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Edge Rusher Trade Notes: Phillips, Johnson, Patriots, Commanders

November 1st, 2025 at 6:01pm CST by Ely Allen

Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips is becoming one of the hottest names on the trade market. Currently playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, Phillips could be well on his way to pricing himself out of Miami through free agency, so the Dolphins could look to get something in return for losing him now via trade.

We identified Phillips as a trade candidate about a month ago. The team received interest on the 26-year-old, though Phillips expressed interest in staying in Miami. It quickly became clear, though, that Phillips was becoming more valuable than his pass rushing teammates, Bradley Chubb and Matt Judon. There’s been speculation that the Ravens would have interest in him, and then more speculation about the Eagles, a team that’s been extremely active in the trade market lately.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Baltimore and Philadelphia aren’t alone in their interest. Russini adds the 49ers to the named list of suitors and suggests that others are calling Miami about their pass rushers, as well. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer says Phillips is the most likely to be traded among the Chubb/Phillips/Judon trio.

Here are some other nuggets about the pass rusher trade market:

  • As mentioned above, the Eagles have shown interest in Phillips, but they’ve also been inquiring about other pass rushers, like Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson. Per Russini, the link makes sense due to the presence of Joe Douglas as a senior personnel director on Philadelphia’s staff. Douglas was the general manager in New York when the Jets drafted Johnson and could be talking the 26-year-old up to his new employers. The Jets, though, are seeking a second-round pick or better in exchange for the former Pro Bowler.
  • Finally, in addition to the Ravens, Eagles, and 49ers, Russini identifies the Patriots and Commanders as teams pursuing pass rushers in the trade market. Specifically, New England is also a team who has been reportedly calling on Phillips in Miami.

Jaguars Looking for DT Help; Latest On Brian Thomas Jr.

November 1st, 2025 at 3:59pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Jaguars improved to 4-1 with a last-minute win over the Chiefs in Week 5, but they’ve since dropped two in a row, including a dreary showing in England against the Rams in Week 7. Still a game over .500 and now coming out of their bye, the Jaguars may buy before Tuesday’s trade deadline. They’re looking for help at defensive tackle, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

The Jaguars boast the NFL’s sixth-best run defense, but getting to the opposing quarterback has been a problem. They rank last in the league in sacks (eight) and 22nd in pass-rush win rate. While defensive tackle Arik Armstead leads the team with 3.5 sacks, no one else from the Jags’ interior has recorded one yet. Armstead, DaVon Hamilton, and Maason Smith have gotten the lion’s share of playing time in the middle.

When discussing Jacksonville’s D-line this week, head coach Liam Coen said: “How do we help them on early downs, create more of an edge, and get some favorable matchups? We’ve looked at in the known passing situations, where are we putting these guys and how can we put them in better positions to be successful and get more ops on the quarterback?”

The Jaguars may have an easier time Sunday against the Raiders, who have allowed 19 sacks to quarterback Geno Smith during a 2-5 start. A win over the Raiders could give first-year general manager James Gladstone more incentive to add to the team’s defense by Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ offense would experience a notable loss in the event of a Brian Thomas Jr. trade, which has always looked like a long shot. With Thomas off to a slow start this season, Gladstone has taken calls on the 2024 first-rounder and Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist. Plenty of interest has come in, according to Russini, though she adds that the Jags haven’t received any “substantial offers.” The belief around the league is that the Jaguars would want a first-rounder and more for the wide receiver, per Russini.

In the event a Thomas trade comes together, it would take away another important weapon in Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence-led passing game. The team placed rookie receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter on IR with a knee injury on Friday, setting up at least a four-game absence. The Jags will also continue to go without No. 1 tight end Brenton Strange, who has missed two games since going on IR with a quad/hip injury after Week 5.

