2021 NFL Trade Block Big Board Entering Week 4

Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season featured another thrilling slate of games. The Las Vegas Raiders won in overtime, Justin Herbert outdueled Patrick Mahomes, and Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker set a new NFL record with his game-winning 66-yard field goal against the Detroit Lions.

Unfortunately, Week 3 also featured its fair share of injuries and exposed issues. Christian McCaffrey, A.J. Brown and Jaycee Horn were among the notable players to exit with injuries. Units like the Chicago Bears offensive line and the San Francisco 49ers secondary were left with more questions than answers, too.

The Week 3 fallout—and Horn's injury—sparked one notable trade. On Monday, the Jacksonville Jaguars sent cornerback C.J. Henderson and a fifth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a third-rounder and tight end Dan Arnold.

More trades could be on the horizon as teams look to plug holes and replace injured players.

Fortunately, the NFL's trade market will remain open until Nov. 2. Each week until then, we'll examine the NFL's top 10 trade targets based on each team's on-field and salary-cap situations, players' roles, any relevant trade buzz and common sense.

To reach our top 10, we've gathered 15 players who are likely to be on the trade block based on prior reports and logic.

With a Henderson deal done, Chicago Bears wideout Allen Robinson II takes over his vacated spot. While there has been no indication that Chicago is actively shopping Robinson, a move would make sense.

The Bears' 26-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday showed that this team isn't close to contention. Moving Robinson, who is playing on the franchise tag, before the deadline would at least earn Chicago something in return.

Las Vegas Raiders pass-rusher Clelin Ferrell also joins the list. The 2019 first-round pick has played only 15 percent of the team's defensive snaps this season and thus appears expendable.

Coming off the list is Philadelphia Eagles running back Jordan Howard. We floated the idea of Philadelphia signing Howard to the active roster and then trading him back in Week 2. However, Howard has yet to appear in a game, and with Marlon Mack officially hitting the trade block—more on that to come—his value is pretty much nonexistent.

The updated list is as follows, in no particular order:

• N'Keal Harry, WR, New England Patriots
• Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
• Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots
• Jaylon Smith, LB, Dallas Cowboys
• Cameron Dantzler, CB, Minnesota Vikings
• O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Clelin Ferrell, Edge, Las Vegas Raiders
• Andre Dillard, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
• James Washington, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints
• Allen Robinson II, WR, Chicago Bears
• Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts
• Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, G, Kansas City Chiefs
• Trevor Siemian, QB, New Orleans Saints
• Nick Foles, QB, Chicago Bears

Eagles offensive tackle Andre Dillard made his fifth NFL start Monday against the Dallas Cowboys, as left tackle Jordan Mailata missed the game with a knee sprain.

The uncertainty surrounding Mailata causes Dillard to drop on our board. With guard Brandon Brooks dealing with a pectoral injury and guard Isaac Seumalo out for the year with a foot injury, the Eagles likely won't be quick to move their temporarily starter at left tackle.

Still, Dillard doesn't appear to have a place in the Eagles' long-term plans after they gave Mailata a four-year, $64 million extension earlier this month. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported before the season that Philadelphia was "taking calls" about trading offensive linemen, and Dilliard would be an obvious trade chip whenever Mailata is healthy.

While the 2019 first-round pick hasn't lived up to expectations, he does carry the allure of an unproven, high-upside player. There should be a team or two willing to take a flier on the Washington State product if the Eagles are willing to move him.

And the Eagles should be willing to move Dillard once they have fewer injury concerns along their offensive line. Moving him for an interior lineman would make a ton of sense at this point.

Tight end O.J. Howard remains an afterthought in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense.

On Sunday, he had only one target and one reception for 11 yards. This has been par for the course for Howard, who has played only 15 percent of the Bucs' offensive snaps.

Howard continues to trail fellow tight ends Rob Gronkowski (76 percent) and Cameron Brate (36 percent) in the snap count.

While Gronkowski did suffer a rib injury against the Los Angeles Rams, the X-rays were negative and he is expected to play in Week 4, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Therefore, Howard remains at the edge of our big board.

The Bucs might want to keep Howard around for insurance purposes in case Gronkowski's injury winds up limiting him. But if Gronkowski and Brate remain healthy, tight-end-needy teams should have a shot at acquiring the 2017 first-round pick.

We haven't seen much of Las Vegas Raiders edge-rusher Clelin Ferrell this season. The 2019 No. 4 overall pick has fallen far on the depth chart, playing only 31 snaps in two games.

Ferrell was a healthy scratch in Week 1, and he hasn't played on special teams, either.

While the Raiders boast a much-improved defense this season—it ranks 14th overall after ranking 25th in 2020—Ferrell hasn't been a huge part of the turnaround. He's about expendable as any player on the roster and could draw interest as a recent top-five selection.

However, Ferrell doesn't have a ton of production on his resume. He has only 6.5 career sacks, although he did have 21 pressures in 2020. He'd otherwise be even more desirable, as pass-rushers usually are.

A team seeking pass-rushing help should look to take a flier on Ferrell. For the right offer, Las Vegas is likely to listen.

New Orleans Saints wideout Michael Thomas maintains his spot near the back end of the top 10. There are both pros and cons to dealing the perennial Pro Bowler, and it's difficult to significantly raise or lower his ranking until two things become clearer.

