White in all probability shall be a rotational participant at greatest for the 49ers however contemplating their want, the associated fee (nearly nothing) and that the 49ers could have White below contract for under $1.8 million in 2026, I feel that is fairly a nifty deadline deal for San Francisco.
It was clear White fell out of favor in New England. He was buried on a robust depth chart, with Harold Landry III and Okay’Lavon Chaisson having good seasons on the sting and Milton Williams and Christian Barmore taking part in effectively inside. However contemplating that the 6-2 Patriots needs to be harboring deep playoff expectations, the compensation they obtained doesn’t make up for the loss in depth. Ought to accidents strike, they could want they’d White again.
Rams get: CB Roger McCreary, conditional 2026 sixth-round decide
Titans get: Conditional 2026 fifth-round decide
The Rams kicked off the penultimate week of the 2025 buying and selling season by buying and selling with the Titans for McCreary, who has largely served as a slot nook. McCreary is thought for his consistency: In every of the previous 4 seasons, he has allowed between 1.0 and 1.2 yards per protection snap, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats — at or barely worse than the league common for a slot nook (1.0) or outdoors nook (1.1).
The attention-grabbing side of that is that the Rams already had a nickel they had been presumably proud of in Quentin Lake, whose 0.9 yards allowed per protection snap is sixth greatest amongst slot corners with not less than 100 protection snaps.
As of this writing, I do not know precisely how the Rams will deploy McCreary. Will he play nickel, with Lake being bumped again to security? Or might they put McCreary outdoors, changing the snaps of both Emmanuel Forbes Jr. or Cobie Durant, who’ve been rotating together with Darious Williams (who has a really sturdy 0.6 yards allowed per protection snap this season). McCreary actually offers the Rams flexibility.
Shifting the fourth-year nook was a straightforward selection for the Titans. Not solely is Tennessee effectively out of competition and McCreary within the final yr of his rookie contract, however the Titans even have a lot cap area subsequent yr (nearly $113 million, per OverTheCap.com — greater than another group) that they’re prone to be spenders in free company and due to this fact much less prone to obtain compensatory picks for misplaced free brokers than most groups. Subsequently, it is higher for them to get no matter draft capital they’ll via trades for gamers who will not be round subsequent season.
The draft decide compensation after the decide swap works out to roughly an early sixth-rounder, by our draft decide valuations. It strikes me as a shade lighter than I might have anticipated contemplating there are different groups prone to be within the cornerback market between now and subsequent Tuesday. That is why it is worthwhile for the Rams to make a transfer like this — secondary depth is sweet whenever you’re attempting to make a run! If I had been Tennessee, I might need held out till subsequent week to see if a greater supply got here in, however I would not anticipate to get that rather more.
Browns get: CB Tyson Campbell, 2026 seventh-round decide (by way of Eagles)
Jaguars get: CB Greg Newsome II, 2026 sixth-round decide (by way of Jets)
We have ourselves a problem commerce of kinds.
The Browns and Jaguars — two groups on reverse ends of the competition spectrum — determined to flip-flop fifth-year cornerbacks. Nevertheless, due to their very totally different contract conditions, this is not precisely a like-for-like swap.
However let’s begin with the gamers themselves.
Campbell was off to a rocky begin this season, permitting 1.6 yards per protection snap (effectively above the 1.1 common for an outdoor nook). That he additionally allowed 1.6 yards per zone protection snap was even worse, as a result of corners are likely to have decrease yards allowed per snap in zone — and the Jaguars play a number of it. That 1.6 is a profession worst for Campbell, who posted a stable 1.0 final season and had gotten as little as 0.6 in 2022. Like many corners, Campbell’s profession has been up and down.
In the meantime, Newsome entered the season as a commerce candidate (I pitched a Newsome commerce for nearly nothing in July) given his assured cash and a down 2024 marketing campaign through which he allowed 1.5 yards per protection snap. That quantity has remained stage in 2025, although his zone protection numbers have been higher than his man numbers throughout every of the previous two seasons.
Each Newsome and Campbell have been flagged twice for penalties this season.
