Why are teams trading key players well before the November 10 deadline? Closing the deal now avoids the possibility of an injury that could kill the player’s trade value.
For example, the Commanders, we’re told, were discussing with one or more teams the terms of a potential trade for veteran defensive tackle Daron Payne. After undergoing a season-ending foot injury during Friday’s training, there will be no exchanges.
A first-round pick of the Commanders in 2018, Payne is in the final year of his current contract. The Commanders, due to the injury, lost the opportunity to get value on his remaining contract and avoid paying the balance of his $16.4 million base salary for 2026.
The lesson for each team is clear. The trade deadline isn’t the only one that matters. Every game and practice a potentially tradeable player participates in is a convenient deadline, since an injury can render a potential trade dead in the water.
Gn sports
