Jaguars To Sign WR Velus Jones
Velus Jones went unclaimed on waivers but looks to have found a landing spot. The Jaguars are expected to add the free agent wide receiver, The33rdTeam’s Ari Meirov tweets.
Jacksonville just lost Christian Kirk for the season and is expected to be without emerging rookie Brian Thomas Jr. for a bit. As a result, the recently cut Bears receiver/returner/recent running back will head to Duval County. This is a practice squad addition, per the team.
Never taking off with Chicago, Jones received his walking papers late last week. Best known for his return-game work, Jones caught just 12 passes with the Bears. An offseason running back experiment did not lead to a long runway, as the Bears moved on with 1 1/2 seasons remaining on his rookie contract. That deal has since wrapped, with no team claiming Jones on waivers.
Jones worked as the Bears’ primary kick returner as a rookie and again in 2023, averaging more than 27 yards per return in both seasons. Jones ranked seventh and fifth in kick-return yards in 2022 and ’23, respectively, with 607 and 435. The Bears did not make him their returner following this offseason’s radical change to the kickoff; Jones returned just one kick this season. He did not factored into the Bears’ punt-return mix prominently throughout his Windy City stay.
Rushing for a touchdown as a rookie, Jones only logged two carries following this Bears offensive staff’s effort to try him in the backfield. The Jaguars have a greater need at receiver, with Kirk suffering a broken collarbone in Week 8 and Thomas encountering a groin injury. Gabe Davis remains a healthy option among Jags starters, and the team also rosters second-year cog Parker Washington and fourth-year UDFA Tim Jones. But roster adjustments will be needed soon; Jones now represents part of that equation.
The Jaguars also signed offensive lineman Blake Hance from the practice squad to their 53-man roster and released running back Jake Funk from their P-squad.
WR Rumors: Sutton, Chargers, Jets, Meyers
It would be rather odd if the Broncos resisted trading Courtland Sutton at basically every NFL trade window since the 2022 deadline, when the veteran wide receiver established himself as one of this period’s trade-rumor mainstays, and then deal him during a somewhat promising season. But, stop if you’ve heard this before, Sutton is in play to be dealt. Some around the league view the seventh-year wideout as “50-50” to be moved before the Nov. 5 deadline, per Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline.
Sutton, 29, attempted to secure a raise from his $13MM base salary but only received a $1.7MM incentive package this offseason. Denver not budging would point to an openness to a trade, but the team declined a third-round pick for its top receiver from the 49ers, nixing what could have been a three-team trade with the Steelers during the Brandon Aiyuk saga. The Broncos had aimed for a second-rounder for Sutton during the 2023 offseason, progressing in talks with the Ravens before the AFC North club pivoted to an Odell Beckham Jr. signing, but centered their passing attack around him in Sean Payton‘s debut.
This season, the Broncos have needed Sutton to help Bo Nix‘s development. Sutton leads the team with 29 receptions for 377 yards this season, helping a club that is otherwise dependent on rookie-contract players — especially in light of the shooting involving Josh Reynolds. Marvin Mims has not become a factor on offense, as the 2023 second-rounder was viewed as the player the Broncos wanted to replace Jerry Jeudy. The Broncos have Sutton signed through 2025 on a team-friendly deal (four years, $60MM). No guarantees are in place beyond this season, likely opening the door to another round of trade rumors — in the event Denver hangs onto him before next week’s deadline.
With Diontae Johnson the latest receiver to move, here is the latest from the position’s trade market:
- Josh Palmer appears headed to free agency after this season. The former Brandon Staley/Tom Telesco-era piece has not assimilated too well in Greg Roman‘s offense, totaling 15 receptions for 243 yards and no touchdowns this season. The former third-round pick, who operated as key injury insurance behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams under Staley, is not believed to be in the Chargers‘ long-term plans, Pauline adds. The Chargers have been linked to reacquiring Williams, and Pauline indicates the team would like to upgrade on Palmer, who has a chance to be traded. In a contract year, Palmer has a 769-yard season on his resume and has shown the ability to play in the slot and outside. The Chargers have seen Ladd McConkey take over their passing attack, though Palmer remains the team’s second-leading pass catcher.
