Newsstand News & Rumors

Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter Undergoes Season-Ending Knee Surgery

November 11th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Travis Hunter remains on the Jaguars’ injured reserve at this time, and he will not return in 2025. The two-way rookie recently underwent season-ending knee surgery, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport specifies this was an LCL repair. No other ligaments were damaged in Hunter’s recent injury, he adds. As a result, a six-month timeline is in place for Hunter to receive full medical clearance. The Jaguars have since confirmed the expectation for Hunter to be ready for full football participation again in six months. In the meantime, Jacksonville will move forward without a key contributor on both sides of the ball.

Considering Hunter’s injury sequence — on a noncontact play at practice — and his importance to this Jaguars regime’s mission, this shutdown is not too surprising. The 2024 Heisman winner is under contract through 2028, and barring the two-way player entering full-on bust territory, the deal will run through 2029 once his fifth-year option is exercised. Jacksonville will take a big-picture approach at this stage of the former college phenom’s pro career.

The Jakobi Meyers trade hinted at this IR stay lasting longer than the four-game minimum, and the Jags also played without Brian Thomas Jr. in Week 10. Thomas is not on IR, and the team has seen promising work from Parker Washington. Though, this season has not brought the Trevor Lawrence turnaround the organization hoped. The former No. 1 overall pick has remained inconsistent, and the Jags’ loss Sunday hurt their chances of booking a wild-card berth. The team remains in playoff contention, but Lawrence will need to play better for the club to realize those aspirations.

With a lengthy rehab process ending Hunter’s rookie season, his NFL debut will go down as a disappointment. The Colorado product finishes the year with 28 receptions for 298 yards. He finishes Year 1 with a 67% snap share on offense and a 34% participation rate on defense.

The Jags steadily used Hunter more on defense, where many thought he should end up as a pro. Jacksonville, however, was among the franchises that viewed Hunter as a better receiver. GM James Gladstone declared that would be the 6-foot-1 prospect’s primary position, and coming out of the team’s bye week, buzz about Hunter seeing a bigger offensive role emerged. This injury nixed those plans.

A six-month recovery timetable would move Hunter on track for a minicamp cameo, though it would not surprise to see the Jags exercise caution and give him an onramp toward a training camp reemergence. It will be interesting to see if the team’s usage plans for Hunter change in 2026, given his struggles to make an impact this season. The team did not begin using Hunter on both sides of the ball in the same workouts until training camp last year, and his in-game cornerback participation spiked in Week 2.

Hunter’s best stat line came in a London loss to the Rams before the Jags’ bye, as he caught eight passes (on 14 targets) for 101 yards and his first career touchdown. But the Rams had set a blowout game script in place by the time the Lawrence-to-Hunter connection got going. Considerable work is ahead for that duo, but the Jags certainly remain high on a player that cost them their 2026 first-round pick to acquire. The duo’s next chance to work together on the field will come during OTAs — at the earliest.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Giants Fire HC Brian Daboll

November 10th, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Brian Daboll‘s time in New York has come to an end. The fourth-year head coach has been fired, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The news is now official, per a team announcement.

Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will take over as interim head coach, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Today’s news comes one day after the Giants dropped to 2-8 for the third straight season under Daboll. The team has blown double-digit leads four times during road losses this year, adding further to the speculation a change could be made before the end of the campaign.

“We spoke this morning about the direction of our franchise on the field, and we have decided that, at this time, it is in our best interest to make a change at the head coaching position,” a statement from owners John Mara and Steve Tisch reads in part. “The past few seasons have been nothing short of disappointing, and we have not met our expectations for this franchise. We understand the frustrations of our fans, and we will work to deliver a significantly improved product.”

Entering the 2025 season, Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen were widely known to be on the hot seat. The selection of first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart seemed to pave the way for one or both to be retained depending on how his development progressed. Dart has shown flashes when on the field, but the rookie suffered a concussion yesterday after being evaluated for one for the fourth different time dating back to the preseason. Criticism regarding the Giants’ handling of Dart has increased given the frequency of hits he has taken, with much of it being directed Daboll’s way.

No other changes are taking place at this point, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. That means Schoen as well as defensive coordinator Shane Bowen – whose job security has also been questioned through much of the campaign – are safe for the time being. Changes on those fronts will be worth watching for after the year, but for now attention will turn to Kafka — the Giants’ second interim HC (after Steve Spagnuolo in 2017) this century — and his ability to guide the Giants to something of a rebound.

The Daboll-Schoen tandem was hired with high expectations after its success with the Bills. Things got off to a notable start, with the Giants going 9-7-1 in 2022. New York won a wild-card game and Daboll took home Coach of the Year honors. Since then, however, very little has gone according to plan. The Giants are on their way to a third straight season well below .500. Overall, Daboll’s tenure will end with a record of 20-40-1. Tension between he and Schoen was reported this past spring, and other internal matters like the less-than-cordial departure of former DC Don Martindale will leave an unwanted legacy in Daboll’s case.

The 50-year-old has worked as an offensive coordinator with four different NFL teams; he also held that role at Alabama for one year prior to joining the Bills. Daboll’s work in developing Josh Allen made him an attractive candidate on the head coaching market, and he joined the Giants with the hopes of maximizing Daniel Jones‘ talent. Both before and after Jones inked a four-year, $160MM pact, that did not prove to be the case.

