NFL Trade Deadline 2024: Lions bring Hutchinson replacement

+++ Update, November 5th, 4:11 p.m.: New wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys +++

The Dallas Cowboys have signed wide receiver Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers, NFL insider Tom Pelissero reports.

For the 23-year-old pass receiver and a seventh-round pick, Dallas will send a fourth-round pick to Carolina.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently announced on radio station “105.3 The Fan” that they would be bringing in a new wide receiver. According to Jones, Mingo had his sights set on the franchise in college before being drafted by the Panthers in the second round in 2023.

In his rookie season, the wide receiver recorded 43 catches for 418 yards, but so far this season he has only had 12 receptions for 121 yards.

+++ Update, November 5th, 2:20 p.m.: Detroit Lions bring Hutchinson replacement +++

In mid-October, week five, superstar Aidan Hutchinson broke his tibia in the game against the Dallas Cowboys. And even though the Detroit Lions have won everything since then, the franchise wants to invest in the roster again to manifest the Super Bowl mission.

Defensive end Za’Darius Smith will be a lion! This is what NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport report. The Pro Bowler is supposed to replace Hutchinson and comes via trade from the Cleveland Browns.

A seventh-round pick (2026) goes to the Lions with Smith. In return, Cleveland receives a fifth-round pick (2025) and a sixth-round pick (2026).

+++ Update, November 5th, 10:09 a.m.: Will Chiefs get a top cornerback? +++

Dennis Allen has been fired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints. After the embarrassing 22:23 defeat against the Carolina Panthers, top receiver Chris Olave being injured again and a record of 2-7, one thing is clear: the Saints are concentrating on the coming season.

This means that many of the team’s stars are on the so-called trade block. In addition to pass rusher Cameron Jordan, cornerback Marshon Lattimore is reportedly also there and can leave if an appropriate offer is made.

According to “ESPN”, the current Super Bowl champion is interested in the defensive back. The Kansas City Chiefs are 8-0 and are well on their way to defending their title. They have already completed two trades for this. With DeAndre Hopkins and Josh Uche, two new players have already been brought in to consolidate this run. Lattimore could be the third.

+++ Update, November 4th, 11:35 p.m.: Broncos send pass rusher to the Cardinals +++

Shortly before the trade deadline, the Denver Broncos agreed to send a pass rusher to Arizona. Outside linebacker Baron Browning will wear the Cardinals jersey in the future, but a sixth-round pick will go to the Broncos in 2025.

According to the team, the deal is still subject to a physical examination.

Browning, who was drafted in the third round in 2021, has recorded 9.5 sacks in 43 games. Since being placed on the injured reserve list in week two, he has been replaced by Nik Bonitto, who has recorded six sacks in seven games.

+++ Update, November 3rd, 9:33 p.m.: Za’Darius Smith’s trade apparently close to completion +++

Now everything could happen very quickly. The trade of Za’Darius Smith to Detroit should take place on Sunday or Monday – NBC claims to have learned this from a well-informed source. Corresponding rumors had already been circulating on Saturday (see previous entry).

This step apparently also corresponds to Smith’s ideas. The 32-year-old admitted that he welcomed a Lions transfer because he could compete with two of his former teams in the NFC North. Before his stop in Cleveland, the still-Browns star played for the Baltimore Ravens (2015-2018), Green Bay Packers (2019-2021) and the Minnesota Vikings (2022).

The team around head coach Dan Campbell would react to a serious injury to Aidan Hutchinson. It hasn’t signed a new pass rusher yet. The franchise will meet the Packers in week nine as the division leaders (from 10:25 p.m. in the ran live ticker).

+++ Update, November 2nd, 8:07 p.m.: Lions are apparently getting into Smith Poker +++

After Aidan Hutchinson’s serious injury, the Detroit Lions are apparently looking for a replacement. According to a report by “The Athletic”, Browns star Za’Darius Smith is one of the candidates. According to ESPN, Cleveland is demanding a “very good Day 3 pick,” probably a fourth-round pick.

