Tag: Trade deadline

Chiefs cap space: Latest numbers after trades for DeAndre Hopkins, Joshua Uche

The Kansas City #Chiefs will have to get creative if they want to add another player before the NFL’s trade deadline.

The Kansas City Chiefs are officially all-in on their quest to complete the NFL’s first-ever Super Bowl three-peat after trading with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and pass-rusher Joshua Uche.

Hopkins, who was dealt to Kansas City by Tennessee, is expected to play a key role in the Chiefs’ offense after injuries have decimated the defending champions’ receiving corps through seven games.

Uche was Kansas City’s latest acquisition by way of New England and should fit in well with Chris Jones and George Karlaftis on the Chiefs’ front four in Steve Spagnuolo’s gritty defense.

The deals that landed Hopkins and Uche didn’t come without a cost, though. After acquiring both players, Kansas City has effectively hit the NFL’s salary cap limit, with less than $1 million remaining available to spend.

 

Expect the Chiefs to get creative with the contracts they currently have on the books if injuries necessitate further roster moves through the rest of the season.

 

3 players Broncos should not make available at NFL trade deadline

The Broncos might get calls about these players leading up to the NFL trade deadline, but they should keep all three players on the squad.

With the NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5) just a few days away, we recently published a list of eight players the Denver Broncos might consider trading.

Today, we’re taking a quick look at three players that the Broncos should not trade away, even if they receive interest from other clubs.

3. QB Zach Wilson: Denver has a pair of capable backup quarterbacks in Jarrett Stidham and Wilson, so QB-needy teams might come calling. If the Broncos are going to trade one of them, it would make more sense to deal Stidham (28) because Wilson (25) is younger with more long-term upside.

2. WR Courtland Sutton: Denver has spurned trade interest in Sutton in each of the last two seasons, and Sutton will probably draw interest again this year. Sutton (29) remains the team’s top wide receiver, though, and with a rookie quarterback under center, it wouldn’t be smart to strip the offense of its best and most competent receiver.

3. OLB Jonathon Cooper: NFL Network has reported that Cooper could draw interest, but the Broncos should not entertain the possibility of trading him. Cooper (26) ranks second on the team with 5.5 sacks this year and he’s been more productive and healthier than Baron Browning over the last four years. If Denver plans to move a pass rusher, it should be Browning.

If the team makes any trades in the coming days, we will track all of the potential moves on Broncos Wire.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton gives update on NFL trade deadline

“Our focus is on this football team right here,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline.

Leading up to the NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5), the Denver Broncos have a pair of quality backup quarterbacks on their roster and a surplus of pass rushers.

With extra depth at certain positions, will the Broncos consider trading away players ahead of the deadline?

“That’s a great question,” coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “There’s so much attention obviously that gets focused around the trade deadline. I think any [general manager] — everyone’s picking the phone up. There are discussions and yet any decision or move that a team would make — not just us — would be with the best interest of the team that’s making the deal, acquiring or trading.

“I’ve said this before, George [Paton] will come into my office three times a day, and twice we might talk about something else and then once… Or I’ll be down in his office talking. It’s that time of the year where you can get an early feel of some… Remember there’s a trade, and then there’s the contract involved in the trade which is the devil in the details with any player. Our focus is on this football team right here.”

In addition to quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham, outside linebacker Baron Browning is another player to keep an eye on leading up to the deadline. We will track any potential trades on Broncos Wire.

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Lions DE Al-Quadin Muhammad can provide a spark on the defensive line

Lions DE Al-Quadin Muhammad can provide a spark on the defensive line, and he proved it in Week 8 vs. the Titans

When the Detroit Lions lost defensive Aidan Hutchinson for the remainder of the season, there was certainly some doubt on how you can replace him. Certainly, there’s no replacing a player as good as Hutchinson but the Lions may have someone that can help provide a spark.

That player is defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad. The 29-year-old defensive end is not new to the NFL. He’s bounced around the league to teams such as the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. He even found himself on the Dallas Cowboys this past summer but was cut in August.

Since then, he found his way onto the Lions practice squad. At this point, I’d be surprised if Muhammad found his way back to the practice squad. After his first game with the Lions, it sure feels and looks like he’ll be here for the long haul this season.

In his debut, Muhammad did not record any tackles, but he did generate a team-high 6 pressures for the Lions defense against the Titans. Let’s dive into some film to take a look at what kind of spark he’s providing for the Lions defensive line.

The first rep that stood out on Sunday against the Titans was the play above. Looking at DE 69, you can see Muhammad aligned over Titans LT 55 JC Latham. The Titans 2024 1st Round Pick was known for his ability to anchor and the power within his game.

However, that’s not going to slow down Muhammad on this rep. Once the ball is snapped, you can see him turn speed-to-power and he uses a long arm to put Latham into the ground as he pressures Rudolph on this pass. If Muhammad was a step faster, this would have been a sack but this type of pressure is something that we’ve seen Hutchinson do so many times for the Lions defense.