Jones was cut midway through last season, one in which Saquon Barkley – who joined the Eagles in free agency upon playing out the franchise tag – enjoyed a record-breaking debut campaign. In the aftermath of the commitment made by Daboll and Schoen backfiring, many pointed to this past offseason as a logical point for at least one to be replaced. Immediately after the campaign, though, Mara confirmed both would be retained.

It nevertheless became clear at that point Mara’s patience was running thin. The draft provided the Giants with a potential new franchise passer in Dart, and as expected he quickly took over starting duties after Russell Wilson opened the year atop the depth chart. Daboll unilaterally made the decision to bench Wilson and replace him with Dart, a move many viewed as an attempt to avoid a firing. Schoen and Co. endorsed the switch, one whose impact cannot fully be seen given the season-ending injuries suffered by Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo.

Kafka will be tasked with taking charge of a shorthanded offensive unit the rest of the way. This will mark his first head coaching opportunity at any level. Kafka, 38, saw his role with the Giants vary over time but he has once again handled play-calling duties in 2025. It will be interesting to see if that remains the case over the closing weeks of the campaign.

Kafka has been lined to outside HC interest in the past, and his stock for the 2026 hiring cycle will of course be greatly influenced by his performances over the next two months. The Giants have not been able to find stability on the sidelines since the end of the Tom Coughlin era. Including Kafka, the team has employed six different head coaches since 2016.

Mara and the Giants generally avoid making in-season moves such as this. Indeed, Kafka is only the fourth coach to hold the interim title in franchise history. If he earns the full-time gig, New York will not be in the market for another reset on the sidelines. Failing that, however, the Giants will join the Titans (and, no doubt, other teams) in seeking out a new hire. Daboll should not be expected to receive a second head coaching look in the near future based on how his first stint went, but he could be sought after once more as a coordinator.

Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland Passes Away

November 6th, 2025 at 11:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

11:17pm: The Texas Department of Public safety classified Kneeland’s death as suicide, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris. At 10:33pm Wednesday night, police attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, leading to a police pursuit. Police losing sight of the vehicle ended the pursuit. Initial reports then stated Kneeland fled the scene on foot, according to a report from the Frisco (Texas) Police Department (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

According to the police report, police found the vehicle abandoned after a crash on the Dallas Parkway. The driver of the vehicle, Kneeland, was found after authorities searched the area. After the discovery, police ruled Kneeland died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to the Frisco Police report, authorities discovered Kneeland expressed “suicidal ideations.” The Plano (Texas) Police Department received a call at approximately 11:40pm regarding a welfare concern “at an address they were told belonged to Kneeland.” The call went unanswered with a police pursuit underway (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). He was found at 1:31am.

8:46am: The Cowboys have made a shocking announcement. Marshawn Kneeland, a defensive end the team drafted in last year’s second round, passed away. He was 24.

“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the Cowboys said in a statement (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

Arriving as the No. 56 overall pick out of Western Michigan last year, Kneeland made four NFL starts. His tragic death comes less than three days after he scored his first NFL touchdown. Kneeland returned a blocked punt for a score against the Cardinals on Monday night in Dallas. After Sam Williams notched the second-quarter block, Kneeland pounced on the recovery for a score. It marked Kneeland’s first touchdown in the college or professional ranks.

A fast-rising prospect from the MAC program, Kneeland memorably set up 16 pre-draft visits last year. The traits he showed during a five-year college career intrigued plenty of teams, as the pass rusher came to the NFL with less-than-stellar college numbers. Kneeland did not have a five-sack college season, but he recorded 25 tackles for loss over his final three. A Cowboys team that at the time was looking for Micah Parsons complementary rush talent swooped in, adding the rookie on Day 2.

Kneeland missed a chunk of his rookie season due to a partially torn lateral meniscus sustained in early October of last year, but he made it back before season’s end. The Cowboys saved an IR activation for the rookie, who returned for the team’s Thanksgiving game. Kneeland played in 11 games last season, making one start for a team that lost DeMarcus Lawrence to injury early in the season. Kneeland made three starts this season, as the Cowboys traded Parsons months after letting Lawrence walk in free agency.

Kneeland did not record a sack as a rookie but notched one this season, dropping Jalen Hurts in the Cowboys’ opener. The part-time starter, who was viewed as part of the Cowboys’ solution post-Parsons, tallied three tackles for loss in his second season.

Jets Trade CB Sauce Gardner To Colts

November 4th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts have been in the market for cornerback help; they are not skimping on price. A deal is in place that will send Sauce Gardner from New York to Indianapolis, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.

The Jets will move on months after making Gardner the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback. Indianapolis will send two first-round picks to the Jets for Gardner, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Gardner already thanked the Jets (via X), as his through-2030 contract is moving to the Colts’ payroll. The picks are in 2026 and 2027.

Indianapolis was believed to be discussing a deal with another team, according to Fox’s Jay Glazer, who adds the Colts believed they had a separate trade done. That proved not to be the case. This unknown agreement falling through has led to one of the biggest DB trades in NFL history going down. Glazer adds wide receiver Adonai Mitchell is going back to the Jets in this trade. We heard earlier today Mitchell, who had been a Colts backup, was drawing trade interest. The Jets are picking up a wideout with team control through 2027.

This is a wildly out-of-character move for Colts GM Chris Ballard, who has shied away from pricey outside acquisitions during his nine-year tenure. But this offseason brought a shift. Ballard made good on a promise to be more open to outside spending, paying up for Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum. Indianapolis, which already has Kenny Moore on a high-end slot CB contract, has now flooded its secondary with expensive contracts.

