Barnwell: 4 of 18 NFL contenders should stand pat — SkimNews
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- Bill Barnwell says the NFL trade deadline arrives at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday and splits the 18 teams that reached Week 9 at .500 or better into four that should stand pat — though no one would turn down a steal of a deal — and 14 sorted into tiers, each getting one luxury target and one bargain target.
- Buffalo Bills (6-1) list offensive line, linebacker and safety as needs after a 36-10 win over Baltimore; having cut C.J. Gardner-Johnson after six starts, the source names Arizona's Budda Baker — eight Pro Bowls, more than $8 million due the rest of this season and $17.8 million in 2027 — as the luxury target, with Chargers cornerback Elijah Molden ($3.3 million remaining) as the bargain.
- Detroit Lions (5-2) name defensive line, linebacker and cornerback as needs after Jack Campbell's neck injury, with Brian Branch back in the lineup and Kerby Joseph still to return; Chicago has already traded two first-round picks for Jeffery Simmons, and Green Bay is getting Micah Parsons back from a torn ACL.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) could be one of the few contenders to sell, with Brian Thomas Jr. available, but need swing tackle and defense after Anton Harrison's season-ending absence, Patrick Mekari's back surgery, and season-ending injuries to DaVon Hamilton and Eric Murray; they hold a three-game lead atop the AFC South.
- Los Angeles Rams (4-4) list kicker, wide receiver and linebacker, and after Matthew Stafford's early mistakes against the Chargers, coach Sean McVay carried two kickers Sunday — Brandon McManus for a chip-shot field goal and Joshua Karty as kickoff specialist, who was flagged twice for short kickoffs — with the source urging a trade for one player who can fill both roles.
- Baltimore Ravens were stuck playing Joe Fagnano at quarterback for most of their 36-10 loss to Buffalo, which the source favors over crediting Buffalo's defense with a step forward after its bye week, before Buffalo's next three games against the Vikings, Jets and Dolphins.
- Moro Ojomo logged six sacks and 12 knockdowns in 740 snaps last season for Philadelphia and costs just $2 million over the rest of this season, while Washington's Andrew Wylie, with 17 playoff starts, played only 17 offensive snaps this year — a cheap depth pairing for Jacksonville's injury-hit roster.
Why it matters: Buffalo's Budda Baker pursuit collides with its thin cap space — more than $8 million due through the season and $17.8 million in 2027 — pointing to contract restructuring or seller-retained money. Detroit's willingness to pay with picks for Khalil Mack and Donte Jackson, versus Jacksonville's $2 million price for Moro Ojomo, sets different cost floors before the 4 p.m. ET deadline.
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