- Speaking of Williams, he remains with the Jets. That is unlikely to be the case much longer, especially with the team falling to 2-6. Viewed as a trade piece when the team was 2-4, Williams has caught just one pass since the Jets acquired Davante Adams. Tied to a one-year, $10MM deal, Williams is viewed a near-certainty to be dealt, according to the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora. Mentioning Christian Kirk‘s injury as a driver for the Williams market, La Canfora indicates the Jets had been trying to slow-play this market. (Though, Kirk’s injury did not seem to help the Panthers with Johnson’s trade value.) The Jets, who roster Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard as well, have also talked Williams with the Saints and Steelers, each of whom also pursued Adams. Gang Green is not interested in moving Wilson, keeping Williams as the most logical trade chip.
- With Jakobi Meyers a Josh McDaniels pupil in New England who signed during the since-fired HC’s stay, he profiles as a trade chip for the Raiders. Las Vegas, however, had planned to hang onto the sixth-year wideout, La Canfora adds. Though, rival execs believe he could be a notable trade piece as the deadline approaches. Meyers, 28 next month, is due just more than $3MM in base salary post-Week 8 and is signed through 2025.
Chiefs Preferred Cooper Kupp To DeAndre Hopkins?
Patrick Mahomes‘ status as the league’s most accomplished active quarterback notwithstanding, the Chiefs’ megastar has not been nearly as productive over the past two seasons compared to his stratospheric first five as Kansas City’s starter. The two-time defending champions attempted to reignite their cornerstone player by revamping their receiving corps this offseason, but injuries intervened.
Rashee Rice is out for the season, and Marquise Brown is done for at least the regular season. Xavier Worthy is still developing, not yet offering much consistency despite his first-round draft status. With JuJu Smith-Schuster going down with a hamstring issue in Week 7, the Chiefs gave Mahomes another piece by acquiring DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans. Hopkins, who cost only a conditional fifth-round pick to acquire, debuted for his new team in Week 8.
[RELATED: Bills, Steelers Discussed Kupp With Rams]
The Chiefs had pursued Hopkins in a trade with the Cardinals last year and then made him an incentive-laden offer in free agency. Although they had done plenty of work on the potential Hall of Famer, the Chiefs may have been more interested in a player who recently came up in trade rumors. Before finalizing a Hopkins swap, the Chiefs engaged in talks with the Rams on Cooper Kupp. Kansas City looks to have preferred Kupp to Hopkins, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, but multiple factors kept the former Super Bowl MVP in Los Angeles.
The Rams may well have dangled Kupp, but they were mostly believed to be on the receiving end of calls rather than making them. L.A. wanted a second-round pick, and while the team was open to taking on some of Kupp’s remaining base salary (nearly $9MM ahead of Week 9), Kansas City was not in position to acquire a player with a lofty paragraph 5 number. The Chiefs and Titans are splitting the Hopkins tab, with the acquiring team having the 12th-year vet on its 2024 payroll at $5.56MM.
Kansas City restructured Jawaan Taylor‘s contract to create space for Hopkins, who is playing out a two-year deal worth $26MM. The Taylor adjustment, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates, created $5.3MM in cap space. Kansas City has not seen the right tackle addition live up to expectations, and the base-to-bonus restructure will make him more difficult to part ways with down the line. Taylor’s 2025 salary is already guaranteed, however, so this adjustment would stand to affect a 2026 separation.
As for Kupp, the Rams effectively took him off the market not long after the trade rumors swirled. Kupp and Puka Nacua returned in Week 8, helping the Rams upset the Vikings. L.A. is one game out of the NFC West lead and figures to use its standout receivers to make another playoff push, health-permitting, rather than unload a player who has contributed so much to the cause since he was drafted in Sean McVay‘s first year as HC.
Indeed, multiple GMs informed La Canfora they do not expect the 31-year-old wideout to be moved. Kupp’s injury past and the Rams’ high asking price never seemed to support a trade. Kupp is still signed through the 2026 season; $5MM in guarantees remain on the three-year, $80.1MM contract following this season.
The Chiefs will move forward with Hopkins, who stands to help free up space for Worthy, Travis Kelce and Co. as a now-defense-powered version of Andy Reid‘s juggernaut will attempt to hold off challengers in the coming months.
