NFL Week 8
Game previews 2C; trade deadline looms
The NFL trade deadline is fast approaching, and a number of impact moves already have been made. Several more could follow between now and Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.
A few of the most notable trades so far: The league’s two unbeaten teams, New England and San Francisco, added talented wide receivers (Mohamed Sanu for the Patriots and Emmanuel Sanders for the 49ers) to further bolster their offenses. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore each retooled their secondaries with the acquisitions of Jalen Ramsey and Marcus Peters, respectively.
And there are other deals that should be made, at least in our book.
Here’s a look at five teams that should be among the top buyers and five that should be sellers at the deadline.
Buyers
Buffalo Bills: They’re off to a 5-1 start, with their loss coming to the division rival Patriots. But their offense ranks among the bottom third in the league in scoring (20.2 points per game). Second-year quarterback Josh Allen is still building chemistry with offseason additions John Brown and Cole Beasley, but neither is a legit No. 1 receiver. The addition of a top-flight wideout could help increase this squad’s chances of reaching the postseason.
Cleveland Browns: They have all the weapons they could need on offense, and their defense features a lot of playmakers as well. But it’s no secret that the Browns need to upgrade their offensive line. General manager John Dorsey is on record saying he has attempted to acquire a quality left tackle, but his efforts have been fruitless.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes’ ankle injury exposed the weaknesses of the Chiefs’ offensive line. Meanwhile, it’s obvious that the defensive upgrades of the offseason weren’t sufficient. Kansas City would do well to
add another cornerback, as well as a defensive lineman and perhaps an interior offensive lineman.
Philadelphia Eagles: This team still has a lot of talent, but something is just off. The front seven on defense haven’t jelled as expected, and Philadelphia is struggling to win those battles in the trenches the way they need to. The defense also could have benefited from the acquisition of Ramsey, but the Eagles missed out there. Offensively, they should get back on track once DeSean Jackson returns from injury, restoring a much-needed big-play element. But the Eagles need to be looking for impact pieces on defense.
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson is having an MVP-caliber season and the Seahawks believe in establishing the run game, but their offense remains limited due to the absence of a true No. 1 wideout. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are both nice pieces, but neither are game changers at this point. The division rival 49ers and Rams both have better receiving units, so the Seahawks need to find a way to ensure they can keep up in this department.
Sellers
Arizona Cardinals: This team has won three straight but is largely in rebuild
mode. That’s why the Cardinals would be better off trading off veteran defensive players like Terrell Suggs and Patrick Peterson in exchange for draft picks that would help them continue to construct a young core group of players.
Cincinnati Bengals: At 0-7 and going nowhere fast, the Bengals need to go ahead and pull the trigger on an A.J. Green deal. The seven-time Pro Bowl wideout hasn’t suited up this season because of injuries, but he just returned to practice in a limited capacity. The Bengals have so many needs, however, so adding draft picks is better for their long term than holding onto Green now only to potentially lose him in free agency this spring.
Los Angeles Chargers: They resisted the urge to either trade or extend Melvin Gordon throughout the offseason and early stretch of the season. Now he’s back, and he hasn’t done anything to help spark their team. Austin Ekeler is playing well, so the Chargers should send Gordon to a team that could use his services.
New York Jets: For whatever reason, Leonard Williams hasn’t meshed with new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ way of doing things. Rather than team with rookie Quinnen Williams to give the Jets a two-headed monster up front, the former No. 6 overall pick has six tackles and no sacks through six games. A change of scenery would do him well, and the Jets would be better off adding pieces for the future.
Washington Redskins: The phone has been ringing as teams have tried to pry Trent Williams away from them for months. But the Redskins have rebuffed those advances. The seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle isn’t backing down in his stance that he doesn’t want to play for the team anymore, but team president Bruce Allen – who is on record saying if Williams wants to play in 2019, it will be with the Redskins – is determined to win this stare down. The Redskins will consider a move in the offseason, but they can demand more now as teams like the Browns, Patriots and others are desperate to get Williams to fortify their lines for this season’s playoff push. But the Redskins so far don’t see the prudence of pulling the trigger now.