NFL trade deadline updates: Leonard Williams to Seahawks marks first big move
The NFL trade deadline is drawing near.
At 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the window for teams to engineer a swap with another franchise will officially close. And as the NFL's midseason point closes in, it represents one of the last big opportunities for general managers and coaches to make a substantial addition to their roster − or load up on draft picks for next year in an effort to reboot.
In recent years, the deadline has spurred a heightened level of activity, with big names such as Christian McCaffrey, Bradley Chubb and Roquan Smith moving last year. And several players have already been dealt, including two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard heading from the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Check back here for all the latest updates on the buzz and news leading up to the deadline:
Eagles swing another trade
The Philadelphia Eagles have completed another trade, though hardly a blockbuster one.
After engineering a move for Kevin Byard last week, the Eagles agreed to send defensive lineman Kentavius Street and a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2024 sixth-round pick.
Street played in about 17% of the Eagles' defensive snaps through eight games as a backup. He adds depth to a Falcons line that just lost standout defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to a torn ACL.
Door closing for Derrick Henry deal?
The odds for Derrick Henry being moved by tomorrow appear to be getting more and more remote.
Monday marked the deadline for Henry to restructure his deal in advance of any trade, and no action took place, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. That means Henry is still owed approximately $5.5 million for the rest of the season.
The Titans have told Henry they do not plan to move him, Schefter reported, and the back said Sunday he wants to remain in Tennessee.
Any more moves for Giants?
In sending Leonard Williams to the Seahawks, Giants GM Joe Schoen positioned his team as a seller.
Just don't expect the team to move running back Saquon Barkley. The Giants have continued to receive calls about the two-time running back but have rebuffed all of them, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported.
But there could be other notable pieces who could be attractive options for other teams. Might New York move cornerback Adoree' Jackson, whose contract voids after this year? Wide receiver Parris Campbell and safety Xavier McKinney also could be ones to watch.
Giants trade DL Leonard Williams to Seahawks
The first big move of the day has arrived.
The New York Giants plan to trade defensive end Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a second-round pick in 2024 and fifth-round pick in 2025, the teams announced.
Williams, 29, is in the final year of a three-year, $63 million contract. After notching 18 sacks from 2020-21 under previous defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, he has recorded just four in a season and a half under current coordinator Wink Martindale. Nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, meanwhile, has become the focal point of the defense and signed a four-year, $90 million contract this offseason.
“Playing in different systems definitely affects guys,” Williams told The New York Post earlier in October. “Pat Graham did a good job of knowing what type of player I was and putting me in the right position, but he also played a little bit of favoritism with me in a way. I was always one of P.G.’s favorite guys, whereas in this system Dex did really well, so he’s one of the favorites.
“It’s not bad at all. It’s a good thing. I love to see Dex thriving, and I’ll take what I get and make the best of it.”
At 5-2, the Seahawks have seized the lead for the NFC West. Williams joins a defensive line that already features Dre'Mont Jones, who signed a three-year, $51.5 million deal this offseason.
Bills bring aboard Leonard Fournette rather than look for RB trade
After beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Thursday, the Buffalo Bills are adding one of the team's former starters.
The Bills are signing running back Leonard Fournette, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports' Safid Deen. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move was not yet official.
The move seemingly ends any long-shot chance for Buffalo to acquire another back before the deadline.
Fournette is expected to join the team on the practice squad. He had 1,191 yards from scrimmage last season for the Buccaneers, including a career-high 523 receiving yards. But Tampa Bay opted to move on from him this offseason as part of a larger
Fournette could complement leading rusher James Cook as a short-yardage and goal-line back in the early going.
Broncos say they're not selling
Sean Payton has no plans for a fire sale.
The Denver Broncos coach made that much clear Monday, when he said the team was not looking to move any of its players.
"We're not openly or even remotely shopping anybody," Payton said in a news conference.
The Broncos had been seen as a potential team that could move some of its veterans, including wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. But Denver has won its last two games to move to 3-5 on the year, and the franchise broke its 16-game skid against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Potential trade target Kendrick Bourne has torn ACL
Cross another name off the list of potential players who could be moved.
New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports' Safid Deen. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced Bourne's injury status.
Bourne, 28, had been a popular name as a potential option if the Patriots decided to sell off any of their players on expiring deals. He leads the team with 37 catches, 406 yards and four touchdown receptions.
At 2-6, the Patriots will have to weigh whether to move any of their other pieces, which could include pass rusher Josh Uche, safety Kyle Dugger and offensive tackle Trent Brown.
Kyle Shanahan says 49ers won't overreact to three-game skid
Count the San Francisco 49ers among the teams pushing the notion they won't be buyers at the deadline.
After San Francisco dropped its third consecutive game Sunday in a 31-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, coach Kyle Shanahan said the team wouldn't make a major shift to its trade deadline plans.
“No, none of this changes anything with the trade deadline, how we played today, or how we played these last three weeks,” Shanahan said Sunday night. “When you sit and you watch tape, when it’s out there on the field, and I know how these last two weeks, especially, I felt, but I do believe we have the answers in our building."
The 49ers already acquired pass rusher Randy Gregory from the Denver Broncos in a late-round pick swap.
All eyes on Washington for Montez Sweat, Chase Young
In a year that could be short on big names who might be on the move, the Washington Commanders might have two of the most notable figures who could be on the block.
After falling to 3-5 on Sunday, the Commanders have to weigh what to do with defensive ends Montez Sweat and Chase Young, who each on the final year of their deals. Commanders coach Ron Rivera, however didn't address questions about the team's stance on the trade deadline after the 38-31 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Given the amplified interest throughout the league in bolstering the pass rush, there could be significant interest for both Sweat and Young.
The Commanders have already fielded an offer for Sweat of a third-round pick that could become a second if the receiving team signs him to an extension, Ben Standig of The Athletic reported.
The Atlanta Falcons are one of the teams interested in Sweat, per Standig. Atlanta ranks 24th in sack rate at 5.56%, with no player having more than three on the season. Sweat has 6½ in eight games. The Falcons also lost defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, a two-time Pro Bowler and key part of the pass rush, to a torn ACL on Sunday, ESPN reported.
Quiet for the Cowboys?
Jerry Jones is signaling the Dallas Cowboys don't have much in store for the trade deadline.
"It doesn’t look like we’ll be doing anything," Jones said after the Cowboys beat the Los Angeles Rams 43-20 to move to 5-2.
Ahead of last year's deadline, the Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins from the Las Vegas Raiders. The Cowboys went on re-sign Hankins, who has started all seven games for the team this year.
Could Vikings make a move for a QB after Kirk Cousins' injury?
If the Minnesota Vikings are going to make a trade in light of Kirk Cousins' season-ending injury, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O'Connell will have to act fast.
But given the short turnaround, cap considerations and potential options, this might be a matter of bargain-bin shopping, if that.
USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis examined some signal-callers who could catch the Vikings' eye. Among the notable names: Case Keenum, Jacoby Brissett and Ryan Tannehill.
Derrick Henry trade possibilities
The Tennessee Titans have told Derrick Henry they don't plan to trade the star running back, according to multiple reports. But the door might not be completely closed on a potential move.
With that in mind, USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis took a look at five potential intriguing destinations for Henry if a deal could be worked out.
The Baltimore Ravens are one of the most compelling possibilities, as putting Henry and Lamar Jackson in the same backfield would surely change the outlook for offensive coordinator Todd Monken's attack.
What time is the NFL trade deadline?
The trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL trade deadline news: Leonard Williams deal is first big move