Although Newsome had performed outdoors nook in Cleveland, he offers slot flexibility. However Jourdan Lewis is taking part in effectively at nickel proper now for Jacksonville, so I presume Newsome will stay outdoors.
Now to the massive a part of this deal: the distinction in these two gamers’ contracts.
Newsome is within the last yr of his, taking part in on a fifth-year possibility price $13.4 million this season.
However, Campbell signed an extension in the course of the 2024 offseason — notably, with the Jaguars’ earlier entrance workplace regime — that runs via 2028. Campbell’s deal consists of $13.1 million in absolutely assured 2026 cash and non-guaranteed $16 million and $16.5 million in money in 2027 and 2028, respectively, per OverTheCap.com, with a rolling assure on a few of that 2027 cash. Campbell was due a $12.4 million possibility bonus in 2025; as of this writing, I’m not sure whether or not the Jaguars already paid that out, however I’ll at present grade this deal as if they’d.
Assuming that is the case, the Browns are shedding cash within the brief time period by exchanging Newsome’s remaining assured wage for a proration of Campbell’s $2 million wage plus per-game roster bonuses. However then they are going to be on the hook for Campbell’s $13.1 million subsequent yr and can set off an $8.9 million assure of his 2027 cash, per Roster Administration System, in the event that they preserve him. I discover this element crucial.
By my depend — I will confess to some late-night, back-of-the-napkin contract arithmetic — I feel the Browns would pay round $5.5 million extra for Campbell than Newsome in the event that they reduce Campbell after this yr. That quantity grows to round $15 million in the event that they preserve Campbell for 2026 however reduce him after that yr or round $22.5 million in the event that they preserve him via 2027 (with a pure group possibility on 2028).
If that is proper, then they’re basically betting that Campbell’s short-term play this yr will not carry ahead. It might value the Browns a couple of million in the event that they’re fallacious. It might save them fairly a couple of extra million in the event that they’re proper. I do not love committing extra assured cash mid-rebuild with a good medium-term cap state of affairs, however I see the place they’ll discover worth.
This solely is sensible for the Jaguars in the event that they consider Newsome is a right away improve. However is he? I do not suppose that was the consensus opinion heading into the season, and I am undecided the numbers recommend a change of coronary heart. Nonetheless, cornerback analysis is fraught with errors, so it is doable. And whereas they lose the long-term upside of Campbell’s deal, this can give them extra monetary flexibility within the 2026 offseason.
Chargers get: Edge Odafe Oweh, 2027 seventh-round decide (initially from Rams)
Ravens get: S Alohi Gilman, 2026 fifth-round decide
Chargers grade: B
Ravens grade: B
We have ourselves an intra-Harbaugh, player-for-player swap. And it is an attention-grabbing cross-positional defensive deal.
Let’s begin with the Chargers. Since (and maybe even earlier than) dropping Khalil Mack to an elbow harm in Week 2, the Chargers seemed like a group needing so as to add pass-rushing assist. With out Mack for now, the Chargers had been rolling with Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu at edge rusher. Each have been beneath common for the place up to now by way of go rush win fee (Tuipulotu at 14.9% and Dupree at 11.7% — common for this season is 16.3%).
Regardless of zero sacks this season, Oweh is an enchancment on this division. His go rush win fee at edge is 20%, which might be a profession excessive for him. Final season, Oweh recorded 10.0 sacks and a 16.5% go rush win fee. He’s taking part in on his fifth-year possibility, costing $13.25 million in wage this yr. The Chargers will presumably decide up the prorated portion of his deal for this season.
The Chargers lose a starter in Gilman, however they’ve veterans Tony Jefferson and Elijah Molden nonetheless on the roster together with Derwin James Jr., although he largely performs as a nickel. Gilman, like Oweh, is within the last yr of his (less expensive) contract.
