We’re only two weeks away from midseason in the NFL because time is an artificial construct that the man put on us, which I think is one of the reasons why people object in France.
The trade deadline is the Tuesday after Week 9, and there will be players moving over the next few weeks. But instead of just throwing names and teams into a random generator and telling you why they’d be a good fit, how about we make actual connections — both in terms of fit and past relationships that might attract teams to players currently on the trade market.
WR Brian Thomas Jr. to the New York Giants
Thomas has as many catches as you and I in his last two games, and he’s clearly at the bottom of the totem pole. It took root last season when Thomas missed time due to injury. Jacksonville traded for Jakobi Meyers, giving him a three-year, $60 million extension after a hot start with his new team as Parker Washington blossomed into a star receiver. Washington remained the team’s top target with Meyers as the No. 2. Even though Thomas is not the No. 3 options, though. Or the No. 4. Or the No. 5. Tight end Brenton Strange is tied for the team lead with 26 catches, and Josh Cameron has beaten Thomas in the last two games. Plus, Travis Hunter had a potential breakout game on both offense and defense in Week 6 against the Texans. It’s a matter of when Thomas is traded, not if he will.
So why the Giants, you may ask. Well, they have a big need at receiver. Outside of Malik Nabers, their next leading wide receiver is Malachi Fields with 12 catches. Thomas will immediately become No. 2 receivers on the depth chart. To continue, the New York Giants’ wide receivers coach is Chad Hall, who was Thomas’ position coach in 2024 with the Jaguars when he put up nearly 1,300 yards and became a Pro Bowler as a rookie. And I’m sure Nabers and Thomas would love to relive their LSU days playing side by side.
Not to speculate on this one trade in particular, but it would also help the Giants win a wide open division, but also check out JJ McCarthy and Jaxson Dart. Everyone loves Dart, but he spends more time in the blue tend then under center. If Thomas can come in and help the Giants’ offense improve and win games under McCarthy, the Giants will enter next spring with a quarterback battle on their hands. Having a pair of weapons like Nabers and Thomas will make it easier to see who is the better of the two quarterbacks, and elevate whoever will be the starter.
WR Stefon Diggs to the Pittsburgh Steelers
The writing is on the wall for Commanders. They are 1-4-1, although Dan Quinn probably thinks they are 2-3-1. Jayden Daniels’ health, and general demeanor are becoming real issues with real question marks.
Steelers fans probably prefer the younger Thomas, but assuming he ends up in New York, Diggs could be the name they shift their attention to.
Yes, he’ll be 33 at the end of November, but Diggs is coming off a 1,000-yard season and playing great football for Washington. Through six weeks, he has 24 receptions and four touchdowns. 62.3 percent of his snaps have come from the slot this season, which could lead the Steelers to go with DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard outside with Diggs inside as their top three receivers, while also rotating in Michael Pittman and Roman Wilson.
To make a similar connection with Thomas and Chad Hall, Steelers wide receivers coach Adam Henry joined Diggs in Buffalo in 2023 – a year in which Diggs caught 107 passes.
EDGE Josh Sweat to the Green Bay Packers
This one is pretty cut and dry. Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon coached Sweat when he was the head coach at Arizona. With Micah Parsons back, pairing him with Sweat would give the Packers a big duo to help with the loss of Edgerrin Cooper.
S Derwin James to the Dallas Cowboys
The Chargers are a tire fire and should immediately start a fire sale with James at the top of the list.
As nice as it is to see James reunite with Jesse Minter in Baltimore to play alongside Kyle Hamilton, the two safeties share many similar defensive responsibilities, so I’ll go with the Cowboys, whose defense continues to give up big play after big play. Dallas has already traded for cornerback Joey Porter Jr, and if there’s one thing Jerry Jones isn’t afraid to do, it’s make moves if it gives Dallas a better chance to win.
James’ connection to Dallas is Derrick Ansley, who is the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach and served as the defensive backs coach with the Chargers from 2021-22 and their defensive coordinator in 2023. This is a Cowboys team that has gotten off to a slow start due to inconsistency in large part on defense, and some of those issues could help All-Pro James.
EDGE Khalil Mack to the Buffalo Bills
The connection with Mack is not with the coaching staff, but with the city itself. He is a native of Buffalo and attended the University of Buffalo. Considering the nine-time Pro Bowler has yet to appear in a Super Bowl, returning home and playing with Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb could help both he and the Bills get over the hump.
RB Jonathan Taylor to the Chicago Bears
It will be a case of the rich getting richer. The Bears offense is incredibly dynamic, and the Colts are reeling after the loss to the Titans. They fired GM Chris Ballard, and head coach Shane Steichen could be next sooner.
The Bears making a play for Jonathan Taylor reminds me a lot of the 49ers trading for Christian McCaffrey. Granted, Chicago has never been to a Super Bowl, but they also have a better quarterback than the 49ers did at the time of the McCaffrey trade. Putting Taylor behind Caleb Williams would give the Bears a bump in the run game, which currently ranks them 16th in success rate.
The connection is a bit far-fetched, admittedly, but current offensive coordinator Press Taylor was an offensive assistant with the Colts in 2021, the year Taylor ran for more than 1,800 yards and 18 touchdowns. Seeing what he and Ben Johnson do in the run game with Taylor is something we all deserve to see, and they could be a sneaky team that makes a big move for the All-Pro running back.