Other teams called the Jets on Gardner, according to veteran insider Jordan Schultz. It had appeared Gardner was untouchable, as the Jets had extended him in July. But the 1-7 team will aggressively lean into a rebuild, with the two first-rounders becoming lead assets in the Aaron Glenn-Darren Mougey regime’s effort to return the Jets to contention. Gardner is believed to have been stunned by this trade, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, who indicates the young corner learned of it shortly after noon ET today. He is certainly not the only one shocked by the Jets’ course change here.

Gardner and Garrett Wilson loomed as the top pieces to trade, if the Jets were serious about obtaining top draft capital, but lower-level moves — like deals involving Michael Carter II, Quincy Williams and Allen Lazard — were rumored. The team was believed to be listening on Quinnen Williams, but a trade is not viewed as likely. Now, however, the Jets certainly appear more open to blowing it up.

The Jets drafted Gardner fourth overall in 2022 and watched the Cincinnati alum become a central piece in a defensive turnaround. Robert Saleh‘s first defense ranked last; his second, with Gardner as a boundary stopper, rocketed to fourth. Other reasons existed for the ascent, but Gardner represented the biggest variable. Gardner soared to first-team All-Pro acclaim during his first two seasons, becoming one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks. That did not result in Jets wins, but Joe Douglas‘ miss on Zach Wilson limited a well-built defense’s impact.

Gardner, 25, also did not match his 2022-23 form during the ’24 season. The physical corner, who has a reputation for being overly physical at points, graded as a top-three cornerback (per Pro Football Focus) in 2022 and ’23. PFF slotted him 31st in 2024 and ranks him 22nd this year. Glenn’s arrival brought a new system for Gardner to learn, and the new HC will retool at corner. The Jets extended Carter last year and let longtime No. 2 corner D.J. Reed walk in free agency. Now, Carter (traded to the Eagles) and Gardner is gone, fully dismantling Douglas’ CB trio.

Though, trading a slot corner in a Day 3 pick-swap exchange is obviously much different from dealing away a prime perimeter stopper for two first-round picks. The Jets, however, have benefited from a similar move in the fairly recent past. As Douglas’ 2020 negotiations with Jamal Adams were not starting well, the then-second-year GM flipped the All-Pro safety to the Seahawks for two first-rounders, a third and safety Bradley McDougald. Douglas ended up winning that trade, with Adams not coming especially close to justifying his then-safety-record Seattle extension. The Seahawks cut bait during that deal, and the Jets stocked their roster with the two firsts.

Prior to the Adams swap, the Jets also traded Darrelle Revis to the Buccaneers in 2013. The team fetched first- and fourth-rounders for the future Hall of Famer, whom the team had extended in 201o. Revis scored another contract with the Bucs, and the Jets drafted Sheldon Richardson with the first-rounder obtained. Gardner commanding more in a trade return than Revis is less indicative of talent and more tied to his age. Revis was going into an age-28 season at the time of the trade. Gardner will finish out his age-25 campaign with the Colts.

The Jets traded up for Alijah Vera-Tucker with the first of the Adams picks and acquired Wilson with the second first-rounder. Wilson joined Gardner in being extended this offseason. While Wilson was believed to be unhappy as the Aaron Rodgers period waned, Gardner was never connected to any trade rumors. Even as the rumors of Woody Johnson meddling piled up last year, Gardner expressed interest in being a long-term Jet. But the team’s new regime found an offer it couldn’t refuse.

Indianapolis is taking on a $30.1MM-per-year CB extension, doing so after giving Ward a three-year, $48MM deal in March. Both these moves deviate from Ballard’s M.O. at this position. For a while, Moore had been the Colts’ only high-priced CB — and the slot market is well south of the top perimeter deals — excepting Stephon Gilmore‘s one-and-done with the team. The team has changed its stripes and will take on a contract filled with option bonuses.

Despite Patrick Surtain‘s Defensive Player of the Year season, the CB market moved past his $24MM-per-year deal signed last September. Jaycee Horn, Derek Stingley and Gardner eclipsed the star Denver defender. Stingley’s $30MM-AAV accord set up Gardner to pass him, and the Jets OK’d it. For the team to move on after eight games is a shocking development, as a third Jets regime will bail on a standout DB early in his tenure. John Idzik traded Revis, while Douglas unloaded Adams. Mougey will make his mark on the Jets’ roster by shipping out Gardner in-season.

Gardner’s deal only carries a $13.75MM signing bonus, making it easier to trade. Rather than the Jets drowning in dead money by trading a player they just paid, the Colts will be on the hook for a $20MM option bonus in 2026, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. The Jets are only being hit with $19.75MM in dead cap (per Spotrac), which will be spread out through 2027 because of this trade occurring after June 1. While it represents a risk to give up on a player so soon, the Jets’ current regime set up a potential trade with this contract structure. And it found a taker in the Colts, who are likely among the many teams high on the accomplished corner.

The former top-five pick joins a Colts team that has struggled to staff its CB spots. Ward joins third-round rookie Justin Walley on IR, having suffered a concussion in a pregame workout. Ward is expected back, while Walley is out for the season. The Colts just activated Jaylon Jones, however. Jones joined trade pickup Mekhi Blackmon, Cameron Mitchell and rookie UDFA Johnathan Edwards in an unimposing contingent of outside CBs. Gardner changes that equation.