Seahawks Place Julian Love, Eric Saubert On IR

November 1st, 2025 at 3:20pm CST by Connor Byrne

In advance of their meeting with the Commanders on Sunday, the Seahawks have placed safety Julian Love and tight end Eric Saubert on IR, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Love is dealing with a hamstring injury, while a calf issue will shelve Saubert. Both players will miss a minimum of four games.

Love hasn’t played since Week 4, but the 5-2 Seahawks held off on putting him on IR throughout October. With the team coming off its bye, Love suffered a setback this week, head coach Mike Macdonald said (per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic). He’ll be out until at least Week 13 as a result.

After earning his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2023 and signing a three-year extension, Love was a 17-game starter for the first time in his career last season. He racked up 109 tackles, 12 passes defensed, and three interceptions along the way. Love recorded 18 tackles and a sack in three starts this year before the injury derailed his season.

The Love-less Seahawks have deployed Coby Bryant and Ty Okada as their top two safeties for most of 2025. Their pass defense, which will get two-time Pro Bowl corner Devon Witherspoon back from a three-game absence this week, ranks a strong 10th in the NFL.

After a season with the NFC West rival 49ers, Seubert signed a one-year pact with the Seahawks last offseason. He ranks third among Seahawks tight ends in snaps, trailing starter AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo, and has caught his only target for 12 yards.

Along with the IR placements of Love and Saubert, the Seahawks made a handful of other moves Saturday, Dugar reports. The team activated fullback Robbie Ouzts, who had been on IR since Sept. 24, and signed safety Jerrick Reed II from the practice squad to the active roster.  Additionally, wideouts Cody White and Ricky White III received standard elevations from the practice squad. As Dugar notes, calling up the Whites may bode poorly for receiver Cooper Kupp, who’s questionable for Week 9 with heel and hamstring injuries.

Bengals Likely In For Quiet Trade Deadline

November 1st, 2025 at 2:43pm CST by Connor Byrne

Sitting in second place in a winnable AFC North, the 3-5 Bengals let an opportunity to make up ground on the division-leading Steelers slip away last week. Hours before the Steelers fell to 4-3 against the Packers on Sunday night, the Bengals dropped a 39-38 shootout to the Jets, who entered the game 0-7.

The Bengals will have a chance to bounce back Sunday against the Bears in their last game before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Despite dealing with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, quarterback Joe Flacco is expected to start.

Regardless of the outcome against Chicago, it appears the Bengals are in for a quiet deadline. They’re “highly unlikely to make a move” to bring in more outside talent after already acquiring Flacco from the Browns last month, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. The Bengals also received a sixth-round pick in the Flacco deal, but they parted with a fifth-rounder in return.

The team took a flier on Flacco in a season-saving effort after losing starter Joe Burrow to a toe injury and seeing backup signal-caller Jake Browning perform poorly in his place. Cincinnati is “extremely hesitant to ever surrender future picks,” Dehner writes, making it unlikely that it will cough up even more draft capital in the next few days.

On paper, a loss to the Bears could make the Bengals more likely to sell. With that in mind, superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, linebacker Logan Wilson, and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt are on the radar of contending teams. The Rams, 49ers, Lions, Colts, and Eagles are among the clubs that have made calls on those players, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. It appears they’ll have to look elsewhere, though.

Hendrickson is a pending free agent who would bring back a quality return in a trade, but Dehner dismisses the possibility of the Bengals dealing him. They’ve shown no willingness to punt a season in early November to acquire future draft choices, per Dehner. That would rule out a Hendrickson trade.

The Bengals have at least given some consideration to parting with Wilson, Albert Breer of SI.com relays. With rookies Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter eating into his playing time, Wilson requested a deal out of Cincinnati last week. He’s probably not going to get his way, though, with Dehner pointing to his pricey contract (he’s under wraps through 2027 on a four-year, $36MM extension) and his role in the Bengals’ defense as reasons why he’ll stay put. There’s a better chance of the Bengals getting rid of Wilson after the season than during it.

