The NFL trade deadline officially ends at 4 pm EST on November 10th, but some teams’ fire sales have already begun, especially in the AFC South. The last place Tennessee Titans traded All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears. Following the firing of their general manager, the Indianapolis Colts traded two All-Pros, guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, to the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, respectively.
NFL Trade Deadline Preview
The trade deadline is an opportunity for teams to capitalize on their current situation. Some teams are ready to compete for a Super Bowl and are looking to buy their missing piece. Other teams are off to a disappointing start and are looking to sell pieces for draft capital. Knowing when to buy and when to sell is one of the hardest decisions for a general manager. Sacrificing draft capital to buy can shorten Super Bowl windows, while waiting to sell can harm or delay inevitable rebuilds.
Last season’s deadline saw the Colts trade for Sauce Gardner and the Dallas Cowboys for Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson, just for both teams to miss the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks acquired Rashid Shaheed en route to their Super Bowl LX win over the New England Patriots. Trading for players is always a gamble, and in a league filled with upsets and uncertainty, it can cost franchises their shot at a championship.
The Los Angeles Chargers Need To Sell
Following the Miami Dolphins’ Week 7 win over the New York Jets, the Chargers were left as the only winless team in the NFL. Coming off an 11-6 season and playoff appearance a year ago, the expectations were for the team to take another step and see Justin Herbert finally win a playoff game. Following their disastrous start and tough remaining schedule, however, Los Angeles is all but certain to miss the playoffs entirely.
The Chargers are in an odd position, as their roster has several talented players, but the performance of the team suggests they are in need of a rebuild. Los Angeles should give up hope of competing this season, sell off older players on expiring contracts, and stock up on draft capital in an effort to be better next year. The 2027 draft is considered to be incredibly deep with talent, and more picks afford the team more opportunities to fill holes on their roster.
Given the expectations of the team, and the fact that head coach Jim Harbaugh is in danger of losing his job, there is a chance the Chargers elect to hold onto their players to try and salvage the season. To be more competitive in the long run, however, they need to be willing to capitalize on the assets they have so that they are not wasted. Los Angeles should actually be willing to worsen the team in an effort to secure the number one overall pick.
Chargers Deadline Strategy
The Chargers should be looking to trade players who are older or on an expiring contract, as they either won’t help the team long-term or could leave in free agency and be a lost asset. Edge rushers Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, and defensive backs Donte Jackson and Tony Jefferson are easy trade candidates. Given the age of these players, it is unlikely the Chargers would receive premium draft capital, but any picks in rounds 4-7 could help the team build long-term depth or take chances on project rookies.
To acquire better draft picks, the Chargers would need to decide to lean more into a rebuild. Safety Derwin James is much more valuable in a trade, but was just extended earlier this year and would incur a dead cap hit. Receiver Quentin Johnston has struggled with Los Angeles, but the former first-round pick is only 25 and may benefit from a change of scenery. Marvin Harrison Jr. was traded earlier this season by the Arizona Cardinals, who received a second-round pick for the former fourth overall selection.
Whether the Chargers decide to do a retooling or more of a rebuild, the important thing is that they do not stand pat. Barring perhaps the greatest in-season turnaround in the history of the NFL, they have no chance of making the playoffs, and letting their current assets go to waste accomplishes nothing but hurting the team long-term. Giving up on a season is a tough pill to swallow, but it is necessary to maximize future potential success.
