Raiders Inquired On Giants G Evan Neal
The Raiders’ Alex Leatherwood first-round pick became emblematic of a regime that struggled in the draft. Leatherwood was off the roster after one season, being waived in 2022. He never started another game following his 2021 rookie season.
A year after the Raiders missed on Leatherwood, the Giants missed on one of his college teammates. Chosen seventh overall in 2022, Evan Neal struggled at right tackle and has not seen the field after a conversion to guard this year. The Giants are believed to be ready to move on, and Neal is as well. The current Raiders regime has expressed a degree of interest.
Las Vegas discussed Neal with New York earlier this month, according to The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson. While these talks are classified as exploratory in nature, it is interesting to hear the Raiders were interested in the contract-year blocker.
Neal played right tackle opposite Leatherwood for the 2020 Crimson Tide, a team that won a national championship. The Mac Jones blockers obviously did not carry that form to the NFL level, with Neal receiving more chances than his former Crimson Tide teammate. Neal has made 27 starts with the Giants, including seven last season. Pro Football Focus graded him as the NFL’s second-worst tackle in 2022 and ’23, and an ankle fracture interfered with his development as well.
With Neal viewed as a near-consensus top-10 value in 2022, compared to Leatherwood being deemed a Jon Gruden/Mike Mayock reach in the moment, it would stand to reason a team will take a flier on him in free agency next year. But time is running out for the 25-year-old blocker. It is clear the Raiders are one of the teams with a more positive view of Neal, who will be viewed as a reclamation project now or if/when he leaves New York in free agency.
The Giants have used ex-Raiders starters Greg Van Roten, who beat out Neal in the team’s right guard competition this summer, and Jermaine Eluemunor on the right side of their offensive line. The Raiders have used Jackson Powers-Johnson as their primary RG, with DJ Glaze at RT for the second straight season. Alex Cappa resides as a guard backup.
Jets S Andre Cisco To Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
The Jets suffered a loss in the secondary in Week 8 when Andre Cisco went down. The fifth-year veteran suffered a pectoral tear, and he will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign as a result. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Aaron Glenn said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini) Cisco is set to undergo season-ending surgery. A lengthy recovery period is thus in store for the pending free agent. Meanwhile, the Jets will move forward without a starter on the back end.
Cisco showcased his playmaking skills while with the Jaguars from 2021-24. Over the course of his rookie pact, the former third-rounder notched eight interceptions and 24 pass deflections. That did not result in a long-term commitment during his first trip to free agency, however, as Cisco took a one-year accord to join the Jets. That contract included $7.5MM in guarantees, but matching it in 2026 will of course be challenging.
Given Cisco’s injury, he will no doubt be in line for another one-year pact on the open market next spring. The Syracuse product started each of his eight Jets appearances prior to suffering the injury; during that time, he was held without an interception and recorded only one pass breakup. Cisco’s showing in coverage also left plenty to be desired, with three touchdowns and a passer rating of 130.2 surrendered as the nearest defender.
The 25-year-old could be viewed as a buy-low candidate by outside suitors based on his age and previous production. It will be interesting to see if the Jets’ regime of Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey elects to keep him in place since this is not an instance of a player added by previous management. In the event New York prioritizes one or more changes at the safety spot this offseason, though, a change of scenery will be in store for the second straight year in Cisco’s case.
Bills S Jordan Poyer Likely To Retire After Season
After 13 years in the NFL, Bills safety Jordan Poyer is expecting to hang up his cleats after the 2025 season.
“Look, I’m not naïve” Poyer said last week (via WGRZ’s Jonathan Acosta). “This is most likely my last one. I’m trying to enjoy every moment: the good, the bad, the indifferent and just be part of this team for this run and go out the right way.”
Poyer was drafted in 2013 by the Eagles and spent his first four years in the NFL with the Browns. He then signed with the Bills in 2017 to form one of the league’s top safety duos with Micah Hyde. The two played next to each other for the next seven years before both left Buffalo during the 2024 offseason as part of the team’s salary cap reset in preparation for the extensions they have handed out over the last 18 months.
Poyer signed with the division rival Dolphins, a move he admitted was “a little bit out of frustration, a little bit out of anger about the situation, wanting to see Buffalo twice a year.” But a rough season in Miami had Poyer yearning for a reunion with his longtime team.
“The game tested my soul last year,” Poyer said. “The team I was on, we weren’t connected. It was tough to go to work every day, and it took a lot out of me.”
Poyer has started the Bills’ last two games after Taylor Rapp‘s Week 8 injury that is expected to end his 2025 season. The safety position was already somewhat of a weakness for Buffalo, so the defense will be counting on Poyer’s veteran experience to tide the unit over through the end of the regular season and into the playoffs.
