Traded Draft Picks For 2026
Many clubs have made moves to acquire 2026 draft capital. Headlined by the seven trades where first-round picks have changed hands, here are the 2026 picks to have changed hands thus far. When more deals involving picks are made (or conditions on moves already completed become known), that information will be added.
Round 1
- Giants obtained No. 10 from Bengals for DT Dexter Lawrence
- Rams acquired No. 13 from Falcons, sliding down from No. 26 to 46 in deal that sent OLB James Pearce Jr. to Atlanta
- Jets added No. 16 from Colts in trade for CB Sauce Gardner
- Cowboys obtained No. 20 from Packers in trade sending DE Micah Parsons to Green Bay
- Browns added No. 24 from Jaguars, agreeing to move down from No. 2 to No. 5 in swap for WR/CB Travis Hunter
- Chiefs snared No. 29 from Rams in deal sending CB Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles
- Dolphins acquired No. 30 from Broncos in trade sending WR Jaylen Waddle to Denver
Round 2
- Texans added No. 38 from Commanders in four-pick package that re-routed LT Laremy Tunsil to Washington
- Jets acquired No. 44 from Cowboys in trade involving DT Quinnen Williams
- Bears obtained No. 60 from Bills in trade involving WR D.J. Moore
Round 3
- Eagles picked up No. 68 from Jets in March 2024 deal sending OLB Haason Reddick to New York
- Serving as gateway on QB Jaxson Dart‘s New York path (at No. 25 overall), Texans acquired No. 69 from Giants
- Trade for WR George Pickens sent Steelers No. 76 from Cowboys in deal involving three draft choices between 2026 and ’27
- Jaguars hold No. 81 due to Lions climbing 32 spots (to No. 70) in 2025 draft for WR Isaac TeSlaa
- Dolphins added No. 87 from Eagles in trade for OLB Jaelan Phillips
- Dolphins acquired No. 90 from Texans, who moved pick in package for No. 116 in 2025 (RB Woody Marks)
- Cowboys landed No. 92 from 49ers in trade involving DT Osa Odighizuwa
- Dolphins obtained No. 94 from Broncos third in Waddle trade
- Jaguars snagged No. 100 from Lions via Detroit’s 2025 Isaac TeSlaa trade-up maneuver
Round 4
- Tunsil trade also sent Texans No. 106 from Commanders
- Broncos added No. 108 from Saints, sending WR Devaughn Vele to New Orleans
- Broncos acquired No. 111 from Dolphins fourth in trade for Waddle
- Eagles obtained No. 114 from Falcons in trade involving S Sydney Brown
- October 2024 trade for LT Cam Robinson sent Jaguars conditional fourth-rounder from Vikings
- Raiders obtained higher of Jaguars‘ two fourths (No. 117) in trade involving WR Jakobi Meyers
- Falcons added No. 122 from Eagles in Brown trade
- Chiefs added fourth from Bears in swap that sent G Joe Thuney to Chicago
- Patriots snagged selection (No. 125) from Chiefs in 2025 deal that gave Kansas City No. 85 (CB Nohl Williams)
- Lions added No. 128 from Texans in trade for RB David Montgomery
- Bears snared No. 129 from Rams in deal that gave Los Angeles No. 148 (DL Ty Hamilton)
- Waddle swap sent Dolphins No. 130 from Broncos
- Saints acquired No. 132 from Seahawks in trade for WR Rashid Shaheed
Round 5
- Browns collected Raiders fifth in trade involving QB Kenny Pickett
