We’re in Week 5 of the 2022 NFL season, which means we’re one step closer to this year’s trade deadline. No team will admit the playoffs are out of the question right now (well, maybe the Texans), but a few more wins or losses will go a long way in shaping the postseason landscape. And when the deadline approaches, on November 1, the Tuesday after Week 8, there will surely be some clubs ready to sell and others ready to buy.
With that in mind, here’s an early look at some notable names that could be up for a season deal:
Don’t listen to what the Panthers say in public or in private about this; if you’re a sinking ship with an inevitable restart at quarterback and/or head coach, you take offers from anyone, even the guy you pay big bucks to play a mostly replaceable position. Yes, they’re a better team with McCaffrey as a safety valve out of the backfield, but they also have bigger holes that his departure could help fill. Even with an increasingly troubling medical history, McCaffrey could still pick up a decent haul as a two-time All-Pro who just turned 26. Meanwhile, the Panthers would save at least $35 million from 2023-2025 if they split.
If it wasn’t for rookie Brian Robinson Jr. literally getting shot over the summer, Gibson might be on the bench right now. The former third-round pick missed early reps over the summer, and since Robinson landed on injured reserve for rehab, he has averaged just over three yards a carry for an offense that is, at best, mercurial. But at 24, a year after a 1,000-yard rushing campaign, Gibson could catch the eye of a contender intrigued by his combination of size and versatility. He also signed until 2023 for little money.
Running backs are a dime a dozen, as Johnson’s own position demonstrates: Even after exploding as an injury replacement in 2021, and despite Cleveland’s heavy reliance on the run, he has been relegated to anonymous duties in the bench behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. The Browns have other options in place and could use whatever draft pick they can get after the big Deshaun Watson deal, while another club might be intrigued by Johnson’s fresh legs down the stretch.
Believe it or not, Agholor is on pace for a career-high in receiving yards this year, occasionally offering explosiveness on the outside. But New England has Jakobi Meyers approaching free agency, a lot of money invested in two tight ends, and who knows what else might be on the horizon as they deal with QB injuries. Trading Agholor would save them an instant $9.8 million, while another team desperate for proven speed might be interested in leasing him ahead of their own foray into the 2023 market.
At this point, Thomas’s name is much bigger than he can reliably deliver on the field; for all of his past stardom as a possessive freak, he just hasn’t stayed healthy for three years and counting. New Orleans is also increasingly desperate for draft capital, having already shed its 2023 first-round pick. Maybe they’ll finally be willing to sell cheap to someone willing to accept Thomas’ size and skills, which remain intact. . Moving him would save the Saints at least $35 million or more between 2023 and 2024.
I may enjoy playing for Matt Rhule, but how much longer will Rhule be around? Anderson hasn’t fully meshed with Carolina for two years; he’s always been something of a one-trick horse, but he’s been downhill since his 1,000-yard debut with the Panthers in 2020. After locking up DJ Moore, and likely setting up for another QB restart, the Panthers can realize the luxury of auctioning off the deep threat for a better team that can utilize him more like a true WR2/3. If they did, they would save $12 million next year.
His days of having a long-term starting job are over, and while Chicago might justify keeping him as insurance for the line protecting Justin Fields, the Bears don’t seem all that interested in developing their QB anyway, with eyes put into a potential. 2023 spending spree. As a swing tackle who played well, not very well, for the AFC champion Bengals just a year ago, he could have value for a team looking for out-of-the-box starters or depth at the end of the season.
Yes, he is a franchise great, destined to retire as a saint. But as New Orleans slides toward a future top-five pick they’ve already traded, why wouldn’t they consider offers for a 33-year-old running back with a payout of nearly $26 million in 2023? Jordan remains a rock to his stingy forehead, but he only has one more year left on his restructured contract, and the Saints also have 26-year-old Marcus Davenport to pay for over the long haul. The biggest hurdle here will be defensive coach Dennis Allen turning over such a proven asset midway through the season, no matter how bad New Orleans’ record turns.
A year after a surprise 18.5-sack display, the 32-year-old Quinn has already publicly entertained the idea of a relocation over the summer. New coach Matt Eberflus would surely miss him from the sidelines after trading Khalil Mack in the offseason, but the Bears are, or should be, playing the long game. Trading Quinn, who has positional versatility having played 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, would save Chicago roughly $12 million.
He has a starring role on the Colts’ energetic front, which had just been owned by Russell Wilson, so as long as Indy stays afloat in the AFC South race, he’s probably safe. But Ngakoue is a known traveler during the season, notably moving from the Jaguars to the Vikings and then to the Ravens in a span of three months in 2020. Now on his fifth team in four years, the former Pro Bowl player It would be a top notch booster. for a contender’s passing rush, while the Colts save an estimated $13 million by departing via trade.
The heart of Chicago’s “D,” Smith’s desire for a change of scenery is well-documented: He almost demanded a move this summer, but he’s been playing like a good soldier since the games began. A heat-seeking tackling machine still only 25 years old, the hard hitter seems destined to test the market after this season, so it would be in the Bears’ best interest to at least make offers. Linebackers don’t necessarily deserve record paydays in today’s NFL, but Smith has proven that he belongs with the best in the game.
Fuller’s running mate in Washington’s porous secondary, former Bengals starter William Jackson III, is an equally worthy candidate, but considering he’s almost three years older, this felt like the most intriguing trade chip. , if you want to call it that. There was a time when Fuller, in his second stint at DC, seemed like a real building block for Ron Rivera’s “D.” he’s passed. With Benjamin St-Juste the best option in coverage, perhaps the Commanders can throw all 65 of Fuller’s career starts in an effort to offload his $8 million salary.