With the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline approaching, Kevin Patra identifies 11 player-team fits that would make sense.
The Niners' pass rush has been decimated by injury. San Francisco is tied for the second-fewest sacks in the league this season (9). Despite playing in just two and a half games, Nick Bosa still is tied for third on the team with 10 QB pressures. Bryce Huff has been good, but he’s banged up. Ditto for Yetur Gross-Matos. Hanging onto the final playoff spot in the NFC, the 49ers can’t sit around and let the deadline pass without making another deal. Losing Trevis Gipson (played 39 snaps in Week 8) off the practice squad might have been the impetus for the Keion White trade. That was an amuse-bouche, though. The Niners need a big honking steak. Acquiring Hendrickson would be that meaty move. With an expiring contract, he wouldn’t blow up the Niners’ offseason work of getting their salary-cap situation under long-term control. The hip injury is a concern, but attempting to pry away Hendrickson from Cincy for the stretch run is a swing worth taking. The Jets’ Jermaine Johnson II could be another option, having played under Robert Saleh.
The Chiefs are making their run with the offense looking as explosive as it has in years. The pass rush, however, could use an upgrade. George Karlaftis and Chris Jones have been a two-man show so far. Jones has been quiet of late, with a single QB pressure over the past two weeks. Karlaftis is the only Kansas City player who has earned more than two sacks this season. Phillips is the type of swing GM Brett Veach isn’t afraid to take. Injuries have sapped some of his explosiveness, but the upside remains. The pass rusher is entering the final year of his contract, so he should be moved by the two-win Dolphins. Adding an athletic edge rusher would make Steve Spagnuolo’s defense even more dangerous for the stretch run.
Kimani Vidal has played well, and the Chargers expect to get Omarion Hampton back, but adding Hall would provide a playmaker if the rookie remains nicked-up for the rest of the season. Hall has proven dynamic in the run and passing game. He would add a home run threat for Justin Herbert. Hall ranks fourth in the NFL with 18 runs of 10-plus yards, per Next Gen Stats. Herbert and Vidal are tied for the most among Chargers with eight. With few offensive line options available, Los Angeles can opt to upgrade the backfield with an explosive runner.
We know Howie Roseman has made deals with the Saints in the past. Taylor might not come cheap, but the free-agent-to-be would be the best available corner. The Eagles have had issues opposite Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, where Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo have struggled. It would be extremely uncharacteristic of Roseman not to make a move to shore up his biggest weakness ahead of the deadline. Taylor’s physicality and versatility would fit well with Vic Fangio’s defense. Given that Taylor is in the final year of his contract and could be in for a payday, the chance to net a compensatory pick in the offseason if Taylor departs could be part of the calculus in any such trade.
I’m lumping two Bengals together because they could make sense for depth adds in a reunion with Lou Anarumo. The Colts defense has concerns at all three levels, particularly with injuries up front and in the secondary. Indy already added former Bengal Germaine Pratt to the mix. Wilson has seen his role reduced in Cincy, but he would be a playmaker Anarumo can trust in the middle of the defense. Likewise, Taylor-Britt was benched for a spell after ineffective play. He has struggled mightily the past two years, including under Anarumo in 2024. However, he’d give the corner crew some depth and is familiar with the defense. A fresh start could rejuvenate his career.
The Seahawks have few holes. The most glaring might be at right guard, where Anthony Bradford has been a liability. Sam Darnold has shown an ability to overcome pressure, but we know that pass rushers up the gut are his biggest bugaboo. Zeitler, even at 35, would be an instant upgrade as a pass blocker and in helping open holes on the ground. The savvy vet would also aid the rest of the young interior. A free agent in 2026, Zeitler shouldn’t cost a ton. The Titans are in sell mode and have already signaled their willingness to move their 2026 free agents.
The defense desperately needs aid -- the Steelers are already adding help at safety via trade -- and Pittsburgh worked out free-agent WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Monday. However, that doesn’t change my belief that Meyers would be a good fit. They are lacking a consistent wide receiver opposite DK Metcalf. Meyers can play inside or outside and provide Aaron Rodgers a reliable veteran he can trust to be in the right spot. If the Steelers' defense is going to struggle most of the season, at the very least, Pittsburgh can try to win some shootouts. Meyers would help the offense keep moving instead of stalling in field-goal range.
I’m not sure if Campbell wants to leave Arizona again, but the 39-year-old continues to defy Father Time. He has generated 13 QB pressures, three sacks and has been solid versus the run. The 18th-year pro deserves to be on a playoff contender, and with the Cardinals losing five straight, I don’t know if that’s going to happen in Arizona. It would be apropos for Campbell to mirror his last exit from the desert, moving to the Jacksonville wetlands. The Jaguars could use pass-rush depth. Adding Campbell to a front of Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker and Arik Armstead would immediately improve a physical defense.
Jones has been productive of late -- even with Jeffery Simmons out of the lineup -- recording a sack in three straight games and 10 of his 17 QB pressures in that span. The 28-year-old is an impending free agent who likely isn’t long for the Titans. The Patriots could sorely use better depth in their pass rush, and perhaps they were clearing a spot to address that area by trading away Keion White. When K’Lavon Chaisson was absent this season, it was a struggle. Nearly all the Patriots' pressures have come from the first unit -- Christian Barmore (30), Chaisson (27), Milton Williams (26) and Harold Landry III (23). The next-closest D-line/edge players (White and Khyiris Tonga) had 7 combined through Week 8. The team’s revival under Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel is a nice story, but New England could use some aid to ensure it is competing deep into January.
Minnesota is the only fit for Cousins at this stage. The 37-year-old quarterback did his trade value no favors with Sunday’s outing against Miami. The Falcons haven’t shown much interest in dealing the QB, but as the season spirals, perhaps they’d change gears, especially with only five draft picks in 2026 at the moment. The Vikings aren’t exactly flush with assets to ship for an aging quarterback, but with Carson Wentz’s injury and J.J. McCarthy struggling to stay on the field, would they really risk flushing the season? Cousins played some of his best football under Kevin O’Connell, and perhaps the QB-friendly offense could bring him back to life. If McCarthy can’t stay healthy, the options are grim in Minnesota.
