Jalen Ramsey Sticking At Safety In Week 10
Jalen Ramsey has starred at cornerback since entering the NFL as the fifth overall pick of the Jaguars in 2016. Nine years later, a position change may be in store for the seven-time Pro Bowler.
After Ramsey lined up at free safety in a 27-20 win over the Colts last Sunday, he’ll work “exclusively” at the position as the Steelers prepare to face the Chargers on Sunday, according to head coach Mike Tomlin (via Brooke Pryor of ESPN). The Steelers have updated their depth chart, placing Ramsey as the starting free safety, Kyle Dugger as the No. 1 strong safety, and Brandin Echols as their top slot cornerback, per team correspondent Mark Kaboly.
When discussing Ramsey this week (via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Tomlin said that his ability to handle multiple positions “will provide opportunities for Brandin Echols to step up, which he did, and play more nickel. It will give guys like James Pierre more reps outside. We have more depth at corner than we do safety right now. We’re simply pivoting and doing what’s required to keep the train rolling.”
As Tomlin alluded to, the Steelers were severely shorthanded at safety against the Colts’ top-ranked offense, necessitating Ramsey’s switch from corner. DeShon Elliott, Jabrill Peppers, Chuck Clark, and Miles Killebrew were all out with injuries and/or illnesses. Meanwhile, Dugger played his first game as a Steeler after they acquired him from the Patriots last Tuesday. Ramsey (78) and Dugger (77) ended up among Pittsburgh’s leaders in defensive snaps during a six-turnover, five-sack performance.
Just months after trading safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami in a June blockbuster that delivered Ramsey (and Jonnu Smith) to Pittsburgh, the Steelers are now relying on Ramsey to help strengthen the position. As Pro Football Focus’ 32nd-ranked corner out of 107 qualifiers, Ramsey has been a bright spot on a struggling Steelers defense this year. While the team is 5-3 and atop the AFC North, its pass defense ranks last in the NFL.
Unless the Steelers move Ramsey back to corner, he’s in line to join Peppers, Clark, Dugger, and Juan Thornhill as their choices at safety for the rest of the season. Elliott and Killebrew (primarily a special teamer) are on IR with knee injuries and questionable to return in 2025. Ramsey said back in 2021 that he’d one day like to emulate Charles Woodson, a Hall of Famer who made a successful transition from corner to safety late in his career. Four years later, Ramsey may be getting his wish.
Jets Receiving Second-Round Offers On EDGE Jermaine Johnson
The Jets are continuing to take calls on Jermaine Johnson, with teams offering second-round picks in deals for the fourth-year edge rusher, per SNY’s Connor Hughes.
Johnson has been a popular trade target with the Jets thought to be seeking a second-round pick in exchange. New York seems to be going through a full roster reset after trading both Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams before the deadline. They are likely trying to garner as much draft capital as possible for a quarterback prospect in the next two years and rebuild their roster under their new regime.
Hughes’ specific wording – “offers include a second-round pick.” – and the timing of his report suggest that the Jets are being asked to send a pick back to an acquiring team as part of the deal. They may be trying to drum up better offers before the deadline elapses in less than two hours.
It seems likely that Johnson will be on his way out of New York later today, and other Jets like Breece Hall could also join the apparent fire sale. The Jets’ moves are arguably the most significant back-to-back trades made by a franchise in years, if not decades. They now have the draft picks to land their desired quarterback prospect in one of the next two drafts while also searching for new franchise cornerstones to replace the ones they just sent out of town.
Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon On Kyler Murray: ‘Nothing’s Changed’
The Cardinals are not planning to keep Jacoby Brissett at quarterback after Kyler Murray returns from injury.
Murray has missed Arizona’s last three games with a foot injury. The offense has looked better with Brissett under center, averaging five more points per game in his starts compared to Murray’s. Brissett has three straight games with at least 260 passing yards and two touchdowns; Murray has none.
That has led to questions about the Cardinals sticking with Brissett after Murray comes back, but head coach Jonathan Gannon shut such talk down on Monday night.
“Nothing’s changed on that,” Gannon said (via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss) when asked about making a change at quarterback.
However, the Cardinals have not found much success under Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort since they were hired together in 2023. They did not draft Murray or sign him to his current contract extension, and could be looking to find a different long-term quarterback that meshes better with their vision for the team.
It would still seem to be unwise for the Cardinals to bench Murray this year. Such a move could be an alarming sign to other teams and drop his trade value in the offseason, and he has enough guaranteed money remaining on his deal to make an outright release uncomfortable for Arizona’s salary cap.
It is also fair to wonder if Murray has been put in the best position to succeed. His results were much better with Kliff Kingsbury calling the offense rather than current OC Tommy Rees, and the Cardinals have not consistently had a strong offensive line since drafting Murray. The Cardinals seem to be approaching a major decision point regarding Murray’s future, but they seem unlikely to bench him before making that call.
Bears To Acquire Joe Tryon-Shoyinka From Browns
The Bears entered deadline day eyeing help along the defensive line. With the deadline approaching, Chicago has agreed to acquire pass rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka from Cleveland, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
The Bears will also receive a seventh-round pick, while the Browns will nab a sixth-rounder, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. The seventh-rounder originally belonged to the Eagles, according to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. The Browns acquired the selection from the Jaguars last month in the teams’ Greg Newsome–Tyson Campbell trade.