When Ward returns, the Colts can deploy a Gardner-Ward-Moore trio — one that will be among the NFL’s best if all parties play to their capabilities — and be much better-positioned at the position. The team struggled at the non-Moore CB spots, as JuJu Brents could not stay healthy and a gambling suspension ended Isaiah Rodgers‘ Indianapolis tenure, during Gus Bradley‘s final seasons. Lou Anarumo now has a crucial chess piece, as the Colts look to challenge for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

The Colts sit a surprising 7-2, having seen their offense — prior to a step backward in Pittsburgh — dominate, having scored more points through eight games than any post-merger team in franchise history. The Colts rank first in scoring and seventh in points allowed. Indy’s defensive strength comes through its rush deterrence, however; the team ranks 26th against the pass.

Indianapolis sought CB and EDGE help at the deadline. Part one of that mission is complete, albeit at a far pricier cost than anticipated, and it will be interesting to see if the Colts call it a day or still add at defensive end.

Gardner’s contract hitting the payroll is also interesting for a Colts team that has seen Daniel Jones deliver a bounce-back start to the season. The Colts may no longer be in the low-cost contract business at QB come 2026, should Jones keep going en route to another raise (one the team appears open to), so adding the NFL’s biggest DB contract introduces a complication.

Ballard has been a homegrown-centric GM, to a fault almost, during his tenure. Though, Ballard and HC Shane Steichen certainly faced pressure coming into the season. They are far more committed to this year’s roster than they were entering Tuesday. It will be fascinating to see how the veteran GM manages the roster moving forward, now that he has taken the biggest swing in his executive career.

Mitchell had competed with Alec Pierce for a starting role in 2024, seeing Anthony Richardson‘s accuracy issues make his rookie season harder to evaluate. The former Georgia and Texas pass catcher did post 23 receptions for 312 yards as a rookie. With Tyler Warren entering the fray this offseason, Mitchell had faded to a deep background piece. He has only caught two passes since October began.

Also becoming the second Colt to lose a touchdown by inexplicably dropping the ball on the 1-yard line in two years (after Jonathan Taylor did the same in 2024), Mitchell was viewed as the culprit in the team’s one-score loss to the Rams in Week 4. A holding call on Mitchell negated a Taylor TD in that seven-point defeat. But Mitchell is a second-round pick signed through 2027. The Jets will take what amounts to a flier. More playing time should be expected, as the Jets do not have much of note beyond Garrett Wilson at receiver.

Jets Trade Quinnen Williams To Cowboys

November 4th, 2025 at 10:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets are adding a third first-round pick in barely an hour. Rumblings of the team being more open to trading Quinnen Williams have indeed preceded a deal, as the Cowboys will acquire the standout defensive tackle.

A first-rounder “and more” is headed to the Jets in exchange for Williams, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. This deal comes shortly after the Jets sent Sauce Gardner to the Colts for two first-round picks. Here is how the now-official trade breaks down, via The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

Cowboys receive:

Williams

Jets receive:

2026 second-round pick
Higher of Cowboys’ two 2027 first-round picks
DT Mazi Smith

The Cowboys, of course, had some ammo to play with after acquiring two first-rounders for Micah Parsons this summer. The Cowboys and Jets had discussed Williams — as Dallas shopped for D-tackles — as part of a Parsons trade. After the team ended up making the Parsons trade with Green Bay, Dallas is loaded at defensive tackle now. They obtained Kenny Clark in that trade and having re-signed Osa Odighizuwa just before free agency. SNY’s Connor Hughes had indicated the Jets were believed to be softening their stance on keeping Williams, noting the price also may have dropped. The team still pried first- and second-rounders from Dallas, doing so after it seemed weeks ago Williams was off the table.

For a team sitting 3-5-1 — after a two-score loss to the Cardinals — it is borderline astounding to see the Cowboys give up future first- and second-round picks here. But Jerry Jones hinted at the Parsons trade giving the Cowboys options to trade picks for players. Weeks later, that has come to fruition.

Jones hinted at a trade being agreed to Monday, but the Cowboys acquired Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson on Tuesday morning. This Williams addition is a much bigger splash. The Cowboys’ defense has crumbled in Matt Eberflus‘ first year in charge, with Parsons’ exit being felt immediately. The Cowboys have been unable to stop opponents from passing or running, ranking 31st in points and yards allowed. The Cardinals continued that trend Monday night, and Jones is responding — as a way to help a high-powered offense stay in the playoff race.

Dallas’ defense has struggled despite Jones remarking the Parsons trade would help the team improve against the run. Williams will certainly help there, but this is now a third high-priced D-tackle contract hitting Dallas’ payroll. The team re-signed Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80MM deal in March. The Cowboys then obtained Clark’s three-year, $64MM extension from the Packers. Williams is tied to a four-year, $96MM accord that runs through 2027.

The Jets extended Williams in summer 2023, a transformative offseason on the D-tackle market, and had seen him earn three straight Pro Bowl nods. In the year prior to the extension, Williams became a first-team All-Pro. The former No. 3 overall pick — selected during Mike Maccagnan‘s fifth and final draft as Jets GM — tallied 12 sacks in 2022, helping Robert Saleh‘s defense rocket from last place in 2021 to fourth in ’22. Williams combined for 11.5 sacks from 2023-24. Thus far this season, he has one to go with seven tackles for loss and three QB hits. Williams has 40 career sacks, recording at least 5.5 each year from 2020-24, to go with 59 TFLs.