Like Hendrickson and Wilson, Dehner expects Taylor-Britt to finish the season in Cincinnati. The free agent-to-be was a healthy scratch in a win over the Steelers in Week 7, but he returned to play 76% of defensive snaps against the Jets. The Bengals still value him as their No. 3 corner over their options.

While a Burrow return sometime in December would be a best-case scenario, the Bengals will likely need to stay in the playoff race for that to become a realistic possibility. For better or worse, it doesn’t appear that their roster will undergo any significant changes in the meantime.

Panthers Activate G Chandler Zavala Off IR

November 1st, 2025 at 2:06pm CST by Connor Byrne

NOVEMBER 1: Carolina will, in fact, see Zavala return at an opportune moment as the Panthers activated him from injured reserve today. Considering Christensen was placed on IR shortly after suffering his Achilles injury, Zavala should have the opportunity to step right back into the position that Christensen had been filling for him.

In order make space on the 53-man roster, the Panthers released veteran running back DeeJay Dallas, who had been inactive in two games since Hubbard’s return to health. Carolina also announced that it would call up outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon as a standard gameday practice squad elevation.

OCTOBER 29: The Panthers’ offensive line took a hit when guard Brady Christensen suffered an Achilles injury in a loss to the Bills in Week 8. While Christensen may miss the rest of the season, the Panthers could welcome back guard Chandler Zavala in the next three weeks. The Panthers opened Zavala’s practice window on Wednesday, giving them 21 days to activate him from IR.

Zavala has mostly served as a backup in Carolina since the team used a fourth-round pick on the former NC State blocker in 2023. He opened this season in a reserve role before right guard Robert Hunt tore his left biceps in Week 2. With Hunt on IR, Zavala started back-to-back games. However, Zavala sustained a knee injury in Week 4, forcing him to join Hunt on the shelf.

The Panthers are dealing with other injuries along their line, including to center Cade Mays (ankle) and right tackle Taylor Moton (knee). It’s unclear if they’ll play this Sunday against the Packers and their Micah Parsons-led defensive front. Likewise, Zavala may not be ready for an immediate return to the lineup. Alongside Damien Lewis, the Panthers’ starting left guard, Austin Corbett, Jake Curhan, and Nick Samac could all be candidates to fill in the interior of a banged-up line this week.

Regardless of who’s doing the blocking in Week 9, it appears running back Rico Dowdle will take on a larger role. With Dowdle off to an excellent start this year, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the Panthers are considering a heavier workload for him (via David Newton of ESPN).

Previously with the Cowboys, Dowdle signed a one-year deal with the Panthers last offseason to work behind starter Chuba Hubbard. While Dowdle was a 1,000-yard rusher last year, he has found another gear this season. The 27-year-old has already piled up 605 yards on 106 carries (5.7 YPC). He combined for a franchise-record 473 total yards (389 rushing, 84 receiving) during wins in Weeks 5 and 6. Hubbard missed those games with a calf injury.

Dowdle has seen less action since Hubbard returned, though he still combined for a strong 133 yards on 25 rushes during the Panthers’ previous two games. Hubbard, on the other hand, totaled just 65 yards on 26 carries in that same stretch. The 26-year-old has averaged an underwhelming 3.6 yards on 79 carries this season.

Although Hubbard is seemingly in line for fewer touches, the Panthers “don’t want to move” him before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, Joseph Person of The Athletic writes. With Hubbard in the early stages of an 1,195-yard, 10-touchdown rushing season in 2024, the Panthers signed him to a four-year, $33.2MM extension last November. He’s earning a $4MM guaranteed salary this year and has another $4.5MM guaranteed in 2026.

A talent evaluator with another team told Person that it may be hard for the Panthers to find someone to take Hubbard’s contract while also surrendering a draft pick to acquire him. With Hubbard an important part of the Panthers’ culture, they’re content to keep him as a complement to Dowdle. If Dowdle leaves as a free agent in the offseason, Hubbard could reclaim the No. 1 role in 2026.

