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Sam Robinson
1:02
Hey everyone, we have nearly two weeks left before the deadline and three big trades -- one REALLY big trade -- have gone down this week. Let's get started!
Roger
1:10
Sam, do you think there is any way Aaron Glenn is still coaching the Jets next year? The overall record and the stat about getting outscored by around 100 points in the last two minutes of halves are damning. They have real talent there and a bunch of first round picks next year so it would be nice if the GM could pick his own coach to work with the players. I don't think Glenn is the right guy. Thanks.
Sam Robinson
1:10
Hi Roger, I can see a way Glenn stays...but I don't expect him to. Woody Johnson strongly endorsed Glenn (while criticizing then-QB Justin Fields) around this time last year. Upon hiring Glenn and Darren Mougey, the owner labeled the GM the sidekick to the ex-Jets CB-turned-HC. It just isn't working out, however.

This will be a situation to monitor closely at the deadline. It's now in Glenn's best interests to keep the team as good as possible to add some wins, while it's in Mougey's -- in all likelihood -- to keep bolstering the 2027 draft arsenal. The next two weeks will be telling.

Glenn seeing Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams moved last year provided a good reason for futility, but you're right, this year's team added talent. The Jets do rank 13th defensively with Glenn calling plays -- that will be his top selling point -- but this setup doesn't look right. Not impossible Glenn convinces ownership of a long-term plan, but I'd bet against it right now.
RoxTalks
1:19
Both Taylor and the Colts have said they want him to stay in Indianapolis, but it’s in both of their best interests for him to be dealt right? He’s gonna be 28 in January and this team is very far from contention now.
Sam Robinson
1:19
RoxTalks, I think he should be dealt. But I'm not certain he will. Unlike Nelson and Buckner, Taylor just signed an extension. The Colts do not have much in the way of pillars after these trades, but after trading two firsts for Sauce Gardner, they could use more ammo to help the next GM.

This would be a sell-high move. As you mentioned, 28 in January and tied to what is -- for another team, at least -- a pay-as-you-go deal. Taylor's $15MM 2027 base salary vests February 19. Taylor is also healthy, after missing time from 2022-24 with various issues. An injury in the second half -- and not getting to use part of his age-27 season in a trade -- would hurt the value for Indy.

I suppose losing Taylor would diminish fan enthusiasm for this year's team significantly, but considering how long ownership gave Ballard, the long game outweighs that in the grand scheme. An overdue rebuild could use more assets.
Roosevelt
1:28
Hi Sam. If you were in Indy's position, what's the minimum you would take in a Taylor trade? I love the guy as a Colts fan but it's time to blow this whole thing up.
Sam Robinson
1:28
Hi Roosevelt, I think I agree with Jonathan Jones' recent report about a second and more. It cost the 49ers a 2/3/4/5 package for McCaffrey in 2022, and he was coming off two injury-marred seasons. McCaffrey is more valuable than Taylor and was signed through the 2025 season at the time. Taylor having more wear and tear limits the Colts a bit by comparison, but enough interest should be there they can ask for a 2.

The Colts memorably paid a first-round pick for Trent Richardson in 2013, but at the time, he was a second-year back chosen in the top three. The McCaffrey comp is closer to Taylor, but he shouldn't fetch as much as CMC did.

I don't know if I'd move on for a third/fifth- or even a third/fourth-like package. But the latter haul would make me think about it if that was the best offer. As mentioned above, the sell-high move is now. I'd do it for a second-rounder. The "and more" part wouldn't deter me, though an extra Day 3 pick would be a nice throw-in.
Titans rebuild
1:35
Is it the right move for the Titans to start over by trading Simmons for picks? Will Borgonzi actually get enough time to shape the roster the way he wants?
Sam Robinson
1:35
To answer the first question, yes, this was a can't-refuse offer. I'm a bit surprised the bidding got to that point. Simmons is the first DT to go for two firsts since Sean Gilbert in 1998, and that was a franchise tag compensation swap between Carolina and Washington. Monster haul for the Titans they had to accept for a player in an age-29 season.

The second part of your question is interesting. The Titans keep changing course. Adams Strunk fired Jon Robinson in December '22, Vrabel in January '24, Ran Carthon in January '25, and de facto front office boss Chad Brinker resigned this year. Callahan also got less than 1 1/2 seasons. With Borgonzi there before Saleh, it's fair to wonder if the instability will affect the current GM.

Ward staying on this path also wouldn't look good for Borgonzi, but I think this is a good trade for the seller. Borgonzi's Chiefs background should also help him at least have the 2027 draft to keep reshaping the team.
Unclemike1526
1:40
Think Poles is done? Or is there a DB move in the offing?
Sam Robinson
1:40
If you're unloading two firsts for a 29-year-old DT, you are all in. The Bears are down draft capital because of this, but with Williams on a rookie deal (with a record-setting extension likely prepared for 2027) now, I would not bet against Chicago adding again. That said, a midlevel trade would appear more likely after what Poles gave up today.
Inquiring Minds
1:50
Even though they have only 1 loss, (and that was against the defending champs in Seattle), the Chiefs showed a lot of familiar warts in that game.  Their offense, in particular OL and WR looks thin once again.  What kind of moves should be expected in the next two weeks?  Note:  I don't count an old and injured Tyreke Hill as a needle mover.  Thanks.
Sam Robinson
1:50
I agree here. Similar Chiefs problems surfaced with the Seahawks containing Walker. Based on the recent past -- trades for Toney, Hardman and Hopkins -- we have to assume a receiver move is coming. I know Andy Reid seemingly has carte blanche to add players with off-field issues, but that list is too long by now. I still hesitate on saying the Hill reunion won't happen, but seriously, that'd be too much.

