NFL trade deadline Nov. 10: FOX Sports names Will McDonald IV, Derwin James targets

The NFL trade deadline Nov. 10 is approaching, with moves due by 4 p.m. ET, and FOX Sports has identified players it says playoff hopefuls should try to land before the window closes. The list follows a previous look at the top candidate to be dealt from all 32 teams and includes both headline additions and more creative depth options.

The recommendations are framed as targets, not completed deals. Among the names highlighted are New York Jets edge rusher Will McDonald IV, Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James, Cleveland Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy and Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.

Falcons linked to Will McDonald IV as an edge option

For the Atlanta Falcons, the highlighted target is Will McDonald IV of the New York Jets. The fit is presented around both need and familiarity, with the Falcons able to strengthen an edge group that has, in FOX Sports’ wording, gotten by surprisingly well despite Jalon Walker being out for the year.

The article also notes that James Pearce is about to finish an eight-game suspension, but suggests Atlanta could still “double down” by making a move for McDonald.

There is a clear coaching connection attached to the idea. McDonald played for defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in 2023-24, and the article states that he had 10.5 sacks in their second year together. That prior production under Ulbrich is central to why the fit is presented as more than a short-term patch.

Contract status is also part of the case. McDonald is described as being under contract on his fifth-year option for 2027, with the article calling him “not just a rental.” For a playoff hopeful, that would make the proposed addition both a present-season move and a longer-term roster play.

Jerry Jeudy mentioned as a cheaper Falcons reunion idea

The Falcons are also connected to a second, lower-cost concept: receiver help through Jerry Jeudy of the Cleveland Browns. The article frames that possibility as “Another cheaper potential reunion?” and points to Jeudy’s connection with current Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski.

That suggestion is presented as an alternative path for Atlanta if it wants to add offensive help rather than focus solely on the pass rush. It is not described as a completed or imminent transaction, but as one of the creative ways a contender could try to improve before a playoff run.

Derwin James identified as a Ravens defensive fit

The Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James is another major name in the trade-deadline discussion, with the article linking him as a target for the Baltimore Ravens. The argument centers on role flexibility and a previous relationship with coach Jesse Minter.

James played two seasons under Minter during his time with the Chargers. The article also notes that general manager Eric DeCosta said he would have taken the safety if Baltimore had not traded down in the 2018 NFL Draft.

The proposed football fit is specific. Bringing in James could allow him to take over as the full-time nickelback, which would free up Kyle Hamilton to move around the defense. The article adds that the Ravens have not gotten much out of their deep safeties.

Hamilton’s role is a key part of the reasoning. In 2024, Baltimore moved Hamilton into a deeper role, and the article says it “transformed the defense for the better.” Adding James is presented as a way to create more flexibility in the secondary while addressing a position group that has not delivered enough.

Jonathan Taylor and the Colts also part of deadline picture

The broader list also says a few teams could take advantage of the Indianapolis Colts’ “fire sale” and try to land star running back Jonathan Taylor. That mention puts Taylor among the more prominent names connected to the deadline landscape, though the specific excerpt does not confirm a deal or identify a finalized destination.

The common theme across the list is urgency. With the deadline set for Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET, playoff hopefuls have a short window to decide whether to pursue a major upgrade, add depth, or use existing coaching connections to target players who may fit quickly.

Until the deadline passes, these remain proposed targets. The next step is whether teams such as the Falcons and Ravens turn those fits into actual trade talks before the NFL’s cutoff arrives.