NFC Trade Notes: Mafe, Woolen, Shaheed, Cowboys, Packers, Buccaneers, Lions
As one of three NFC West teams sporting a five-win record, the Seahawks do not fit the profile of a seller at the trade deadline. Nevertheless, a pair of notable defenders continue to be mentioned in trade talk.
Cornerback Tariq Woolen remains a name to watch ahead of the November 4 deadline. The most recent update on his status indicated he could remain in Seattle. Things could change in short order, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Seattle prefers to keep Woolen in place through the remainder of the season.
The former Pro Bowler has struggled this season and his rookie contract is set to expire at the end of the campaign. The same is also true of edge rusher Boye Mafe, who could very well depart in free agency this spring. As such, the 26-year-old is worth monitoring on the trade front. Schefter adds, though, that the Seahawks would also prefer to keep him.
Here are some other trade notes from around the NFC:
- In terms of receivers, one of the top candidates to move shortly is Rashid Shaheed. The Saints have been connected to an asking price of a Day 2 pick for the pending free agent. In particular, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football passes along New Orleans asked an AFC suitor for a third-round selection. Shaheed would provide a notable vertical addition to any acquiring team, but a price that high would be a surprise for a rental. It will be interesting to see if the Saints lower their asking price in the coming days.
- Logan Wilson‘s trade request is still in effect, and he is among the defenders worth monitoring on the Bengals. A number of teams have made calls recently, and Schefter reports the Cowboys are among them. Dallas could stand to use one (or more) defensive additions given the team’s play on that side of the ball, and the team is not only in the market for rentals. Wilson – who has 65 starts to his name – is under contract through 2027.
- The Packers faced questions about their secondary entering the campaign, but the team sits 15th against the pass so far. Green Bay is among the teams looking into corners on the trade market, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports (subscription required). Tyson Campbell, Roger McCreary, Michael Carter II and (most recently) Jaire Alexander have already been dealt ahead of the deadline. Other corners could be on the move, however, and with nearly $12MM in cap space the Packers can afford a rental addition.
- Sitting atop the NFC South, the Buccaneers could look to add. It would nonetheless come as a surprise if a notable acquisition were to be made. Greg Auman of Fox Sports predicts Tampa Bay will (if anything) only be in the market for a depth addition in the rental market. Adding at the linebacker spot or along the edge would be feasible, per Auman, but a major move should not be expected.
- Another team not viewed as a serious buyer is the Lions. Defensive depth could still be targeted, though, and Russini writes safety and defensive line are among the positions being explored. Detroit is also among the teams which have called the Bengals about their defensive trade candidates (including Wilson but also cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt). With over $22MM in cap space, the Lions could afford a rental with ease.
Steelers Still Interested In WR Trade
Marquez Valdes-Scantling reunited with Aaron Rodgers earlier this week by agreeing to a Steelers deal. In spite of that addition, more could be coming at the receiver position.
Pittsburgh is still looking into a trade acquisition at that spot, veteran insider Jordan Schultz and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler report. The Steelers have of course been connected to a move dating back to well before the Valdes-Scantling pact. The former Packers speedster has played on four teams since the end of his Green Bay tenure and expectations will be limited in his second time around with Rodgers.
The Steelers traded away George Pickens this offseason and replaced him with D.K. Metcalf. The latter inked a four-year, $132MM deal upon arrival from the Seahawks, and he will remain Pittsburgh’s WR1 for the foreseeable future. Finding depth production has been an issue in 2025, though, with Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson struggling to make a consistent impact.
As such, Pittsburgh could stand to add further ahead of the November 4 deadline. The team has been linked to interest in Jakobi Meyers and Calvin Ridley, among others. Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms (subscription required) the Steelers have made calls about Meyers, making them one of several teams in play for the Raiders veteran. Per Russini, Pittsburgh has indeed looked into other wideouts on the trade block as well.