Circling back to the Cowboys’ porous run defense, Jones is adding the player Pro Football Focus ranks first among all D-tackles in run stoppage. ESPN’s run stop win rate metric ranks Williams second, while slotting him 17th in pass rush win rate among DTs. Dallas now has the top two players in run stop win rate at DT, with Solomon Thomas ranking first. Though, Thomas’ placement has not moved the needle for a woeful Cowboys defense.

While this trade has proven costly, the Cowboys are landing an accomplished player who will not turn 28 until December. Williams should have a number of prime years left, and they are now slated to come in Dallas.

Smith did not work out in Dallas, finishing his tenure as a healthy scratch Monday night. Like Adonai Mitchell in the Gardner deal, Smith is more of a throw-in for a Jets regime intent on collecting draft capital to bring in its own pillars — after ditching Joe Douglas‘ on defense. Weight issues plagued Smith, who has become the rare modern Cowboys first-rounder to struggle.

The 2023 draftee is signed through the 2026 season. Smith is just 24, and he made 17 starts last season. PFF ranked Williams as the NFL’s second-worst D-tackle regular in 2024. He will not compare to Williams, but the Cowboys added the Michigan product to be a run-stuffing presence. Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks will now begin grooming him in their scheme.

While the Cowboys are adding a proven piece, the Jets continue to tear down a defense that was viewed as one of the league’s best in recent years. Although the unit did not perform as well in 2024 following the Saleh firing, it ranked fourth in total defense in 2022, third in ’23 and third in ’24. Zach Wilson‘s struggles contributed to the team placing 12th in scoring defense in 2023, and Jeff Ulbrich‘s interim HC season closed at 20th in points allowed. But the Jets were one of the toughest teams to move the ball against during the Gardner-Williams years.

It can be argued the Jets will have a difficult time finding replacements for Gardner and Williams, even if the ones added may well be rookie-contract pieces for a while. Gardner earned two first-team All-Pro nods in three full Jets seasons; he is in his age-25 season. The team has now traded Williams and John Franklin-Myers in consecutive years, and Jermaine Johnson could be on the move — for a second-round pick — today as well. Needless to say, the Jets will have a difficult time stopping opponents through season’s end. But their plan is now draft-centric.

The 2000 Jets are the only team to make four first-round picks in the same draft, though Douglas made five combined first-round selections from 2021-22. Of that quintet, only Garrett Wilson appears a safe bet to be with the team in 2026. The Jets traded Wilson last year and have Alijah Vera-Tucker in a contract year. From the 2022 draft, Gardner is gone and Johnson could be following him out the door.

Glenn and GM Darren Mougey will have a chance to add their own foundational pieces beginning next year, as this Jets team is headed toward a top-five pick. The Colts are supplying them with a second first-rounder next year, and the Jets will have three 2027 first-rounders — barring a trade — as well. It will be interesting to see how the team begins its recovery effort, as the Jets were previously viewed as featuring a well-built defense.

Of Williams’ 2026 salary ($21.75MM), $5MM is guaranteed. The Jets are taking on dead money hits of $13.2MM in 2025 and $9.8MM in ’26, according to Spotrac. This is actually more dead cap than the Gardner trade is bringing ($19.75MM) due to contract structure.

Dallas entered the day behind only the Patriots in cap space. Even with Smith’s fully guaranteed contract in the deal, the Cowboys will use a chunk of it on Williams, who is owed roughly $8MM through season’s end. The Cowboys are loaded up with DT salaries, with Clark under contract through 2027 and Odighizuwa through 2028. Williams’ 2027 base salary is nonguaranteed, while Clark is due an $11MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2026 league year. Odighizuwa’s 2026 salary is fully guaranteed.

Seahawks Acquire Saints WR Rashid Shaheed

November 4th, 2025 at 10:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after one receiver domino fell on the trade front, another swap has been worked out at the position. To little surprise, Rashid Shaheed is on the move.

The Saints are sending Shaheed to the Seahawks, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Seattle’s passing attack will receive a boost for at least the second half of the campaign with the pending free agent in the fold. This swap will allow for Shaheed to reunite with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. New Orleans will receive fourth- and fifth-round picks in 2026, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. The trade is now official.

Earlier today, veteran insider Jordan Schultz identified the Seahawks as one of the candidates to make a notable addition. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports later confirmed Seattle could be among the teams to swing a move hours before this afternoon’s deadline. That has indeed taken place, and the 6-2 outfit will have a notable new element on offense for the stretch run.

The Seahawks entered Tuesday with nearly $21MM in cap space; they will take on the prorated remainder of Shaheed’s $4.2MM salary. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes no extension agreement has been worked out as part of this trade. As such, this is strictly a rental acquisition.

Seattle had emerged as one of the candidates for an offensive line addition on the trade front. One could still be coming, of course, but for the time being it appears this will be the team’s primary move ahead of the second half of the campaign. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been stellar in 2025, and he currently leads the NFL with 948 receiving yards. Free addition Cooper Kupp missed Sunday’s night’s win while dealing with heel and hamstring injuries. This move may be a sign more missed time is forthcoming in his case.

Even if not, though, Shaheed will be in line to serve as a strong complementary option for his new team. The 27-year-old has flashed potential as a deep threat over the course of his Saints tenure, averaging 14.9 yards per catch across his career. Adding a vertical element to a WR room led by Smith-Njigba and Kupp could be key in allowing the Seahawks to remain in contention for the top spot in the highly-competitive NFC West.