The next play I want to highlight is on a 4th and goal for the Titans. On this play, Calvin Ridley ran out of the back of the end zone and reentered the field of play. This was a penalty and the Lions declined it to force a turnover on downs.

That said, I want to watch Muhammad on this play. Aligned in a wide-9 alignment, you can see him on the outside shoulder of the tight end. As the tight end looks to check release to the end zone, you can see Muhammad burst up field.

As he gets close to the right tackle, you’ll notice Muhammad chop the hands of the right tackle and he’ll rip through towards the quarterback. The impressive thing about this rep is how quickly Muhammad chop-rips on this rush. It appears that he trips on the turf as he begins to turn the corner to the quarterback. If he keeps his feet, these will turn into sacks for him and the Lions defense.

Overall, there’s much to be desired with what we saw from Al-Quadin Muhammad in his Lions debut. The 6 pressures is encouraging and at some point, those will lead to sacks and bigger plays.

Throughout his career, we’ve seen some positives from him. Looking back at 2021, Muhammad started 17 games for the Colts and he was able to generate 48 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. In his seven-year career, he’s been able to compile 152 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. As the season continues, he should become more productive, and it certainly looks like he will begin to carve out his role for the Lions defense.

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8 players Broncos could trade away before NFL trade deadline

Should the Broncos consider trading any of these players before the NFL’s deadline?

The NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5) is less than a week away and with multiple trades already completed, there have been some rumblings that the Denver Broncos could get involved in the action.

We have been focused on several outside players the Broncos could bring in, but today we’re turning our attention to players that Denver could ship out.

We’ve put together a quick list of eight players the Broncos could entertain trading away before the deadline.

Of note, NFL Network has reported that teams could call about pass rusher Jonathon Cooper, but the Broncos seem very unlikely to trade him, so we did not include Cooper on our list.

Players Broncos could trade before deadline

1. RB Javonte Williams: He is the team’s best blocking back and Audric Estime has had some struggles with fumbles, so Denver might not be ready to move on from Williams just yet. He’s set to become a free agent next year, though, so the Broncos could perhaps send him to a team like the Cowboys in exchange for a draft pick.

2. OT Mike McGlinchey: His contract could complicate a potential trade, but McGlinchey has suddenly become expendable following the emergency of Alex Palczewski. Denver might prefer to make this kind of move during the offseason, though.

3. DL D.J. Jones: With Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers playing so well and Malcolm Roach rotating in, the Broncos might thinking about trading Jones before he hits free agency in 2025.

4. WR Courtland Sutton: He is Bo Nix’s favorite target, but Denver has received plenty of interest in Sutton over the last two seasons. We’ll see if teams call the Broncos about Sutton again before this year’s deadline.

5. CB Damarri Mathis: Pat Surtain, Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian serve as the team’s top three cornerbacks with Levi Wallace providing depth behind them. Tremon Smith is a special teams ace and Kris Abrams-Draine is a fifth-round draft pick who isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. That could leave Mathis as the odd man out.

6. QB Zach Wilson: The Broncos have repeatedly said that they believe Wilson will become a starter again in the NFL. In order for that to happen, Wilson might need a fresh start somewhere else.

7. QB Jarrett Stidham: Denver obviously wouldn’t trade both Wilson and Stidham, but they could certainly move one of them. Broncos coach Sean Payton seemed to hint that week that at least one team has called about the availability of Denver’s backup quarterbacks.

8. OLB Baron Browning: He is probably the Broncos’ most realistic trade candidate this year. Nik Bonitto (6.0) and Cooper (5.5) lead the team in sacks this fall and youngsters Jonah Elliss (2.0) and Dondrea Tillman (2.0) have also made their mark as rotational pass rushers. Denver has a surplus of pass rushers and Browning is scheduled to hit free agency next spring.

If the team makes any trades in the coming days, we will track all of the potential moves on Broncos Wire.

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4 (realistic?) trade targets for Broncos ahead of NFL’s deadline

Will the Broncos trade for a tight end ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline? Here are four players the team could consider.

With the NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5) now one week away, we are once again revisiting the topic of potential trade candidates for the Denver Broncos.

Last week, we listed five high-profile tight ends, five star wide receivers and a trio of New Orleans Saints players who the Broncos could target before the trade deadline. While exciting candidates, those 13 players might not necessarily be realistic targets.

Today, we’re taking a quick look at four players who could be more realistic candidates for Denver to bring in before the deadline.

Broncos realistic (?) trade targets

1. TE Jordan Akins: The Browns probably don’t want to trade David Njoku, but Adkins could be an expendable tight end. He has 16 receptions for 140 yards and one score this year, better totals than all of Denver’s tight ends.