WR Wan’Dale Robinson Hopes To Remain With Giants
The Giants’ receiver core was dealt a massive blow on the injury front with Malik Nabers suffering an ACL tear. The unit could be thinned out prior to tomorrow’s trade deadline if Jalin Hyatt receives the change of scenery he is seeking. 
Especially since Nabers went down, Wan’Dale Robinson has emerged as a key figure in the passing game. The fourth-year wideout has become a favorite target of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, and the two could prove to be an effective tandem if they remain in New York for years to come. Robinson is a pending free agent, though, so a departure this spring could be on the table. If he has his way, that will not be the case.
“I would love to be here,” Robinson said when asked about his future beyond the coming campaign (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). “I love the Giants. I love the organization. But, if it comes to free agency, I’ll have to go see what my value is.”
New York has a Nabers extension to budget for in the future. No deal on that front can be signed until after the 2026 season, but it will presumably make the former No. 6 pick one of the league’s top earners amongst receivers. The Giants also elected to keep Darius Slayton in the fold by inking him to a three-year, $36MM pact this spring. Those factors will need to be weighed as the team considers a Robinson investment.
The 24-year-old said his agent and the organization have held “preliminary” contract talks. No firm offers have been made to date, however, and it would come as no surprise if that remained the case until after the season came to an end. By that point, a regime no longer featuring at least one of general manager Joe Schoen or head coach Brian Daboll could be in place given the team’s continued struggles in 2025.
In any event, a second Robinson pact will include a notable raise compared to his rookie deal. The former third-rounder has increased his production with each passing season and is currently on pace to surpass 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. That, coupled with his age and versatility, could lead to significant investment on the part of the Giants or an outside suitor on the open market. Robinson’s performances down the stretch and any resulting updates on the status of his chances of remaining in New York will be worth monitoring.
Packers TE Tucker Kraft Suffers ACL Tear
NOVEMBER 3: Testing on Monday confirmed Kraft did indeed tear his ACL, per Demovsky’s colleague Jeremy Fowler. His season is over, and Green Bay’s offense will be without an impactful contributor the rest of the way.
NOVEMBER 2: Tucker Kraft‘s standout campaign may have come to an abrupt end. The third-year Packers tight end exited today’s game with a knee injury which could prove to be season-ending. 
Kraft was carted off the field and taken to the locker room upon going down during Sunday’s loss to the Panthers. When speaking to reporters, head coach Matt LaFleur said (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky) Kraft’s injury “does not look good.” Comments like that typically result in significant missed time.
Indeed, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Green Bay’s fear is currently that Kraft tore his ACL. Further testing will be required to arrive at a diagnosis. That will include an MRI taking place in the near future. Provided it confirms the team’s fears, however, Kraft will be out for the remainder of the campaign.
That would deal a serious blow to the Packers’ offense. Kraft – who will turn 25 tomorrow – played every game during his first two campaigns and the early portion of 2025 saw him post new career highs in yards per reception (15.6) and yards per game (67) heading into today. A continuation of that strong production was expected to continue, but the former third-rounder’s attention will turn to a lengthy recovery process presuming his injury proves to be season-ending.
Green Bay has fellow 2023 draftee Luke Musgrave in the fold, although his playing time has fallen off over the past two years compared to his rookie campaign. Musgrave has played a role in the run game as a blocker, but in seven healthy games last season he made only seven catches. That figure stood at six entering today’s contest. An uptick in usage could be needed, while the Packers could also find themselves in the market for a tight end trade addition over the coming days if one is deemed necessary.
Kraft’s rookie contract runs through 2026, and he will be counted on to reprise his role as a key factor on offense upon returning to full health. An extension could be worked out by team and player in this case as early as January, but this ailment could give the Packers pause regarding a long-term investment. For now, Kraft will look to begin the rehab process and Green Bay (5-2-1 on the campaign) will aim to rebound from an upset loss with a shorthanded skill position unit.
Dolphins Open To Trading Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Dolphins became readier to sell off assets after splitting with longtime GM Chris Grier. In a headline straight out of 2019, however, they are now including Minkah Fitzpatrick as a piece they are willing to move.
Multiple teams have reached out to the Dolphins on Fitzpatrick, according to veteran insider Jordan Schultz, who indicates the team is indeed open to moving the player it acquired this summer.
Two years remain on Fitzpatrick’s contract. Although the Steelers extended Fitzpatrick through 2026, he is tied to a Dolphins-redesigned deal that will not be too difficult to move. Fitzpatrick is on a $1.26MM base salary, meaning an acquiring team would owe him barely $500K for the season’s remainder. He is due a nonguaranteed $15.6MM in 2026.
Grier’s first year in charge brought the initial Fitzpatrick trade, one that sent Miami a first-rounder from Pittsburgh. The Steelers received three first-team All-Pro seasons from the former first-round pick and extended him on a then-top-market safety accord in 2022. After seeing his production decline, however, the Steelers included him in the Jalen Ramsey trade. This helped align salaries in a move that also sent Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh. With the Dolphins at 2-7 and having already dealt Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles, Fitzpatrick could need to pack his bags once again.
We heard Sunday that Stephen Ross had become ready to deal away veterans for draft capital, as this Dolphins rebuild has skidded well off track. Although Miami secured two playoff berths — the first instance of back-to-back Dolphins postseason bookings since they made five straight from 1997-01 — from 2022-23, Mike McDaniel is on thin ice after Grier’s exit. Losing Phillips will make McDaniel’s job harder, but that is unlikely to be the only deal Miami makes. While a first-round asking price is attached to Jaylen Waddle, Fitzpatrick is unlikely to command anything on that level.
Fitzpatrick, 29 this month, has started all nine Dolphins games this season. He has one interception, though Pro Football Focus has viewed this as a bounce-back campaign. The advanced metrics website ranks the eighth-year veteran ninth among safeties this season. Even though Fitzpatrick expressed a desire to remain in Miami long term — after his first stint ended early in his second season — the Dolphins’ mission has changed since they landed him in June.
Understandably, a market is forming for his services. Fitzpatrick being signed through 2026 will help the Dolphins’ cause here, and it will be interesting to see if the Alabama product — who began his career as a Dolphins cornerback before shining at safety in Pittsburgh — becomes a thrice-traded player before Tuesday’s deadline.
Giants WR Jalin Hyatt Seeking “Fresh Start Elsewhere”
NOVEMBER 3: Hyatt is among the players the Giants have discussed with other teams recently, Fowler’s colleague Jordan Raanan reports. That points to a deal being possible in the near future, although nothing seems imminent at this time.
OCTOBER 29: If Jalin Hyatt has his way, he’ll be playing elsewhere after the trade deadline. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Giants wide receiver “would like a fresh start elsewhere.”
There were naturally some high hopes for the Tennessee product when the Giants selected him in the third round of the 2023 draft. However, the wideout has yet to emerge on offense. He showed flashes as a rookie, when he hauled in 23 catches for 373 yards in 17 games (seven starts).
Since then, he’s been limited to 11 total catches in 21 games, including only three receptions in five appearances this year. The receiver was a healthy scratch in Week 8, and he didn’t practice today while recovering from wisdom teeth removal.
Hyatt’s chances of leading the depth chart took a hit when the team added Malik Nabers in 2024. The Giants have also continued to be reliant on Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton, clouding Hyatt’s future role with the organization. Even with Nabers’ season-ending injury in Week 4, Hyatt has been limited to only 123 offensive snaps in 2025, with Lil’Jordan Humphrey recently leaping him on the depth chart.
As a result, Hyatt is hoping to carve out a role elsewhere. WR-needy teams will surely be targeting players with longer track records, so it’s unlikely that the 24-year-old would have many obvious suitors. Rather, Hyatt’s best chances of establishing himself would be catching on with a rebuilding squad, and that may ultimately require the player getting cut instead of traded.
QB Jayden Daniels Suffers Dislocated Elbow
1:03am: A bit of overnight clarity has emerged here. Daniels is believed to have sustained a dislocated left elbow, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. While the star quarterback is not certain to be done for the season, Schefter notes he is out indefinitely. An MRI is scheduled for Monday.
11:10pm: Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to suffer a significant left arm injury in Sunday night’s game against the Seahawks.
Team medical staff quickly put an air cast on Daniels’ arm. The cart came out onto the field, but he was able to walk off under his own power. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed in his postgame presser that Daniels injured his left elbow and said that he would provide an update once he knows more.
Despite a 38-7 deficit in the fourth quarter, Daniels was still in the game when a sack by Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas caused his elbow to bend in an unnatural direction. Quinn will surely get criticized for leaving his star quarterback in the game, especially if Daniels’ injury results in an extended absence
Backup Marcus Mariota finished the game, a loss that drops the Commanders to 3-6. Their playoff chances are now just 5%, according to The Athletic, and if Daniels is sidelined, their odds will be even slimmer. Missing the postseason would be a disappointing result for a Commanders squad that made a surprise run to the NFC championship game last season and seemed poised to build on that success this year.
The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels headlined a deep quarterback class by soaring to the top rookie award on his side of the ball. He then piloted the Commanders to the conference title game, the franchise’s first appearance since its 1991 Super Bowl-winning season. The follow-up effort has skidded well off track.
