49ers, Bears and Steelers meetings will go off, respectively, Monday through Wednesday of next week. This jampacked schedule will give a host of teams the opportunity evaluate a player who spent his four-year Chargers run as a regular starter.

Cleared after spinal fusion surgery, Samuel will have met with a fourth of the league this year if he takes all these meetings. He met with the Saints and Cardinals during the spring and was later connected to the Dolphins’ months-long CB search. This will certainly provide Samuel quality intel on a chunk of the league’s facilities and schemes, something that could be relevant for a 2026 free agency foray, while the upcoming meetings should determine which team lands a young starter-level cover man following the trade deadline.

The 49ers have used Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and rookie Upton Stout as their primary starters this season. Pro Football Focus has rated Stout as the league’s second-worst CB regular — ahead of only the since-retired Xavien Howard. The 49ers have flexibility here, as both Lenoir and Green have slot experience. Lenoir has operated in a hybrid capacity in multiple seasons, giving San Francisco options if a Samuel signing comes to pass. Samuel has primarily been a boundary corner as a pro.

Pittsburgh has transitioned Jalen Ramsey to safety, following their 2023 move with Patrick Peterson. The Steelers have also seen Darius Slay‘s age-34 season produce some bumps. PFF grades Pittsburgh perimeter corners Slay and Joey Porter Jr. 68th and 71st among corners, respectively. The team also has Brandin Echols, who has logged nearly half of his snaps in the slot this season.

Battling uphill at corner due to Jaylon Johnson‘s early-season injury, the Bears rank 25th in pass defense. Kyler Gordon also missed a chunk of time earlier this season, but the high-paid slot patrolman is back. PFF ranks Chicago fill-in options Nick McCloud and Nahshon Wright outside the top 100 among CBs this season.

Prior to knowledge about Samuel’s surgery — which took place in April — PFR ranked him 32nd on our top 50 free agent list. Samuel, 26, profiled as a younger alternative to the deep late-20s crop at the position this year. But the surgery tabled interest, which has now come flooding back following the report of his clearance. This could go down as a lost season for Samuel, but he could potentially avoid the “prove it” FA tier in 2026 by catching on with a member of his suitor sextet and making notable contributions to close this season.

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