Though Oweh hit double-digit sacks for the Ravens in 2024, he performed solely 45% of the defensive snaps this season. Baltimore has traditionally been extra prepared to half with edge rushers than most groups, and it has replacements already in place. Rookie second-rounder Mike Inexperienced and Tavius Robinson had been already taking part in the next share of snaps than Oweh, and Kyle Van Noy returned from a hamstring harm final week. Nevertheless, Robinson and Inexperienced are sporting simply 7.7% and 5.5% go rush win charges at edge, respectively. Van Noy is at 17% in a restricted pattern, however that is an edge speeding group that’s hardly overwhelming.
Gilman offers the Ravens a 3rd security (in addition they added C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the observe squad on Tuesday). That helps within the brief time period if Kyle Hamilton misses extra time, however security needs to be an asset for Baltimore as soon as Hamilton returns. The Ravens wish to play three safeties: Final season, they performed a mixture of Hamilton, Ar’Darius Washington and both Marcus Williams or Eddie Jackson for 290 snaps. With Washington injured, they have not had that kind of three-safety flexibility this season. Maybe they do now.
With each Oweh and Gilman impending free brokers, compensatory picks are an element price contemplating. If the Chargers and/or Ravens do not re-sign the gamers, they may every web a compensatory decide in return. That is doubtlessly extra helpful to the Chargers contemplating edge rushers receives a commission rather more than safeties, although the Chargers have a lot cap area subsequent yr they is perhaps spenders in free company (and thus not get any comp picks).
In the end, it is a uncommon player-for-player swap between two groups hoping to contend in 2025 (sure, the Ravens are nonetheless in that bucket) and opting to evenly subtract from one space of maybe gentle surplus to fill a better want. The Chargers added a participant at a extra impactful place however needed to pay in each draft capital and cap area to take action. Baltimore is rolling the cube, dropping Oweh so as to add some wrinkles to the again finish of its protection whereas gaining some draft and cap flexibility whereas at it.
I can see how this works from each side.
Bengals get: QB Joe Flacco, 2026 sixth-round decide
Browns get: 2026 fifth-round decide
Browns grade: B+
Bengals grade: C
Jake Browning pressured the Bengals’ hand. After his disastrous three-game stretch because the group’s starter within the wake of Joe Burrow’s turf toe harm, Cincinnati selected to commerce for Flacco to get one other QB possibility.
The Bengals are right to attempt to discover an alternate at this level. As excessive as I used to be on Browning — I referred to as him the second-best backup within the league just some weeks in the past — his 35.3 QBR this season has considerably altered what we must always consider him going ahead, even when these three video games got here in opposition to the Vikings, Broncos and Lions.
The Bengals haven’t any time to waste. Burrow might doubtlessly be again for the top of the common season and the playoffs, however Cincinnati should win sufficient video games in an effort to put that state of affairs in play. At 2-3 they are not out of it (particularly in a wide-open AFC North), however the clock is ticking. ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index gave the Bengals solely a 9.2% probability to make the playoffs with Browning at quarterback.
So the Bengals wanted to make a transfer, and so they did. However is that this the precise quarterback? That is the place I take situation with the commerce.
0:59
Ought to Ravens make a commerce earlier than the deadline?
Bart Scott joins “Get Up” to elucidate why the Ravens needs to be attempting to make a defensive acquisition forward of the NFL commerce deadline.
Flacco is coming off a failed stint because the Browns’ starter through which he recorded as disastrous 27.6 QBR, 4.6 yards per dropback and a 4.2% (!) turnover fee. And that got here taking part in for Kevin Stefanski, with whom Flacco had some stage of success with in 2023. At 40 years outdated, Flacco might merely be performed at this level. And contemplating his play this season, are we certain he is an improve?
For my part, Cincinnati’s first selection ought to have been Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins. When you’re asking somebody to steward the group to a .500ish report till Burrow can return, Cousins can in all probability try this higher than any quarterback who realistically may very well be obtainable. I might have been prepared to pay extra for him, too, contemplating the leverage and significance right here. However would the Falcons be prepared to commerce Cousins? For a way a lot? And are they prepared to commerce him now — this far forward of the deadline? The final query is vital, as a result of the Bengals had urgency.