2. TE Connor Heyward: The Steelers seem unlikely to part with Pat Freiermuth, but Heyward has seen his role decline a bit this year despite being productive in the past.

3. TE Austin Hooper: Sensing a trend? The Patriots are happy with Hunter Henry, but perhaps they would be willing to part with Hooper. His career averages out to 50 receptions for 501 yards and 3 touches per season.

4. WR Jonathan Mingo: Diontae Johnson would likely have a big price tag, but Mingo could be a more realistic target. The former second-round pick is underutilized in a woeful Panthers offense.

As the NFL’s trade deadline approaches, will track any potential moves for Denver on Broncos Wire.

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Baron Browning comments on Broncos trade rumors

“I don’t want to leave but some things are out of my control,” Broncos OLB Baron Browning said when asked about trade rumors.

The Denver Broncos have a deep pass-rush rotation and outside linebacker Baron Browning might be viewed as an expendable asset leading up to the NFL’s trade deadline (Nov. 5).

Over the weekend, NFL Network reported that Browning “could be available” on the trade block. Following a 28-14 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Browning was asked about the trade speculation.

“I can only control what I can control,’’ Browning said, via KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. “I can’t control what happens in the future, I have to stay in the moment. I do what I can to help this team win games. I would like to stay here. I don’t want to leave but some things are out of my control.”

Browning lost his starting job to Nik Bonitto while on injured reserve. Bonitto (6.0) leads the team in sacks this fall and Jonathon Cooper (5.5) is not far behind. Jonah Elliss (2.0) and Dondrea Tillman (2.0) have also made their mark as rotational pass rushers.

Browning, a third-round pick in 2021, is still seeking his first sack of the season.

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Pittsburgh ranks fourth-best in point differential through 8 weeks

The 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers are looking like one of the best teams in the NFL, boasting the fourth-best point differential through 8 weeks.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ red-hot start continues to pick up steam. Not only does the AFC North currently run through the Steel City, but the team is also competing with the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs for the top spot in the AFC conference. 

While the 6-2 Steelers are tied with the 6-2 Bills, and just one and a half games behind Kansas City, Pittsburgh actually holds the second-best point differential in the AFC and the fourth-best among all 32 NFL teams. 

So far in 2024, through eight weeks of football, the Steelers have scored 187 points while allowing only 119 points against them. This point differential of 68 trails only the NFC’s Washington Commanders with 69, the AFC’s Buffalo Bills with 84, and the NFC’s Detroit Lions with a staggering 100-point differential. 

Pittsburgh’s differential shows the NFL world that their balanced strength on both sides of the ball is not to be underestimated. With the trade deadline approaching, the Steelers would be wise to strengthen their roster further and prepare for a potentially deep playoff run. 

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Steelers QB avoided major hamstring injury

Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that Justin Fields avoided a major hamstring injury and looks to be a game-time decision on MNF.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers can finally breathe a collective sigh of relief.  Justin Fields’ hamstring injury caught many by surprise, as not only was it a last minute addition to Week 8’s injury report, but the precarious proximity to the trade deadline caused speculation to run rampant.

However, in regards to both Fields’ short-term and long-term health, it appears the Steelers dodged a major bullet.  While it was reported yesterday that Fields would need to undergo an MRI to understand the true extent of the injury, Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed on Monday that Fields participation in Week 8 would be a game time decision.

If Fields’ injury isn’t severe and he could potentially play tonight, is his hamstring situation similar to Davante Adams’ ‘injury’—an issue that miraculously resolved after being traded to the New York Jets?

Speculation aside, it is comforting that the Steelers avoided a disastrous injury to one of their great young players.  The situation is worth keeping an eye on as we inch closer to the start of the Steelers’ Week 8  Monday Night Football matchup at 8:15 PM EST.

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Pittsburgh should acquire former All-Pro CB via trade

The Los Angeles Rams are discussing CB Tre’Davious White’s future with the team, and a trade seems likely. Could Pittsburgh acquire him?

While Pittsburgh Steelers fans clamor for General Manager Omar Khan to pull the trigger on acquiring a veteran wide receiver, one interesting trade target could make the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense even more frightening.

The Los Angeles Rams have been linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers in recent days, with rumors of a possible trade for All-Pro WR Cooper Kupp.  However, this trade failed to gain momentum.  There is another All-Pro veteran player on the Rams’ roster, though, who seems to have been given a green light to seek a potential trade.

29-year old Rams’ All-Pro CB Tre’Davious White, drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, has discussed his future with Los Angeles and a trade seems likely.

Khan could potentially add another established and talented veteran to an already great Steelers’ defense.  White would complement the teams needs, as CB depth was an area of concern heading into the 2024 season.

The possible addition of White to a cornerback room that contains Joey Porter Jr., Donte Jackson, Beanie Bishop Jr., and the returning Cameron Sutton is a scary unit for any offense to throw against.

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