Potential trade targets for Washington leading up to the deadline

The NFL’s trade deadline two weeks off – officially, trading ends on November 5th, 2024 at 4pm EDT – and Washington is well-positioned to start thinking about potential playoff scenarios, so now seems like as good a time as any to explore the possibility that we could be buyers and to take a look at who might be available.

For the time being, we’re going to start with teams that are likely to be sellers this season, and for the purposes of this exercise, we’re going to include teams with only one win so far, seven weeks into the season. That list includes the: Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, and Tennessee Titans.

Top positional targets will be cornerbacks and EDGE rushers, though other players may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Carolina Panthers

Diontae Johnson, WR

Acquired from the Steelers in a trade this past offseason, Johnson is currently only signed through the end of 2024 ($18.36 AAV). So far this season, he has 40 receptions for 357 yards and 3 TDs. Those totals would put him ahead of every wide receiver on Washington’s roster not named Terry McLaurin.

Jaycee Horn, CB

Perhaps the top cornerback prospect in his class when he was drafted 8th overall in 2021, Horn has had an injury-interrupted career in Carolina so far. He’s in year four of his rookie deal, but the Panthers picked up his 5th year option ($12.47M in 2025). His stock is also depressed by playing on a miserable Carolina defense. The question is: are the Panthers’ willing to burn this thing all the way down, and start completely from scratch in 2025?

New England Patriots

Unlike the rest of the teams on this list, the Patriots have their QB of the future – they hope – already on the roster. That factor may mitigate their willingness to move players

Josh Uche, DE

Uche had 11.5 sacks in 2022, and currently has 13 tackles and 2 sacks this season. He’s on a one-year contract ($2.94M), and will be a free agent at the end of the year. He only has 4 starts in his 5-year career, but he would be an interesting role player – in the mold of an Efe Obada – to add to the defensive line.

Cleveland Browns

Za’Darius Smith, DE

A 3-time Pro Bowler, the 32-year old Smith is perhaps the most talented pass rusher likely to be available before the trade deadline. With 64 career sacks – including 4 this year – Smith is signed through 2025, where he will cost $9.43M. Much of his contract is structured for out year hits though, so it’s not clear whether Cleveland might ask for some salary relief from the team receiving Smith, if he’s moved.

Denzel Ward, CB

A 3-time Pro Bowler, Ward – a former #4 overall pick – could be an elite addition to the secondary. He’s currently signed through 2027, on a deal that pays him about $20M per year. His guaranteed salary is $12.4M in 2025, after which he would be relatively painless to move, if the team decided to do so (he’s currently 27).

I suspect, however, that the Browns would be looking to receive high end (2nd round pick or better) compensation for him, given his youth and skill level. That said, keeping him in Cleveland will likely just burn the peak of his career years.

Greg Newsome II, CB

The 24-year old Newsome is a tier down from Ward in terms of talent, but he’s also three years younger and still on his rookie deal. Another first rounder, Newsome had his 5th year option picked up by the Browns for 2025 this offseason. He’ll cost $13.38M next year, wherever he lands.

Tennessee Titans

Harold Landry, DE

Landry has been in Tennessee since he began his career in 2018, accumulating 45.5 sacks over that period (with a high of 12 in 2021). This season, he has 4 sacks and 29 tackles to date. He is signed through 2026 and is currently on a deal that pays him $17.5M per year, but his guaranteed money ends after 2024. The 28-year old would be a potentially intriguing option as another building block on Washington’s defensive line.