Wardy's NFL Wordy, Week 9: Check-A-Trade
By Rob Ward
As the midway point of the regular season nears, it’s time for those teams who fancy their chances to take a swing and those teams with an eye on 2027 to get what they can for any decent player who might be left on the roster.
That’s right, it’s trade deadline week. How are you celebrating it?
Time to embrace change. If you’re the Indianapolis Colts, you’ve been in full clear out mode since doing the unthinkable and losing a home game to the Tennessee Titans. The tailgate has been replaced by a car boot sale and Carly Irsay-Gordon bellowing “two for a tenner!” like a street market vendor.
This is no time to fear buyers’ remorse. The Chicago Bears gave up a huge haul for a 30-year-old Jeffrey Simmons, but the dominance he displayed in his first start in Seattle on Monday night was plain for all to see. The Bears may now be Super Bowl favourites.
I’m previewing the Week 9 matches with the blockbuster trade we should – but almost certainly won’t – see for one of the teams next week.
Adam Schefter names Breece Hall as a "player to watch" prior to the trade deadline. If the Giants don't land a player like Jonathan Taylor, it will be interesting to see if they pivot to a player like Hall. https://t.co/D69CsgS5DE
— Big Blue Film Room (@BigBlueFilmRoom) November 2, 2026
CINCINNATI BENGALS @ ATLANTA FALCONS (though actually @ Madrid)
I’m still not entirely sure what the point of Chase Brown is, other than to catch enough passes to bump him up into the early 2nd round of fantasy drafts. Surely the starkest discrepancy between fantasy football and real football that exists. It’s time for the Bengals to create the greatest offense in the NFL and go all in for Jonathan Taylor. Indy is looking to sell and, more importantly, Wardy here has Seth McGowan stashed on his bench in a running back desperate team. Last mention of fantasy football, promise.
CLEVELAND BROWNS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
The Saints aren’t out of it in an NFC South that, even by its own dreadful standards, might be redefining abysmal this season. That said, for a below average team with a supposedly generational draft upcoming, I wouldn’t be shifting any draft picks any time soon. The Browns are 5-3 and of their remaining 9 fixtures, 6 are against teams .500 or below. Time to go all in. I propose trading multiple first round picks for Chiefs backup kicker Justin Tucker. You may even get a discount, as he’s warming the bench in Kansas City. Mortgaging the future on a sex pest hasn’t hurt the Browns in the past, has it?
NEW YORK JETS @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The Jets find hilarious new ways to lose matches they should win, but in Braelon Allen they have a big bruising back built to bulldoze his way into the opposition O-Line for 3 yards. This leaves a very sellable asset in Breece Hall, a back whose upside has certainly flashed in New York, but you’d fancy could become a star on another offense. Better still, can you get another dozy team like the Cowboys or Colts to part with a 1st round pick and bag yourself a fourth in the top ten of next year’s draft? Probably worth a phone call to Cleveland?
DENVER BRONCOS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS
Remember the early season Carolina Panthers, who went into their week 5 bye after beating the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football on the back of an inspired Bryce Young? They were fun. I’d quite like them back. Unfortunately, the O Line and defense have fallen apart, making this return seem less likely, and the Panthers tight salary cap paints an even gloomier picture. Commanders tackle Andrew Wylie has been playing backup in D.C. but would be an instant starter and improvement in Charlotte.
DALLAS COWBOYS @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
It’s the battle of the Jets first round picks in Indy and this one could be Laurel & Hardy levels of slapstick comedy gold. The Colts may well have traded their entire roster by the time this game kicks off and Dallas keep throwing draft picks at defensive players that aren’t improving their defense. Sod it, in for a penny, in for a pound. Time for Jerry to call L.A. and see if Khalil Mack fancies one last ride of the merry-go-round. The novelty of having an edge rusher who can actually get after the opposing team’s quarterback. It’s a shame Dallas didn’t have an all-timer at that position in the summer of 2025… oh hang on.
Saquon Barkley said he was told by the organization that he would not be traded. Barkley: "I didn't really read too much (trade rumors). You see the tweets and whatever, but I guess it means a lot. I have nothing but respect for this organization, top to bottom. I really do think they do things the right way. I relish every time to go out there and play for this organization, put on the midnight green. So when that message was relayed to me, it definitely does mean a lot. But my whole mindset is we have a little issue going on right now and I feel like I'm the type of player and type of leader who can help us get out of it. I want to be one of the reasons why we fix it."
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) November 2, 2026
NEW YORK GIANTS @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The bitter Philly-NY rivalry offers an underwhelming chapter this Sunday, with an Eagles team who are done for the year vs a Giants team who would be in any other season. The aforementioned Jonathan Taylor would be a logical choice for the Giants to go all in on, though the G-Men need to be careful not to repeat the error of Taylor’s current team and trade assuming they’re a better team than they are. Philly needs to keep selling, particularly as its looking increasingly like a QB will be top of the shopping list next summer. How about the Giants going back in for Saquon? There’s a fun story I can get behind.
