The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching, and with it comes a lot of speculation about the potential moves that could take place. We have already seen the Kansas City Chiefs make a move for DeAndre Hopkins and the New York Jets for Davante Adams, but we could be set to see some more big moves. We have seen plenty of moves in the past that have fundamentally impacted the way that the season unfolded, such as the Von Miller trade to the Rams in 2021. Teams will always be tempted by the possibility that a move could put them over the edge. However, they might have to forfeit some draft capital in order to do so.
San Francisco 49ers: WR Mike Williams from the New York Jets
It’s fair to say that the Niners haven’t had the start to the season that they were hoping for, coming off of a loss in the Super Bowl to the Chiefs. Not only are they sitting in the middle of their division with a 4-4 record, but their star Running Back, Christian McCaffrey, has not played a game yet, and their All-Pro Wide Receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, has just been placed on the Injured Reserve List. In saying this, I don’t think the 49ers should punt on their season. Instead, I think they could look to add a cheap veteran receiver like Mike Williams to fill in for the missing production.
Williams, after a promising 2023 season that was cut very short by injury, signed with the Jets with the potential of being a weapon for Aaron Rodgers. The transition has not been favorable for the veteran WR as he has tallied only 160 yards in eight games. The Jets have recently made a move for Rodgers’ old partner in crime, Davante Adams, and so Williams has been relegated to WR3 at best behind both Adams and Garrett Wilson.
The writing is on the wall for Williams to get out of East Rutherford, and I believe that the 49ers could be a perfect opportunity for him to slot into a team with a short-term need at WR. With Brock Purdy having a decent season at QB, Williams would likely see an uptick in production, giving San Francisco another weapon they can rely on.
Washington Commanders: CB Jaycee Horn from Carolina Panthers
The Commanders have undoubtedly been the biggest surprise of the season, rocketing from the depths of last year to a 6-2 record where they currently sit atop the NFC East. A lot of the success from this season has come from the transformation of the offense with the addition of rookie quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels. Despite this, the Commander's defense still leaves a lot to be desired, and I believe that the trade deadline could be the perfect opportunity to capitalize on this window of opportunity.
I believe that Jaycee Horn presents the perfect trade candidate for both teams. Horn was the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, his play on the field might leave the Panthers regretting their decision slightly: two of the best defensive players in the NFL were drafted right after him, Patrick Surtain II (ninth overall) and Micah Parsons (twelfth overall). While Horn has been far from a bad cornerback, the Panthers may not be inclined to extend him with the current state of the team.
The Commanders, on the other hand, are searching for some help in the secondary, and Horn could be the perfect addition for a playoff push. Horn presents a significant upside as a sticky boundary corner with the capability to lock down the opposing team's best wide receiver. While he has had injury concerns that have seen him miss significant time in every season of his career, Horn has found an ability to be healthy for the whole season so far.
Horn is in the second to last year of his contract, so it could be the perfect time for the Panthers to capitalize on the value he still has instead of potentially losing him to free agency once his fifth-year option runs out. Given the additional year of flexibility on his contract, the Panthers might be able to get slightly more compensation than if they waited another year to deal with him. I think that it would be very much worth it for the Commanders to give up some draft compensation for the services of Horn.
Denver Broncos: TE David Njoku from Cleveland Browns
Similarly, the Denver Broncos entered the year with very low expectations and have completely exceeded everything that football analysts thought possible. Behind Head Coach Sean Payton and Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph, the Broncos have built off the momentum of the previous season that saw them make a late playoff push that fell just short.
The Broncos have had statistically one of the best defensive units in all of football, headlined by star Cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Defensive Lineman Zach Allen. The defense continued their dominance over the weekend with a big win against the struggling Panthers in which they recorded two interceptions, continuing to build momentum heading into their matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
The most obvious flaw in the Denver Broncos roster is the lack of talent at the receiver and tight end position. While rookie QB Bo Nix has been decent to start the year, he would most certainly benefit from some additional support around him. David Njoku would be a great fit within a Sean Payton system that prioritizes creating separation to allow for easy, quick reads for the quarterback. Njoku is coming off a career-best year where he made a Pro Bowl en route to a playoff spot with the Browns.
The Browns are currently in a desperate position with lots of questions surrounding their quarterback situation, having committed over $200 million to Deshaun Watson. Watson, in addition to some very subpar quarterback play, has just gone down with a season-ending Achilles injury. Heading into next offseason, the Browns have the second least amount of cap space, so shedding Njoku's salary in what is already a lost season could help to improve that slightly.