Months after the Buccaneers won Super Bowl LV, they used the 32nd overall pick in the draft on Tryon-Shoyinka in 2021. The former Washington Huskie spent his first four years in Tampa Bay, where he started in 45 of 66 appearances and collected 15 sacks. That wasn’t enough to prevent the Buccaneers from allowing Tryon-Shoyinka to walk in free agency last winter.
Tryon-Shoyinka’s first trip to the open market led him to Cleveland on a one-year, $4.75MM pact. Despite appearing in all eight of the Browns’ games this season, Tryon-Shoyinka wasn’t much of a factor before the trade. The 26-year-old combined for just 89 snaps between defense and special teams. The majority of his snaps (58) came as part of the ST unit. He totaled nine tackles and no sacks with the out-of-contention Browns, who are now moving in another direction.
The Bears, 5-3 and in playoff contention, are unsurprisingly adding to their defensive line after losing end Dayo Odeyingbo to a season-ending Achilles tear in a 47-42 win over the Bengals in Week 9. Considering Odeyingbo led Bears D-linemen in snaps, it’s possible the Bears will aim for further additions before the deadline.
With the Bears ranking toward the bottom of the league in sacks (17), 26th in total defense, and 29th in points per game allowed, Tryon-Shoyinka may not move the needle much for Chicago. Nevertheless, the Bears will hope Tryon-Shoyinka can make more of an impact in their uniform than he did with the Browns. If Tryon-Shoyinka does prove to be a solid buy-low pickup for the Bears, they could re-sign him before he returns to free agency next offseason.
Bears Could Be Active On Trade Front
In the lead-up to today’s trade deadline, the Bears have not been frequently mentioned as a strong candidate to make a major addition. That remains the case with hours to go, but it would not come as a surprise if a move of some kind were to be made.
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports predicts general manager Ryan Poles will be active today. He cautions a blockbuster acquisition is unlikely based on the asking price for stars (which is of course common at this time of year). Still, a more modest addition would be welcomed if it were to come along the defensive front in particular.
Chicago’s defensive line has been hit with injuries recently, including yesterday’s news that Dayo Odeyingbo suffered an Achilles tear in Week 9. As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes, the Bears needed to address their D-line even before they lost Odeyingbo. With Odeyingbo – a key offseason acquisition – out of commission, the Bears “have been actively” seeking a pass rusher leading up to the deadline, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports.
While the Ben Johnson-led Bears are off to a 5-3 start and in contention for their first playoff berth since 2020, they’ve succeeded despite ranking 26th in total defense and 29th in points per game allowed. They yielded a whopping 470 passing yards against Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco in a 47-42 shootout last Sunday. Chicago sacked the immobile Flacco three times, but with 17 on the season, only eight teams have taken down the opposing QB less than the Bears.
While it’s unclear which players the Bears are targeting, it’s worth noting that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was previously with the Saints, who have established themselves as sellers. Pass rushers Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson are among Saints who could move in the next couple of hours, perhaps to Chicago.
Whether Poles looks to New Orleans or elsewhere for aidd, he has typically been busy on deadline day. The fourth-year GM has both bought and sold ahead of the deadline during his time in Chicago. Poles is in position to buy this year, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him reel in defensive help.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Cowboys Eyeing Further Defensive Additions
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Monday that the team would make at least one trade before Tuesday’s deadline. Jones delivered, acquiring linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals for a 2026 seventh-round pick. With just a few hours left until the 3 p.m. CT deadline, Jones may not be done yet.
Despite dropping to 3-5-1 with a 27-17 loss to the Cardinals on Monday, Jones hasn’t ruled out further additions. Jones told 105.3 The Fan that there are potential trades available that could benefit the Cowboys now and in the future (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). It doesn’t seem that the Cowboys have any interest in trading away anyone from their roster, however, per Machota.
Speaking to the media after Monday’s loss, Jones said, “I like our nuts and bolts a lot.”
If that’s true, the Cowboys may be less likely to move on from defensive tackle Mazi Smith, who’s reportedly a trade candidate. Smith was a 17-game starter last year, but he has mostly disappointed since Dallas took him 26th overall in the 2023 draft. The former Michigan Wolverine hasn’t started in any of his five appearances this year, and he has totaled just 89 defensive snaps and three tackles. The Cowboys made him a healthy inactive against the Cardinals.
Regardless of whether a change of scenery is in store for Smith, it seems likely that any more additions on Tuesday would come on the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys’ defense has been the worst in the NFC this year, and the Wilson pickup alone likely won’t be enough to orchestrate a dramatic turnaround. Cognizant of that, the Cowboys are continuing to work the phones looking for more defensive help, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports relays.
A report on Monday connected Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb to the Cowboys. As a pending free agent, Hendrickson would be a pure rental, though the Cowboys have the cap room to re-sign the pass-rushing menace to a lucrative multiyear deal. Chubb is under wraps through 2027, meaning he’s technically not a rental, but none of the $39.5MM he’s owed over the next two seasons is guaranteed.