Daniels entered Sunday night having missed time because of two previous injuries this season. Missing Week 8 with a hamstring injury, Daniels was down in Weeks 3 and 4 because of a knee malady. The Commanders have not used IR on their starting QB yet, but it would not surprise — especially after the team lost its sixth game — to see him moved off the roster to foster a smooth recovery. The team re-signed Mariota on a one-year, $8MM deal this offseason. After zero starts in 2024, the 11th-year veteran will almost definitely be needed for another QB1 stint.
Dolphins Could Bench QB Tua Tagovailoa; Latest On HC Mike McDaniel
The 2-7 Dolphins have parted ways with longtime general manager Chris Grier and are already looking ahead to next season. As part of their evaluation process, the ‘Fins could consider benching starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link).
There were rumblings to that effect last month, but Tagovailoa responded with his best outing of the season in a 34-10 win over the Falcons. Unfortunately, he submitted a mediocre performance in Thursday night’s loss to the Ravens, and it now appears a demotion is on the table, with Rapoport saying the southpaw is “playing to keep his job.”
Following Grier’s departure, head coach Mike McDaniel – who was considered the savior of Tagovailoa’s career not too long ago – was said to be safe through at least the end of the 2025 campaign. Subsequent reports from Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) and Rapoport echo the notion that owner Stephen Ross still believes in McDaniel and wants him on the sidelines for the long haul.
But Tagovailoa almost certainly represents McDaniel’s best chance to keep his job. After all, the other passers on the roster are Zach Wilson – one of the biggest draft busts in recent history – and seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers. Rapoport describes Ewers as “impressive,” but after briefly overtaking Wilson for Miami’s QB2 role, the Texas product has been relegated back to the third position on the depth chart.
There could be some value in seeing what Ewers has to offer, though it would be hard for an outsider to see the same value in having Wilson take the reins. Still, if Tagovailoa keeps throwing interceptions – he presently leads the league with 11 picks – it appears McDaniel could consider a switch (if that does happen, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald suggests McDaniel should make sure Ross would not hold any ensuing offensive struggles against him).
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, meanwhile, believes the Dolphins are likely to part ways with McDaniel at season’s end. In Florio’s estimation, Tagovailoa’s contract situation – he is due $54MM in guaranteed money in 2026 – could make the Miami HC post less attractive to top coaching candidates, unless the Dolphins perform poorly enough to assure themselves of one of the top QB prospects in next year’s draft class.
Rapoport suggests the most viable option for the Dolphins with respect to Tagovailoa is to pay down some of the money he is owed in order to facilitate an offseason trade to a club with a need for a bridge passer. A pre-June 1 release is impossible due to the dead money hit it would generate, and even a post-June 1 release would be problematic from a cap standpoint. Of course, Miami could simply keep Tagovailoa as its starter (or possible bridge) and hope he can return to the form that earned him his $53.1MM/year deal in the first place.
Titans Could Trade WR Calvin Ridley
The Titans have undergone multiple regime changes in recent years, and an interim head coach (Mike McCoy) is in place for the remainder of the year. A seller’s stance at the trade deadline should be expected, and multiple players could soon be dealt. 
Jeffery Simmons is among the veterans considered untouchable, but the same is not true of Calvin Ridley. The latter has already been linked to trade interest on the part of the Steelers, and a market including other suitors could exist in his case. Ridley is available “for the right price,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Meanwhile, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio goes as far as to state Tennessee is “trying to” move the eighth-year receiver.
It would come as no surprise if the Titans were to deal away one or more notable players over the coming days, but it remains to be seen if Ridley will be among them. ESPN’s Turron Davenport clarifies the team is not actively shopping Ridley, though he adds Tennessee has indeed received calls about the 30-year-old. Many of the players on the block are pending free agents, but that is not the case for Ridley.
The former first-rounder signed a four-year, $92MM pact last offseason to serve as the focal point of Tennessee’s passing game. Ridley posted the third overall and second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign of his career in 2024, but he has not been as productive this year. Struggles on offense with rookie quarterback Cam Ward helped contribute to head coach Brian Callahan‘s dismissal and explain (at least to a degree) the downturn in Ridley’s 2025 output.
The former Falcon and Jaguar would be a useful addition to any contending team, but finances will be an issue in working out a deal. Ridley is attached to a $22.49MM base salary for this season, and absorbing the prorated remainder of that figure would be challenging without Tennessee retaining a notable portion. The Titans would take on dead money charges this season and next thanks to the remaining guarantees on Ridley’s pact, which contains notable cap figures in 2026 and ’27.
There are plenty of unanswered questions with respect to the receiver trade market at this point. One or more rentals could easily be on the move shortly, but Ridley is also worth watching in advance of Tuesday afternoon’s deadline.