- Texans obtained pick (No. 141) from Browns in trade sending OL Tytus Howard to Cleveland
- Ravens added Jets fifth by moving out of No. 176 (DE Tyler Baron)
- Titans obtained Ravens pick (No. 142) in trade for OLB Dre’Mont Jones
- August 2024 Ernest Jones trade — the first of the two swaps involving the LB last year — sent Rams pick from Titans
- Titans obtained pick (No. 144) back from Rams in trade involving CB Roger McCreary
- Browns added Bengals fifth (No. 149) in trade for QB Joe Flacco
- Eagles acquired fifth from Falcons by dealing No. 96 to Atlanta (S Xavier Watts)
- Packers added No. 153 from Eagles in trade involving WR Dontayvion Wicks
- Panthers obtained No. 158 from Vikings in trade sending WR Adam Thielen back to Minnesota
- Ravens collected Chargers fifth (No. 162) in trade involving OLB Odafe Oweh, S Alohi Gilman
- Vikings acquired Eagles fifth (No. 163) in trade involving QB Sam Howell
- Moore trade sent Bills fifth (No. 165) from Bears
- Trade for DE Bryce Huff positioned to send Eagles conditional fifth from 49ers
- Jaguars obtained Eagles conditional fifth (No. 166) in trade involving RB Tank Bigsby
- In deal that sent G Kenyon Green to Eagles and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Texans, Philadelphia obtained Houston’s fifth
- Texans reacquired pick (No. 167) in trade that sent TE Harrison Bryant from Eagles in exchange for WR John Metchie
- McDuffie trade sent Chiefs No. 169 from Rams
- Shaheed trade sent Saints No. 172 from Seahawks
Round 6
- Browns added sixth from Jets, trading DT Jowon Briggs to New York
- Jaguars obtained sixth from Browns in trade involving CBs Tyson Campbell, Greg Newsome
- Raiders added sixth from Jaguars in Jakobi Meyers swap
- Bills added No. 182 from Raiders in trade for CB Taron Johnson
- Raiders added sixth from Jaguars in Jakobi Meyers swap
- Jaguars obtained sixth from Browns in trade involving CBs Tyson Campbell, Greg Newsome
- Nick Harris pick-swap trade sent Seahawks sixth back from Browns
- Jaguars acquired pick from Seahawks in trade involving DT Roy Robertson-Harris
- Isaac TeSlaa terms sent No. 188 to Lions from Jaguars
- Jaguars acquired pick from Seahawks in trade involving DT Roy Robertson-Harris
- October 2024 trade for DE Josh Uche sent Patriots No. 191 from Chiefs
- Giants acquired No. 192 from Dolphins in exchange for retired TE Darren Waller‘s rights
- Intra-NFC East swap involving DT Jordan Phillips brought Giants No. 193 from Cowboys
- Phillips being on Cowboys’ gameday roster for two games finalized trade
- Trade-up move involving K Tyler Loop (at No. 186) sent Jets sixth from Ravens
- Titans obtained No. 194 from Jets in trade involving CB Jarvis Brownlee
- Vikings collected No. 196 from Colts in deal for CB Mekhi Blackmon
- Eagles acquired No. 197 from Falcons in Sydney Brown trade
- Texans added sixth from Vikings in October 2024 RB Cam Akers swap
- Vikings reacquired choice from Texans in deal for G Ed Ingram
- Pick-swap deal centered around RB Jordan Mason sent choice to 49ers
- Patriots netted No. 198 from 49ers in trade involving DE Keion White
- Pick-swap deal centered around RB Jordan Mason sent choice to 49ers
- Vikings reacquired choice from Texans in deal for G Ed Ingram