Smith is still tied to his current employer until 2025. The chances of a change could increase if the Browns fail to keep their vague playoff hopes alive in the duel with the Los Angeles Chargers (on Sunday from 7 p.m. in the ran live ticker).

Otherwise, Detroit could face the consequences of the Browns postponing their sell-out. After eight appearances, the 32-year-old Smith can boast, among other things, six quarterback hits as well as five tackles for loss and five sacks.

Lions unlucky Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia and fibula in the 47-9 win against the Dallas Cowboys and had to undergo surgery. A comeback this season is possible, but also not likely.

+++ Update, October 29th, 11:34 a.m.: Ravens get star receiver from the Carolina Panthers +++

The Baltimore Ravens are strengthening themselves with wide receiver Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. This is the 28-year-old’s second trade this year; he only came to Carolina from the Pittsburgh Steelers before the season.

Johnson was traded in the third round by the Steelers in 2019, where he reached his peak performance in the third year and even made it to the Pro Bowl with 1,161 yards. In the current season, the pass receiver has 30 receptions for 357 yards.

In return for Johnson, the Panthers will apparently receive a fifth- and sixth-round pick.

Johnson was no longer on the roster against the Denver Broncos at the weekend due to trade interest.

+++ Update, October 20th, 11:34 a.m.: Rams receiver Cooper Kupp is probably in high demand +++

Is the next big wide receiver trade on the horizon? As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports, several teams are interested in signing Cooper Kupp.

Without naming names, the insider speaks of “teams that have inquired about the status of Cooper Kupp” from the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams currently have a record of 1-4. If they also lost the two remaining games before the trade deadline against the Raiders and the Vikings, interest in the MVP of the 2021 Super Bowl would increase further, the insider predicts.

There are currently enough teams that need pass receivers. The most frequently mentioned are the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs.

However, some obstacles would have to be removed for a trade. Kupp remains as popular with the Rams crowd as he is with quarterback Matthew Stafford. A departure could cause a lot of resentment within the franchise.

In addition, according to Rapoport, Kupp would still be entitled to $20 million per season for the next three years, although the amount would only be guaranteed for one season.

+++ Update, October 18th, 11:20 a.m.: Several teams are probably interested in Jets receiver Mike Williams +++

Immediately after the trade for Davante Adams, reports emerged that another New York Jets wide receiver could be leaving the Big Apple: Mike Williams.

As “The Athletic” now reports, several teams have already inquired about the 30-year-old. In addition to the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers, this should also include the Los Angeles Chargers.

Williams was under contract on the West Coast from 2017 through the 2023 season before joining the Jets last offseason. For New York, Williams has ten receptions for 145 yards this season. How much a team would have to pay for him is not mentioned.

+++ Update, October 15th: Cam Akers returns to the Vikings +++

The Minnesota Vikings have signed running back Cam Akers for the second time in twelve months – this time from the Houston Texans.

Houston trades Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick to Minnesota for a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick.

+++ Update, October 15th: Amari Cooper is moving to the Buffalo Bills +++

It’s barely been a few hours since star receiver Davante Adams was traded to the New York Jets when the next high-profile pass receiver is already changing.

The Buffalo Bills are trading for Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns. According to US reports, the Browns will receive draft picks in the third (2025) and seventh (2026) rounds in return for the departure.

In addition to the 30-year-old Cooper, the Bills are apparently also getting a sixth-round pick (2025).

+++ Update, October 15th: New York Jets get Davante Adams +++

The long back and forth is over: Davante Adams is leaving the Las Vegas Raiders and will join the New York Jets.

The wide receiver star meets his long-time quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the “Big Apple”. The two played together for the Green Bay Packers from 2014 to 2021 and developed into one of the best offensive duos in the league.

Starting in 2017, the 31-year-old was elected to the Pro Bowl six times in a row, and from 2020 to 2022, Adams was voted First Team All Pro.

In return for Adams, the Raiders will receive a conditional third round pick, which in the best case scenario can improve to a second round pick. The Jets will also pay the pass receiver’s outstanding salary. He signed a five-year, $140 million contract in 2022.