The Chiefs going after Josh Downs or Brian Thomas Jr. would make sense; they are both on rookie deals, and KC is at barely $1.5MM in cap space. I expect a WR trade.

Keenan Allen or Diggs were available in the summer; I thought the Chiefs would have struck then. Allen is certainly available now. Would Diggs be in a Quinn hot-seat season that is now without McLaurin?

We have this era's most accomplished QB in an age-31 season, and he continues to look mortal compared to the stratospheric first five seasons. Mahomes shouldn't be absolved for regressing, but he could use another weapon
walterj23
1:53
What would it cost the Steelers  to trade for the Colts WR Downs ?
Sam Robinson
1:53
Hey walterj, the Saints got fourth- and fifth-rounders for Shaheed last year. I'd bet the Colts ask for something like that, though Shaheed's skillset is deemed more valuable than Downs'.

The latter also has not proven too much, but he has been attached to Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones primarily. I can see the Colts asking for a third but landing something like the Shaheed package. I wonder if a 5/6 would even do it for a rental (and exclusive negotiating rights before FA), but there should be a market that forces a fourth to enter the equation.
Oh Atlanta
2:00
Hi Sam, I asked something like this for the mailbag, but why not now? Does the Colts' firewall ake Daniel Jones possible trade bait, even if it's in the off-season?
Sam Robinson
2:00
We can stay on the Colts here. This is not a crazy suggestion. The Jones contract is light on 2026 base salary; an acquiring team would owe around $3MM. And the deal includes a partial guarantee vesting ($10.51MM) on Day 5 of next year. Like the Taylor contract, an acquiring team would have options post-2026.

Jones is not playing well, and the trade return would be modest. The cost for a team to acquire Jones in 2027 would probably be even less because a club would be buying his $33.49MM base salary -- barring an extension, which would be crazy (though Jones is a near-Cousins-level leverage maestro) -- rather than his above-referenced rental cost above.
Ghost of George Young
2:08
It's not quite midseason, but Tae Banks has thrived in Dennard Wilson's system.  Should he continue to play this well, what kind of extension are the Giants' pondering this offseason?  You can never have enough good CBs, and they have been thin at the position for quite some time...
Sam Robinson
2:08
Ghost of George Young, this would be a very risky move considering Banks' history. Being benched on multiple occasions and probably dangled in trades this offseason, the first-rounder suddenly has value again.

I'm not sure Banks is playing well enough the Giants would consider a franchise tag, but as you mentioned, CB is a high-value spot. The Panthers tagged Josh Norman in 2016 after his outlier contract year. Banks has not been Norman-in-2015 good, but him staying on this path could make him a fringe transition tag candidate.

Banks' first three years should create at worst a buy-medium opportunity for the Giants, as we just saw Nahshon Wright settle for $3.5MM after his out-of-nowhere Bears breakout. Banks would get much more, but would it be a one-year deal (like Woolen's $12MM) or a multiyear payday that checks in lower than Jaylon Johnson's post-breakout deal?

I'd lean closer to the Woolen reality, but Banks was a first-rounder. Really interesting situation here.
Howie the Iggle
2:15
Who is the best player that the Birds might deal before the deadline?  I have read some big names, but they seem more like offseason moves given the cap hits.
Sam Robinson
2:15
Howie, your innovative contracts just aren't the best to sell. The bigger A.J. Brown dead money portion is coming next year. That payment arc would happen with Barkley too, though not by as much, due to the Eagles' preferred contract structure.

I'd say Barkley or Dickerson, but this is Howie. Gotta watch out for everything. Moro Ojomo could be one to watch here, too.

The Eagles lost a talented DT in Williams last year, as money was being prioritized for the Carter and Davis payments. Could Ojomo be next out the door? If Philly knows it will lose him in FA after paying Carter and Davis, dangling him now makes sense.
TD-Machine
2:19
Which contender has the most work left to do before the trade deadline?
Sam Robinson
2:19
Hey TD-Machine, I'm gonna say Buffalo. The team really needs to maximize this season, with Josh Allen 30 (and possibly an old 30 due to his run-game workload). Defensive help is a must. The Chiefs' evergreen WR need qualifies, I suppose, as well. It's tough to see them getting by as is given Rice's regular issues with availability.

Detroit is in the same boat as Buffalo, needing more help there. But Branch and, eventually, Joseph represent internal solutions the Bills don't have.
With the Bears taking a big swing, the Vikings 6-0 and the Packers closer to having Parsons back, the Lions are a team to watch in the NFC.
Sam Robinson
2:20
Thanks for the questions, everyone. Big stretch we have coming up. When will the AFC dominoes begin to fall on the trade market? Have a good weekend!
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