The NFL trade deadline was 4 p.m. Tuesday. Here’s a rundown of all the wheeling and dealing that took place.
The 26-year-old Benjamin, Cam Newton’s top target in Carolina, has 32 catches for 475 yards and two touchdowns this year.
🚨 TRADE ALERT 🚨
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) October 31, 2017
We've agreed to acquire WR Kelvin Benjamin from the Panthers for our 2018 3rd and 7th round picks. #GoBills pic.twitter.com/wXqy4Ukr9b
Browns fail to trade for a quarterback
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Cleveland was in discussions with the Bengals about trading for Cincinnati backup quarterback AJ McCarron, but the deal wasn’t finalized before the 4 p.m. deadline.
Bengals and Browns thought they beat the clock on AJ McCarron trade. Clock beat them. Close but no deal.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017
Dolphins trade Jay Ajayi to the Eagles
The Dolphins traded running back Jay Ajayi to the Eagles for a fourth-round draft pick.
According to the Herald’s Barry Jackson, the Dolphins were not happy with the production they were getting out of Ajayi, who is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry one season after he averaged nearly five yards per rush and finished with 1,272 yards (he was the fourth player in NFL history with at least three 200-yard rushing games in one season). And if you take out his two 100-yard rushing games this season, Ajayi is averaging just 2.5 yards per carry (he also has yet to reach the end zone). But still, he accounted for 465 of Miami’s 535 rushing yards this season. Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake will pick up the slack.
Dolphins Coach Adam Gase hinted that changes were coming after Thursday’s embarrassing loss to the Ravens.
“I’m done compromising with anybody,” Gase said Friday. “I’ll do what I think is best, and those that want to come on board, great. Those that don’t, we’ll get rid of them.”
“Until our best players actually put forth some effort,” Gase said of the offense, “it’ll be [expletive].”
The Dolphins also apparently didn’t think Ajayi was all that sturdy, either.
Something to keep in mind about Ajayi trade: Dolphins don’t believe he has much left in his knees. Longer-term play. Something to watch for.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) October 31, 2017
To top it all off, the Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero reports that the team was turned off by Ajayi’s attitude this season.
“He complained bitterly about not getting the football. He stormed out of the locker room — get this, after wins — because he hadn’t gotten what he deemed to be enough carries. And, oh yes, he didn’t exactly light it up on the field,” Salguero wrote Wednesday.
The 7-1 Eagles already ranked fifth in the league in rushing at 129.2 yards per game, with LeGarrette Blount leading the way with 467 rushing yards at a 4.7-yards-per-carry clip. Ajayi will add to that and give Philadelphia better pass protection out of the backfield. With five running backs now on their roster, the Eagles probably will have to let one go. Blount or Corey Clement would be the best bets, though Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says Blount isn’t going anywhere.
NFL Leaders in rushing attempts inside the opponent's 5 yard line:
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) October 31, 2017
First (tied): Eagles - 12
Last: Dolphins - 0#JayAjayi
And the Dolphins might not be done yet
Salguero reports that another key piece of Miami’s offense might be on the move.
The Miami Dolphins may not be finished today. Jarvis Landry is available for the right compensation. Not giving him away though.
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) October 31, 2017
But ESPN’s Josina Anderson says don’t get your hopes up (the aforementioned Miami scribes also back that up):
Source: I'm told #Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry was informed this morning the team said they are not trading him. Hopefully word still matters.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 31, 2017
As @JosinaAnderson reported, I am also told that Landry was specifically told by Dolphins he won't be traded before today's deadline.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 31, 2017
Now being told Dolphins will not be trading Jarvis Landry today. Still fluid situation however.
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) October 31, 2017
Cowboys keeping their options open
With Ezekiel Elliott’s six-game suspension looking more likely than ever, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that the team could be looking for some help on offense moving forward.
Jerry Jones said the Cowboys are looking at ways to add firepower on offense in light of the Elliott suspension
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) October 31, 2017
#Cowboys are taking calls on RBs. While they seem like they want to stand pat, I wonder if they’d make a call on old friend Demarco Murray 🤔
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 31, 2017
Murray left the Cowboys via free agency after the 2014 season, when he rushed for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns. After a sub-par year with the Eagles, he rebounded with 1,287 rushing yards last year in Tennessee.
#Titans RB DeMarco Murray has "heard rumblings" he could be traded. Led NFL in rushing for #Cowboys in 2014. Zeke suspended. Hmmm.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) October 31, 2017
But Werder later said Murray won’t be heading back to Dallas.
If DeMarco Murray is traded, #Cowboys not likely involved. I'm told Cowboys trust 3 RB they have for duration of Zeke suspension
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) October 31, 2017
Redskins casting their nets for a wideout?
Washington’s top two receivers in terms of yardage this season are a running back (Chris Thompson) and a tight end (Vernon Davis). So perhaps it isn’t surprising that they Redskins reportedly are in the market for a wide receiver.
The Skins are calling around trying to land a wide receiver before the deadline
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 31, 2017
Martavis Bryant looks to be staying in Pittsburgh
The unhappy wideout was a healthy scratch for Sunday night’s game win over the Lions, but according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers aren’t willing to trade him.
“Sources say Steelers indicated to Martavis Bryant he’s part of Week 10 game plan, which would reinforce their public stance not to trade him,” Fowler wrote Tuesday. “Perhaps they get blown away by offer but a move doesn’t seem likely.
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