However even when Cousins wasn’t obtainable, there have been different choices — particularly, one of many Giants’ backup quarterbacks. The Giants do not want Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston now that they’ve turned to Jaxson Dart. If I had been Cincinnati, I might fairly have both Wilson or Winston than Flacco. And I think the Giants would have taken this deal for one in all them.
That is discovered cash for the Browns — even when it is heavy pocket change. Cleveland is in full rebuild/evaluate-quarterback-play-for-the-future mode, so Flacco’s job as a bridge quarterback was performed. They will play Dillon Gabriel and/or Shedeur Sanders the remainder of the way in which. And there needs to be zero qualms about buying and selling Flacco inside the division. Whether or not the Bengals contend in 2025 does not have an effect on the Browns when it issues (2026 and past). If something, it is higher to take draft capital from a rival than anybody else.
Browns get: OT Cam Robinson, 2027 seventh-round decide
Texans get: 2027 sixth-round decide
Browns grade: A-
Texans grade: C
The Browns wanted assist at sort out and located an unlikely companion within the Texans — one other group with offensive line woes. Houston signed Robinson to a one-year, $12 million deal this offseason to shore up their left sort out place after buying and selling away Laremy Tunsil.
On the time, I used to be a fan of the deal. Although Robinson has lengthy been overrated with beneath common win charges, he had expertise (7½ seasons with the Jaguars and Vikings) and seemed higher than a alternative stage sort out. It turned out he might barely crack the beginning lineup. After beginning as Houston’s left sort out in Week 1, the group shifted rookie Aireontae Ersery to the left aspect in Week 2 and kicked Tytus Howard out to proper sort out.
It is a dangerous signal that Robinson could not begin in Houston. The group ranks twenty eighth in go block win fee this season, although Ersery has been first rate with an 89.0% go block win fee (common for a sort out). That is effectively above Robinson’s profession 82.9% PBWR. Ersery is beneath common in run block win fee (72.6%), however that is additionally higher than Robinson’s profession quantity (68.9%).
The Texans paid $8.75 million of Robinson’s $12 million 2025 contract by way of a signing bonus, so the Browns are solely on the hook for the proration of his $2 million base wage and $1.25 million in per-game roster bonuses, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He additionally has $500,000 in incentives.
Nonetheless, it is exceptional the Texans are reducing bait on a $12 million free company signing simply 4 video games into the season, notably as a result of a big chunk of it was the signing bonus. An additional $1.25 million was in per recreation roster bonuses, which means Houston could have already paid near 1 / 4 of that sum.
I am all for ignoring sunk prices, however Robinson nonetheless provided some worth as a backup at a key place of uncertainty. In trade for dropping him, the Texans solely received slightly cap reduction and minimal draft decide compensation at a time when Houston hopes to contend. With Robinson gone, Blake Fisher is the group’s clear No. 3 sort out.
It is simpler to see why the Browns made this transfer. The group simply misplaced left sort out Dawand Jones for the season to a knee harm. And outdoors of 16 snaps in Week 1, they’ve been with out proper sort out Jack Conklin as a consequence of an elbow harm. That has meant taking part in a mixture of Cornelius Lucas and KT Leveston at every sort out spot. The duo rank 61st and 57th, respectively, in go block win fee out of 66 qualifying tackles this season.
In Robinson, the Browns absolutely hope they’ve not less than a slight improve at left sort out. And so they did not have to surrender a lot in both draft decide or wage compensation to get him. Whereas Cleveland is clearly not a contender this season, they’ll profit from not less than first rate go safety as soon as they flip to at least one or each of their rookie quarterbacks. That makes a transfer like this price it.
Jets get: CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr., 2026 seventh-round decide
Titans get: 2026 sixth-round decide
Jets grade: A-
Titans grade: C
With free agent signing Brandon Stephens struggling and restricted depth behind him, the Jets waded again into the commerce marketplace for a younger cornerback with expertise.
Stephens, who was signed to a surprisingly costly three-year, $36 million deal this offseason regardless of having a poor season in Baltimore in 2024, has allowed 1.5 yards per protection snap so far this season, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, effectively above the 1.1 common for outdoor cornerbacks. So the Jets introduced in Brownlee, a 2024 fifth-round decide who has already began 16 video games and who brings first rate numbers.
