ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler Breaks Down the NFL Trade Deadline WR Market

The NFL trade deadline is a receiver market, and Jeremy Fowler knows who is shopping. Start with Kansas City.

"The Chiefs know they need a receiver," the ESPN insider told Rich. "And they have lines in the water. I believe they have multiple lines in the water."

Fowler's sense is that Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr. is one of those lines. He was careful to say he didn't know for certain, but that he had "asked around enough where I think that's the case." Teams believe the Jaguars could come around on dealing Thomas because of his diminished role.

If Thomas isn't available, at least in the short term, Fowler sees Josh Downs as the pivot. A team could potentially land Downs for "a quality day three pick." He added that the Pittsburgh Steelers are in that market as well.

Then there's Jerry Jeudy. Fowler said he's been told the Browns don't plan to trade him and are not shopping him unless a substantial offer comes in. "I think it would have to be like a second-round pick or something for Jeudy, which I don't know that a team's going to do at this stage," he said. Cleveland is winning, uses three-receiver sets, and has Jeudy as a veteran in a young room. Fowler can see him sticking around.

Rich asked about Tyreek Hill. "Hill's available," Fowler said. He described Hill as trying to put legal issues behind him, but said the bigger question is health. It was a severe injury with multiple factors involved, and it's been "a long slog."

Every time Fowler has checked with Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, he's heard that Hill is doing great and rehabbing to be 100 percent when he signs. Fowler can see that market heating up after the deadline if a team strikes out on its preferred target. He also noted that Hill "still has a strong affinity for the Kansas City Chiefs," which could make sense down the road, if not this week then later in the season.

Rich went looking for a dark horse. He'd already heard the Giants mentioned, and the Jaguars came up too. Then Rich asked about a team coming off a loss to Chicago, with Brown having tweaked an ankle and missing practice and Romeo Doubs on IR. Why weren't they in this market?

Fowler said the last he'd heard, the team wasn't looking to part with draft picks after giving up a lot to get A.J. Brown, which he said has been a bit up and down. He'd be a little surprised to see a move from New England, noting he hasn't heard much there and isn't sure they have many players to sell off. He mentioned TreVeyon Henderson hasn't been playing a lot lately.

Instead, Fowler pointed to two other teams. "The L.A. Rams have a receiver need," he said. "So do the 49ers to an extent." He called them two possible dark horses to fill a spot if it makes sense.

One more name stood out. Jauan Jennings, on a one-year deal in Minnesota, where Fowler said things have been up and down. Jennings knows the 49ers well, and Fowler noted San Francisco just tapped into that kind of familiarity by adding DeForest Buckner. Maybe they do the same with Jennings.

Minnesota is also worth watching from the other direction. The Vikings, the league's only undefeated team, have been rumored to be looking for defensive line help. Fowler wondered whether they add one more body up front for Brian Flores to get more pass rush, calling it an interesting test for a GM who is off to a great start.