Giants Setting High Prices On Darius Slayton, Azeez Ojulari
Dropping to 2-6 Monday night, the Giants have the look of a seller at yet another trade deadline. Though, the team’s two clear trade chips may not be too easy to acquire.
The Giants have swatted away Darius Slayton trade rumors this summer, but they did not agree to a major contract adjustment despite the sixth-year wide receiver’s push for one this offseason. Slayton remains in a walk year and would not be expensive to acquire, based on barely $1MM remaining in 2024 base salary. Azeez Ojulari has also come up as a trade candidate, with teams undoubtedly monitoring the contract-year edge rusher on a contract-year tear. Ojulari is tied to a second-round rookie deal.
New York has completed some notable seller’s trades at recent deadlines, and a route back to the playoffs will be difficult to complete. A week away from the deadline, however, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo writes the Giants would need to be “blown away” by an offer to obtain either Slayton or Ojulari.
Although the Giants do not appear prepared to merely take what they can get for the dependable wideout and resurgent edge rusher, it would stand to reason both players are available at a price. Slayton is playing out a two-year, $12MM deal and, after leading the Giants in receiving yardage four times since his 2019 rookie year, the longtime Daniel Jones target would appeal to clubs who have suffered injuries at receiver or contenders who could simply use a WR2 upgrade. He has 29 receptions for 420 yards this season. Yet to post an 800-plus-yard slate, Slayton is on pace for a career-best season.
Ojulari, who registered eight sacks as a rookie but had been less productive over the past two seasons, supplied solid pressure in the Giants’ loss to the Steelers to run his sack count to six. That has helped the Giants lead the NFL with 35 despite losing Kayvon Thibodeaux to a wrist injury. Thibodeaux, however, is expected to come off IR — being first eligible to do so next week — and return Ojulari to a rotational role in a now-Brian Burns-fronted OLB corps. With Burns on a megadeal and Thibodeaux in play to stay on his rookie pact through 2026 via the fifth-year option, the Giants may not be able to afford to re-sign Ojulari.
The Giants will need to weigh the offers that come in now against what could potentially be had in terms of 2026 compensatory picks — depending on how active the team is during the 2025 free agency period — next year. Though, a trade would help bolster the the team’s 2025 draft arsenal. Waiting for 2026 picks may not be of interest to Joe Schoen, who is on the hot seat. John Mara‘s recent vote of confidence notwithstanding, the third-year Giants GM may not be overly interested in trades that weaken his 2024 roster, either.
A Giants loss to the NFC East-leading Commanders in Week 9 would drop them to 2-7, and it would be difficult for teams to believe they won’t sell at that point. Based on where the team resides in the standings and the contract-year statuses of the trade chips, Slayton and Ojulari will be two will be key names to monitor ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline.
Colts Evaluating Anthony Richardson’s Place In Starting Lineup
Anthony Richardson threw 22 incompletions Sunday and took the rare step of asking out of a game due to fatigue. Viewed as a developmental player with a high ceiling, Richardson has not shown consistency since debuting in Week 1 of last season.
The Colts saw the 2023 No. 4 overall pick complete 10 of 32 passes (including 2-for-15 in the first half) against the Texans, and while they only lost to the AFC South leaders by three points, they have not seen Richardson make strides in Year 2. Richardson did not benefit much from his rookie year, seeing a shoulder injury end his season early, but the Colts are at least a wild-card contender in the AFC tied to an unreliable quarterback.
As it stands, Shane Steichen said Richardson remains Indianapolis’ starter. But the second-year Colts HC, responding to a question about Richardson’s Week 9 status, said (via ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder) the team is “evaluating everything.” The Colts have Joe Flacco in place as their backup and used the 39-year-old veteran in two starts while Richardson rehabbed an oblique injury. The Colts kept Richardson in their lineup after struggles before his oblique issue; they appear to be giving stronger consideration to taking the other route now.
For the season, Richardson has completed an astonishing 44.4% of his passes. That is the fifth-lowest number through six games since 2000, per ESPN Stats and Info. Richardson was at 59.5% before going down last season. The Florida product is still 3-3 as a starter who has averaged 7.2 yards per attempt, but he ranks 27th in QBR and last among qualified options in passer rating. Flacco has completed 65.7% of his throws while filling in this season, throwing seven touchdown passes compared to one interception.