Sitting at 4-3 on the year, the Steelers lead the AFC North as things stand. The team’s defensive struggles and a return to health on the part of the Ravens have led to recent pessimism about Pittsburgh’s chances of remaining in that spot, however. A rental move at the receiver spot would aid the offense, a unit which ranks just 23rd in the league in passing. Improving in that regard would be a feasible goal.
The Steelers have shown a willingness to be aggressive in terms of roster-building moves under general manager Omar Khan. With over $6MM in cap space, Pittsburgh can afford a modest swap in the coming days. It will be interesting to see if the team’s ongoing interest produces a deal.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/25
Here are Friday’s only minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: DE Cedric Johnson
- Signed to active roster: QB Sean Clifford
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: S Eric Murray
- Signed to active roster: WR Austin Trammell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: S DeShon Elliott, DL Daniel Ekuale (story)
With replacement starting quarterback Joe Flacco still questionable to play this weekend as he deals with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, Clifford makes his way to the active roster to serve as the team’s third, emergency passer behind Flacco and backup Jake Browning.
Lions Unlikely To Be Active At Trade Dealine
During each of the past three years, the Lions have made a move at the trade deadline. That pattern could repeat in 2025, but for now the team does not appear likely to swing a notable deal. 
“I love where we’re at,” head coach Dan Campbell said when speaking about the Lions’ situation (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I think the roster is in, I think it’s healthy, I think it’s in a good position. I think we have depth, but like I say [general manager Brad Holmes is] always looking to improve the roster.”
The Lions sit at 5-2 on the year, even with the Packers for the most wins in the NFC North. Topping the division – if not the conference altogether – is once again within reach in 2025. That would point Detroit to a buyer’s stance, with Birkett naming depth in the pass rush department along the with secondary and at the tight end position as logical targets. Indeed, in the wake of the Aidan Hutchinson extension, it was reported the Lions’ stance on acquiring defensive help has not changed.
Detroit’s cap setup for future years will include a number of massive commitments for recently extended players. Adding a player with term would be challenging as a result, but the team has over $25MM in cap space for this year. Bringing in a rental should therefore be feasible.
Hutchinson’s season-ending injury from last year made an EDGE addition a key priority and resulted in the Za’Darius Smith acquisition. The Lions have not been linked to a trade candidate in 2025 to the same extent they were widely known as Smith’s likeliest destination last season. Nevertheless, there is time until Tuesday afternoon’s deadline to work out a trade.
Campbell added he and Holmes have “brought up a couple of things” on the trade front recently. As the Lions look to rebound from last year’s playoff disappointment, their health on defense in particular will be worth monitoring. With a number of key players on that side of the ball due to return shortly, no major moves should be expected.
Saints Seeking Day 2 Picks For WR Rashid Shaheed, CB Alontae Taylor
Of the receivers recently named as trade candidates, Rashid Shaheed is perhaps the likeliest to be on the move in the near future. The Saints wideout is a pending free agent and could find himself on the radar of several suitors. 
New Orleans has received interest in fellow wideout Chris Olave, but he is attached to his fifth-year option for 2026. The Ohio State product could very well be in place beyond that point by means of an extension. Shaheed, by contrast, is one of many Saints identified as one to watch on the trade front and the team is willing to move him.
At this point, though, no deal is imminent. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated confirms calls have come in about Shaheed, but he adds New Orleans’ asking price is currently a second- or third-round pick. That matches the Raiders’ stance with respect to Jakobi Meyers, another wideout known on the trade block. Per Breer, suitors have balked at that price in Shaheed’s case.
The situation is similar as it pertains to cornerback Alontae Taylor. New Orleans is seeking a Day 2 pick for the pending free agent corner, Breer adds. Just like with Shaheed, he writes interested teams view that asking price as too steep. It will be interesting to see if the Saints shift their stance ahead of the November 4 deadline by accepting less valuable offers in one or both cases.