Brownlee has allowed 1.0 yards per protection snap in his younger profession, barely higher than common. His 15% goal fee is roughly common, and his EPA allowed (+12.6) and completion share allowed over expectation (+2%) are constructive, although these stats are unstable and unreliable indicators of future efficiency. Brownlee has additionally graded very favorably in run stopping, in line with Professional Soccer Focus.
The second-year nook does get flagged fairly a bit, as he has recorded a penalty on 1.1% of his defensive snaps for the reason that starting of final season, seventeenth most amongst defensive backs with not less than 300 snaps. He has been penalized 3 times in two video games this season. However it’s not fully untenable, as his penalty fee lags behind outdated teammate L’Jarius Sneed (1.9%) and is barely behind new teammate Sauce Gardner (1.2%).
Brownlee has been successful story contemplating his draft place. Together with his expertise and practically three low cost years remaining on his rookie contract, I am shocked the Jets received him for thus little. At worst, he is a great depth possibility (my colleague Wealthy Cimini indicated Brownlee might present depth at nickel, as effectively) with each short- and long-term upside — particularly if Stephens continues to wrestle.
I do not get why the Titans would wish to deal Brownlee for thus little proper now. Rebuilding groups ought to acknowledge who they’re and deal veterans for draft capital — however that is not Brownlee! He’s a younger beginning nook who netted very, little or no in return.
Maybe the Titans received bored with Brownlee’s penalties, or perhaps there’s one other issue we aren’t seeing. Brownlee missed the Titans’ Week 3 recreation with an ankle harm, however that appears unlikely to be a serious consideration.
Both means, this transfer leaves the Titans with — in line with their new depth chart — Darrell Baker Jr. because the beginning outdoors cornerback reverse Sneed. Baker has made 15 begins in his profession and his nearest defender numbers are stable: a 1.1 yards per protection snap and a a lot decrease profession penalty fee (0.05%). However even when Tennessee felt good about Baker, Brownlee’s youth and remaining low cost contract meant they let loads stroll out the door for nearly nothing in trade.
Eagles get: RB Tank Bigsby
Jaguars get: 2026 fifth-round decide, 2026 sixth-round decide
Eagles grade: C-
Jaguars grade: A
Eagles normal supervisor Howie Roseman wins extra trades than anybody, however he does not win ’em all.
In Bigsby, the Eagles purchase a really stable runner. The 2023 third-round decide accrued a formidable 124 rush yards over expectation final season, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, after a disappointing rookie marketing campaign.
However that is all he’s, which is his draw back. Bigsby presents nearly nothing within the receiving recreation; he has solely eight profession receptions. He has go blocked on solely 33 snaps in his professional profession. And he evidently did not win the beginning job in Jacksonville this season regardless of not dealing with notably stiff competitors in Travis Etienne Jr. and fourth-round rookie Bhayshul Tuten.
This commerce makes it clear that the Eagles felt they wanted operating again depth behind Saquon Barkley. They’ve Will Shipley, who figures to be extra of a receiving complement and backup — very totally different from Bigsby. However my first response was, wow, that is loads for a backup at a nonpremium place who does not catch passes, particularly contemplating how a lot Philadelphia has already invested at operating again with Barkley. Even with Bigsby below management for one more rookie contract yr in 2026, it is a bit a lot for my liking.
Bigsby might additionally companion with Shipley on kick returns after having returned 11 kicks in his profession. It is a extra vital position now than earlier than given the precipitous drop in touchbacks, but it surely does not change that the Eagles gave up loads for Bigsby.
This can be a good outcome for Jacksonville, although. It appeared possible that one in all Etienne or Bigsby could be dealt after the addition of Tuten on this yr’s draft. That it occurred now could be an upset. However in trade for his or her second- or third-string operating again, the Jaguars are receiving a fifth- and sixth-round decide. That is nice worth, and it hardly leaves Jacksonville short-handed contemplating Bigsby did not begin.