Richardson exited Week 8 with a 4-to-7 TD-INT ratio. The highly touted prospect has 242 rushing yards but has completed 10 or fewer passes in four of the five games he finished this season, significantly hindering Indianapolis’ offense. Both Steichen and center Ryan Kelly spoke to the QB after his decision to tap out for a play following a scramble in Houston. It would stand to reason that will be factored into Steichen’s Richardson-or-Flacco decision for Week 9.
“We had a conversation about it this morning in the quarterback room, which I’ll keep private,” Steichen said. “But, obviously, in those situations he knows on those type of deals, you can’t take yourself out and it’s a learned experience for him and he’s got to grow from it.”
Still just 22, Richardson came to Indianapolis after starting one season at Florida. While dazzling at the 2023 Combine, the 6-foot-4, 244-pound passer also struggled with accuracy with the Gators. He completed less than 54% of his throws during the 2022 season. The Colts will need to balance Richardson’s long-term development with a chance to make the playoffs. Steichen had previously said Richardson needed playing time to improve. The former Eagles OC stepped back a bit from that stance Monday.
“I think it could go either way,” Steichen said of a quarterback developing by playing or observing. “There’s certain [teams] that throw guys into the fire early and there’s other guys that let them sit back and watch. Like I’ve said before, the more you play, the more you learn at that position. But is there a benefit sometimes in sitting back and watching it? Yeah, of course there is.”
The fact that the Colts went from 2017-23 with seven different Week 1 starting QBs — tied for the second-longest stretch since the 1970 merger — and cycled through veterans post-Andrew Luck will undoubtedly factor into their decision as well, but Richardson is officially on notice. The Colts would be unlikely to go through with a benching that leaves Richardson’s long-term future in doubt, as the Panthers did with Bryce Young, but they would need to walk a fine line if they sit their prospect midway through his second season.
Lions Moving Closer To Trading For Edge Rusher?
The Lions have won two games without Aidan Hutchinson, the most recent a dismantling of the Titans. Detroit holds the NFC’s best record and the tiebreaker over Minnesota by virtue of a narrow Week 7 win, but the team may well need another piece to help cover for losing Hutchinson, who went down with a broken leg while holding the NFL’s sack lead.
Detroit has notched five quarterback hits in each of its past two wins, turning four from the Minnesota matchup into sacks. The Lions notched one sack against the Titans. The team, however, is playing without Hutchinson and the player added to be his primary sidekick. Marcus Davenport, who came over after missing most of last season with the Vikings, is out for the year as well due to an elbow injury.
Considering the problems the Lions have run into finding an EDGE complement to Hutchinson since drafting the standout player in 2022, it would make sense for the team to bring in help before the Nov. 5 trade deadline. Dan Campbell offered a hint that will be coming. Acknowledging the deadline as a viable tool to address this prospective concern, the fourth-year Lions HC said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) a move could be imminent when asked about a potential transaction.
A weekend report named the Lions as a team that would love to acquire defensive help, and after Za’Darius Smith made interesting comments about a Detroit fit, the NFC North leaders are believed to be interested in the ex-NFC North staple-turned-Browns trade chip. The Jets reached a resolution with Haason Reddick, whom the Lions checked in on. It is worth wondering, however, if New York — which faces Houston on Thursday — could revisit trade talks involving a player whose holdout produced a seven-game absence. The Jets sit 2-6 before that Texans matchup and may find themselves, even after the Davante Adams trade, in a strange position as a potential seller.
The Lions used journeyman Al-Quadin Muhammad as an EDGE starter Sunday. No one besides Hutchinson has more than seven QB hits on their roster, and no non-Hutchinson performer has produced more than 2.5 sacks. Among pure Lions edge rushers, no one has collected more than one sack. It would seem a move will happen, and given the Lions’ surge over the past two seasons, how they go about filling this need will be one of the trade deadline’s top subplots.
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Plans Do Not Include Deadline Trade Or Post-2024 Deal
If the Raiders do end up moving Maxx Crosby before this year’s deadline, it would presumably take a staggering offer. Mark Davis has doubled down on his previous Crosby stance.
