In the old days (i.e., more than a few years ago), the NFL’s trade deadline came on the Tuesday after Week Six. Now, with the trade deadline coming on the Tuesday after Week Eight, teams that anticipate not contending for playoff berths will begin scouring the roster for players who can be traded elsewhere.
While the league hopes to avoid the perception that some teams are engaging in fire sales (since it becomes harder to sell tickets to those teams games over the balance of the season), teams need to be pragmatic about their circumstances. If they can get something in return for a player who isn’t going to help them get to the postseason this year (especially if the player is in the last year of his contract) why not move on?
For some teams, another important factor becomes the security of the coach and/or the G.M. It’s one thing for the Bears under John Fox and Ryan Pace to fold the tents on 2015; they’re not getting fired. But for the Lions under Jim Caldwell and Martin Mayhew, picking up a few wins down the stretch could be the different between remaining employed and not remaining employed.
Regardless, the teams who know they are done will start looking for ways to enhance their ability to build for the future. And contenders with needs will be looking to some of the non-contenders for the extra parts needed to get to the postseason.