Teams Calling Bengals About Tee Higgins; No Trade Expected
The wide receiver trade market has seen multiple high-profile moves made already. Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins are no longer available, but several other wideouts are at least receiving interest as the deadline approaches. 
That includes Tee Higgins, who is playing on the franchise tag in 2024. Teams are calling the Bengals about Higgins, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post writes. To little surprise, though, he adds that suitors do not expect Cincinnati to authorize a trade sending Higgins elsewhere.
Every other franchise tag recipient from 2024 wound up signing a contract to remain with their respective teams for 2024 and beyond. The lone exception was Higgins, and at no point this offseason did team and player appear close to reaching agreement on a deal. The Bengals’ most notable extension efforts came in 2023, and they did not reach $20MM per season on average.
The WR market has seen multiple financial surges recently, and at the age of 25 Higgins could stand to cash in considerably as a free agent. He could easily surpass the value the Bengals have for him, especially with Ja’Marr Chase still in need of a long-term accord. Talks with the latter took place up until the start of the regular season, but no agreement was reached. Chase currently leads the NFL in receiving yards, and he could very well find himself as the league’s highest-paid receiver on his second contract.
Higgins was limited to 12 games last year, and in 2024 a hamstring injury delayed his season debut. The Clemson product has racked up 341 yards and three touchdowns so far this season, and remaining productive alongside Chase will be key for the Bengals’ efforts to reach the playoffs. After starting 0-3, the team now sits at 3-5 on the year. That could lead to a seller’s stance in the build-up to next week’s deadline, but Higgins genuinely being available would be a surprise.
Any contending team would no doubt look to add Higgins not only as a rental but as a long-term investment in the passing game. The Jets, Bills and Chefs have each already added in that regard, but several suitors could still make a push to add over the coming days.
Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin Aiming For Postseason Return
Chris Godwin‘s recovery process is underway, with his ankle surgery having recently taken place. His injury will sideline him for the remainder of the Buccaneers’ regular season, but he is leaving the door open to a playoff return. 
“I mean, I think that’s best-case scenario, right?” Godwin said when asked about his recovery timeline (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “Like absolute best case. For all involved. Everything lines up. That’s what you kind of aim for.”
Given those remarks, it should still be considered unlikely Godwin plays again in 2024, even if the Bucs manage a postseason berth. Tampa Bay lost both Godwin and Mike Evans in Week 7 (although the latter’s hamstring injury is not as serious), severely thinning out the team’s receiver depth chart. The Bucs lost the game in which both wideouts went down, along with Sunday’s divisional tilt against the Falcons.
Tampa Bay now sits at 4-4 as a result, so another NFC South title is far from a certainty at this point. Reaching the playoffs will be a challenge given the injuries faced on offense (along with the team’s underwhelming showings on defense). In the event the Buccaneers were able to qualify for the playoffs, though, it would at least open the door to an eventual return on Godwin’s part.
The 28-year-old’s last major injury came in 2021, when he suffered ACL and MCL tears. Godwin managed to top 1,000 yards in each of the past two campaigns, and he was well on his way to surpassing that mark once again in 2024 with a yards per game average of 82.3 (the second-highest of his career). A strong showing would have boosted his market value, but the pending free agent’s attention is now on recovering as quickly as possible.
No talks on an extension are believed to have taken place leading up to the 2024 campaign, leading to plenty of uncertainty surrounding Godwin’s future. Team and player would certainly welcome a return during the postseason, should that become a possibility.
Chiefs Acquire Josh Uche From Patriots
Josh Uche is indeed on the move. The fifth-year edge rusher is being traded from the Patriots to the Chiefs, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. 
Kansas City will send New England a 2026 sixth-round pick, Rapoport adds. That level of compensation comes as little surprise given Uche’s status as a pending free agent. He was a healthy scratch yesterday, an indication that a trade was possible. After the Patriots elected not to pull of a trade in his case last year, he will now be on the move.
Nearing the end of his rookie contract last year, Uche drew trade interest and the Pats nearly worked out a deal ahead of the deadline. Instead, he remained in place and ultimately re-signed on a one-year deal. That pact included a base salary of only $1.3MM, and with much of that total already being paid out this will be a very low-cost addition on the Chiefs’ part. The league’s only remaining undefeated team will now have another rotational option along the edge.
Uche’s best year came in 2022 when he posted 11.5 sacks. Considering he only logged a snap share of 38% that season, expectations were raised for continued production or at least a heavier workload moving forward. Neither has turned out to be the case, with the Michigan product totaling five sacks since the start of last season and logging a similar snap count to the earlier portion of his career. He will be viewed as a third-down specialist upon arrival with Kansas City.