The longtime owner had said earlier this month a Crosby trade before this year’s Nov. 5 deadline would not happen. Now, the Las Vegas boss has expanded his commitment to the Pro Bowl defensive end by indicating in an email to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter no Crosby trade will take place “before or after the deadline!!!”
It is difficult to craft a stronger denial. As was the case earlier this month, a Crosby trade soon would surprise. It is more interesting, then, to read Davis’ post-2024 stance on the NFL’s current TFL kingpin. The Raiders have Crosby signed through the 2026 season, on a contract he has outplayed, and it is clear they view him as a building-block player rather than one who could boost the franchise’s draft arsenal ahead of a pre-draft process that will again feature extensive QB rumors involving the AFC West franchise.
The top Raiders move from Jon Gruden‘s second stint, Crosby signed his four-year, $94MM deal during Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler‘s brief stay in charge. That duo also extended Gruden-era pickups Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller; both are now out of football. Crosby, however, has continued to produce despite the Raiders taking steps back since their decision to pass on removing Rich Bisaccia‘s interim HC tag.
Crosby led the charge to see Antonio Pierce become the NFL’s first interim HC to jump to a full-time post with a team in seven years, threatening a trade request if Davis did not scrap a coaching search to give Pierce the job. Pierce has not thus far established himself in the full-time role, with the Raiders starting 2-5 and toggling between quarterbacks before Aidan O’Connell‘s recent injury. Crosby, 27, then said he did not want to be part of a rebuild. These comments came months after the former fourth-round pick said he wanted to be a one-team player.
A 2025 Crosby trade would cost the Raiders less in dead money (barely $10MM), as the guarantees in the standout edge rusher’s contract will have been paid out following this season. After Crosby led the NFL in tackles for loss in 2022 and ’23, doing so despite the Raiders’ Chandler Jones plans fizzling, the now-Tom Telesco-run team gave its top player a $7.2MM raise ($6MM in 2024, $1.2MM in 2025). Based on Davis’ comments this weekend, it would appear likely Telesco will need to enter extension talks in 2025.
Davis’ emphatic refusal to trade Crosby now or in the offseason will only strengthen the Pro Bowler’s extension case. Crosby’s $23.5MM AAV ranks ninth among edges and trails the NFL’s defender-contract kingpin (Nick Bosa) by $10.5MM. Next year could end up a transformative offseason on this market, with T.J. Watt entering a contract year and Myles Garrett — a player the Browns are not open to trading — having played five seasons on his current deal. Micah Parsons will also enter a contract year in 2025.
While Crosby technically has two years remaining on his deal, the Raiders’ refusal to discuss him in trades will provide Brian Burns-like leverage when it comes time to negotiate a third contract. Burns angled for contract terms his production did not exactly warrant, as the Panthers infamously turned down a two-first-rounder proposal from the Rams and then kept him out of the Bryce Young trade months later. These decisions affected their talks with Burns, who then secured a top-three EDGE contract from the Giants. Like Burns and the Panthers, the Raiders have now kept Crosby out of trades at two straight deadlines.
For now, Crosby will continue toiling for a rebuilding team. The Raiders wanting him to be part of their next set of contending rosters will require a monster payday.
Panthers Seeking Mid-Round Pick For Diontae Johnson; WR Likely To Be Traded?
Diontae Johnson has said he would prefer to stay in Charlotte, but as the Panthers trudge through another down season amid a rebuild, the receiver they acquired to boost Bryce Young‘s development appears likely to be dealt.
As the Rams’ two victories have effectively removed Cooper Kupp off the trade block, the Panthers sit 1-6. They are expected to make trades, and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicates Johnson looks on track to be moved before the November 5 deadline.
Both Davante Adams and Amari Cooper brought third-round picks — Adams a conditional third that could jump to a second (though, that is unlikely) — in trades, while DeAndre Hopkins headed to Kansas City for a conditional fifth. The Panthers appear to be seeking compensation that lands in between these hauls. Carolina is expected to aim for a mid-round pick for Johnson, according to Schefter.
Early this month, Johnson’s name began to circulate in trade rumors. The Panthers, per Schefter, have indeed received multiple inquiries on the shifty receiver. Carolina obtained Johnson in a March trade that sent cornerback Donte Jackson to Pittsburgh. The 2019 third-round pick is in a contract year, and although he has expressed an openness to a Panthers extension, it appears more likely another team will hold his exclusive negotiating rights soon. The Panthers had not started Johnson extension talks coming into the season; it does not look like any traction has emerged on that front — especially as the team benched Young after two games.