- Deadline deal involving OLB Za’Darius Smith gave Browns sixth from Lions
- Bengals obtain No. 199 from Browns in deal for QB Joe Flacco
- Patriots landed No. 202 from Steelers in trade that sent S Kyle Dugger to Pittsburgh
- Trade involving Gardner-Johnson, Green sent Texans sixth from Eagles
- Eagles obtained sixth, TE Harrison Bryant from Texans in exchange for WR John Metchie, 2025 fifth
- Tank Bigsby trade sent Jaguars No. 203 from Eagles
- Eagles obtained sixth, TE Harrison Bryant from Texans in exchange for WR John Metchie, 2025 fifth
- Lions added No. 205 from Jaguars in deal for WR Tim Patrick
- Browns acquired No. 206 from Bears in trade for DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
- Rams obtained sixth from Texans in swap that sent WR Ben Skowronek to Houston
- Titans acquired pick from Rams in Ernest Jones trade
- Rams reacquired No. 207 from Titans sixth in trade involving CB Roger McCreary
- Titans acquired pick from Rams in Ernest Jones trade
- In intra-AFC East deal for CB Brandon Codrington, Jets received sixth from Bills
- Raiders acquired No. 208 from Jets in trade involving QB Geno Smith
- Commanders nabbed No. 209 from 49ers in exchange for RB Brian Robinson
- McDuffie trade sent Chiefs No. 210 from Rams
- Trade involving DL John Franklin-Myers, agreed to on Day 3 of 2024 draft, sent Jets sixth from Broncos
- Vikings acquired pick from Jets in deal involving DL Harrison Phillips
- Eagles added choice from Vikings in trade for Sam Howell
- Ravens obtained No. 211 from Eagles in trade involving CB Jaire Alexander
- Eagles added choice from Vikings in trade for Sam Howell
- Vikings acquired pick from Jets in deal involving DL Harrison Phillips
- Seahawks added sixth from Browns in deal that sent C Nick Harris back to Cleveland
- Jaguars snared pick from Seahawks in October 2024 deal for DL Roy Robertson-Harris
- Lions obtained No. 213 from Jaguars in pick-swap deal for Isaac TeSlaa
- Jaguars snared pick from Seahawks in October 2024 deal for DL Roy Robertson-Harris
- Colts obtained No. 214 from Steelers in trade involving WR Michael Pittman Jr.
- Falcons obtained No. 215 from Eagles in Brown deal
Round 7
- Cowboys added No. 218 from Titans in trade involving DT Solomon Thomas
- Brandon Codrington trade sent Bills No. 220 from Jets
- Cowboys added seventh from Giants in Jordan Phillips trade
- Bengals added No. 221 from Cowboys in trade involving LB Logan Wilson
- Za’Darius Smith pick-swap trade brought Lions No. 222 from Browns
- Patriots acquired seventh from Saints in deal involving DT Davon Godchaux
- Steelers acquired No. 224 from Patriots in trade involving Kyle Dugger
- Cowboys collected conditional seventh from Chiefs for TE Peyton Hendershot
- Titans grabbed No. 225 from Cowboys in trade for DT Solomon Thomas
- Bills snagged seventh from Cowboys in exchange for CB Kaiir Elam
- Raiders acquired pick from Bills in trade involving CB Taron Johnson
- Jets added No. 228 from Raiders in trade for QB Geno Smith
- Raiders acquired pick from Bills in trade involving CB Taron Johnson
- Steelers obtained No. 230 from Colts in trade for WR Michael Pittman Jr.