Cardinals To Start QB Jacoby Brissett In Week 9

November 1st, 2025 at 1:42pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After he missed back-to-back games with a foot injury, it appeared that Cardinals starting quarterback Kyler Murray would return Monday in Dallas. That will not be the case, however, as head coach Jonathan Gannon announced on Saturday that Jacoby Brissett will start in Week 9. (via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss).

Murray suffered a version of a Lisfranc injury in a Week 5 loss to the Titans. A Week 8 bye was not enough for the former No. 1 pick to get back to game-readiness, so his veteran backup will get the nod for the third game in a row.

“He’s just not ready to go yet,” Gannon said of Murray, clarifying that his absence is purely health-related.

Gannon also indicated that Murray could still have a “role” on Monday, but that seems to be as more of an emergency option, according to team reporter Darren Urban. Kedon Slovis is the only other QB on the Cardinals’ roster.

A stint on injured reserve is not under consideration at the moment, meaning Murray may be ready for a Week 10 meeting with the NFC West rival Seahawks. Though the Cardinals have lost both of their games without Murray, they went 2-3 in his starts and Brissett has outpaced him statistically.

Murray has completed 68.3% of attempts with six touchdowns against three interceptions this year, but his 6.0 YPA and 88.6 passer rating have underwhelmed. The dual threat has added 173 yards (6.0 YPC) and another touchdown on the ground. Brissett, meanwhile, helped the Cardinals put up fights against high-level opponents in the Colts and Packers over the previous couple of weeks. He combined to go 52-for-80 (65%) for 599 yards, four touchdowns, and a pick, also chipping in 47 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

So far, the Cardinals have gotten plenty of bang from their buck from Brissett since signing him to a two-year, $12.5MM contract in free agency last offseason. The journeyman will have a chance to impress again while facing a Dallas team that ranks 31st in pass defense and and points per game allowed. The Brissett-led Cardinals will look to take advantage of that and snap a five-game losing streak. Remarkably, all of their defeats have come by four or fewer points.

Connor Byrne contributed to this post.

Raiders Rumors: Meyers, Stokes, JPJ

November 1st, 2025 at 1:08pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Raiders have placed a high asking price on wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but that hasn’t stopped other teams from inquiring about his availability before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Buffalo and Pittsburgh (previously reported) are among the teams that have called Las Vegas, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

Although Meyers will be a free agent after the season, the Raiders are seeking a Day 2 draft pick in return for the soon-to-be 29-year-old. Meyers set career highs with 87 catches, 129 targets, and 1,027 yards during a four-touchdown showing in 2024. His numbers have dipped this year with new starting quarterback Geno Smith running the offense. Six games into his season, Meyers has hauled in 29 of 43 targets for 329 yards and gone without a TD.

Despite Meyers’ drop in production, it’s hardly a shock that the Bills and Steelers have checked in on him ahead of deadline day. Both AFC contenders have been aggressively seeking wideouts.

Outside of slot target Khalil Shakir, Bills receivers have failed to step up. Meanwhile, the Steelers are lacking a proven WR2 behind D.K. Metcalf. The Bills ($1.67MM) and Steelers ($5.89MM) are low in available spending space, meaning either would have to get creative to add Meyers. He’s playing out the year on a $10.5MM base salary and a $14.962MM cap hit.

Aside from Meyers, Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes and guard Jackson Powers-Johnson have also drawn interest, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. Stokes is a pending free agent on a last-place team, but the Raiders have told inquiring clubs that they’re uninterested in trading him. The former Packer joined the Raiders on a one-year deal last March and has started in all six of his appearances this year. Stokes is second among Raiders cornerbacks in snap share, while Pro Football Focus ranks his performance a solid 38th among 113 qualifiers at his position.

The Raiders may be more amenable to moving Powers-Johnson, per Breer. While he’s not far removed from going in the second round of the 2024 draft, that was under the previous regime of general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce.