The Saints have been linked to trades involving not only Shaheed but also fellow wideout Chris Olave. The latter would have been a more surprising trade target, and an extension could be in the team’s plans. That may be especially true without Shaheed in the fold any longer. New Orleans had set a high asking price leading up to the deadline, reportedly asking at least one suitor for a third-round selection. To no surprise, that did not prove attainable, especially with a pair of Day 3 picks being moved for Jakobi Meyers.

Shaheed always represented the Seahawks’ top target at the receiver spot based on Kubiak’s presence, Rapoport notes (video link). A lengthy acclimation period will not be required based on the familiarity between the two. Kubiak served as New Orleans’ OC in 2024, a year in which Shaheed was on track to deliver another strong campaign before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Now healthy, he will look to boost his market value with a new team as the Seahawks prepare for what could be a deep playoff run.

Raiders Trade WR Jakobi Meyers To Jaguars

November 4th, 2025 at 10:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

10:26pm: Concerning the two draft picks headed from Duval to Clark County, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer provided some details on exactly which picks Vegas will bring in. Per Breer, the fourth-round pick is conditional in that it will end up being the higher of Jacksonville’s two picks in that round. They currently hold their own fourth-rounder and that of Minnesota, who sent a conditional fifth-round pick in 2024 in exchange for offensive tackle Cam Robinson. Robinson met the conditions necessary to upgrade that pick to the fourth round.

The sixth-round pick going to the Raiders is tied to the Jets. New York sent it to Cleveland in a trade that brought defensive tackle Jowon Briggs to the Jets. Cleveland then sent it to the Jaguars along with cornerback Greg Newsome in order to acquire Tyson Campbell.

10:34am: A big trade domino will fall in the AFC, but the suitor has not been a regular in the oft-rumored receiver mix. The Raiders are trading Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The trade is now official.

Las Vegas will collect fourth- and sixth-round picks from Jacksonville, per Schefter. The Steelers joined the Jags in pursuing Meyers, but it appears they were not willing to part with this level of draft capital to land the rental chip. No extension is in place, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, confirming Meyers is — as of now, at least — a rental.

[RELATED: 2025 NFL Trades]

The Jags held two fourth-rounders entering deadline day; NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the higher of the AFC South team’s two fourths will go to the Raiders. This move comes after the Jags placed Travis Hunter on IR and saw Brian Thomas Jr. suffer an ankle injury in Week 9. The Jags received an up-close view of Meyers, having faced the Raiders in that OT matchup. Meyers will now finish out his three-year, $33MM contract in Florida.

Meyers, 29 this week, had angled for a Vegas departure for a while. He asked for a trade this summer, as extension talks stalled, but the Raiders refused at the time. When the AFC West team struggled early this season, it became more receptive to moving on. Even with Meyers having played with minority Raiders owner Tom Brady — a factor in multiple signings elsewhere on the roster this offseason — the Raiders are separating for two Day 3 picks.

Jacksonville gave up its 2026 first-round pick in the three-spot jump for Hunter in April, but the team was still well-stocked with draft capital for 2026. The team came into the day with 13 picks (h/t Schefter), making the losses of fourth- and sixth-rounders passable, as an 11-selection arsenal is obviously still high for a single draft. The Liam Coen-James Gladstone regime continues to retool the Jags’ receiver position, something that began early this offseason.

In addition to cutting tight end Evan Engram, the Jags traded Christian Kirk to the Texans and then cut Devin Duvernay, Josh Reynolds and 2024 free agency addition Gabe Davis. Attempting to build around Thomas and Hunter, the team has seen inconsistent returns from both this season. Prior to his knee injury, Hunter had not caught on as a receiver. The two-way player struggled to factor into the offense regularly, though hope existed bigger contributions were on tap post-bye. Thomas (30 catches, 420 yards, one touchdown) has not matched his rookie-year for m yet, and his injury left Parker Washington as Trevor Lawrence‘s top target to close the team’s 30-29 win over the Raiders.

Meyers was linked to the Steelers at multiple points, with the Bills also contacting the Raiders on the contract-year wideout. It was believed the Raiders eyed a Day 2 pick for Meyers, but considering he is a 2026 free agent, two Day 3 selections does not qualify as underwhelming. Even though Davante Adams and Amari Cooper respectively brought third-rounders back to the Raiders and Browns last year, the Chiefs only paid a fifth-rounder for DeAndre Hopkins last year. Meyers is not in that class, but he has been a consistent wideout — largely on struggling teams.

Although Brock Bowers became the Vegas centerpiece player on offense last season, Meyers still produced following the Adams trade/faux injury stretch pre-trade. Meyers caught 87 passes for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns last season. In 2023, he totaled 71 receptions for 807 yards and eight scores as an Adams sidekick. Meyers is riding a four-season streak of 800-plus-yard seasons, as he also served as a regular target — for Brady, Cam Newton and Mac Jones — in New England.

The former UDFA had played well on his $11MM-per-year contract — one authorized by the Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler duo — but the Raiders changed regimes twice during his short tenure in Nevada. The Brady-Pete Carroll-John Spytek contingent will build around Bowers, with a pressing WR need — Tre Tucker‘s presence notwithstanding — on tap come 2026. Tucker leads the current Raiders in receiving, though Bowers has missed time with injury. The team also added longtime Carroll Seahawks charge Tyler Lockett, signaling Meyers — who had still sought a trade during his walk year — would be on the move.

