Zachary PerelesOct 26, 2026
Playing trade-deadline matchmaker, they pair nine contenders with specific trade targets: Jonathan Taylor to Minnesota, Saquon Barkley to Cincinnati, Jeffery Simmons to Buffalo, Adonai Mitchell to Kansas City, DeForest Buckner to Green Bay, Tariq Woolen to Detroit, Khalil Mack to Chicago, Daron Payne to San Francisco and Kevin Zeitler to New England.
Published in writing · CBS SportsRead the original
What Zachary Pereles said
The Vikings can't risk wasting their Super Bowl-caliber defense. Taylor is the solution.
- Where it was published
- CBS Sports
- The piece
- NFL trade deadline matchmaker: Vikings add Jonathan Taylor to boost offense, Chiefs nab WR
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
Box score, by kind
HitCloseMissWaiting| Group | Hits | Close | Misses | Waiting | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade and Signing Calls | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
| All | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
How each call scored
9 checkable claims — 9 trade and signing calls — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 18 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Trade and Signing Calls9 waitingShow ▸Hide ▾
Saquon Barkley to move to Cincinnati Bengals
“Cincinnati Bengals — The need: Running back. The solution: RB Saquon Barkley ... Barkley could be a similar spark.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Kevin Zeitler to move to New England Patriots
“New England Patriots — The need: Offensive line reinforcements. The solution: OL Kevin Zeitler”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Riq Woolen to move to Detroit Lions
“Detroit Lions — The need: Secondary help. The solution: CB Tariq Woolen”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Adonai Mitchell to move to Kansas City Chiefs
“Kansas City Chiefs — The need: Downfield passing. The solution: WR Adonai Mitchell”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Daron Payne to move to San Francisco 49ers
“San Francisco 49ers — The need: More push up front. The solution: DL Daron Payne ... There's a deal to be made here.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jeffery Simmons to move to Buffalo Bills
“Buffalo Bills — The need: Another disruptor up front. The solution: DL Jeffery Simmons”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Khalil Mack to move to Chicago Bears
“Chicago Bears — The need: Help up front. The solution: EDGE Khalil Mack ... The Chargers are obvious sellers, and Mack is still effective”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
DeForest Buckner to move to Green Bay Packers
“Green Bay Packers — The need: Interior defensive linemen. The solution: DL DeForest Buckner”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jonathan Taylor to move to Minnesota Vikings
“Minnesota Vikings — The need: Help on offense. The solution: RB Jonathan Taylor ... Taylor is the solution.”
—WaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Saquon Barkley, Cincinnati Bengals, Kevin Zeitler, New England Patriots, Riq Woolen, Detroit Lions, Adonai Mitchell, Kansas City Chiefs, Daron Payne, San Francisco 49ers, Jeffery Simmons, Buffalo Bills, Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears, DeForest Buckner, Green Bay Packers, Jonathan Taylor, Minnesota Vikings
Others on the same people
Chris Clark · Trade and Signing Calls · Nikko Remigio · Miss 0
Clark expects the Chiefs to bring back exclusive-rights receiver Nico (Remigio) and long snapper James Winchester, to re-sign JuJu Smith-Schuster as a cheap veteran fifth receiver, and not to bring back Hollywood Brown, Josh Dobbs-type depth, Gardner Minshew, Janarius Robinson or Mike Caliendo; they also say the Chiefs will not use a franchise tag and believes Bryan Cook won't return.Logan Lazarczyk · Trade and Signing Calls · Kirk Cousins · Hit 100
Ahead of the trade deadline, they float three Raiders moves: shipping Kirk Cousins to Minnesota if the Vikings offer a second-round pick, selling Maxx Crosby to Dallas for a first-rounder plus, and acquiring Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. for a second- or third-round pick.Charean Williams · Roster Spot Calls · Odell Beckham Jr. · Miss 0
Williams writes that after releasing Odell Beckham Jr. to open a roster spot for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings will bring them back on the practice squad.
More trade and signing calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Nate Gosney · Trade and Signing Calls · Daiyan Henley · Miss 0
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.Patricia Traina · Trade and Signing Calls · J.J. McCarthy · Hit 100
Traina expects defensive tackle to be a top need for the Giants in next year's draft, and suggests the Giants could trade J.J. McCarthy next offseason — or keep both them and Jaxson Dart if the return isn't good enough. They also expect Dart to make a full recovery.Michael David Smith · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Smith suggests the Colts are likely to grant Josh Downs' trade request given their contract situation and their recent sell-off, and that they could also try to trade Keenan Allen.Noah Compton · Trade and Signing Calls · Josh Downs · Hit 100
Compton expects the rebuilding Colts to keep dealing veterans before the November 10 deadline, naming Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs and Grover Stewart as the likeliest remaining trade candidates, and believes Indianapolis should and likely will move on from quarterback Daniel Jones, while Shane Steichen keeps starting Jones in the meantime.Mike Fanelli · Trade and Signing Calls · Keenan Allen · Hit 100
Fanelli suggested Keenan Allen may be dealt away from Indianapolis, with Week 9 potentially their final appearance for the Colts.