A former Oregon Duck, Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in college football in 2023. Working at center and guard as a rookie last year, he started in 14 of 15 appearances. Powers-Johnson’s role has changed this season under new head coach Pete Carroll, who has used him exclusively at guard. The 22-year-old has started in five of six games, but Carroll benched him for Alex Cappa in a 31-0 loss to the Chiefs in Week 7. With the Raiders coming out of their bye and set to face the Jaguars on Sunday in their last game before the deadline, Powers-Johnson’s usage will be worth monitoring.

Colts Eyeing Pass Rush, CB Upgrades

November 1st, 2025 at 12:16pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

With an elite, well-rounded offense, Colts general manager Chris Ballard is looking to upgrade their defense before next week’s trade deadline.

Specifically, Indianapolis is checking on available pass rushers and outside cornerbacks, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder.

There is no clear need to upgrade their offense. Jonathan Taylor and the offensive line have created an elite rushing attack, and Daniel Jones has three pass catchers with at least 55.0 yards per game (Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, and Tyler Warren) and the team could ask more of Josh Downs and Adonai Mitchell if needed.

As a result, the Colts will direct their pre-deadline attention toward a defense that has benefitted from a dominant offense and significant turnover luck. Indianapolis has allowed the sixth-fewest points in the league but the ninth-most yards, mostly through the air due to their offense consistently building leads. 16.6% of their opponents’ drives have ended in a turnover, which ranks third among all defenses, but that figure may not be sustainable for the whole season.

Upgrading their pass defense, therefore, could be important for the rest of the year as well as the postseason. The Colts’ pass rush has been solid despite an individually dominant player. The team ranks among the top five defenses in sacks and quarterback hits, so a trade may not make sense unless it is a tangible upgrade to their current rotation. So far, they have not made much progress in acquiring such a player. Indianapolis has been linked to Trey Hendrickson, who would certainly offer a major boost to the pass rush, but the Bengals don’t appear to have interest in dealing him.

The cornerback market has largely consistent of slot defenders so far: Jarvis Brownlee was moved in September, while Michael Carter and Roger McCreary joined new teams in the last week. The Colts, however, need more help on the boundary with Charvarius Ward on injured reserve and a rash of other injuries to a group that was already thin entering the season.

Indianapolis did activate Jaylon Jones and promoted Cameron Mitchell to the 53-man roster on Saturday, but only two other cornerbacks on the active roster – Johnathan Edwards and Mekhi Blackmon – consistently line up outside. Kenny Moore and Chris Lammons primarily play in the slot. Again, this could be a situation where the Colts’ preferred player is not available or too pricey, but they may be inclined to at least add some depth before Tuesday’s trade deadline elapses.

Tony Pollard, T’Vondre Sweat Among Titans Drawing Trade Interest

November 1st, 2025 at 12:08pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Titans swung a noteworthy deal earlier this week in sending cornerback Roger McCreary to the Rams. With the 1-7 club potentially lining up for a fire sale, more players could follow McCreary out of Tennessee before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Running back Tony Pollard and defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat are among the Titans generating the most interest around the NFL, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The previously reported pass-rushing duo of Arden Key and Dre’Mont Jones are also on teams’ radars, per Russini. Albert Breer of SI.com adds tight end Chig Okonkwo to the list of Titans who have drawn interest.

With rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward at the helm, the Titans will “be careful about further gutting certain areas of the roster,” Breer writes. Having already fired head coach Brian Callahan last month, the Titans don’t want to further risk stunting Ward’s development. Trading Pollard and/or Okonwko would subtract from Ward’s weapons, though neither player has put up big numbers on a last-ranked offense this year.

Pollard, a former Cowboy, is in the second season of a three-year, $21MM deal he signed in March 2024. Previous Titans general manager Ran Carthon was at the controls then. The current regime of president of football operations Chad Brinker and GM Mike Borgonzi may be willing to part with Pollard, which would leave Tyjae Spears as the Titans’ No. 1 back. While Pollard is due to count $9.25MM against the salary cap in 2026, the Titans or another team could release him in the offseason and save $7.25MM.