- Rams acquired No. 232 from Ravens in 2024 Tre’Davious White deadline deal
- May 2023 trade gave Jaguars conditional seventh (No. 233) from Lions in exchange for K Riley Patterson
- Adam Thielen clearing 10-game mark in 2025 sent Vikings No. 235 from Panthers
- Titans obtained seventh from Chargers in exchange for DB Elijah Molden
- Jets added seventh from Titans in Jarvis Brownlee trade
- Dolphins acquired No. 238 from Jets for S Minkah Fitzpatrick
- Jets added seventh from Titans in Jarvis Brownlee trade
- Jaguars snared seventh from Eagles in deal sending T Fred Johnson back to Philadelphia
- Browns obtained pick from Jaguars in Greg Newsome trade
- Bears pried No. 239 from Browns in Joe Tryon-Shoyinka swap
- Browns obtained pick from Jaguars in Greg Newsome trade
- Browns–Bills‘ trade involving WR Amari Cooper sent Cleveland seventh
- In Jowon Briggs trade, Jets added No. 242 from Browns
- Deadline deal involving DT Khalil Davis gave Texans No. 243 from 49ers
- Vikings acquired No. 244 from Texans in trade involving RB Cam Akers
- Texans added seventh from Rams in Ben Skowronek trade
- Jaguars collected No. 245 from Texans in trade for WR Christian Kirk
- Nick Harris trade sent Browns No. 248 from Seahawks
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Nick Muse
- Released: S Patrick McMorris
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Dee Williams
- Placed on IR: CB Ameer Speed
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Arthur Maulet
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Jamin Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Bruce Hector
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Maxen Hook
- Placed on IR: G Shane Lemieux
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
With starting cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold both sidelined (along with backup Khalil Dorsey), the Lions have brought in some veteran reinforcement at the position. Arthur Maulet brings 85 games of experience to Detroit, although he’s struggled to carve out a starting role throughout his career. The cornerback has mostly served as a depth piece in stops with the Saints, Colts, Jets, Steelers, and Ravens. He spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, where he compiled 42 tackles and a pair of sacks in 17 appearances.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/25
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: CB Dom Jones
Detroit Lions
- Signed from practice squad: OL Dan Skipper
- Placed on IR: CB Khalil Dorsey
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: LB Joe Bachie
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Cody Schrader
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: RB Kimani Vidal
San Francisco 49ers
- Designed for return from IR: DT Kevin Givens
Khalil Dorsey was recently nursing a wrist injury, and that issue will now sideline him for at least the next four games, as the cornerback landed on injured reserve today. After getting into the first four games of the season for the Lions, Dorsey didn’t see the field for Week 5. The majority of his playing time has come on special teams this season.
Kevin Givens is back at practice after landing on IR before the season even started. The defensive tackle has been working his way back from a pectoral injury that wiped out the first month of his 2025 campaign. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, the defensive lineman will be evaluated throughout the week to determine his availability for Week 6. Givens is coming off a 2024 season where he compiled a career-high 3.5 sacks.
Bengals Pursued Several QB Options Before Settling On Joe Flacco
The Bengals initially hoped that Jake Browning would be able to keep the ship afloat as the team awaited Joe Burrow‘s return from injury. However, after the fill-in tossed three interceptions for his third-straight loss, the front office decided to pivot, bringing in Joe Flacco to temporarily guide the offense.
[RELATED: Bengals Acquire Joe Flacco From Browns]
However, the Bengals did explore some other options before ultimately settling on the 40-year-old signal caller. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the front office called around to any team that had some extra QB depth. In fact, there was “some chatter” surrounding Cincy’s pursuit of Seahawks QB Drew Lock and Eagles QB Sam Howell. On the flip side, none of Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, nor Kirk Cousins were “ever real possibilities” for the franchise.
Both Lock and Howell represent younger options than Flacco (it’d be hard not to). Lock has 28 games of starting experience, with close to half of those appearances coming with the Broncos in 2020. After going 1-4 in five starts with the Giants in 2024, Lock inked a two-year contract with the Seahawks this past offseason. That means the QB would have brought some extra team control to Cincinnati.
Howell is playing out the final season of his rookie contract, and a deal with Cincinnati would have marked his fourth trade since March of 2024. Howell was actually Lock’s predecessor as Seattle’s QB2, as he got limited reps while backing up Geno Smith in 2024. Before that, he started all 17 games for the Commanders in 2023, tossing 21 touchdowns vs. a league-leading 21 interceptions.
Any of Wilson, Winston, and Cousins would have brought their own intrigue to the Bengals. Wilson was recently benched for rookie Jaxson Dart in New York, and Winston has yet to see the field as a Giants backup in 2025. Cousins is somehow still kicking around Atlanta, although he did make a cameo in a blowout loss to the Panthers last month.
Flacco was ultimately the team’s choice as a stopgap quarterback. According to Graziano, the Bengals didn’t anticipate any acquisition to immediately be inserted into the starting lineup, but the team is apparently hopeful that Flacco will be able to start this weekend against the Packers. If he’s not ready to go, then the veteran would be set to make his Bengals debut the following Thursday night against the Steelers.
