AFC North Trade Deadline Targets

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The NFL trade deadline is less than a week away at 4 p.m., Oct. 31. The NFL trade deadline usually isn’t as impactful or entertaining as the NHL or MLB trade deadlines, but it seems as if that might change this season with many big names expected to be moved. There will be examples of players that each team should acquire at the deadline for the AFC North teams. 

Baltimore Ravens:

Trade for: RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry comes with a pricey cap number of roughly $16M. If Baltimore can reconstruct left tackle Ronnie Stanley’s contract, they can get a trade done. Tennessee can also take on some of that contract in order to move him. Rookie running back for the Titans Tyjae Spears, has been getting valuable carries and snaps for Tennessee, even with Henry healthy and on the roster. 

Tennessee is expected to have everyone available for trade, as they are (2-4) and in last place in the AFC South. The Titans traded safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, Oct. 23, so it seems like a firesale may be coming. 

The Ravens are a very run-heavy team and the RPO game with Lamar Jackson and Henry could be lethal. All this team would need is a lead and they could run the ball down your throat. 

Pittsburgh Steelers:

Trade for: CB Donte Jackson, Carolina Panthers

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The Pittsburgh Steelers need some help in the secondary outside of rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Carolina Panthers CB Donte Jackson becomes an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in 2025, but the team can get out of the contract in 2024. Also, the Panthers (0-6)  aren’t in a position to contend for a playoff spot this season and possibly next season. 

Jackson’s cap hit this season is roughly $7M, but that cap number goes up to $15.8M in 2024. The Steelers only have $4.1M in cap space, but a team that isn’t ready to contend can take on some of that cap in order to move him. 

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Cleveland Browns:

Trade for: RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans OR RB Dalvin Cook, New York Jets

The Cleveland Browns are in a unique spot as they have roughly $35M in cap space. Other than the San Francisco 49ers, the Browns have the second most amount of cap space in the NFL ahead of the trade deadline. 

Cleveland has lost RB Nick Chubb for the season due to a leg injury and RB Jerome Ford to an ankle injury, but only for a couple weeks. The current RB room for the Browns consists of Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong. For a team that’s had injuries with their quarterback Deshaun Watson, adding another weapon to take the load off P.J. Walker can keep this team afloat. 

Henry is an intriguing name. He’s in his age 29 season, but he’s enough left in the tank to help this team contend for a championship. The two knocks on him are his age and he’s going to need a new contract as he’s a UFA in 2024. He would only be a rental for Cleveland since they have Chubb, but he may just want a chance to win, then test free agency. 

Cook would also be a rental, as he’s playing on a one-year deal for the Jets. His explosiveness is slowly coming back, as he dealt with off-season surgery to repair his shoulder which sat him out for all of OTA’s and training camp. New York is interested in moving him, so he’ll cost less draft capital then if they were to trade for Henry. 

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Cincinnati Bengals:

Trade for: DE Carl Lawson, New York Jets, DE Chase Young, Washington Commanders, OR DE Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings 

An additional pass rusher could really benefit the Bengals’ defense. Trey Hendrickson is doing the heavy lifting when it comes to rushing the passer, but an additional threat on the opposite side could get this team over the hump and compete like they’ve been the past two seasons. The Bengals are third in the NFL in cap space ($12M), therefore they can get one of these deals done. 

Carl Lawson is in the last year of his contract with the Jets and he spent the first four seasons of his career with Cincinnati before leaving for New York in free agency. It shouldn’t cost much because he would be a rental.  

Chase Young’s tenure as a Commander looks to be coming to an end more and more each week. Young has dealt with injuries that have sidelined him for a majority of his career, but he’s healthy right now and he could wreak havoc for the Begnals. He may cost a little more in terms of draft capital, like a third-round pick, but if he’s healthy he can compliment Hendrickson perfectly. 

Danielle Hunter is on a 4-4 Vikings team that has been looking to move off of him for the last couple of seasons. Hunter is in the last year of his contract, like both Young and Lawson, and he’s dealt with injuries as well, so he could be a little cheaper than some might expect. 

Will any of these names mentioned be dealt at the trade deadline?