Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Add The Comeback as a preferred source on Google
Add The Comeback as a preferred source on Google
The 2026 NFL trade deadline arrives on Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET. Here, we identify five teams that need to be realistic about their situation and sell ahead of the deadline.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals recently traded Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens, but just a few days after moving him from starting quarterback to third-string quarterback behind Gardner Minshew III and Carson Beck.
Arizona shouldn’t stop there.
Josh Sweat is one of the hottest names on the trade market, with the Dallas Cowboys (who would be on this list if they didn’t play in the NFC East) rumored to be one of his suitors. The Cardinals should be able to get back strong draft capital, led by as high as a second-round pick (at least third-round value), in a trade for the edge rusher who had 12 sacks and four forced fumbles last season.
Eight-time Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker and two-time Pro Bowl running back James Conner are other names that should draw trade interest.
The Cardinals, 3-5, are coming off a stunning comeback road win at Dallas and have looked better than expected in Mike LaFleur’s first year as head coach. But this team is still a long way from contention, while being in an absolutely loaded NFC West division. They should zoom out, think long-term, and add all the draft capital that they can.
New Explosive Details on Aikman-Buck Rift Plus What's Next In Sports Podcasting?
The rift between Troy Aikman and Joe Buck is realer than we ever knew, and dates back to the early days of their time at ESPN. We break down a new report at The Athletic about the longtime NFL broadcast partners and where it went wrong. Plus, Brandon Contes shares his insights from some of his recent interviews with the biggest stars in sports podcasting including Bomani Jones, Emmanuel Acho and Mike Ryan Ruiz. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 0:00 Intro 1:15 New Aikman vs Buck report 18:10 Ernie Johnson's replacement 21:54 Who is the most powerful person in sports podcasting? 24:55 Brandon weighs in on Sports Media Influence Olympics 27:20 Reaction to Mike Ryan interview 32:00 Reaction to Emmanuel Acho interview 41:03 Reaction to Bomani Jones interview Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful\_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful\_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dave Portnoy and Barstool are OUT at Fox's "Big Noon Kickoff" college football pregame show, a month into their second season together. What really happened here, what does it mean for Barstool's FS1 show, and what can the move tell us about the state of college football coverage? It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 0:55 Big Noon ditches Barstool 22:42 Why Fox's response to McAfee didn't work 29:03 Will 'Wake Up Barstool' continue? 35:30 Jason Kelce great first impression calling game 38:19 Fox #2 MLB booth needs an overhaul Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful\_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful\_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tony Romo and CBS Sports parted ways Friday, leaving the polarizing NFL analyst free to seek out his next job. Plus, the Portland Trail Blazers stepped in it again by firing their 29-year-old new TV announcer over old tweets from when he was in high school. Then a deep dive into the Big Ten vs the SEC in viewership, popularity, and television product quality as College Football Playoff expansion comes back into focus. Awful Announcing boss Ben Koo joins. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! 1:26 Romo out, what's next?13:38 Blazers' blunder25:43 SEC vs Big TenListen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-play-by-play/id1763654809 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4HaEA8ssc7LpPoJ8pKT1hk Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful\_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful\_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Adam Schefter Stops Halfway with Cardinals Trade Scoop; Is CFB Media Getting Off the Arch Manning Rollercoaster?
Adam Schefter reported Marvin Harrison Jr. was on his way out of Arizona, but failed to report where he was going, opening another can of worms for the maligned ESPN NFL insider. It's also time for Stock Watch Stock Watch on the Arch Manning experience at Texas, after another late-game collapse and more questions about whether he was coronated too soon. It's The Play-By-Play LIVE! Awful Announcing on X: https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awfulannouncing Awful Announcing on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awful\_announcing/ Awful Announcing on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@awful\_announcing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Baltimore Ravens
This one might come as a surprise, but this is just the reality of where the Ravens are at now.
Lamar Jackson might be done for the season after undergoing surgery on his right thumb, and Tyler Huntley is definitely out for the season with a turf toe injury. Brissett does give the Ravens a competent quarterback option, and certainly better than undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano, who started in Baltimore’s 33-10 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.
But the Ravens are now 4-5, and they’ll likely need to go at least 6-2 to get into the postseason. It’s really, really hard to see that happening, even if Jackson were to return for a game or two. The ESPN Football Power Index currently has the Ravens’ playoff odds at just 3.3 percent.
Several contenders would likely be thrilled to add Derrick Henry, for example, and the Ravens would be wise to consider cashing in on a running back who turns 33 in January.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts recently traded two stars: guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
So, they’ve definitively already been on the sell side, but there’s been talk that they might not trade running back Jonathan Taylor, or that they’ll only do so for a package led by a first-round pick.
In the end, the Colts need to trade Taylor for the best return that they can get.
Taylor turns 28 in January, and the Colts won’t be contending for titles soon. Aging running backs on NFL teams going nowhere are like closers on bad baseball teams.
It’s hard to trade the most popular player on the team, but tough decisions need to be made in order to make the big-picture leap and go all the way with this rebuild. That’s especially the case for an organization that already lacks a first-round pick in 2027 and needs to accumulate all the premium draft capital that they possibly can.
Indianapolis also needs to deal wide receiver Josh Downs, who has already reportedly requested a trade.
Los Angeles Chargers
The most disappointing team in football might also be the one in most denial. There have been reports over the last few weeks that the Chargers aren’t willing to trade players such as 35-year-old edge rusher Khalil Mack, and are instead focused on trying to win games.
“The Chargers have given no indication that they’re willing to trade anybody” ~ @AdamSchefter
#PMSLive https://t.co/Ar9sn2jbp0
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 2, 2026
Los Angeles entered the season with high hopes, but 0-7 is 0-7. The sooner Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers face reality, the better.
It’s time to think about 2027 and beyond for the Chargers.
Philadelphia Eagles
Another team that had big expectations but has already seen the season derailed.
Sure, in the NFC East, anything is possible. But the Eagles are in last place at 2-6 and have lost six straight games. Additionally, Jalen Hurts is done for the season due to blood clots in his lungs. Tanner McKee failed at quarterback in place of Hurts, and now the Eagles are turning to Joe Milton. It’s bleak.
Philadelphia has several players who would interest contenders ahead of the deadline, including defensive tackle Moro Ojomo, cornerback Riq Woolen, and tight end Dallas Goedert.
Howie Roseman and the Eagles should look to collect draft capital now and improve their big-picture outlook, while still having the opportunity to return to contention in what should be a wide-open division in 2027.
Taylor Swift at the New York Knicks Game 4.
Taylor Swift at the New York Knicks Game 4.