Shaheed, 27, is averaging 11.1 yards per catch in 2025, by far the lowest figure of his career. Much of that is due to the team’s overall offensive struggles, though, and a QB switch has taken place. Rookie Tyler Shough will handle starting duties for the remainder of the season. Shaheed would only play one game with Shough in place in the event he were to be dealt ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
Taylor has served as a starter for much of his New Orleans tenure. With the team having traded away Marshon Lattimore and lost Paulson Adebo in free agency, moving on from the second-rounder would leave the secondary rather thin. Of course, the lack of an extension in Adebo’s case has led to interest from suitors and uncertainty regarding his future.
The receiver and cornerback trade markets around the league will depend in large part on Shaheed and Taylor, with the former having been at least loosely linked to several buyers recently. As such, both of these cases will be worth watching closely.
Jerry Jones: Cowboys Not Only Exploring Rental Trade Options
Nothing appears to be imminent at this point, but the Cowboys have made it clear they are in the market for at least one trade addition. Rentals are of course common at this time of year, although Dallas is also open to long-term acquisitions. 
During his latest appearance on 105.3 The Fan, owner Jerry Jones said (via Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News) the Cowboys are open to making a deal for a player under contract beyond 2025. Last season provided an example of that approach in the form of the Jonathan Mingo trade.
“[Jonathan] Mingo was that type of trade last year,” Jones said when speaking about potentially adding a player with term on their contract. “We liked the value in a going forward basis.”
That assessment of the Mingo swap is certainly notable given his non-impactful Cowboys tenure to date. Dallas sent Carolina a fourth-round pick at the deadline one year ago for Mingo and a seventh-round selection. The 24-year-old made just one catch in eight appearances upon arrival with the Cowboys. He has not suited up this season, although the fact Mingo is under contract through 2027 leaves him time to emerge as a contributor.
To no surprise, a number of the players mentioned most frequently in trade talk recently are pending free agents. That applies to several defenders who could offer a short-term boost to the Cowboys, but there are of course other options on the team’s radar. Dallas has shown an interest in high-profile edge rushers which would offset the production lost in the Micah Parsons trade and Jones has expressed a willingness to use the draft capital added in that swap under the right circumstances.
Parting with one or more first-round picks would obviously not be feasible in a rental acquisition, but adding a player with term could open the door to a blockbuster swap over the coming days. The Jets are willing to entertain offers on defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, for instance, and the three-time Pro Bowler was the subject of Cowboys interest this past offseason. Dallas has nearly $31MM in 2025 cap space and the team’s post-Parsons era will include an increase in financial flexibility over the coming years.
It will be interesting to see if a swap of one kind or another is pulled off in the Cowboys’ case. The team has until November 4 to finalize an acquisition, something which could include a repeat of the Mingo deal with respect to contract length.
Dolphins-Chris Grier Fallout: McDaniel, Waddle, Replacement Candidates
Chris Grier‘s lengthy tenure with the Dolphins – including a GM run dating back to 2016 – has come to an end. It remains to be seen if head coach Mike McDaniel will remain in the organization past the end of this season, but that is a possibility at this point. 
Owner Stephen Ross “still believes in” the embattled coach, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. That stance was confirmed by the news earlier today stating McDaniel will continue in his role through the end of the campaign. His performance over the coming weeks will in large part dictate whether or change on the sidelines will be made as well. Per Jackson, McDaniel has made a number of small changes in his approach over the past two weeks, including more one-on-one time being spent with players.
As Jackson adds, Ross is evaluating everything in the organization at this time. With respect to the front office, interim GM Champ Kelly will look to earn the full-time position while the fate of McDaniel (who landed an extension last offseason) will continue to be a talking point as the campaign winds down. Last night’s loss dropped Miami to 2-7 on the year, making the team an interesting one to watch ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
Several notable players have long been connected to trade interest, especially given the Dolphins’ struggles in 2025. Jaylen Waddle is among them, although it would come as a surprise if a deal were to be worked out on that front. Indeed, Grier was insistent on keeping the 26-year-old, SNY’s Connor Hughes reports. That was certainly a reasonable approach given Waddle’s importance to the Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill-less passing game. Now, though, the decision to part ways with Grier could open the door to more trades taking place than otherwise would have.
