The NFL trade deadline in 2019 will arrive with the same questions it carries every year. How many trades will occur before the deadline hits? Who is being mentioned in the latest NFL trade rumors? These questions are increasingly fair in a league where general managers are becoming more aggressive around the trade deadline.
Some are expecting the 2019 NFL trade deadline to be particularly busy, in part because a handful of teams are clear sell candidates thanks to their hopeless records. Plus, a handful of contenders have obvious weaknesses that could be addressed before the trade deadline.
MORE: Why NFL trades are relatively rare
According to CBS, there is “a sense among aggressive general managers that there are more potential trades to be made this year than possibly ever before.” Aside from the aforementioned disparity between the good and bad teams this season, NFL front offices have shown a tendency to be active around the deadline over the last couple seasons.
Last year, nine big-name players — Amari Cooper, Carlos Hyde, Eli Apple, Damon Harrison, Golden Tate, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Dante Fowler, Demaryius Thomas and Ty Montgomery — were traded in the week leading up to the deadline. The year before that, another nine big-name players — Jimmy Garoppolo, Kelvin Benjamin, Adrian Peterson, Dontrelle Inman, Marcel Dareus, Duane Brown, Jeremy Lane, Rashard Robinson and Jay Ajayi — were traded, with six of them being moved on deadline day.
In 2019, more big names are being mentioned in trade rumors. Players like Jalen Ramsey, Stefon Diggs and Trent Williams are relatively clear in their desires to be moved, but others like A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson and Kenyan Drake, who may or may not care to be traded, could be dealt as a result of their teams’ ineptitude.
Below is all you need to know about the approaching 2019 NFL trade deadline, including the latest rumors around notable players who might be dealt.
When is NFL trade deadline 2019?
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 29
- Time: 4 p.m. ET
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 29. Though the cutoff time is 4 p.m. ET, sometimes deals that were sent to the league office at the last minute are announced or reported after the deadline passes. So stay tuned for NFL trade news even after the deadline hits.
Chances are, it will be a very busy day for the NFL’s transaction wire. That has been the case for the last two NFL trade deadlines.
Last year, five players were traded on deadline day. The year before that, six players were traded on deadline day.
Why are NFL trades so rare?
Yes, NFL general managers have been more aggressive around the trade deadline in recent years, but compared to the frenzy seen in the NBA, for example, NFL trades are still relatively rare.
In short, it boils down to four issues: signing bonuses/dead cap charges, space under a hard salary cap, compensation/compensatory picks and spending requirements. Sporting News contributor Jason Fitzgerald explains in detail here why that’s the case.
NFL trade deadline rumors
According to CBS, the Saints, Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, Patriots and Seahawks “have already begun laying the framework for potential deals” ahead of this year’s trade deadline. All of those teams have something in common: a status of legitimate contenders. Those teams are among the potential buyers.
For the most part, the potential sellers ahead of this year’s trade deadline also have something in common: no chance at the playoffs. Teams like the Dolphins, Bengals, Broncos and Cardinals might be inclined to turn their attention toward 2020.
Below are some notable players who have been mentioned in NFL trade rumors as the Oct. 29 deadline approaches.
- Jalen Ramsey
The 24-year-old cornerback’s desire to leave Jacksonville via trade is evident, which is why Sporting News explained why the Eagles and Chiefs should target Ramsey. The Eagles reportedly have already made at least one generous offer. If their secondary continues to struggle, they might feel obligated to dangle another enticing offer in front of Jaguars owner Shad Khan, who reportedly is the one blocking Ramsey’s exit.
CBS reported Jacksonville could have secured two first-round draft picks for Ramsey from at least one team, but it turned the offer down.
Unlike many of the teams that are considered sellers as the trade deadline approaches, the Jaguars are still contenders in their division, making them more difficult to deal with in trade talks.
Ramsey is in the fourth season of his five-year rookie contract. He is currently scheduled to earn $13.7 million in base salary next season, but a new team likely would restructure and extend his deal.
- Von Miller
According to NFL.com, if the Broncos continue to lose games this season, everybody in Denver but Von Miller could become available as the trade deadline approaches. Of course, the 30-year-old pass-rusher is Denver’s most attractive asset and would bring a hefty return in a deal. The Broncos can’t ignore all possibilities.