Vance Joseph Moving Back Onto HC Radar
After the Broncos took significant steps forward defensively last season, the Jets and Raiders interviewed Vance Joseph for their respective head coaching posts. Denver’s third-year defensive coordinator should expect more interview slips in 2026.
The Broncos’ defense helped buy their offense time to mount a comeback Sunday in Philadelphia, and the team pulled off a 21-17 upset win. Joseph helmed Patrick Surtain to a Defensive Player of the Year showing last season, and recently extended edge rusher Nik Bonitto has an NFL-most seven sacks through five games. Joseph’s name is coming up again regarding head coaching interest, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.
[RELATED: Recent Broncos Extensions Highlight Post-Russell Wilson Recovery]
Although Joseph interviewed for both the New York and Las Vegas gigs, he did not appear near the lead for either job. Joseph has been back on the DC level for the past seven seasons, having moved from his Broncos HC stint (2017-18) to Cardinals DC and a return to Denver as the AFC West club’s defensive boss. Sporadic success has come for Joseph, who has one of the league’s better units to work with early in Year 3 back in Colorado.
The rare coach who agreed to return as a coordinator for a team he once led as head coach, Joseph gone through a few HC interviews since his January 2019 Broncos ouster. He met about the Dolphins’ job in 2022, and the Cardinals interviewed him about succeeding ex-boss Kliff Kingsbury in 2023. Hired over Kyle Shanahan in 2017, Joseph went 11-21 as Broncos HC. That stint has hurt his chances of seeing a second opportunity.
To be fair, the Broncos did not outfit Joseph with much at quarterback during those seasons. As Paxton Lynch became one of this era’s biggest busts, Joseph had Trevor Siemian as his primary starter in 2017. The Broncos then gave Case Keenum by far his most lucrative contract (two years, $36MM) in 2018 but moved on from the journeyman after one season. Joseph’s second Broncos team also stood 6-6 before injuries to Pro Bowlers Chris Harris and Emmanuel Sanders helped key a four-game skid to close that season, leading to the team’s Vic Fangio hire. Keenum and Siemian moved toward the backup tier fairly soon after their Broncos tenures.
Fangio appeared to be higher on Sean Payton‘s DC wish list in 2023, but the current Eagles DC indicated it was too soon for him to return to Denver (the team had fired him in January 2022). Joseph, 53, saw his best two Cardinals defenses finish just outside the top 10 in scoring. The Broncos ranked third last season and sit second entering their Week 6 London matchup with the Jets. This momentum continuing should generate momentum for Joseph, as he is now seven years removed from his first HC opportunity.
Titans Move WR Treylon Burks Off IR List
OCTOBER 8: As expected, Burks cleared waivers Wednesday, Garafolo tweets. Several weeks after initially being informed he would be waived, the former first-round pick is a free agent.
OCTOBER 7: Although Treylon Burks is trending upward in terms of health, he will not factor into the Titans’ plans. Tennessee is cutting the veteran wide receiver from its IR list, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports.
This will be an injury settlement-generated divorce, but with Burks receiving medical clearance (after a 2024 ACL tear), it would surprise if he lingered in free agency for too long. A second chance appears likely for the former first-round pick. Burks will need to clear waivers, as a non-vested veteran, but his resume and first-round contract should ensure he does so.
Tennessee waived Burks well before the August roster-setting deadline, and he reverted to IR. That made him unable to return to the team this season on his current contract. Although teams occasionally circle back to players placed on season-ending IR following injury settlements, that is highly unlikely here. Burks was a Jon Robinson-era draftee, chosen after the draft-night A.J. Brown trade, who did not live up to expectations. With the Titans two GMs removed from Robinson, Burks will be leaving Nashville soon.
The Titans fired Robinson months after his Burks pick, axed Mike Vrabel barely a year later and then canned Ran Carthon in January. Chad Brinker, Carthon’s former lieutenant, is now president of football ops; Brinker hired Mike Borgonzi as GM. Brinker was not with the Titans when they drafted Burks.