There are other possibilities beyond Hendrickson and Chubb, and Jones previously indicated the Cowboys would consider adding players under control beyond 2025. With Jones willing to deal draft capital from the Micah Parsons blockbuster he pulled off with Green Bay before the season, Dallas remains a team to watch leading up to the deadline.
Titans Asking ‘Reasonable’ Price For EDGE Arden Key
The Titans have set a “reasonable” trade price for veteran edge rusher Arden Key, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Several teams have been seeking reinforcements at the position, and Key has emerged as a player who is likely to be moved before Tuesday’s 4:00 p.m. trade deadline. The eight-year veteran logged 23.5 sacks and 25 tackles loss in his previous four seasons, but is off to a slower start this year with just 1.5 sacks and one TFL.
Some of Key’s other metrics have dropped, too. In 2024, he posted a 9.5% pressure rate and an 11.5% pass rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). This season, those numbers are down to 8.4% and 8.2%, respectively. That’s not a precipitous collapse, though, and Key’s consistent production with three different teams since 2021 indicates that he still has something to contribute to a defense.
The Lions and the Patriots have both been mentioned in connection to Key, and other teams seeking a splashier addition off the edge could pivot to the less-heralded Titan as a backup option on Tuesday afternoon.
Key is owed $3.375MM for the rest of the season, per OverTheCap, making the financial cost of acquiring him relatively inexpensive, too. Given his expiring contract, a perceived fire sale in Tennessee, and clear interest in Key on the trade market, it seems like only a matter of time before he is moved.
Ravens Acquire Dre’Mont Jones From Titans
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.
Falcons To Sign K Zane Gonzalez, Waive K Parker Romo
For the second time this year, the Falcons are making a kicker change. They are waiving Parker Romo after a crucial missed extra point, and a more experienced option will replace him.
Zane Gonzalez resurfaced in Atlanta today for a workout, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport, who reports the team will make a Romo-for-Gonzalez switch at kicker. Gonzalez, who will follow Younghoe Koo and Romo as Falcons kickers this season, last kicked for the Commanders in 2024.
It took Gonzalez three years to find another gig following his 2021 Panthers cameo; he did not kick during the 2022 or ’23 seasons. But the persistent specialist became part of Washington’s kicker carousel last year. The Commanders stuck with Gonzalez to close the season and re-signed him in March, but they moved on for Matt Gay in free agency this past offseason.
Tuesday marked Gonzalez’s second Falcons audition this season; he was part of the contingent that worked out in September, as the team considered replacing Koo. The Falcons did end up cutting Koo, their kicker since 2019, but Romo became their replacement. Romo went 11 of 14 on field goals and made 12 of 13 extra points. Of course, the miss proved costly in a 24-23 loss to the Patriots. Romo also missed a field goal inside of 40 yards this season. Last year as a Vikings fill-in, Romo 11-for-12 and 7-for-8 on PATs.
Gonzalez, 30, was 5-for-7 on field goal tries with the Commanders last year. In the playoffs, he was 7-for-8. Between the regular season and the playoffs, the journeyman specialist was 27-for-27 on PATs. The league moving the PAT line back many years ago has created a complication for kickers, and teams have made changes — the Giants also among them — based on close-range misfires.
This will be Gonzalez’s fifth NFL team. Prior to Carolina, he kicked with Cleveland and Arizona. The Falcons going in this direction is interesting, considering they have two kickers — Lenny Krieg and Ben Sauls — on their practice squad. The rare three-kicker commitment does feature only one (Gonzalez) with any game experience. Koo had beaten out Krieg, a German import, for the Week 1 job.
Vikings Seeking CB Addition
Sunday’s win moved the Vikings to 4-4. That leaves Minnesota last in the NFC North, but at least one addition could be coming in the near future. 
Minnesota is known to be in the market for a veteran quarterback capable of providing insurance behind J.J. McCarthy on the depth chart. On the other side of the ball, activity could be forthcoming on the trade front as well. The Vikings are among the suitors for a cornerback addition, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores‘ unit ranks eighth in pass defense at the moment, something which contrasts with its comparative struggles against the run. That would point to a move in the front seven being more impactful than one in the secondary, although the Vikings have recorded only three interceptions in 2025. Adding a playmaker could be key in contending for the playoffs down the stretch.
A total of five cornerbacks have been traded during the campaign, including three (Roger McCreary, Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander) since the start of last week. That has thinned out the list of available players at the position, although the Vikings have over $16MM in cap space. As such, a rental move in particular could be easy to absorb from a financial perspective.
Byron Murphy and free agent addition Isaiah Rodgers have operated as full-time CB starters for Minnesota this season, which comes as no surprise. That setup can be expected to continue moving forward. Any addition would be viewed as depth capable of competing for a depth role with the likes of Jeff Okudah.
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones confirms a low-cost quarterback trade remains something to watch for in the case of the Vikings. The same is also true in the secondary, though, and it will be interesting to see if the team’s inquiries at that position result in any swaps taking place prior to this afternoon’s deadline.