For one, Thomas needs to get healthy and prove that he is the same pass-catcher he was before last year's injury- and drama-filled campaign. Additionally, the Saints need to figure out whether they're legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

The Saints have two decisive wins and one blowout loss on their resume thus far. If they start stringing together wins, it would make sense to keep Thomas for one more run. But if they continue to play inconsistently, moving him would make sense.

Thomas is set to carry a $24.7 million cap hit next season, which is problematic if New Orleans is forced to begin rebuilding. It could also be an issue if Jameis Winston proves to be the long-term answer at quarterback and earns himself a huge contract.

If Thomas gets healthy and becomes available, no player would be likely to generate more interest on the trade market.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian is not necessarily an ideal trade option for quarterback-needy teams. While he does have a 13-12 record as a starter, he's made only one start since 2017.

Still, quarterback injuries are already prevalent this season. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tua Tagovailoa, Carson Wentz, Andy Dalton and Tyrod Taylor have each missed time.

If teams come calling about Siemian, he can likely be had for the right price. The Saints are still feeling out starter Jameis Winston, but they also have utility man Taysom Hill and rookie Ian Book on their roster.

Siemian is an experienced backup, but he doesn't have any long-term role with the franchise. Book, a fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame, can be groomed to be the permanent understudy.

Having four quarterbacks on the roster is a luxury that the Saints don't need. Unless Winston or Hill get hurt, Siemian should be available before the deadline.

Pittsburgh Steelers wideout James Washington requested a trade in August, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, and he was an afterthought during the first two weeks of the season. However, Diontae Johnson's knee injury opened the door for him to carve out a bigger role in Week 3.

Against the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington started and caught three passes on five targets for 20 yards. He played 80 percent of the Steelers' offensive snaps, by far his highest percentage of the season.

While the increase in playing time may temporarily sate Washington's desire to be on the field, it shouldn't affect his availability. If he's open to being traded, now is the time for Pittsburgh to make a move.

The Steelers showed Sunday that they're no longer the dominant team in the AFC North. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looked washed during the 24-10 loss to Cincinnati, and the defense couldn't control the game.

If Pittsburgh isn't going to be a contender in 2021, it only makes sense to get something in return for Washington, who is in the final year of his rookie contract.

Chicago Bears quarterback Nick Foles continues to slide down our board because his availability is now in question.

The Bears were open to moving Foles—and giving him a say in trade talks—at the start of the season, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. However, starting quarterback Andy Dalton (knee) was injured in Week 2, while rookie Justin Fields had a putrid performance (6-of-20 for 68 yards) in Week 3.

Now, Foles might be in the mix to start.

"They're all three under consideration right now," head coach Matt Nagy said of his quarterbacks, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

Given their serious issues along the offensive line—Fields was sacked nine times in Week 3—the Bears might need to keep Foles just to field a healthy quarterback each week.

But if Dalton and Fields (hand) get healthy, Foles will become the best quarterback option on the trade market. He has 55 regular-season starts and a Super Bowl MVP on his resume.

If there was any evidence that the Chicago Bears were looking to trade Robinson, he would be at the top of our list. He's one of the league's best receivers and is coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.

Robinson hasn't been able to overcome some shaky quarterback play this season, though. He has only 10 receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown through Week 3.

A change of scenery would do him good, and Chicago should be looking to get something in return for him while it can.

With Robinson playing on the franchise tag, there's a good chance he'll leave in free agency this offseason. There's little reason to keep him until then unless the Bears feel that they can contend.

After producing only 47 total yards of offense in Week 3, Chicago shouldn't even entertain the idea of a playoff run.

Robinson is the Bears' biggest trade chip, and unless there's a significant reversal of fortune in the Windy City, they should be happy to move him before the deadline.

With Nick Foles falling, Indianapolis Colts running back Marlon Mack takes over at the No. 2 spot on our board. He was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2019 and compiled 1,011 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns in 2018, but he continues to have no place in the Colts offense.

Mack was a healthy scratch in Week 3 and has appeared in only one game this season. He didn't play a single snap in Week 1 and had only five carries for 16 yards in Week 2.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Mack didn't play this past Sunday because the Colts are looking to trade him.

Even with quarterback Carson Wentz hobbled by sprains in both ankles, the Colts aren't leaning on the ground game to the extent that they need Mack. With Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins also on the roster, Mack's only role right now is insurance in case of injuries.

However, running-back-needy teams should be high on Mack. He's now more than a year removed from the torn Achilles that ended his 2020 campaign, and he's proved to be a workhorse ball-carrier in the past.

New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore remains in our top spot, even though he's still on injured reserve with a quad injury. He was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and is one of the league's top pass-defenders when healthy.

Gilmore also appears to be readily available.

The Patriots were "still open to the idea of trading" him entering the season, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com recently reported that the Saints were close to making a deal for Gilmore.

"They were very interested in him. I know they made calls on him," Duncan said on WEEI's Merloni & Fauria. "I heard there were some concerns about either his health or long-term status. I didn't hear it prevented a deal, but that was a red flag for them."

If the Patriots are taking calls on Gilmore, it's likely only a matter of time before they deal him. They're currently fifth leaguewide in both yards and points allowed and second in pass defense, so they've proved that they can manage just fine without him.

New England sits at 1-2, but not because of poor defensive performance.

Contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.