NFC North Trade Deadline Preview: Possible New Homes for Jadeveon Clowney, Budda Baker, Maurice Hurst and More
The NFC's North division currently has every team with a winning record. All four could be looking to improve before the trade deadline.
It seemed like any of the four teams in the NFC North could make the playoffs this year without shocking too many people. It’s no surprise, then, that each has a winning record through eight weeks.
There are plenty of “what ifs” we could run through, but we won’t know too much until the next 10 weeks actually play out. A few bounces of the football might decide who wins the division and who misses the playoffs if these teams remain so tightly packed.
With the trade deadline coming November 5, each of these four teams has a reason to add players with the hope of pushing them over the top or filling a hole brought on by injury. The moves have already started (with the aggressive Vikings adding a new left tackle) and might run right up to the deadline hour.
Let’s go through each team in the NFC North and look at where they stand, an area they could possibly upgrade, and a trade target who might be available. Teams are listed in order of their standing heading into Week 9.
Detroit Lions (6-1)
The Lions have taken clear steps over several seasons from rebuilding team to fun upstart to clear contender. They were ahead by 17 points in the second half of the NFC Championship Game last year. A Super Bowl win would be a 0% surprise.
All the Lions can do is fortify the roster and hope for no more big injuries. The loss of Aidan Hutchinson was huge, and it will take more than one player to fill his void. Seeing one of their offensive stars, like receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, go down for the season would be devastating.
Position to Upgrade: Pass Rusher
Let’s focus on that hole left by Hutchinson. Acquiring a player with an expiring contract would help keep the books clean since Hutchinson will return next year. No one ever had enough pass rushers, though, so even a guy who might be around for another year or two would be a reasonable add.
They are only 13th in pass rush win rate and 19th in run stop win rate, according to ESPN, so there is an opportunity to upgrade on the defensive line in several ways. (Those ESPN offensive and defensive line metrics will be referenced often throughout this article.)
Possible Target: Azeez Ojulari, New York Giants
Why not take a trip down the list of sack leaders to see if anyone stands out? Ojulari has six sacks (tied for 10th) and is in the last year of his rookie contract with the Giants. New York has invested heavily in Brian Burns (trade and huge contract extension) and Kayvon Thibodeaux (fifth overall pick), and they probably aren’t looking to dish out more for Ojulari to be the third guy.
Thibodeaux could return from the IR as soon as next week, making Ojulari somewhat expendable after Week 9. Any team looking for a pass rush boost (i.e. everyone) is surely interested in the Giants’ pending free agent at the right cost, which could be a mid-round pick.
Green Bay Packers (6-2)
Despite Jordan Love missing a few games, the Packers have been rolling right along. They lost by five to the Eagles and by two to the Vikings; Green Bay is just fine. It’s about maximizing their upside for the Pack, as they already have a base level of talent across most of the roster.
Area to Upgrade: The Lines
This could be offensive or defensive. From the ESPN line metrics:
- Green Bay offensive line: 17th in pass blocking and 24th in run blocking
- Green Bay defensive line: 30th in pass rushing and 20th in run stopping
That’s just not good enough on either side for a team with real Super Bowl aspirations. The Packers have a reputation as a team that likes holding onto its draft picks and develop players from within, and that’s the most likely outcome.
If they want to beef up in the trenches before getting deep in the season, though, their only path forward might be to bring in outside help; they could do it at very little cost if so inclined.
Possible Targets: Cleveland Browns’ and Las Vegas Raiders’ Defensive Linemen
That’s vague. So are the ways Green Bay could improve. These teams are both essentially out of the playoff race and have top-10 defensive lines. Cleveland is third in pass rushing and first in run stop, while Vegas is fifth and seventh, respectively.
These teams shouldn’t just dump valuable players, but each has veterans on expiring contracts who won’t do much good on a floundering team. There are defensive tackles around 30 years old who would only cost a late-round pick swap:
- Browns: DTs Maurice Hurst and Quinton Jefferson
- Raiders: DTs John Jenkins and Adam Butler
Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris, and Za'Darius Smith are other veterans in Cleveland who have had success in the past, though some of the contracts could be tough to work around. There are two big-time players who would be much more fun.
Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett are two of the best pass rushers in football. They’re perennial Pro Bowlers and maybe the best players on their respective teams. They also represent the biggest splash a contender could make.
It would cost two first-round picks and more, but both players would be around for multiple years and would fit nicely into Green Bay’s competitive window. Making small tweaks (or nothing at all) is the most likely outcome, but the Pack could become division favorites with a huge move.
Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
The Vikes were 5-0 and looked to be cruising to the playoffs. They’re still in a good position, but zero losses sound a lot better than two losses. Minnesota had a margin for error before, and they have seen a lot of that dissipate over two weeks.
The next three weeks are a reprieve before finishing with seven straight games against NFC playoff hopefuls. Minnesota faces the Colts, Jaguars, and Titans before traveling to Chicago on Thanksgiving; the Cardinals, Falcons, Bears, Seahawks, Packers, and Lions follow.
The Vikings are going to have to earn it if they want to make the playoffs. They already beat the 49ers, Texans, and Packers, but the NFL never stops. Minnesota could still use upgrades.
Left tackle suddenly became a big hole when Christian Darrisaw was lost for the season, and the team made a quick move to add Cam Robinson from Jacksonville.
Player to Add: An Impact Player
The Vikings have a solid roster, and it’s hard to find holes. They could make small moves at every position and could probably use another defensive back, though their D has been the strongest unit.
More than anything, Minnesota could help their ceiling by adding a guy who can make a major impact in the playoffs. That can be an offensive or defensive playmaker; wherever the team finds value.
Possible Target: Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
Insert any big name here, like Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett, et al. I mentioned the defensive backfield, so how about a Pro Bowler in Baker. The veteran safety is a free agent after the season and could be spared if the Cardinals are willing to favor future value to their current playoff odds.
That will be a sticking point, as Arizona is tied for the division lead at 4-4 and has a winnable game against the Bears this week. If they lose, and Minnesota is willing to pay up, the Vikes might be able to add a great player to a great defense.
An offensive playmaker like Tee Higgins or Nick Chubb is a fun idea too, but Minnesota is more likely to add at less flashy positions.
Chicago Bears (4-3)
That Hail Mary at the end of Week 8 may change Chicago’s whole season. They were going to be 5-2, just one game behind the division leader. Instead, a bounce of the football put them at the bottom of the division and two games behind Detroit with all six of their division games still to play.
Week 9 could inform Chicago’s deadline choices, with a win giving them more faith in adding while a loss would put them at 4-4 and maybe more likely to sell, or at least not trade away future assets.
The Bears have been active at past deadlines, most notably picking up Chase Claypool then Montez Sweat, both for second-round picks. A player who can help in future seasons might be the most likely target.
Area to Upgrade: Run Defense
It’s hard to find a spot for the Bears to seriously upgrade, especially at this point in the season. They filled out the roster with veterans in the offseason and added two top-10 picks. They’re not among the best teams, but there’s also not a huge hole anywhere.
Adding a big-time star would be fun, but it’s unrealistic. A longer-term guy like Sweat would follow their recent trend. There is a guy who could be a short-term rental or stick around through 2025, as his contract allows for flexibility for an acquiring team.
Possible Target: Jadeveon Clowney, Carolina Panthers
Clowney is ranked as the top run-stopping edge defender by ESPN’s metrics. He can also help against the pass, as Clowney has had four seasons with at least nine sacks. Chicago is second in pass rush win rate and 21st in run stop win rate, so they could use his run defense more, but no team ever had too many pass rushers.
Carolina might be the worse team in the league; they could use a mid- to late-round draft pick more than a player who will turn 32 near the Super Bowl. For the Bears, it would be a chance to address the weakest spot on a good defense and maybe upgrade the team next season as well.