LOS ANGELES RAMS @ WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
You may think Rams GM Les Snead has used up all his meaningful draft picks, seemingly trading every year for the past decade. But you’d be wrong. There’s a 2027 2nd and 2028 1st with someone’s name on it. As this is the most ‘all in’ a season has ever gotten for a franchise. With Aaron Donald underwhelming on his return and Myles Garrett yet to play any meaningful snaps, the defense needs a boost and some sacks. Keyvon Thibodeaux might be a handy addition you wouldn’t have to give up the house for. That said, the Rams give up their house every home game to hordes of visiting fans.
DETROIT LIONS @ MIAMI DOLPHINS
At this stage, the Dolphins have nothing left to sell, having done all their good work in the summer. They seem well set for 2027. The Lions are fighting back after a slow start to the year, but they are still anywhere between the 2nd & 4th best team in their own division. The defensive injuries are mounting yet again. Eagle Riq Woollen, Raider Taron Johnson and Charger Donte Jackson are worth investigating over the next few days. The defense has been closing Detroit’s Super Bowl window for a few years now, they can’t afford for them to slam it shut.
HOUSTON TEXANS @ LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
The Texans have made their move earlier this season, bringing in Marvin Harrison from the Cardinals. David Montgomery has been a disaster at running back, Woody Marks not that much better. I don’t think there’s any point Houston trading for a decent running back without trading for a whole new interior O Line too. Besides, at 2-5, any pick they give up is likely to increase rather than decrease in value for their trade partner. Shall we whisper the unthinkable? Seeing as tough nobody really reads this article, let’s do it! The Chargers should trade Justin Herbert. They are already looking at a top 3 pick next year. There’s your new QB. There is a sentence that would have been unfathomable back in August. Life comes at you fast.
Budda Baker fielding trade deadline questions with a full Halloween costume on is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen https://t.co/nqzXQCaWHA
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) October 30, 2026
ARIZONA CARDINALS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
I really like what the Seahawks did in bringing in Quenton Nelson. With the return of both Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet, and the continued struggles of Sam Darnold, the run first approach should, and no doubt will, be embraced in the Emerald City. The Cardinals saw Jacoby Brissett as their bridge quarterback but, like the Allied Forces in Arnhem, they blew up their bridge and handed the operation over to the occasionally constant Gardner Minshew. Budda Baker and Josh Sweat, 30 and 29 respectively, feel like they’ll be more use on another team’s roster than Arizona’s at this stage.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The Battle of the Bay sees two teams who may be busy in contrasting ways on deadline day. The Raiders have a few prized assets to sell and the 9ers, having seen the NFC rival Seahawks and Bears make moves, need to be buyers. They made a good start with old friend DeForrest Buckner, but at this point in his career he isn’t the major difference maker they need. This season is the Last Dance for these 9ers, so it’s time to go big. A phone call to Jacksonville to enquire about Brian Thomas Jr and don’t let Maxx Crosby leave the building on Sunday. They have the picks and they have the cap space. No excuses.
GREEN BAY PACKERS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
How much do you reckon the Patriots want that A.J. Brown 2028 1st Rounder back? This already looks like a lost season; Brown won’t be any younger next year and that will be three years removed from the last time he was an effective player in this league. If I’m the Pats, I’m not taking any chance while I have Drake Maye on a rookie deal and a good defense. They’re not going far with Romeo Doubs as their top wideout, I’d give the Vikings a ring and see where they stand on Jordan Addison. The Vikes don’t have quarterbacks who can complete passes to any receiver outside of Justin Jefferson and Addison has the chops to be a true number one in Foxboro.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ CHICAGO BEARS
The Bucs were 0-4 and yet, oddly, might be the team to beat in the NFC South. They have stumbled upon an unlikely winning formula, with QB Baker Mayfield only attempting 14 passes, completing half of them, in the two games. And the Bucs have put up 59 points. Time to invest in this running game. Bucky is great, but he needs support. I’ve always liked Tony Pollard. He clocks in at 9, eats his ham sandwich and packet of crisps at 12:30, then leaves at 5 after a solid day’s work. Between Irving, Pollard, Gainwell and Tucker, Baker may never have to throw the ball again.
BUFFALO BILLS @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS
As we reach the final match of the week, I’m sure you’ll agree that all the above proposed trades should happen. Even the ones that certainly won’t. But there is one potential trade that has me most excited. How fitting that it brings the curtain down on this Week 9 preview! Ask anyone who knows me, I’ve always had a deep admiration for ‘The Captain’ Kirk Cousins. Give me an above average talent who makes throws, wins games, puts up numbers and, most importantly, gets paid. Minnesota has a real chance to win the NFC North, but they will fall short with Kyler Murray or Carson Wentz at QB. Go trade for the Captain and enjoy that playoff berth (which will almost certainly end in Wildcard Round elimination, but don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story!)
ROB WARD
NFL/Fantasy Football Enthusiast
ROB IS A LOVER OF ALL THINGS 49ERS AND HOST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST IN WHICH HE, SIMON CARROLL AND SAM AKROYD BUTT-FUMBLE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE WORLD OF THE NFL. AWAY FROM SPORT, ROB IS A PROFESSIONAL WRITER AND PERFORMER. HIT HIM UP ON TWITTER @TDWARDY!