Young is back in Carolina’s lineup today, as Andy Dalton sustained a sprained thumb in a car accident this week. But the 2023 No. 1 overall pick’s return may not represent a renewed Panthers commitment from a long-term perspective. With Johnson’s presence not boosting Young in the way the team hoped — as the 5-foot-10 passer struggled mightily in Weeks 1 and 2 — the ex-Ben Roethlisberger target will likely be helping another quarterback soon.
The Steelers have been looking for a receiver, being linked to Adams and Hopkins, but it would surprise if they made a move to reacquire Johnson, who remains tied to the two-year, $36.7MM contract GM Omar Khan authorized in summer 2022. Johnson, 28, showed elite route-running chops in Pittsburgh while displaying a drop propensity. He also has yet to play with a high-end quarterback, as Roethlisberger was in decline by the time the duo linked up and Kenny Pickett quickly showed he would not be the future Hall of Famer’s long-term successor.
The Toledo alum has an 1,161-yard season, along with two other years north of 880, on his resume, as his separation ability consistently drew targets in Pittsburgh. Johnson joins Dalton in being set to miss today’s Panthers-Broncos matchup, being sidelined with a rib injury, but teams do not appear concerned this will impact the WR beyond the deadline. For the season, Johnson has 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns. Dalton’s 2024 debut doubled as Johnson’s career-high receiving yardage outing (122), and the veteran receiver added two more 75-plus-yard showings for the struggling Panthers since.
With Kupp more than likely off the table, Schefter indicates Johnson is the most likely wideout to be moved before the deadline. If Johnson is traded next week, just less than $4MM would remain on his 2024 base salary.
WR Notes: Kirk, Thielen, Rams, Chiefs, Pats
Diontae Johnson is viewed as the most likely receiver domino to fall between now and the November 5 trade deadline, but Christian Kirk continues to be a name to monitor. The Jaguars wideout was mentioned as a player drawing interest earlier this month, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that has continued, naming the seventh-year veteran alongside Johnson in terms of the receivers who have generated the most trade buzz following the Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins swaps.
Kirk brings an element Johnson does not, as he is signed through 2025. Playing on the four-year, $72MM pact that received scrutiny at the time, the Jags slot receiver now merely sits 25th in receiver AAV. Kirk’s 2022 free agency deal helped ignite the WR market that year, and another boom took place this offseason to render the Jacksonville deal an upper-middle-class pact. Kirk is 27 and attached to a $14.5MM base salary, which will be an issue for teams, as more than $7.5MM will remain for an acquiring team post-Week 8.
Although Kirk’s per-year number has dropped considerably on an exploding market, the Jags do have both Evan Engram and Gabe Davis signed to eight-figure AAVs. They also used a first-round pick on Brian Thomas Jr. this year. Kirk served as Trevor Lawrence‘s most trusted target in 2022 and ’23; as Thomas has shown considerable promise, Kirk has caught 25 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown this season.
Here is the latest from the WR ranks:
- Add Adam Thielen to the list of Panthers potential trade chips at receiver. While Johnson is likely to go and Jonathan Mingo is viewed as a player who may not be a long-term fit, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport mentions Thielen as a candidate to be on the move as well. This would add up, as Thielen is 34 and tied to a through-2025 contract that does not have any guarantees remaining for next season. Thielen topped 1,000 yards for a woeful Panthers team last season, residing as Bryce Young‘s clear-cut top target. The ex-Viking’s follow-up effort, however, included an IR stay for a hamstring injury. Carolina has not yet activated the 12th-year veteran from IR. Injuries and age will limit Carolina’s return, but the three-time 1,000-yard pass catcher would only be owed barely $2MM if acquired before the deadline.
- Tutu Atwell‘s role will diminish with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back. The diminutive Rams receiver indeed saw his snap share on offense plummet from 78% in Week 7 to 12% Thursday night. Atwell has shown flashes for the Rams, but he has not delivered extended stretches of reliability. Los Angeles did not have the former second-round pick among its top three receivers during last season’s stretch run, and ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop notes he is unlikely to be extended before his contract expires in March. This could make Atwell a trade candidate, though given the Rams’ back-to-back wins and their WR health issues, it would make more sense for the team to hang onto the contract-year player.
