Cardinals Not Interested In Selling Before Trade Deadline
Despite a 2-5 start to the season, the Cardinals are not interested in selling players before Tuesday’s trade deadline, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
Arizona is currently in last place in the NFC West with their three divisional rivals all sitting at five wins or better. With a 1% chance of making the postseason, according to The Athletic, the Cardinals could be seen as sellers, but the team seems to be more confident internally. Their five losses have come by a combined 13 points, with no margin of defeat bigger than four points; their two wins, meanwhile, were by five points or more.
Kyler Murray has also been dealing with a foot injury that sidelined him for the Cardinals’ last two games, both losses. He is not expected to play on Monday against the Cowboys, either. However, the star quarterback’s return and some better results in close games could fuel a second-half playoff run.
A loss to the Cowboys on Monday night would drop Arizona to 2-6 and all but end their postseason hopes. That could change their mind about not selling players, but it is unclear who would even be available. They do not have many players on expiring contracts; the only two notable names that could be of interest to other teams are defensive tackle Calais Campbell and safety Jalen Thompson.
Campbell, who is still playing excellent football in his age-39 season, is the type of player that is coveted by playoff contenders this time of year. However, the 18-year veteran recently indicated that he does not want to leave Arizona after reuniting with the team that drafted him this offeseason.
“I came here, I want to be here. And I want this team to go out there and make a run,” Campbell said last week (via Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic).
Thompson, meanwhile, has played every defensive snap for the Cardinals this season. That does not seem like the type of player a team would trade away midseason, even if they were motivated to sell.
As a result, the Cardinals seem inclined to hold onto their talent instead of flipping players for draft picks. Even if their early-season losses are too much to overcome, they have virtually all of their roster under contract in 2026 and therefore would not want to jettison talent who could play a role next year.
Bills DE Michael Hoecht Suffers Torn Achilles
Bills defensive end Michael Hoecht suffered a torn Achilles in Sunday’s win vs. the Chiefs, head coach Sean McDermott announced after the game (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport).
Hoecht, 28, arrived in Buffalo on a three-year, $21MM deal this offseason. He was suspended for the first six games of the season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy, though the Bills were aware of the infraction before finalizing his contract. He was reinstated during the Bills’ Week 7 bye and made a splashy debut in Week 8 against the Panthers. After Buffalo’s defensive line lost Ed Oliver in the first half, Hoecht took over a larger snap share and logged 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble that the Bills offense converted into a touchdown.
The five-year veteran chipped in another 0.5 sacks before he left Buffalo’s Week 9 victory over Kansas City. He will now miss the rest of the season, certainly a disappointing result after serving his suspension.
The Bills’ defensive line depth will be tested without Hoecht and Oliver, the latter of whom is out for the rest of the regular season with a biceps tear. However, Buffalo’s pass rush has been solid this year with 11 different defenders logging at least one sack. More injuries could spread the group even thinner, but they seem to have enough talent to keep pressuring opposing quarterbacks at a solid rate. Defensive ends Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, and A.J. Epenesa have all turned in solid performances thus far, as has defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
Hoecht will spend the better part of the next year recovering with the hopes of returning for the start of the 2026 season.
Panthers Place OL Brady Christensen On IR, Sign QB Mike White To Active Roster
NOVEMBER 2: The thumb on Dalton’s throwing hand is actually broken, per Person (subscription required). Dalton broke the thumb during the second series of the Buffalo contest, though he did not immediately tell the coaching staff about the injury.
Young returned to practice as a full participant on Wednesday, and he has no injury designation for Week 9. He will therefore return to his QB1 post.
OCTOBER 30: Panthers offensive lineman Brady Christensen underwent surgery for a torn Achilles on Wednesday and was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per team reporter Darin Gantt.
Christensen went down in the Panthers’ Week 8 loss to the Bills and will miss the rest of the season. He had started the last four games at right guard after Robert Hunt and Chandler Zavala both landed on injured reserve. Five-year veteran Jake Curhan finished the game at right guard.
Christensen’s injury was one of several to the Panthers’ offensive line on Sunday. Center Cade Mays injured his ankle and right tackle Taylor Moton injured his knee; they were replaced by Austin Corbett and Yosh Nijman, respectively. Head coach Dave Canales said this week (via Gant and his colleague Kassidy Hill) that Mays was not expected to play in Week 9, but Moton might. That would keep Corbett at center and potentially insert Nijman into the starting lineup.
