Trade Deadline Tracker: Every Deal Before Tuesday’s Cutoff

The trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. Eastern. We are tracking every deal, every rumor worth taking seriously and every team that has quietly hung up a “for sale” sign. Five weeks into the season, the standings have already started to separate contenders from rebuilding clubs, and front offices across the league are working the phones. This tracker will be updated throughout the weekend and right up to the cutoff, so bookmark it and check back often.

Football trade deadlines have historically been quieter than those in baseball or basketball. Complicated playbooks, roster limits and salary cap rules make it harder for a newly acquired player to contribute right away. But that has been changing. Over the past several seasons, more teams have been willing to make bold moves, and executives around the league told us they expect this year to be one of the busiest deadlines in recent memory.

How the deadline works

After 4 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, teams can no longer trade players for the rest of the regular season. They can still sign free agents and claim players off waivers, but trades are closed until the new league year begins in the spring. That makes the next few days the last chance for contenders to fill holes and for struggling teams to turn veterans into draft picks.

Salary cap space is the key factor in nearly every conversation. A team acquiring a player takes on the remainder of his salary for the season, so buyers with room under the cap have a clear advantage. Some deals will include the selling team agreeing to pay part of a player’s salary in exchange for a better draft pick, a practice that has become more common in recent years.

The buyers

Austin wants a third pass rusher. Tampa needs help at cornerback. Portland, surprisingly, is shopping for a veteran receiver to pair with its rookie quarterback. Those three teams have been the most aggressive callers this week, according to several executives who spoke on the condition that they not be named because talks are ongoing.

Austin (4–1) has one of the league’s best defenses, but its pass rush has relied heavily on two players, and one of them is dealing with a sore ankle. The front office has made it clear it is willing to part with a mid-round pick for a proven edge rusher who can rotate in on passing downs.

Tampa (3–2) lost its top cornerback to a season-ending knee injury in week three and has given up more passing yards than any team in its division since. Coaches have tried moving a safety into the slot, with mixed results. Expect Tampa to target an experienced outside corner with at least a year left on his contract.

Portland (3–2) is the surprise. The team was widely expected to spend this season developing its rookie quarterback, but a strong start has changed the plan. Executives say Portland is looking for a reliable possession receiver, ideally someone with experience helping young passers through tough reads.

The sellers

Denver and Boston are both 1–4 and both listening. A Denver official told us “nobody is untouchable,” which in deadline language means everybody is available. Both clubs have older rosters, expensive contracts and new coaching staffs focused on long-term rebuilding.

Denver’s front office is believed to be most interested in collecting draft picks for next spring, when it could have three selections in the first two rounds. Boston is taking a slightly different approach, looking for younger players on cheap contracts in return for veterans. A few other teams sitting at 2–3 are also expected to take calls, though their executives insist they still believe they can make the playoffs.

Every year somebody says they are just listening. Then Tuesday at 3:58 they are sending paperwork to the league office. Listening is how the whole thing starts.

Former general manager and Gridiron Daily analyst Frank Bauer

Teams in the middle

The most interesting decisions may belong to the clubs stuck in between. Several teams at 2–3 or 3–2 have playoff hopes but obvious weaknesses, and their front offices must decide whether to spend future picks on this season or stand pat. Executives say a handful of these teams have asked about prices without committing either way. One longtime scout told us that the middle of the standings is where deadline surprises usually come from, because those teams have the most to gain from a single smart addition and the most to lose from a costly mistake. A losing streak this weekend could push one or two of them toward selling.

Five names to watch

An All-Pro safety in Boston, a 30-year-old running back in Denver, two backup quarterbacks and a kicker who has not missed since August. Here is a closer look at each, with our estimate of how likely a move is before the cutoff.

1. Isaiah Grant, safety, Boston. A two-time All-Pro in the final year of his contract. Boston would want at least a second-round pick. Likelihood: high.
2. Marcus Bell, running back, Denver. Still productive at 30, but Denver is turning to younger backs. Contenders with injuries at the position have called. Likelihood: medium.
3. Tyler Knox, quarterback, Denver. A capable veteran backup who could save a contender’s season if its starter gets hurt. Likelihood: medium.
4. Owen Pierce, quarterback, Boston. A former starter now third on the depth chart. Boston would accept a late-round pick. Likelihood: medium.
5. Danny Ruiz, kicker, Boston. Perfect on field goals since August, including two from beyond 50 yards. Kickers rarely move at the deadline, but several playoff teams have kicking problems. Likelihood: low to medium.

Deals done so far

As of Friday evening, two trades have been completed. Austin acquired a reserve linebacker and special teams captain from a struggling team in exchange for a seventh-round pick, a small move aimed at depth. Tampa added a veteran nickel cornerback from Denver for a sixth-round selection, though team officials say they are still looking for a bigger addition on the outside.

Neither trade will change the balance of power in the league, but both are signs that the market is open. Historically, the largest deadline deals tend to come together in the final 48 hours, once asking prices drop and buyers decide whether they are truly in the race. We will add every new trade to this section as soon as it is confirmed by both teams.

What to watch Tuesday

The final day usually unfolds in waves. Early in the morning, teams finalize physicals for deals agreed to over the weekend. Around midday, rumors pick up as executives make last attempts to lower prices. In the final hour, smaller depth trades often get pushed through as clubs adjust their rosters before the window closes.

Our Game Center will run a live blog from 9 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday until every trade is official. Gridiron+ members will also get alerts when major deals break, along with quick analysis from our reporters and former front-office executives. And if you have strong opinions about who your team should add or sell, our fan poll is open through Monday night.

Key takeaway: Austin, Tampa and Portland are buying, Denver and Boston are selling, and the biggest moves are most likely to land in the last 48 hours before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. Eastern cutoff.