Burks, who has just a 53/699/1 line across three seasons, has battled injuries in multiple years. He played in five games last season, catching just four passes for a 3-14 Titans team. He caught Robinson and Co.’s attention with two quality seasons at Arkansas. Burks totaled 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final Razorbacks season (2021) and was viewed, perhaps unfairly, as a big-bodied Brown replacement. Obviously, those hopes came nowhere close to transpiring.
The Titans have overhauled their WR room otherwise, adding veterans DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley since the Burks pick. The team traded Hopkins last year, and Ridley’s guarantees wrap after this season. The team has Tyler Lockett, Van Jefferson and fourth-round rookies Elic Ayomanor and Dike Chimere as other options.
NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Lawrence, Eagles
Jerry Jones is optimistic the Cowboys will have most of their injured players back in the next couple of weeks. The Cowboys are without starters CeeDee Lamb and Tyler Booker on offense, but neither is on IR. That duo will be set to return soon, while cornerback Caelen Carson is in the IR-return window. Rookie running back Phil Mafah will also be an option to come off IR. Jones expressed more hesitancy during a 105.3 The Fan appearance (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) regarding DeMarvion Overshown and Cooper Beebe. The longtime owner/GM said he does not expect either to return until after the Cowboys’ Week 10 bye. Though, Jones did inject some optimism here by mentioning he does not expect the linebacker or center to miss much (if any) time beyond that point.
Overshown is recovering from a severe knee injury, which resulted in ACL, MCL and PCL tears. A September report pointed to October as a possible early return window; Jones’ latest offering pours cold water on that. Overshown, who missed his entire 2023 rookie season due to an ACL tear, looks likelier to come back at some point in November. Beebe has missed the past three Cowboys contests with a lateral ankle sprain and fractured foot. A return shortly after Dallas’ Week 10 bye would be in line with the initial recovery timetable provided.
Here is the latest from the NFC East:
- The Cowboys benched Kaiir Elam in Week 5, doing so after he started the team’s first four games. DaRon Bland had already returned in time for Week 4, complementing Trevon Diggs after the duo had barely played together since Diggs’ September 2023 ACL tear. Elam still played 35 defensive snaps in a rotational role during a blowout win over the Jets, but via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Reddy Steward lined up in the slot alongside Diggs and Bland. Elam has worked as an outside corner but has not shown much improvement from his Bills days. The Cowboys did not pick up the 2022 first-rounder’s fifth-year option in May.
- Dexter Lawrence has seen some less accomplished defensive tackles pass him over since he signed his Giants extension (four years, $90MM) in May 2023. The Giants gave him an incentive package in July, and The Athletic’s Dan Duggan details those markers. Lawrence can earn $1.5MM in playing time-based incentives, with $500K escalators in place for 51%, 60% and 70% of the Giants’ defensive snaps this season. An additional $1.5MM in performance incentives are present, with those benchmarks including separate $500K bumps for five-, six- and seven-sack seasons. With the same three-tiered setup in place for the performance marks, Lawrence must become a first- or second-team All-Pro — and see the Giants improve on either total yardage, yards per carry or yards per pass from 2024 — to cash in on any of the $500K levels.
- The Commanders benched Brandon Coleman last month, turning to fourth-year option Chris Paul at left guard. This was part of a multi-guard changeover, with Andrew Wylie replacing ex-Chiefs teammate Nick Allegretti at RG (while Sam Cosmi finishes his ACL rehab). Coleman’s health contributed to the benching, per Kliff Kingsbury, who said (via NBC4Sports’ JP Finlay) nagging injuries partially contributed to the demotion. Coleman, who started 12 games as a rookie, has not played since Week 2.