Miller, the fifth highest paid defensive player in the NFL, has two years left on his current deal beyond 2019. If the Broncos were to trade him, they would take dead cap hits of $8,125,000 in 2019 and $11,850,000 in 2020, but they would get an immediate $17 million in cap savings — not to mention whatever draft picks would arrive in a deal.
Also worth mentioning: Miller is notably pro-player movement.
- A.J. Green
In a development that surprises nobody, CBS reported the Patriots, of all teams, “are expected to push for” a trade for Green. Multiple teams should, because despite the 31-year-old wide receiver’s recent health issues, he still has undeniable talent.
Green is in the final year of his contract, and the Bengals are ripe for trades as they gear up for a rebuild with new coach Zac Taylor. At long as team owner Mike Brown is willing to play ball, that is.
CBS reported teams are “eager” to try to trade for Cincinnati players like Green, but that Brown is generally apprehensive when it comes to such deals.
“If they wanted to, and they did this right, they could be right there with the Dolphins and Raiders when it comes to 1, 2, and 3s in the next few drafts,” a GM told CBS. Added another GM: “We’ve gone over the roster and the contracts. It is begging for trades, but I’m not sure they’ll seriously consider it. That’s not how Mike Brown operates.”
- Patrick Peterson
The Eagles reportedly tried to trade for the 29-year-old corner last year. Philadelphia remains in need of secondary help, which is why they already have attempted to trade for Ramsey, and could instead turn its attention to Peterson.
The Cardinals have missed Peterson during his suspension to begin the 2019 season, and with Kyler Murray already in place as the baseline for the offense, Arizona could decide the corner is worth an extension as the team looks to contend as soon as possible. Still, teams will be calling.
Beyond 2019, Peterson has one year left on his contract. If the Cardinals were to trade him, they would be left with dead cap charges of just $884,588 in 2019 and $634,588 in 2020 while freeing up $7,117,647 in cap space. Arizona also would land solid draft assets in a deal.
- Trent Williams
Redskins president Bruce Allen claims the team is not considering a Williams trade “at this time.” Which is a predictably ignorant stance for this disaster of a franchise.
By all accounts, the relationship between the 31-year-old left tackle and his team is irreparable, and the holdout that began over the summer is expected to last through the entire season. According to CBS, GMs around the NFL have “used adjectives like ‘ridiculous,’ ‘unbelievable’ and ‘backwards’ to describe the team’s approach” to the Williams situation.
Some have suggested Washington could land at least a first-round pick in a Williams trade considering Houston sent Miami two firsts and a second for Laremy Tunsil last month. Perhaps an injury will force another team’s hand, allowing the Redskins to receive an offer that would end their stand-off with Williams.
- Kenyan Drake
This one’s simple: The Dolphins are bad, and they already have proven their willingness to sell. They’ve already accumulated future assets in trades of Minkah Fitzpatrick, Tunsil, Kenny Stills and Kiko Alonso this year, and Drake is another attractive player to contenders.
The 25-year-old running back is in the final year of his rookie contract. He would be a relatively cheap-but-impactful addition to a team in need of rushing support.
- Emmanuel Sanders
The 32-year-old wide receiver has been the subject of trade rumors for more than a year, as the Saints reportedly tried to deal for him last year. According to CBS, New Orleans might try again this year, as will teams like the Patriots who are looking for wide receiver help.
Sanders is getting up there in age, but he is still productive. His 4.8 receptions per game and 61.4 receiving yards per game this season are in line with the numbers he produced in 2016, his second of two Pro-Bowl seasons.
Sanders also is in the final year of his contract, and Denver would save more than $10 million in cap space by trading him.
- Stefon Diggs
Diggs is being mentioned in trade rumors only because he admitted there’s some truth to the idea that he wants out of Minnesota.
However, the Vikings still need Diggs, and they recently gave the 25-year-old wide receiver a five-year contract extension worth $72 million (roughly $40 million guaranteed).
Not only does a Diggs trade make little sense for Minnesota from a football perspective, but dealing him would leave the team with dead cap charges of $3.1 million in 2019 and $9 million in 2020 while bringing it only $9 million in cap relief.
For those reasons, only a player-for-player trade might make sense for the Vikings should they feel forced to move Diggs. And those kinds of deals are rare.