The Chiefs have of course continued to rely on Chris Jones as a foundational contributor in the pass-rush department. Along the edge, the team has Mike Danna, Charles Omenihu along with recent draftees George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Uche will aim to carve out a role as part of that group while attempting to boost his free agent stock. For Kansas City, meanwhile, this move marks another midseason addition (following the DeAndre Hopkins trade) as a third straight Super Bowl title is sought.
The Chiefs entered Monday near the bottom of the league in terms of cap space, so any further moves could be challenging unless they were also of the short-term, low-cost variety. Kansas City has been linked to pursuing a cornerback in the wake of Jaylen Watson‘s (likely season-ending) injury, and it will be interesting to see if anything happens at that position before the November 5 deadline.
Kansas City currently sits 22nd in the NFL with 15 sacks through seven games. Improving in that department could provide a notable boost to the league’s No. 5 scoring defense, and Uche will look to chip in on that front. At 2-6 on the year, meanwhile, New England could be a team to watch from a seller’s perspective regarding further moves.
Patriots Open To Further Trades
Despite yesterday’s win, the Patriots sit at 2-6 on the year. As a result, the team can comfortably be placed in the seller’s category, something confirmed by today’s decision to deal away Josh Uche to the Chiefs. 
That trade yielded a 2026 sixth-round pick, and adding further draft capital represents a logical goal ahead of the November 5 trade deadline. Indeed, Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini report New England is open to making additional trades. Giardi adds one or two veterans can be expected to be on the move over the coming days.
Uche’s name was again in trade talk – as was the case last season – not long before he was dealt on Monday. Among the other candidates to be traded are defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who was linked over the weekend to a potential 49ers deal. While the veteran run-stuffer would provide a notable boost on early downs to San Francisco’s D-line, he inked a Patriots extension this offseason which guaranteed his salaries for 2024 and ’25. Godchaux does not expect to be dealt.
A more realistic spot to look for trade candidates would likely be the receiver room. Kendrick Bourne has also been connected to the 49ers (his former team), but he too would prefer to remain with the Patriots past the deadline. Bourne is under contract through 2026, but none of his salary after this year is guaranteed. In terms of pure rentals, K.J. Osborn represents a potential target. The former Viking has seen his usage dwindle since the start of the year, and he is likely among the team’s wideouts who is frustrated with his current situation.
As ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes, the Patriots have additional late-round draft picks for each of the next two years. Adding more valuable selections appears to be the plan for de facto general manager Eliot Wolf and Co. before the deadline, and it will be interesting to see how much of a market develops over the coming days.
Rams, CB Tre’Davious White Discussing Potential Trade
OCTOBER 28: Head coach Sean McVay confirmed on Monday White and his agent have received permission to seek out a trade. The Rams are still willing to retain him, but as a pending free agent it would be understandable if White preferred a fresh start and the opportunity to once again operate as a starter.
OCTOBER 26: Tre’Davious White was a key member of the Rams’ secondary early in the year, but he has been a healthy scratch for each of the past three games. The veteran corner could soon be on the move as a result. 
[RELATED: Rams Not Expecting To Trade Cooper Kupp]
White and the Rams are discussing their future, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. A trade is one potential outcome in this instance, although the team is also open to retaining him. As Los Angeles knows (like all other teams), attrition throughout the season could lead to injuries elsewhere on the CB depth chart. That could thrust White back into the first-team role he held for the first four weeks of the year.
As Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes, the Rams indicated upon signing White he would not be tasked with a heavy workload right away, although that is what wound up happening. The former Bills All-Pro handled a 98% defensive snap share during Weeks 1-4 before falling out of the gameday lineup altogether. White surrendered four touchdowns and a 138.4 passer rating in coverage, something which has no doubt played a role in his lack of usage over the past three contests.
Those struggles in coverage could hinder White’s trade value, although the 29-year-old is a pending free agent. He inked a one-year pact on the open market with a base value of $4.25MM. Incentives are also in place with that pact, though, and logging a 60% snap share with the Rams would trigger additional compensation. Any acquiring team would take on the prorated remainder of a $1.5MM base salary, something which would be a feasible task for contenders.
White was among the league’s top corners during the first five years of his Buffalo tenure. Injuries have stalled his career, however, and between 2022 and ’23 he played only 10 games. The LSU product managed to recover from the Achilles tear he suffered last October in time for the start of the season, although his poor coverage showing will lead to questions about his ability to return to his pre-injury form.
The Rams have Darious Williams back after his IR stint, along with Cobie Durant and Ahkello Witherspoon in place at the cornerback spot. Missed time from any member of that trio could lead White back into the lineup, but if a strong enough trade market emerges it will be interesting to see if the team prefers to move on.
Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. Facing Multi-Week Absence
The Jaguars will be without Christian Kirk for the remainder of the season. The team’s receiver depth chart is set to be increasingly thin for a short-term period. 
Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. is dealing with a chest/rib injury he suffered on Sunday. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports a two-to-four week absence should be expected as a result. Thomas is seeking a second opinion on the matter, and he informed Fowler’s colleague Michael DiRocco MRI results confirmed no major injury took place.
While the first-rounder aims to practice as early as this week, he is in danger of missing time. Any absence would be notable in its own right given how impactful he has been for Jacksonville’s offense so far. In the wake of losing Kirk to a broken collarbone, however, missing Thomas would add further to the issues facing the team on the depth chart.
Selected 23rd overall in April, Thomas was the second LSU wideout to be added during Day of the draft (joining Malik Nabers in that respect). Jacksonville’s WR room lost Calvin Ridley during free agency, something which paved the way for a notable workload right away. Thomas has not disappointed so far; the 22-year-old has reached 60 or more yards in a game five times this year. He currently sits in a tie for sixth in the NFL with 573 yards, and his five receiving touchdowns place him in a tie for third.
The Jags added Gabe Davis in free agency, and he has been a regular presence so far in his debut Jacksonville campaign. The former Bill was not targeted yesterday, but that will likely change moving forward with Kirk out of the picture. Returner Devin Duvernay is currently on IR, but once he returns he could also be in line for an increased role on offense. In any case, Thomas’ health will be a key factor in the team’s efforts to rebound from a 2-6 start.
Saints HC Dennis Allen Addresses Losing Streak, Week 8 QB Change
After a 2-0 start, the Saints have seen their season take a nosedive. The team is now on a six-game losing streak, and as such head coach Dennis Allen‘s job security remains a talking point. 
Allen entered the league as one of the coaches to watch with respect to being on the hot seat. An unexpectedly strong showing on offense in particular eased concerns on that front early on, but struggles on both sides of the ball have continued in recent games. Sunday’s 26-8 loss did not prompt a new round of direct questions related to Allen’s job status, but he was asked about speaking with the front office as the team attempts to end the skid.
“We have conversations every day, you know what I mean? So I don’t feel any more sense of, having to have these conversations,” Allen said (via Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons). “Look, I think we all understand that it’s a results-oriented business. And we need to play better football.”
New Orleans ranks near the bottom of the league in a number of defensive categories, and the team sits 28th in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game. The Saints had a top-10 finish in scoring defense during each of Allen’s first two years as head coach, and the former longtime defensive coordinator was expected to maintain that level of success in 2024. Instead, a multitude of issues have emerged while scoring has also become a problem.
Of course, injuries suffered by quarterback Derek Carr and receivers Chris Olave (who returned in Week 8) and Rashid Shaheed (who will miss the rest of the season) have hindered New Orleans’ offense recently. A quarterback change – from Spencer Rattler to Jake Haener – took place during the third quarter of yesterday’s loss, but the move did not yield an uptick in production. Allen noted he attempted to generate a spark by installing Haener, who was not told of any swap being considered until he was tapped to join the game (h/t Jeff Nowak of Inside Black & Gold) .
The switch from Pete Carmichael to Klint Kubiak raised expectations on offense for the Saints, who sit 16th in scoring. A return to the lineup on Carr’s part – which could happen in Week 9 – would certainly help the team’s chances of ending the losing streak. Doing so would also boost Allen’s chances of retaining his role as his New Orleans record now sits at 18-24.
Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Suffers Neck Injury
12:48pm: Owusu-Koramoah posted “All is well” on social media Monday morning. Head coach Kevin Stefanski later revealed he has now been released from hospital, a positive development for team and player.
9:51am: The Browns recorded their second win of the season on Sunday, but the team lost a key defender in the process. Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was carted off the field due to a neck injury. 
The 24-year-old was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game and taken to a nearby hospital. Encouragingly, the team announced he has movement in all of his extremities. Owusu-Koramoah remained in hospital overnight for observation, as noted by Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.
While that was a precautionary measure, losing Owusu-Koramoah for any extended period would deal a major blow to the Browns’ defense. The Pro Bowler leads Cleveland in tackles with 61 on the year, and he has added three sacks and an interception. Owusu-Koramoah landed a three-year, $37.5MM extension this offseason, confirming his status as a foundational member of Cleveland’s core.
The Notre Dame product has started 41 of his 49 Browns appearances, and he enjoyed a breakout last year in terms of production (101 tackles, 3.5 sacks). That helped his leverage for negotiations on the extension front, and expectations were high for 2024 and beyond as a result of the new contract. Owusu-Koramoah has lived up to them so far, and he will be counted on to reprise his role as a key figure at the second level of the defense when he returns.