- Landon Dickerson made it back from preseason meniscus surgery to play in Week 1, but he will be sidelined for the Eagles‘ Thursday-night matchup against the Giants. Dickerson sustained an ankle injury against the Broncos and has been ruled out for Week 6, with the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane indicating a two-game absence is likely in play for the Pro Bowl guard. Brett Toth replaced Dickerson at LG. Elsewhere on the Eagle injury front, long snapper Charley Hughlett underwent successful core muscle surgery, per his agent. Placed on IR last week, Hughlett is expected to miss multiple months.
Dolphins Place CB Cornell Armstrong On IR
The Dolphins’ banged-up secondary took another hit Wednesday. The team placed nickel cornerback Cornell Armstrong on injured reserve. He’ll miss at least four games after suffering a hamstring injury in a loss to the Panthers last Sunday.
The Dolphins now have three nickel corners on IR. Along with Armstrong, Jason Marshall and Artie Burns are on the shelf. Marshall has missed two games with a hamstring injury, which opened up playing time for Armstrong, while Burns won’t factor in at all this season after tearing his ACL during training camp.
The injury woes at nickel CB are only part of the problem in Miami’s secondary. Like Burns, corner Kader Kohou tore his ACL in July. The Dolphins have also gone without corner Storm Duck since he injured his ankle in a Week 1 loss to the Colts. Their absences help explain why Miami’s defense ranks last in the NFL in opposing passer rating and completion percentage,
Armstrong first became a Dolphin when they chose him in the sixth round of the 2018 draft. He played in 15 games as a rookie, but the Dolphins released him after the season. Armstrong went on to see action with the Texans (2019) and Falcons (2022) before Miami brought him back over the summer when it placed Burns on IR. The 30-year-old has played in three games this year and registered two tackles.
Having lost another nickel CB, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will have to continue helping the Dolphins fill that role, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. With Fitzpatrick needed elsewhere, the Dolphins signed practice squad safety Jordan Colbert to their active roster on Wednesday. The 25-year-old made his NFL debut in the Dolphins’ Week 3 loss to the Bills. All 12 of his snaps came on special teams.
To take Colbert’s spot on their practice squad, the Dolphins signed Kendall Sheffield. The former Falcon, 49er, Titan, and Jet has appeared in 49 games (20 starts) since debuting in 2019. Sheffield signed with the Dolphins in late May, but they cut him in late August. They elected to bring him back after working out free agent corners Ethan Robinson, Daequan Hardy, and Myles Purchase on Tuesday, according to Jackson.
49ers Could Be Active At Trade Deadline; Team Seeking DE Addition?
The 49ers have stormed out to a 4-1 start despite a slew of injuries to important contributors. With the Nov. 4 trade deadline looming as a key improvement avenue, Cam Inman of the Mercury News expects general manager John Lynch to deal for outside help in the next few weeks. More specifically, it is likely that the 49ers at least want to acquire an edge rusher, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic.
The pass rush became an obvious area of concern for the 49ers when defensive end Nick Bosa tore the ACL in his left knee in Week 3. That injury ended a season that began in promising fashion for the former Defensive Player of the Year. Bosa totaled 17 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles in the early going this year.
Despite their strong start, the 49ers have had a difficult time getting to enemy quarterbacks since losing Bosa. The rest of their defense has accounted for just four sacks, and the team’s total (six) ranks 30th in the league.
It doesn’t help matters that the 49ers’ Bosa-less defensive line is now dealing with injuries to Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring), Kalia Davis (hand), and Alfred Collins (knee). While Collins could play this week against the Buccaneers in a battle of 4-1 NFC teams, Gross-Matos and Davis are expected to miss time.
Unfortunately for San Francisco, nobody from the Gross-Matos/Davis/Collins group has registered a sack this year. The same is true of Mykel Williams, the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft. Williams has played 68.6% of defensive snaps as a rookie, but his production hasn’t been great through his first five games. Pro Football Focus ranks his performance 128th among 169 qualifying EDGE players.