The Raiders are projected, once compensatory picks are factored in, to have 10 picks in next year’s draft (h/t ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid). The Jags, though, would be the team to fetch a 2027 comp pick — depending on their 2026 free agency activity — if Meyers departs in free agency.

The Meyers-Jags move, while casting some doubt about the team’s view of Hunter’s stretch-run capabilities, also takes a key trade piece off the market for WR suitors. The Bills and Steelers have been consistently linked to wideouts ahead of the deadline. This Jacksonville strike for Meyers will make the Rashid Shaheed market more interesting.

Even though a recent report indicated the Saints could hold onto Shaheed to go with Chris Olave, the former’s contract-year status — on a rebuilding team — has always made him a logical trade chip. Will he end up in Buffalo or Pittsburgh (or on another roster) before the 3pm CT deadline?

The Jags could have a deep receiver arsenal set for action late this season, as they continue a playoff push. Currently sitting in the No. 7 seed, Jacksonville (5-4) could theoretically roll out a Thomas-Hunter-Meyers trio late in the season. But Meyers looks like protection against Hunter being shut down. The team also rosters FA signing Dyami Brown and summer trade pickup Tim Patrick, though Washington has been a more prominent part of Coen’s first Jags offense. It will be interesting to see how quickly Meyers gets up to speed, as the Jags certainly need to see more consistency from Lawrence to stick the landing on postseason qualification.

Ravens Acquire Dre’Mont Jones From Titans

November 4th, 2025 at 10:30am CST by Ben Levine

NOVEMBER 4: Details on the conditions for the pick have emerged, courtesy of Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The selection will upgrade to a fourth-rounder if Jones records at least two sacks with his new team and if the Ravens make the playoffs. Baltimore has nine games remaining and is currently two games out of both the top spot in the AFC North and the conference’s final wild-card position.

NOVEMBER 3: With Lamar Jackson back under center, the 3-5 Ravens are hoping they can make a late-season run to the playoffs. The front office is showing trust in their current squad by adding some reinforcement ahead of the trade deadline.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Ravens have acquired edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones from the Titans. In exchange, Baltimore will be sending a conditional fifth-round pick to Tennessee that could turn into a fourth-round selection. The fifth-round pick was acquired from the Jets during this past year’s draft.

Jones should provide the Ravens with some immediate help on the edge. Baltimore’s defense has collected only 11 sacks in 2025, tied for the second-lowest total in the NFL. The team has also lost some depth at the position, as Odafe Oweh was dealt to the Chargers and Tavius Robinson was lost to a broken foot that should sideline him through at least November. Carl Lawson was recently brought in as a temporary fix, although the veteran has yet to see the field with his new squad.

Jones isn’t one of the most prolific pass rushers in the NFL, but he’s still shown an ability to get after the quarterback. The former Broncos third-round pick has never exceeded 6.5 sacks in a single season, but he’s also managed to collect at least four sacks in each of the past six years.

He was actually trending towards one of the most productive seasons of his career during his first season with Tennessee in 2025. Through nine games, the veteran has collected 4.5 sacks along with 26 tackles, five tackles for loss, and nine QB hits. Pro Football Focus has only ranked him 63rd among 119 qualifying edge defenders this season, although the site has given him an above-average grade for his pass-rush ability.

The acquisition should immediately find a role in Baltimore. Mike Green will continue to pace the Ravens’ pass-rush unit, but Jones could easily slide in ahead of Kyle Van Noy and David Ojabo on the depth chart. The team could also soon welcome back 2024 third-rounder Adisa Isaac, although the pass rusher doesn’t have much of an NFL track record.

Attached to a one-year, $8.5MM deal, Jones represents a clear rental for the Ravens. While Baltimore has had a disappointing start to their 2025 campaign, the team’s upcoming schedule should help them remain in the playoff hunt for the second half of the season. It will be interesting to see if the team continues to add ahead of tomorrow’s deadline. It was uncertain if the organization would be buyers or sellers heading into Week 10, but the team is clearly signaling that they want to add.

As for the Titans, the front office could continue to be aggressive over the next day. The team previously dealt cornerback Roger McCreary to the Rams, while the likes of Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, and T’Vondre Sweat have all been mentioned as trade candidates.

Eagles Acquire Jaelan Phillips From Dolphins

November 3rd, 2025 at 10:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

At least one member of the Dolphins‘ pass rush tandem will be on the move ahead of the trade deadline. A deal involving Jaelan Phillips was discussed late Sunday night, with the terms emerging early Monday morning.

The Dolphins are sending Phillips to the Eagles, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A 2026 third-round pick is heading the other way. Schefter clarifies the selection Miami is acquiring is Philadelphia’s own (one of two picks in that round the team had). The deal is now official.

This move represents yet another piece of midseason business on the part of Eagles GM Howie Roseman. The team had already swung three trades since the beginning of the campaign, with the two most recent deals (for Michael Carter II from the Jets and fellow cornerback Jaire Alexander from the Ravens) being aimed at adding depth on defense. Pass rush remained an area of concern heading into the deadline, however. As such, many pointed to Philadelphia as a destination for an edge rusher in general and Phillips in particular. This swap was discussed for more than one week, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated adds.

The 26-year-old overlapped with Vic Fangio in 2023. Fangio was in Miami as the team’s defensive coordinator for that campaign before taking on the same role with the Eagles. That season, Phillips notched 6.5 sacks despite being limited to just eight games. The former first-rounder only managed to play four games last season, and injury concerns were a talking point with respect to his trade value. Nevertheless, Phillips – alongside teammate Bradley Chubb – has long been mentioned as a player on the radar of interested teams. He is attached to his fifth-year option, making this a rental move.