In the meantime, the Browns will move forward with an even thinner LB corps. Veteran Jordan Hicks has been sidelined for three games this year, including yesterday’s win over the Ravens. Missing him along with Owusu-Koramoah for a notable period would be significant for Cleveland’s defense. The team also has the likes of Mohamoud Diabate, Nathaniel Watson, Khaleke Hudson and Devin Bush as options to step into a larger role for the time being. At 2-6, the Browns face a long path to return to the postseason, but their chances of doing so would take a hit if Owusu-Koramoah were unable to return in the near future.
Patriots’ Josh Uche Inactive For Week 8
Josh Uche is once again the subject of trade speculation as the November 5 deadline approaches. As uncertainty looms over his future, he found himself inactive for the Patriots’ Week 8 contest. 
[RELATED: Davon Godchaux Surprised By Trade Rumors]
“It was just a healthy scratch and we also [aim] to put the best team out there that gives us the best chance to win,” head coach Jerod Mayo said when addressing the decision (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald).
Uche, to little surprise, is drawing trade interest. That was also the case last year, and the Patriots came close to working out a deal which would have sent him to a new team for the remainder of his rookie contract. Instead, the former second-rounder stayed in New England before signing a one-year deal to keep him in place for 2024. Uche had appeared in the Patriots’ first seven games, recording a pair of sacks and five pressures.
It will be interesting to see if the Michigan product’s benching is an indication of a trade being worked on. As Kyed notes, Uche is viewed as New England’s top trade candidate based on his status as a pending free agent who would not be expensive to acquire. His base salary for the year is only $1.3MM, so nearly every team in the league could easily absorb the prorated remainder of that figure in a trade.
Uche had a strong season in 2022 with 11.5 sacks, but he has not developed into a three-down contributor for New England. Any team pursuing a deal would no doubt view him as a third-down specialist capable of chipping in on a rotational basis. A part-time workload is usually in store for Anfernee Jennings, who took on additional snaps in Uche’s absence. He would be in line for an increased role moving forward in the event a trade involving Uche were to be worked out.
Trade Notes: 49ers, Chiefs, Ravens, Hawks
With the 49ers dealing with a number of injuries at the receiver spot – punctuated by Brandon Aiyuk‘s ACL tear – the team has been floated as a potential buyer in terms of pass-catching help. General manager John Lynch is confident in San Francisco’s incumbent options, though.
“I wouldn’t say that specifically,” Lynch said when asked about pursuing a receiver trade (via David Bonilla of 49ersWebZone.com). “I mean, we look into every situation to see if it can help us at every position. It’s a lot harder to do than people realize. People aren’t into giving up players that can really help you.”
When the unit is at full strength, the 49ers’ WR corps will consist of Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Chris Conley, Jacob Cowing, Ronnie Bell and first-round rookie Ricky Pearsall. The latter has made two appearances since recovering from his offseason gunshot wound, totaling seven catches for 59 yards. Pearsall emerging as a dependable contributor would certainly soften the blow of losing Aiyuk. San Francisco has been connected to a reunion with Kendrick Bourne, but the veteran prefers to remain in New England.
Here are some other trade-related notes from around the NFL:
- DeAndre Hopkins made his Chiefs debut on Sunday, recording a pair of catches. The three-time All-Pro recently became the latest receiver to be dealt ahead of the November 5 deadline, and his presence will help a Kansas City team which will be without Rashee Rice or Marquise Brown for the rest of the season and which is currently missing Skyy Moore. On the other side of the ball, another move could be in store. Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes the defending champions could be in the market for a cornerback (subscription required). Jaylen Watson‘s fractured ankle makes it unlikely he will return in 2024, so the Chiefs could stand to make a move at the CB spot.
- During their Week 8 loss to the Browns, the Ravens struggled once again on the defensive side of the ball. Baltimore currently sits 26th in scoring defense, owing in large part to a league-worst 291 passing yards allowed per game. To little surprise, then, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec writes the Ravens would likely prefer to add a defender ahead of the deadline (subscription required). The team has already been connected to pursuing edge rush help, but the decision to bench safety Marcus Williams could also be an indication a safety is on the radar. The Ravens currently have $4.36MM in cap space, enough for a modest midseason acquisition.
- The 2024 trading period began when the Seahawks acquired Roy Robertson-Harris from the Jaguars. The move gave Seattle an experienced presence along the defensive interior, something which was a priority for the team. As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes, injuries were not a factor in the deal. Rather, the Seahawks have used Robertson-Harris as a rotational member of their D-line amidst their younger incumbent options. The 31-year-old has made seven tackles during his two Seattle appearances.