Overview
- On Saturday, Oct. 3, The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones named a six-player watchlist for the Nov. 10 trade deadline that singled out Alex Highsmith as the top name to monitor.
- The Steelers already moved starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. this week to the Dallas Cowboys, showing teams are willing to spend premium draft picks in midseason deals.
- Highsmith is signed through 2027 on a four-year, $68 million extension, and Pittsburgh’s depth at edge rush with T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig is a key reason he could be moved if the team falls out of contention.
- Other names Jones flagged include Giants edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr., Commanders DT Daron Payne, Colts DT Grover Stewart, and Browns WR Jerry Jeudy, each with contract or usage reasons that could prompt a trade.
- The market is quiet now but could heat up in late October as contenders weigh adding immediate help and sellers weigh contract timelines, team options and impending free-agent status ahead of Nov. 10.