At right guard, the Panthers could stick with Curhan, but Zavala is expected to be activated from IR ahead of Sunday’s game against the Packers, according to The Athletic’s Joe Person. That will likely position him to start, potentially for the rest of the season if Hunt does not come back.
With the open spot on their roster, the Panthers promoted veteran quarterback Mike White from the practice squad. That may not be a good sign for Andy Dalton‘s availability this week. He is dealing with a thumb injury on his throwing hand and did not practice on Wednesday. Bryce Young is trending towards a return after missing Week 8 with a high ankle sprain; if Dalton can’t go, White would be Young’s backup on Sunday.
The Panthers also filled the open practice squad spot created by White’s promotion by re-signing defensive tackle Jaden Crumedy.
Broncos Eyeing OL, Deep Threat WR Before Deadline
NOVEMBER 1: Fowler confirms (video link) the Broncos remain interested in a guard and/or speed wideout addition. He describes the team as a “window shopper” at this point, though, indicating nothing is imminent.
OCTOBER 30: The second year of the Broncos’ Sean Payton–Bo Nix partnership has gotten off to an excellent start with a 6-2 record and sole possession of first place in the AFC West.
That could position Denver as a buyer ahead of the trade deadline. The Broncos already have an elite defense and are looking to add on the other side of the ball, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. In particular, they are looking at offensive guard, tight end, and wide receiver.
Week 1 starting left guard Ben Powers landed on injured reserve earlier this month, pressing Alex Palczewski into duty in the last two games. Palczewski, who has played on the right side of the offensive line for all of his college and professionally, used the Broncos’ DARI Motion technology to track and improve his technique on the left side, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. As a result, he has held up well at an unfamiliar position, but Powers’ earliest return would come in December. Adding a guard could offer an upgrade on Palczewski as well as added insurance if Powers cannot come back this season.
Tight end Evan Engram has been somewhat of a disappointment to start the year after signing with the Broncos in free agency. He is only averaging 30.7 yards per game with just one touchdown, far below his production in Jacksonville in the last three years. Denver could explore trading for tight end, but there may not be a clear upgrade available.
An addition at wide receiver seems more likely. Courtland Sutton has been excellent as usual, and Troy Franklin has thrived in the short and intermediate areas of the field. The Broncos are therefore interest in a “classic, field-stretching receiving option” (via Fowler) who would be a more consistent deep threat than Marvin Mims. Fowler’s colleague Dan Graziano floated a deal with Payton’s former team, the Saints, that would bring Rashid Shaheed to Denver. Such a move would not be a reunion as Payton had already left New Orleans by the time Shaheed was drafted in 2022.
Cardinals To Start QB Jacoby Brissett In Week 9
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.
Colts Eyeing Pass Rush, CB Upgrades
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.
‘No Chance’ Browns Trade Myles Garrett Before Deadline
It’s not often that someone regrets taking $160MM. But Myles Garrett‘s visible frustration during the Browns 32-13 loss to the Patriots suggested he may have second thoughts about signing an extension in Cleveland earlier this year.
Garrett notched 5.5 sacks in New England on Sunday, setting a Browns single-game record (that he first set in 2021 with 4.5 sacks). But immediately after his final sack, Garrett slammed his helmet on the sidelines (via FOX Sports). After the game, he strode into his press conference playing Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “A Simple Man” on his phone, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, and continued to express his disappointment with the Browns’ season.
“I want to win,” said Garrett (via The Athletic’s Zac Jackson). He added that his sideline frustration stemmed from a desire to stay in the game. Cleveland had pulled their starters, but New England’s were still in the game.
When asked about the team’s current situation more generally, Garrett responded, “It doesn’t get any easier each week you ask it.”
The Browns’ struggles have reignited trade talk surrounding the four-time All-Pro, but there is no way that Garrett is moved before this year’s deadline, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
Garrett’s contract is often cited as a primary reason that he won’t be traded, but Graziano notes that the finances are still workable for Cleveland. His deal includes fully guaranteed option bonuses in 2026, 2027, and 2028 (via OverTheCap) that an acquiring team would have to pay. The Browns would only have to absorb a $41MM dead cap hit in 2026, hardly a desirable outcome but still just over half of what the Broncos ate when they parted ways with Russell Wilson. Graziano also mentioned the Browns’ offseason pursuit of public funding for a new stadium, which could have been complicated by trading away the face of the franchise. The funding was signed into law via the state of Ohio’s budget in July, so that potential obstacle to moving Garrett is now gone.
