NFL Trade Targets: Brian Thomas Jr. And Budda Baker Spark Buzz As The November 10 Deadline Nears

Brian Thomas Jr., Budda Baker and Derwin James could be on the move© Image via: X/@NFL_DovKleiman

The clock is ticking in the NFL, and general managers know it. On Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET, the 2026 trade window slams shut, and it will not reopen until the new league year starts on March 11, 2027. Contenders want help now. Struggling teams hold veterans they may never re-sign. That mix sets up a tense stretch. Players like Budda Baker, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Thomas Jr. already sit near the top of every shopping list. Here is who could move, why money shapes every deal, and which fits make real sense.

Why Money Decides Every NFL Trade Deadline 2026 Deal Involving Budda Baker And The Arizona Cardinals

When a team trades for a player, it takes on only the rest of his prorated salary for this season. The old team keeps the guaranteed money and signing bonus proration as dead cap. That split explains why some stars move easily and others stay put.

Take Baker. The Arizona Cardinals safety carries a $19.2 million cap hit. A trade would leave Arizona with $8.6 million in dead money, while his new team would absorb about $10.6 million. Painful, but workable for a club already out of the playoff race.

Now look at Daron Payne of the Washington Commanders. His $27.95 million hit and $15.8 million in dead cap make a deal far harder to swallow.

Would YOU be interested in the Bills trading for S Budda Baker?  #BillsMafia https://t.co/ExfeemmC6L

— Bills Roundtable  (@BillsRoundtable) October 15, 2026

Veterans like A.J. Epenesa of the Philadelphia Eagles cost a new team under $900,000. Expect those quiet moves to happen first. Teams can only trade picks from the 2027 and 2028 drafts, so every offer will look similar. The cap math decides who wins the haggling.

Which Trade Fits Make Sense For Brian Thomas Jr., Derwin James And Jonathan Taylor

Brian Thomas Jr. has slipped down the depth chart with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The New York Giants badly need a second receiver behind Malik Nabers, and their receivers coach, Chad Hall, worked with Thomas during his Pro Bowl rookie year in 2024. That is a rare shortcut to trust.

Derwin James offers another strong match. The Los Angeles Chargers are struggling, and the Dallas Cowboys keep giving up big plays. Cowboys defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley coached James with the Chargers, so the fit needs no introduction.

Then comes the bolder idea. Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts would give the Chicago Bears a powerful partner for quarterback Caleb Williams. Bears offensive coordinator Press Taylor knows him from his 1,800-yard season in 2021.

None of these deals is done. Still, with asking prices set to fall as the deadline nears, patient buyers may get the best bargains.