After turning in his third straight 1,000-yard showing in 2024, Pollard has rushed for 424 yards and two touchdowns on a career-low 3.9 YPC this season. The 28-year-old also entered 2025 with four straight seasons of at least 39 receptions under his belt. With 18 catches through eight games this year, he’s on a similar pace.

Kansas City, New England, and the Los Angeles Chargers are among contending teams that are reportedly in the market for running backs. Pollard could be of interest to those clubs as a prominent name in a thin market for RBs, especially if they deem the Jets’ asking price for Breece Hall prohibitive.

Okonwko, 26, has been a mainstay in Tennessee’s lineup since the team used a fourth-round pick on him in 2022. While the former Maryland Terrapin has played in 59 straight games since his pro career began, a trip to free agency is looming in the offseason. The Titans could move on via trade before then, leaving an acquiring team to take on the remainder of Okonkwo’s $3.41MM salary. Okonkwo leads the Titans with 27 receptions this season, putting him on pace for his third straight 50-catch campaign, but they have a successor in fourth-round rookie Gunnar Helm.

It’s fair to say Sweat would command the largest return of any of the Titans’ potential trade candidates. The 2024 second-rounder from Texas started in 16 of 17 games as a rookie and logged 51 tackles and a sack. An ankle injury has limited Sweat to three games (all starts) this year, but the 366-pounder is now healthy. He has already notched a personal-best two sacks in 2025.

The Titans, who understandably aren’t in any hurry to move on from Sweat, “would like to see if a new staff can reach him,” Breer writes. Interim head coach Mike McCoy replaced Callahan, but it’s unlikely the Titans will promote him to the full-time job after the season. If that’s the case, and if Tennessee keeps Sweat, a different Titans staff will be in charge of getting the most out of him in 2026.

Colts Activate CB Jaylon Jones From IR

November 1st, 2025 at 11:15am CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 1: The Colts activated Jones from IR ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Steelers, per a team announcement. They also promoted cornerback Cameron Mitchell from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Both will provide some much-needed depth on the boundary.

To make room on the active roster, Indianapolis waived linebacker Chad Muma and safety Trey Washington, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.

OCTOBER 22: Even at 6-1, the Colts have been dealt a bad hand at cornerback. They have seen each of their top four options go down with significant injuries, with one of whom — third-round rookie Justin Walley — lost for the season.

Indianapolis lost Kenny Moore to an early-season injury, though the slot ace returned in Week 7. The team also placed Charvarius Ward on IR due to a strange pregame incident that resulted in a concussion. This has forced the team’s hand at all three CB spots. Though, Indy could have a reinforcement back soon.

The Colts are opening Jaylon Jones‘ practice window, according to ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder. This will give Jones three weeks to be activated. The Colts could certainly use the starter back sooner, with Ward guaranteed to miss at least three more games.

Jones has been battling the same hamstring injury since training camp. Missing much of the Colts’ summer work, the third-year cornerback aggravated the injury during the team’s season opener. He has been on the shelf since. This has not been a pattern for Jones, who became a key player after injuries did become a trend for JuJu Brents. The former second-round pick’s issues staying healthy opened the door for Jones — a 2023 seventh-rounder — to work as a starter.

The Colts waived Brents before the season, having used Jones as a 17-game starter last season. With Jones having missed so much time during Lou Anarumo‘s first offseason in charge, the Colts signed Xavien Howard and plugged him into their starting lineup immediately. Howard did not fare well and abruptly retired, preceding Za’Darius Smith with a surprise early-season exit. With Howard also out of the picture, the Colts have used Mekhi Blackmon and rookie UDFA Johnathan Edwards as boundary starters.

Pro Football Focus graded Jones 49th among CB regulars in 2024. The Colts are looking for more help on defense, potentially in the secondary as injuries pile up, but they will likely have Jones ready to contribute to this bounce-back season soon.

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