In other words, the Browns could trade Garrett if they want to, but it seems the desire is just not there. Their strategy may be to wait until the end of the season when they can acquire a veteran quarterback or, more likely, target a top prospect in the 2026 draft. That could convince Garrett to stick around, but he may not be willing to trust the franchise after putting his faith in them to build a competitive team this season. It seems possible, if not likely, that he renews his trade request in the offseason in an attempt to play for a championship contender next year.
Trading Garrett could also give the Browns even more draft capital to aggressively pursue a rookie quarterback next spring. They already have two first-round picks after trading down from No. 2 with the Jaguars (who moved up for Travis Hunter), and another could ensure that they can trade for virtually any pick, if it’s available.
Seahawks Unlikely To Retain Boye Mafe
After a quiet start to the season from Boye Mafe, the Seahawks fourth-year edge rusher seems likely to leave Seattle this offseason.
Mafe was the No. 40 overall pick in the 2022 draft and started three games as a rookie. He took over a full-time role in 2023 and recorded 15.0 sacks across his next two seasons. This year, however, he has just two quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, and zero sacks in seven games and a 62% defensive snap share.
As a result, Mafe is “not trending toward a lucrative second contract,” according to Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Obviously, his performance this year would preclude an in-season extension, but Dugar’s words suggest that he is not likely to be re-signed by the Seahawks this offseason, either.
Seattle has a few reasons to move on from Mafe. He was drafted in 2022 when Pete Carroll was still the team’s head coach. Now, Mike Macdonald is in charge, and teams typically turn over their rosters in the first few years of a new regime.
The Seahawks also have depth at edge rusher into next year. DeMarcus Lawrence signed a multi-year deal this offseason, and both Uchenna Nwosu and Derick Hall are under contract in 2026 as well. Lawrence and Nwosu have outproduced Mafe this season, but Hall has taken a step back after his eight-sack breakout last year. It still seems likely that Seattle will keep Hall for the final year of his rookie deal, and Nwosu’s five sacks in six games this year could save him from being a cap casualty next spring.
Mafe could also be somewhat expensive. His pressure rate is slightly down relative to his last two years, but his pass rush win rate is about the same, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He could be due for some positive regression later this season, which would boost his stock heading into free agency. His 2023 and 2024 production won’t be forgotten by teams in need of pass-rush help, either.
Lions Extend DE Aidan Hutchinson
The Lions are signing edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a four-year contract extension, as reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and confirmed by Hutchinson’s agent, Mike McCartney. The deal is now official, per a team announcement.
The deal is worth $180MM in total ($45MM AAV), according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, making Hutchinson the second-highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL behind Micah Parsons. Hutchinson’s $141MM total guarantee is the most of any non-quarterback in league history.
[RELATED: Details On Lions’ Big-Ticket Extension]
There is little doubt that Hutchinson is worth such a massive extension. The 2022 No. 2 pick burst onto the scene with 9.5 sacks and a second-place finish in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He took a second-year leap with 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss and appeared to be the leading Defensive Player of the Year candidate in 2024 with 7.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in his first five games before a season-ending leg fracture.
Upon returning to the field this year, the 25-year-old picked up right where he left off. Hutchinson has six sacks and six tackles for loss in his first seven games with a league-high four forced fumbles, making it clear that his injury has not affected his game in the slightest. That was probably all the Lions needed to confirm before signing him to the second-largest contract in franchise history.
Hutchinson’s extension is only the latest investment that Detroit has made in their roster. Since April 2024, they have doled out $968.5MM in contract extensions to nine core players, including Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, and Amon-Ra St. Brown, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Almost all of those players were acquired by general manager Brad Holmes after he was hired in 2021.
Holmes traded for Goff and drafted Sewell and St. Brown that offseason, but the Lions still finished last in the NFC North for the fourth season in a row. That put Detroit in position to draft Hutchinson, a Michigan native and former Wolverine, a moment that marked a clear turning point for the franchise. Since then, they have gone 41-17 and won the division in two of the last three seasons.
While Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have patiently, carefully built the Lions into a perennial championship contender, Hutchinson’s ascendance into one of the best defenders in the league has given them a game-wrecking element that no amount of coaching or front office maneuvering can develop. He is virtually unblockable in 1-on-1 matchups and has developed an excellent feel for punching the ball out to force momentum-shifting turnovers.
Hutchinson led the NFL with 62 QB pressures in 2023 — 12 more than anyone else — has 34.5 career sacks. He still managed to lead the Lions with 7.5 sacks despite only finishing four games in 2024. The standout edge rusher is already at six this season, having forced four fumbles in Detroit’s first seven games.
Although the Lions being upset in the divisional round — due largely to an injury-battered defense — prevented a scenario in which Hutchinson returned for a potential Super Bowl berth, he has proven this season he is fully recovered from the broken leg. Though, he received clearance several months ago. Showing pre-injury form in games moved him into position for serious negotiations — which had been rumored here for a while.
As of early August, however, no substantive Hutchinson talks had started. It then became clear, despite the Parsons blockbuster, no deal would be agreed to before Week 1. But word emerged by October both camps were agreeable regarding a potential in-season extension. A year after the Lions paid fellow pass rusher Alim McNeill in-season, they are betting big on Hutchinson.
That gives Detroit some important cost certainty, though the team’s extension count is rising. That doubles as a good problem for Holmes and Co., as the roster was short on extension candidates when this regime arrived four-plus years ago. More work will lie ahead for Holmes, who has 2023 draftees Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch becoming extension-eligible in 2026. Of those players, only Gibbs can be retained via a fifth-year option.
Hutchinson entered today in the fourth year of his rookie contract. Because the Lions picked up his $19.9MM option for 2026 earlier this year, this new deal will tie him to Detroit though 2030.
A.J. Brown Expected To Return After Bye; Eagles Listening To Trade Offers
Wide receiver A.J. Brown is expected to return from his hamstring injury after the Eagles’ Week 9 bye, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Though, drama still engulfs the veteran wide receiver beyond this injury — one that caused the star receiver to miss Philly’s Week 8 tilt against New York.
Trade rumors have followed the three-time Pro Bowler since his slow start to the year and perceived personal problems in the locker room. Multiple teams are “eyeing” Brown ahead of next week’s trade deadline, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and the Eagles are willing to listen to offers. Schefter notes that the veteran wideout is not expected to be dealt but acknowledges that he is not completely untouchable.
Reading between the lines, it seems like the Eagles are testing the waters to see if they can get a sizable return for Brown, perhaps similar to the draft capital they sent to the Titans to acquire him in 2022. That is the theory posited by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who characterized Schefter’s report as a way for the Eagles to quietly solicit offers around the league. The most recent Brown report did indicate the Eagles are informing teams he is unavailable, but the defending Super Bowl champions are not exactly timid when it comes to trade talks.
Florio also mentioned the potential of a reunion between Brown and Mike Vrabel, his head coach in Tennessee who now holds the same job in New England. Vrabel did not want to let Brown leave the Titans in 2022, as captured during an awkward piece of mid-draft footage captured following the Round 1 swap. This helped put him at odds with team ownership and contributed to his eventual firing.
Indeed, the Eagles may not be actively shopping Brown around the league, but they may be open to the idea, if not in favor of it outright. Obviously, adding significant draft capital would be a boon for an Eagles front office that has hit on quite a few picks in recent years. A trade would also get Brown’s contract off the books and create more financial flexibility for future extensions.
Those benefits might outweigh what Brown brings to the Eagles offense right now. DeVonta Smith has been decidedly more productive this year, and Philadelphia’s run-heavy offense makes it difficult to consistently feed two top wideouts. But Brown has been heating up after his slow start in the first four games of the year.
Brown made six catches for 109 yards and a touchdown in Week 3, but in the other three matchups to open the year, he only recorded eight receptions and 42 yards. In October, however, Brown has gathered strength, culminating in a four-catch, 121-yard, two-touchdown outing in Week 7 against the Vikings.
Now, the Eagles might be in an interesting spot. Brown’s immediate value is skyrocketing right before the deadline, which could get them an appealing return in a trade. However, it would seem unwise for a team coming off a Super Bowl win with similar aspirations to return this year to deal such a talented wideout midseason, especially without much proven receiving depth on the roster. If anything, the current Brown trade talk feels like a precursor to a much more active market – both for Brown and other wide receivers – next offseason.