The timing of this move is intriguing since it comes just before the deadline. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports some around the NFL were surprised by the fact Grier’s run ended at this point of the season. He adds, on the other hand, the longtime executive was increasingly “feeling the pressure” with respect to his job security as the campaign progressed, meaning today’s news does not come entirely as a shock.
Kelly has until Tuesday afternoon to make a final decision on trades. In the meantime, attention will turn to his ability to earn the full-time gig while outside candidates receive consideration during the 2026 hiring cycle. With respect to potential general manager hires, Jones lists Alec Halaby (Eagles), Ed Dodds (Colts), Ian Cunningham (Bears), Glenn Cook (Browns), Jon-Eric Sullivan (Packers) and Lance Newmark (Commanders) as names to watch. Each of those executives have been connected to GM vacancies in recent years and at least most of them no doubt will be again in 2026. Connections to Miami’s opening will be worth watching for as the hiring cycle takes shape.
Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. To Return In Week 9
The Falcons were without their starting quarterback and top receiver in Week 8. Both are on track to return in time for Sunday’s game, though. 
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is off Atlanta’s injury report. The second-year passer was absent last week due to a bone bruise in his knee. After nearly being in position to play through the injury this past Sunday, it comes as little surprise he will manage to return in time for the Falcons’ upcoming game against the Patriots.
The same is also true of receiver Drake London, who was absent in Week 8 as a result of a hip injury which emerged late in preparation for the game. The 24-year-old was a limited participant in practice over the past two days before logging a full session on Friday. As a result, London is now set to return at the same time Atlanta’s QB1 will resume his first full campaign atop the depth chart.
The Falcons have run hot and cold in 2025. The team suffered a 24-point loss against the Dolphins in Week 8 with Kirk Cousins making his first start of the season alongside a shorthanded skill position group. Having Penix and London back in the fold will be key against a Patriots team riding a five-game winning streak.
Atlanta’s offense has flashed potential when at full strength this season, although the 3-4 team would certainly benefit from better consistency in all facets. A strong run of availability would be a critical factor in that regard, especially as Penix’s evaluation period in a full-time starting role continues. That process will see him take the field with a healthier group around him on Sunday.
NFL Mailbag: Bills, Falcons, Garrett, Crosby
This week's PFR mailbag covers a number of trade-related questions ahead of the upcoming deadline as well as an inquiry tied to a quirk in the NFL rulebook.
Jason asks:
Are the Bills going to land a receiver at the deadline this year? When compared with what the Chiefs now have there, they seem shorthanded in that area.
Talk about Buffalo adding at the deadline has increasingly pointed in this direction. That comes as no surprise, given the impact seen from the receiver spot so far. Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Josh Palmer have combined to average only 128 receiving yards per game in 2025. A strong running attack can offset much of that low-end production, but an upgrade would be a logical target in the coming days.
Rashid Shaheed’s name has been floated for quite some time and the Bills are among the teams which have been (at least loosely) connected to him. The Saints are treating the remainder of the season as an audition period for rookie quarterback Tyler Shough so a number of pending free agents could be on the move shortly.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/29/25
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves around the NFL:
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated for return from IR: DT Perrion Winfrey
Houston Texans
- Designated for return from IR: FB Jakob Johnson
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: RB Terrell Jennings
New York Giants
- Designated for return from IR: CB Rico Payton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Opened practice window: DB Cory Trice
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: OL Drew Moss
Seattle Seahawks
- Opened practice window: G Christian Haynes
Winfrey, Johnson and Payton have each started their 21-day activation periods. Bringing them back into the fold will use up one of their respective teams’ eight IR activations. By contrast, Trice and Haynes were given the designated for return label during roster cuts in August. As a result, their activations have already been accounted for.