- It could be a while before Skyy Moore returns to the Chiefs. Andy Reid said (via The Athletic’s Nate Taylor) this week the former second-round pick will need to have his core muscle injury “fixed”; the defending Super Bowl champions placed Moore on IR this week. Viewed as a starter to open last season, Moore could not hold up in that role and did not factor into Kansas City’s six-game win streak to close the year. While playing more due to the injuries to Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice early this season, Moore does not have a catch in 2024.
- The Patriots made Javon Baker a healthy scratch last week, marking the third straight game that has happened for the rookie. Baker appeared to miss or show up late for a team function in London, as ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss mentions an itinerary “hiccup” took place to help lead the fourth-round pick to the sideline once again. Baker could have a path up New England’s depth chart if Kendrick Bourne and/or K.J. Osborn are moved, but he has played in just two games as a rookie. Baker is active for Week 8.
Bills, Steelers Discussed WR Cooper Kupp With Rams
Before agreeing to acquire Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Chiefs entered discussions with the Rams on Cooper Kupp. Los Angeles was believed to be discussing the former All-Pro with teams, something Sean McVay confirmed after the team’s upset win over the Vikings on Thursday.
McVay, however, all but slammed the door on a Kupp trade before the Nov. 5 deadline. Other AFC teams joined the Chiefs, however, in discussing Kupp. The Bills and Steelers engaged in talks with the Rams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
For Buffalo, this effort most likely came before the team agreed to acquire Amari Cooper from Cleveland. While it would be interesting if the Bills pursued both players, especially as the Cooper trade only resulted in an $806K cap number hitting the perennial AFC East champions’ books, it seems logical the team explored Kupp and then centered its trade effort on Cooper. The Browns were preparing to hold onto Cooper for a bit longer, but the Bills’ interest — as their post-Stefon Diggs receiver plan showed early cracks — proved aggressive enough the struggling AFC North club moved on from the contract-year player ahead of Week 7.
The Steelers’ receiver need has been well chronicled, dating back to the draft. Pittsburgh joined Buffalo in showing interest in Deebo Samuel, as the 49ers discussed both he and Brandon Aiyuk in trades. Aiyuk then became Pittsburgh’s target — to the point trade framework was in place by August. The Steelers then saw Aiyuk remove them from consideration by recommitting to the 49ers via a four-year, $120MM deal. The now-Russell Wilson-quarterbacked team was also in on Davante Adams, only to see the ex-Packers star prefer to rejoin Aaron Rodgers with the Jets, who took on the recent Raider’s entire 2024 prorated salary — something other teams have been hesitant to do.
The Rams were seen as willing to pick up part of Kupp’s tab. It would cost just less than $9MM for a team to acquire Kupp this week, but with the Rams winning two straight the Kupp-Puka Nacua tandem making a significant impact in the team’s upset victory over the Vikings, the Rams standing down checks out. Kupp, 31, is signed for two more seasons — on the three-year, $80.1MM deal he inked months after his Super Bowl MVP showing — and could be an offseason trade candidate. Kupp would stand to built trade value by staying healthy — something he has failed to do since that stratospheric 2021 season — down the stretch.
With Kupp off the market and Adams, Cooper and Hopkins also dealt, the Steelers reside in an interesting position. The receiver most likely to be moved played five seasons in Pittsburgh. The Panthers are expected to deal Diontae Johnson, who had angled for a trade out of Pittsburgh. It should be considered unlikely the Steelers pay a mid-round pick to acquire one of their former wideouts. Beyond Johnson, the likes of Mike Williams, Christian Kirk, Adam Thielen and Patriots vets Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn are seen as trade candidates.
It seems probable Steelers finally pull the trigger on a trade. Although slot player Calvin Austin has contributed 203 receiving yards to the cause, none of the Steelers’ other George Pickens sidekicks have cleared 80 yards through seven games. With the team at 5-2 and sporting a high-end defensive unit, a buyer trade to help Wilson should be on the way. But options have dwindled since the team began this quest.