Other than Bosa, Bryce Huff is the only D-lineman on the team who has taken down an opposing QB in 2025. Huff, acquired from the Eagles in June, has notched three sacks and a forced fumble over his first five games with San Francisco. He also ranks 19th among EDGE players in pass rush win rate. It’s worth noting that Huff posted a career-high 10 sacks with the Jets in 2023. Niners defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was the Jets’ head coach then, and it seems he’s once again getting the most out of Huff after a 2.5-sack showing with the Eagles in 2024.
If pass-rushing complements to Huff don’t emerge from within over the next month, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the aggressive Lynch swing one or more deals. Lynch has a long history of deadline activity — at D-end alone, the 49ers have traded for Charles Omenihu, Randy Gregory and Chase Young in-season since 2021 — and is armed with roughly $24MM in cap space, which will make it easier to maneuver on the market.
PFR’s Ely Allen identified the Dolphins‘ Jaelan Phillips as a trade candidate and a potential fit for the 49ers last week. The Saints, who are expected to sell at the deadline, could move eight-time Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan. The Titans also roster ex-49er Arden Key, who left San Francisco via free agency in 2023, and sit 1-4. It’s a long shot, but Bengals star and soon-to-be free agent Trey Hendrickson could be worth monitoring if they fall out of contention over the next few weeks. For now, having traded for quarterback Joe Flacco on Tuesday, the Bengals are still trying to stay alive for a potential Joe Burrow return from IR later in the season.
Bengals To Start QB Joe Flacco In Week 6
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor announced Wednesday (via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr.) newly acquired quarterback Joe Flacco will take all the reps in practice this week and start against the Packers on Sunday.
Trading for Flacco expressed Cincinnati’s clear desire to make a change at quarterback after three straight losses with Jake Browning under center. They will make the switch right away, which will force Flacco to quickly get up to speed in his new offense.
The Bengals were hoping Browning could keep the offense afloat after Joe Burrow‘s injury and keep their season alive in case the two-time Pro Bowler makes a return late in the year. Instead, Browning threw multiple interceptions in three of his four games, handicapping Cincinnati on both sides of the ball.
Historically light in terms of in-season player acquisition volume in trades, the Bengals bent on their usual stance after Browning threw three more interceptions in a one-sided loss to the Lions. They acquired Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Browns for a 2026 fifth. Flacco also struggled with INTs with the Browns, leading to his benching, and Pro Football Focus ranking the Bengals’ O-line 32nd through five games still could create a high degree of difficulty for the statuesque trade pickup. But the Bengals were sinking fast; they will try Flacco immediately.
Taylor left the door open to a Browning benching, after previously voicing support for Burrow’s backup, after Week 5. The team considered several QB options early this week, and VP of player personnel Duke Tobin brought Flacco to Taylor’s attention (via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby) to gauge the coach’s interest before making the deal. As could be expected, Kevin Stefanski confirmed (via The Athletic’s Zac Jackson) the Bengals made the first trade contact on the QB. After Taylor gave his approval, another Ohio learning curve will take place for Flacco.
While Flacco will be in the historically interesting position of facing the Packers twice in three weeks with two different teams, he has considerable success picking up an offense on the fly. His first Browns stint, though, did feature a longer ramp-up period.
With Deshaun Watson suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, the Browns initially signed Flacco on Nov. 19, 2023. They faced the Broncos with Dorian Thompson-Robinson at the controls days later, not turning to Flacco until the following week. Flacco debuted Dec. 3 and lost his first start (to the Rams). The aging QB, who did not receive much free agency interest that offseason, proceeded to win his next four starts to move the injury-battered Browns to a surprising wild-card berth. That earned him Comeback Player of the Year acclaim and Stefanski his second Coach of the Year honor.
The Bengals will give Flacco a similar assignment, counting on the 18th-year veteran to salvage a sinking season. He will team with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Chase Brown. Although Flacco played with Amari Cooper in 2023, the Chase-Higgins combo will easily be the best of his career. While challenges present themselves in terms of Cincy’s O-line keeping Flacco upright, the team’s pass-catching talent will make this an interesting experiment.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
