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Sam Robinson
3:31
Hey everyone, big NFL week. Had one of the most stunning deadline deals ever, to go with a high-end D-line trade. But several non-Jets moves were interesting too. Let's get started!
Edgerrin James Fan
3:34
Sam, put yourself in Chris Ballard's shoes. Would you have made the Sauce trade?
Sam Robinson
3:34
Very interesting decision. I do like the aggression the Colts are showing in going for it -- from the Ward and Bynum deals to now this -- this year, after settling into mediocrity essentially since Andrew Luck's retirement. But I do probably say I would have passed here.

The Daniel Jones component is unavoidable. The Colts, who already gave up first- and third-rounders for Carson Wentz four years ago (only to bail after one season), have bolstered Jones' leverage by losing their 2026-27 firsts. This marks a second time a team has strengthened Jones' bargaining position based on a small sample size, and Jones squeezed the Giants -- to the point Saquon Barkley was incorrectly deemed a lower priority -- in 2023.

Really interesting deal, and I like the prospect of Sauce traveling with the likes of Drake London, Nico Collins, Rashee Rice and Jaxon Smith-Njigba down the stretch. The cost is a bit too high, but Ballard's 2025 transformation has been fascinating
Special Sauce
3:34
When healthy, do the Colts have a top 3 secondary after the sauce trade?
Sam Robinson
3:40
Special Sauce (good work there), I would maybe stop short of top three. Have to have Denver and Houston up there when healthy, and Indianapolis ranking 26th against the pass (though, EPA/pass has the Colts 10th) prior to this trade does make it a slight stretch to call them top three. Though, this season has certainly been an adventure at boundary CB for the Colts

But with Moore still playing well and Ward starting his Indy tenure strong, there are not many secondaries I would take over this reformed group. Sauce will change this defense's coverage makeup, and he's far better than anyone Lou Anarumo worked with in Cincinnati.

Big possibilities here, even if there is considerable risk based on the Colts suddenly looking like they are in the multiyear Daniel Jones business
Alec
3:53
The Gardner trade looks win-win, as the Jets got a haul in what is clearly a long term rebuld. What about the Cowboys? They seem to be in a lost season, yet spending draft picks and money very aggressively. It doesn't make any sense.
Sam Robinson
3:53
Hi Alec, I agree for the most part here. The Williams trade seems a bit misplaced (with the higher of their 2027 firsts a prize for the Jets), and Dallas appears to be operating without a long-term plan. They extended Dak and Lamb only to trade their best player a year later. Now, after the Parsons trade (and Jerry Jones' run defense-based reasoning for it), they circle around to acquiring another D-lineman who is nearly two years older than the DL they traded?

Even with a quality offense, the Cowboys doing this at 3-5-1 is odd. It reminds of their 2018 trade for Amari Cooper. Though, that team turned around at 3-4. Now this roster has three $20MM-per-year DTs (after rostering zero in 2024). Quite the update.

Jones' transparency about being relevant this year has been eye-opening, even for him.
walterj23
3:59
Name the QBs that will go in the first round of next April's  draft .
Sam Robinson
3:59
Walter, as of now, the breakthroughs of Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore appear enough to carry them  to first-round status -- should they declare. I'll say Mendoza, Moore, LaNorris Sellers and Ty Simpson for now. Answer will probably change by Jan.-Feb., when these guys start being picked apart
Alec
4:08
Jones seems to be arguing that he's better off with two $20 million year defensive lineman, than one $40 million year superstar (not quite sure what position Parson plays, he gets around, the best description is probably edge). What do you think, Sam?
Sam Robinson
4:08
Alec, I can see the argument. I would have probably rather just tried to land Quinnen Williams in the Parsons trade and saved money -- three $20MM-AAV DTs is overkill after paying Odighizuwa and taking on Kenny Clark's money. The Cowboys tried to do that with the Jets once Jerry dug his heels in on Parsons (which was a mistake).

Dallas' edge rush is struggling (none of their starters have more than two sacks) and it is asking a lot for Williams to transform a run defense (29th in yards, 30th in EPA per rush) when Clark could not. Throwing a 2027 first-round pick -- in a first round supposedly teeming with top-end talent -- is a very risky move to try and circle back to run defense.

I'm obviously curious to see how this will look, but the situation may have gotten a bit off track with these two momentous D-line trades
Roger
4:27
What do you think happens with Pickens in the off season? Would he be disgruntled if franchise tagged?
Sam Robinson
4:27
Hi Roger, the tag being projected to cost just more than $28MM -- though, we won't know for sure until the 2026 cap settles -- would give a player a pretty good reason to stay in line. That has not exactly been Pickens' style, of course, so yeah I can definitely see him skipping summer work.

But a player who has been on a second-round contract for four years would seemingly be OK taking a near-$30MM payment. This tag is south of his market value for a guarantee, but Pickens said in May he was fine playing out his contract. He had to know, based on the Tee Higgins saga, a tag was firmly in play.

I do think the Cowboys will tag Pickens. A WR1-level talent the Steelers labeled unreliable is on pace to eclipse his career-best numbers, and Dallas is not shy about the tag, having used it six times since 2018.
Sam Robinson
4:43
Going to wrap up for today. Thank you for the questions, everyone. And thank you for supporting PFR with Trade Rumors Front Office subscriptions. We really appreciate it!
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