The countdown to the Nov. 5 NFL trade deadline is steadily shrinking, and every passing day brings a new set of trade ideas.

For whatever reason, Player X has become expendable at his current spot. Team A, meanwhile, has a need at his position. It may seem like an ideal match that is worth pursuing.

Whether it's actually a smart plan, however, is fair to wonder.

The following hypotheticals are both subjective and specific, but each player and franchise included has at least been mentioned in rumors. We're not pulling a name—or a team—entirely out of our imagination.

Travis Etienne Jr. to the Cowboys

It seems inevitable that the Jacksonville Jaguars are headed for changes. Once they return from their second game in London, the Jags may find themselves adjusting to an interim head coach.

If that happens, the front office would have reason to start retooling the roster in advance of the 2025 season. One player worth monitoring, then, is running back Travis Etienne Jr. He's a quality piece and trusted outlet for Trevor Lawrence, but backup Tank Bigsby can handle a starting role.

Stateside, the Dallas Cowboys are reeling. They have a much-needed bye week after yet another embarrassing loss at home, and part of it undoubtedly will be spent addressing their league-worst running game.

They should thus swing a trade for Etienne, right? Well, don't get too invested in the idea.

Jacksonville exercised Etienne's fifth-year option, so he's signed through 2025. However, the Cowboys have mangled the backfield, as Jerry Jones' "all-in" season has been anything but that. It'd be shocking if he admits the mistake and pays up for a running back in October.

It's a good thing that I don't host a radio show!

Mike Williams to the Steelers

When the New York Jets signed Mike Williams, it made sense. He's a recently productive wide receiver who needed a new home while recovering from a knee injury, and the Jets had to upgrade the position.

Fast-forward to today, and Williams is clearly the odd man out in the aftermath of the Davante Adams trade. Aaron Rodgers has rekindled his connection with Allen Lazard, and New York shouldn't be interested in moving on from Garrett Wilson despite his early struggles connecting with Rodgers. Williams is now no higher than fourth on the Jets' depth chart.

So, who needs a receiver? For one, the Pittsburgh Steelers. They struck out on the Brandon Aiyuk sweepstakes this offseason, and tension with top receiver George Pickens seems to be growing.

The problem is that Williams isn't more than a short-term patch, and even though he's only on a one-year contract, it also includes void years.

Nothing the Steelers do around the deadline will suddenly make them a contender in 2024. If they really want Williams, who's totaled only 10 catches thus far this season, waiting for a lower cost in free agency would be fine.

DeAndre Hopkins to the Saints

Few organizations are as willing to play salary-cap games as the New Orleans Saints. They've seemingly never seen a contract restructure that couldn't be completed.

The Saints also just lost Rashid Shaheed (knee) for the season and are riding a five-game losing streak after starting 2-0. They're probably about to poke around the trade market.

DeAndre Hopkins will certainly emerge in conversations since he's playing the final year of his contract with the Tennessee Titans. Hopkins isn't far removed from his All-Pro peak and remains an efficient, reliable target even as he recovers from an offseason knee injury.

Similar to Pittsburgh, though, this hypothetical does little for New Orleans beyond landing a big name.

At 2-5, the Saints are on the verge of leaving the playoff radar. There's no sense in taking an aggressive approach at the deadline when quarterback Derek Carr won't return for a few more weeks anyway.

Tee Higgins to Anyone, Really

As the Cincinnati Bengals trudged out to an 0-3 start, this conversation was a requirement. I wouldn't blame you for wondering how poorly the season could get for Cincy, and a horrible year might only worsen the already slim chances of signing Tee Higgins to a new contract.

Besides, teams don't want to lose a talented player for nothing. I subscribe to that theory, too.

But there are exceptions.

You've seen how much better the Bengals' offense is with Higgins in the lineup, right? Remove him from the equation, and Cincy will be inviting its issues after Ja'Marr Chase to be exposed weekly. If the team is genuinely intent on clawing back in the playoff race—which, while difficult, is plausible—Higgins is a key part of that effort.

He may leave in free agency, yes. Receiving nothing but a compensatory pick for him—and that's not even a guarantee—would sting.

If the Bengals have any hope of re-signing him, however, it won't follow a trade. And without Higgins, they won't be in the postseason, either.

Haason Reddick to the Falcons

Tied atop the NFC South at 4-2 with three victories over division teams, the Atlanta Falcons are in a good spot. Kirk Cousins, he of the "Kirko Chainz" lore, has brought much-needed stability to the offense.

Still, the pass rush is a glaring issue. Only the floundering Carolina Panthers have a lower pressure rate.

The marquee name on the market is Haason Reddick, whose offseason trade from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New York Jets hasn't gone as planned. He has refused to play in 2024 without a new contract.

Reddick absolutely fits a need in Atlanta.

However, a report from NFL insider Josina Anderson noted the Jets moving Reddick to an NFC team would bump the compensation to a second-round pick for Philly. Although the Jets likely won't recoup that value in any trade, it could drive up the price in negotiations.

Atlanta would be better served pivoting to a lower-cost option, such as Azeez Ojulari from the New York Giants.