Phillips’ base salary for 2025 ($13.25MM) made him one of the more expensive options in terms of finances, even with a portion of that figure already having been paid out. To help facilitate this deal, Miami is taking on money. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the Dolphins are retaining some of Phillips’ remaining salary in return for a higher draft pick. The Dolphins converted $5.13MM of Phillips’ remaining base salary into a signing bonus, per Field Yates of ESPN.com. The Eagles will pay Phillips a $1.5MM salary through the end of the season.

A third-rounder appears to be a relatively steep price for a rental, but the Eagles have been in need of help along the edge all year. The defending Super Bowl champions lost Josh Sweat in free agency and traded away Bryce Huff this past offseason. Za’Darius Smith elected to hang up his cleats during the campaign, while Brandon Graham recently unretired to play a 16th season with Philadelphia.

When Graham makes his season debut, it will be as a depth member of a defensive end group now featuring Phillips along with the likes of Nolan Smith (when healthy) and Jalyx Hunt. Phillips has handled a snap share of 71% or higher three times in his career, and a notable workload can be expected down the stretch as a member of the Eagles. Returning to the form he showed under Fangio would provide a critical boost to Philadelphia’s front seven while also helping his free agent stock (something which would be welcomed since the UCLA and Miami alum has notched just three sacks in 2025).

For the Dolphins, meanwhile, this news comes as little surprise. The decision to move on from general manager Chris Grier came just before the trade deadline, leading many to believe a shift in approach would take place. Indeed, reports from the past few days have indicated interim GM Champ Kelly will be more willing to entertain offers leading up to tomorrow afternoon’s deadline. It will thus be interesting to see if more moves are coming for Miami, a 2-7 team which will use the remainder of the season to evaluate head coach Mike McDaniel‘s job security.

As a result of this trade, the Dolphins now have three third-round picks in 2026. That capital will be key in helping the team add needed cost-controlled players moving forward, regardless of who is in place as general manager by the time April’s draft takes place. As for the Eagles, they entered Monday with roughly $11.5MM in cap space. This Phillips deal will eat into that figure but room for even more activity on the trade front could exist if Roseman finds a low-cost rental in the near future.

Chargers T Joe Alt Out For Season

November 3rd, 2025 at 3:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bitten by injuries in many recent seasons, the Chargers have run into tremendous trouble along their offensive line in this one. Playing the full season without left tackle Rashawn Slater, the Bolts will now be without his replacement the rest of the way.

Being carted off with an ankle injury Sunday, Joe Alt is not returning this year. The Chargers announced the standout blocker is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his right high ankle sprain — an injury that has given him trouble at multiple points during his second NFL campaign.

The Chargers quickly slid Alt to left tackle to replace Slater for this season. They had lost Slater to a torn patellar tendon during training camp, seeing that development unfold days after reaching an extension agreement. The Bolts had a prime option to fill in, as Alt had earned two All-American honors while playing left tackle at Notre Dame. But Alt’s season on Justin Herbert‘s blind side has been bumpy due to this injury.

Alt first went down in Week 4 and missed the next three games. He returned in Week 8, and the Bolts dominated the Vikings. The team eked out a win over the woeful Titans on Sunday, and its tackle situation now looks dire.

When Alt was healthy, backup tackle Trey Pipkins filled in at right tackle. When Alt went down in September, backup tackle Austin Deculus was called up to the first-team offense. Pipkins went down in Week 5, and Jamaree Salyer finished the game at right tackle, but a practice squad addition, Bobby Hart, ended up making the subsequent start opposite Deculus. When Pipkins returned from his injury, however, Hart remained in the starting lineup across from Alt in his return last week.

Hart actually left today’s game with an injury before Alt, getting replaced by Pipkins early in the contest. Deculus — a late-summer trade pickup — had already been ruled out with an ankle injury before the game. The Chargers called upon Salyer, this time to play left tackle across from Pipkins. This came as right guard Mekhi Becton missed another game. Because of the timing here, the Bolts may have a decision to make. Pro Football Focus ranks Alt 11th among tackles; Hart, Pipkins and Deculus are all outside the top 60.

Los Angeles has managed to reach 6-3 despite myriad O-line issues, but Alt’s return had been a silver lining previously. The prospect of playing without their best two blockers changes the equation, and the Bolts have until 3pm CT Tuesday to make a trade. Although Salyer and Pipkins have extensive starting experience, with both players seeing extended stretches at tackle and guard, they entered the season as backups for a reason. Will the Chargers try to trade for an Alt replacement by the deadline?

It took only a swap of conditional sixth-round picks for the Vikings to add Cam Robinson following Christian Darrisaw‘s injury last year, providing some optimism the Chargers could complete a deal without giving up too much. Robinson now resides in Cleveland, following a trade with Houston; Cornelius Lucas (34) is his backup. Chukwuma Okorafor, who left the Patriots one week into last season, resides as a Jets swing tackle. Injury-prone Trent Brown is stationed behind the Texans’ starting tackles.

One interesting solution could reside in Washington, where Andrew Wylie is available. The Commanders’ right tackle starter in 2023 and ’24, Wylie previously played right tackle for the Chiefs. He does not have nearly as much LT experience, however. But the Bolts have been rearranging their O-line since Slater’s injury. It will take more of that moving forward, as the Slater-Alt duo will not be back together until next season.

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