The 2022 NFL season continues to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. We've had a Super Bowl hangover by the Cincinnati Bengals, a 2-0 start by the upstart New York Giants, a fair dose of overtime, upsets galore and more epic late-game meltdowns.
We're only two weeks in.
While fans are focused on the on-field action, teams are either scrambling to rebound from rough starts or working to keep things rolling. As injuries unfold and weaknesses are revealed, many of them will inevitably turn to the trade market for help.
Teams have until November 1 to execute trades. Between now and then, we'll check in weekly on the top 10 trade targets based on factors like salary-cap situations, player usage, projected player roles, any relevant buzz and a smidgen of guesswork.
We'll also examine logical landing spots based on factors like team needs, positional value, cap and contract situations.
The Selection Process
To create our top 10 list, we have gathered 15 names that could reasonably land on the trade block based on the aforementioned criteria.
We have some notable changes to our initial list this week, as we're starting to get some idea of which teams have a legitimate shot at contention in 2022.
The 0-2 Tennessee Titans, for example, haven't performed like the team that claimed the AFC's No. 1 seed in 2021. A sustained slide could have them looking to move impending 2023 free agents like underutilized tight end Austin Hooper.
We're also removing San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the list entirely. The former backup and potential trade chip is now the starter in San Francisco following Trey Lance's season-ending ankle surgery.
We're also dropping Baltimore Ravens safety Chuck Clark. While offseason additions Marcus Williams and rookie first-round pick Kyle Hamilton cloud Clark's future, the Ravens recently adjusted his contract. He looks to be sticking around for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton might not be. Although he's played only four offensive snaps, he plummets from high atop our list. The Giants restructured Slayton's contract and may want insurance at receiver amid their surprising 2-0 start.
Once we established the top 15, we ranked players on their talent level, positional value and their likelihood of being dealt. The goal here is to identify players who are both valuable and realistically available.
This week's honorable mentions, in no particular order, are:
- Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
- Kareem Hunt, RB, Cleveland Browns
- Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
- Michael Jordan, G, Carolina Panthers
- Daron Payne, DT, Washington Commanders
10. Sidney Jones IV, CB, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Sidney Jones IV is back in the top 10 after his team's embarrassing loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2. The Week 1 victory over the Denver Broncos provided some hope that Seattle would be relevant this season, but it now seems more likely that Denver just isn't that good.
The Seahawks have used Jones sparingly this season after he started 11 games in 2021. He's playing on a one-year, $3.6 million deal and is a solid trade chip for Seattle. Last season, he allowed an opposing passer rating of only 84.3 in coverage.
If the Seahawks aren't going to utilize Jones, another team could.
The Baltimore Ravens should be near the top of the list after surrendering 469 passing yards and six touchdowns to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday. The secondary's struggles helped blow a 35-14 fourth-quarter lead.
The Ravens have also lost cornerback Kyle Fuller for the season to a torn ACL.
The Bengals might also want to take a long look at Jones. They've surrendered only 422 passing yards and two touchdowns through two weeks, but they also allowed Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush to engineer a game-winning drive with less than a minute remaining on Sunday.
Unless the Bengals' slide continues, they should be buyers at the trade deadline. Jones would be a solid addition to any team with playoff aspirations.
Best Fits: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals