On prime of the flurry of large receiver trades that the NFL already has seen in latest weeks, there was yet one more within the making.
The Steelers have been within the means of attempting to get a deal achieved for Christian Kirk, and league sources informed ESPN there was an inexpensive likelihood that the Jaguars large receiver was going to wind up in Pittsburgh till he broke his collarbone final Sunday.
Pittsburgh’s hope of upgrading its receiving corps was derailed, a minimum of briefly. However the Steelers are usually not giving up, a league supply informed ESPN.
The Steelers have been making calls and checking on any and all accessible large receivers earlier than Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET commerce deadline, together with the Jets’ Mike Williams and the Panthers’ Adam Thielen, in keeping with league sources.
The Steelers will proceed pushing in an try to enhance by the deadline, however they’re removed from the one staff seeking to higher place themselves for the second half of the season.
• The Lions proceed making calls about move rushers, and have spoken to the Browns about former Professional Bowl defensive finish Za’Darius Smith, who already has performed within the NFC North for each the Packers and Vikings, in keeping with sources.
• The Falcons even have been aggressive about making move rush calls, and are anticipated to purse a possible deal for Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, in keeping with sources.
The shocking Cardinals, tied for first place within the NFC West getting into Sunday, are also exploring the acquisition of move rushers similar to Ojulari.
• One other move rusher who could possibly be accessible is Calais Campbell, whom the Dolphins have obtained inquiries about, in keeping with league sources.
If the Dolphins do not win Sunday in Buffalo, they could possibly be extra open to dealing Campbell to a contending staff, in keeping with sources.
• The Saints have gotten calls about Marshon Lattimore, in keeping with league sources. One of many potential holdups of a deal is Lattimore’s well being, sources mentioned.
The four-time Professional Bowl cornerback will not be taking part in Sunday in opposition to the Panthers, however it hasn’t stopped groups from calling about him, together with the two-time defending champion Chiefs.
• The Chiefs have already got traded for DeAndre Hopkins and Joshua Uche, however some sources across the league consider that whether or not it is Lattimore or one other participant, Kansas Metropolis may push to make one other transfer.
The Chiefs host the Buccaneers on “Monday Evening Soccer” and are ready to behave shortly with the commerce deadline coming hours after their sport.
• One staff that might proceed buying and selling gamers is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have already got traded defensive tackler Roy Robertson-Harris to the Seahawks and offensive sort out Cam Robinson to the Vikings, along with engaged on a possible commerce for Kirk.
The Jaguars will proceed fielding calls and entertaining affords, and different gamers who may draw curiosity embrace five-time Professional-Bowl guard Brandon Scherff.
• The massive commerce this week concerned the Carolina Panthers sending large receiver Diontae Johnson to the Ravens. Johnson will make his Baltimore debut Sunday in opposition to the Broncos, however because it seems, he already feels proper at residence with fellow Ravens large receiver Nelson Agholor.
Each Agholor and Johnson are from Tampa, Florida, and have been shut for years. Although they’re three years aside in age, with Agholor being 31 and Johnson 28, the receivers obtained to know one another by means of youth sports activities throughout their teenage years and went to excessive colleges on reverse sides of city.
Since then, they’ve remained shut and practice collectively within the offseason. After Johnson was traded to Baltimore this week, he even stayed at Agholor’s home.
Now the Ravens, Chiefs, Falcons, Cardinals and others might be trying so as to add extra gamers by Tuesday’s deadline. What occurs in Sunday’s video games additionally may assist affect who’s shopping for and who’s promoting, however there may be anticipated to be one last flurry of strikes forward of the deadline.
