Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season has arrived. Insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been making calls to sources around the league for the latest news and notable buzz.
What does the future hold for Bo Nix, Jalen Hurts, C.J. Stroud and other quarterbacks with looming contract situations? Who are some players that might be flying under the radar as trade candidates ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline? Will the Colts — who just fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday — keep making changes as they try to right the ship? And which of the NFC East teams in flux are most likely to shake things up in the coming weeks?
It’s all here, as Jeremy and Dan answer big questions, hand out useful fantasy football nuggets and empty their reporting notebooks heading into Week 7.
Quarterback contract questions and decisions
Graziano: I recognize that there are far more important real-life situations going on around this player right now, but for me, it’s the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts. He is signed through 2028, but the only guaranteed money left on his contract after this year will be $22 million of his $51.5 million salary in 2027. Regardless of how this season was to play out for Hurts and the Eagles, there was always going to be an offseason discussion about whether to extend him again — and if so, at what level — or look into other options.
The Eagles have some young stars coming up for extensions pretty soon, including cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, and carrying a huge quarterback salary beyond this year is going to get more difficult. It’s fair to wonder what impact Hurts being out for the rest of the season will have on the Eagles’ decision-making.
Fowler: Hurts belongs high on the list, as it’s worth wondering whether he has played his last down as an Eagle. He is 59-28 as a starter for the franchise, but Philadelphia, which is often proactive with contracts of core players, did not extend Hurts last offseason. So, it’s difficult to pinpoint where things will stand three to four months from now.
But my pick is the Broncos’ Bo Nix. Denver is good enough to keep winning despite Nix showing a limited ceiling. He is a quality starter but is not poised to enter the upper echelon. Confidence appears to be an issue this season, raising questions about what this player-team marriage looks like long term.
To be sure, the conditions around Nix aren’t perfect. Denver is struggling to run the ball and effectively create explosive plays off play-action. He has had two playcallers this season. Nix got skewered for last week’s performance versus Seattle. But Denver didn’t have as big of a problem with it because it had to play conservatively in a tight game between two great defenses, as whichever team won the turnover battle was probably going to win the game. Broncos coach Sean Payton knew that and most certainly relayed it to Nix, whose struggles against the 49ers in Week 4 were considered more problematic. That said, Nix doesn’t appear to be the runner he once was. His viability with Denver might hinge on how he plays over the next 11 or so games.
Graziano: I did have someone last week tell me the big difference with Nix was that he’s not getting himself out of bad spots with his legs the way he did last season but that he doesn’t look much different otherwise. But that lack of running is a big deal, and if it doesn’t improve, we could be left watching his flaws the rest of the way.
I’m a bit curious about Sam Darnold’s situation, as he’ll have one year left on his contact after this season. He is scheduled to make $35.5 million in 2027, but none of that money is guaranteed. There is a $10 million roster bonus that vests on the fifth day of the league year (March 16), so the Seahawks will want to decide by then whether they want him on next year’s team. But if they do, they’d also look to extend him beyond that.
Indianapolis Colts changes and trade deadline outlook
Fowler: It feels as if everything is on the table in Indianapolis, from an eventual head coaching change to a quarterback demotion, barring an uptick in performance. Daniel Jones’ play — 30th in QBR (38.2) with 1.5 turnovers per game — is unsustainable over a 17-game season. This situation mirrors that of the 2025 Dolphins, who fired general manager Chris Grier in October but evaluated coach Mike McDaniel over the remainder of the season, only to fire him four days after Week 18. Miami also benched a quarterback with a high-priced contract in Tua Tagovailoa late in the campaign.
Graziano: I would agree that while Steichen is well-regarded and well-liked in the building, this is definitely a situation worth monitoring for potential change at the end of the season, if not sooner. Firing a GM in mid-October indicates disappointment from ownership, obviously, but it also signals the possibility of major change on the roster, maybe even in the next few weeks. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10 — less than three weeks from now — and the Colts have a very interesting roster. There were a number of veterans who could have received contract extensions this past offseason, and the only one who got one was running back Jonathan Taylor.
Sneaky trade candidates ahead of Nov. 10
Graziano: Tampa Bay defensive tackle Vita Vea. The Buccaneers are 1-5. Vea is 31 years old, and he and the team begrudgingly came to a compromise agreement on his contract during training camp. The Bucs didn’t act as if he was part of their long-term future, and if teams come looking for a big, run-stuffing defensive tackle, Tampa would be silly not to listen. He is on a minimum salary this year and is guaranteed $23 million for 2027, which would rank about 15th in terms of cap numbers for defensive tackles in the league.
Fowler: Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor. He was widely considered the top corner in free agency, signing a three-year, $58 million deal with the Titans in March. His Week 6 benching has placed him on the radar of teams that might look to bolster the position in the next few weeks. He has struggled as an outside corner for Tennessee but is at his best as a disruptive slot closer to the action.
NFC East shake-ups and team outlooks
Fowler: I’ll start with the Eagles. They come up most often regarding potential moves over the next few weeks. The Eagles are always active, and they could execute a mini-rebuild. Defensive end Moro Ojomo, a 2027 free agent, has strong trade value, so if Philadelphia isn’t going to re-sign him, it could get compensatory pick value (or better) for him now. Woolen and wide receiver Hollywood Brown are players teams are watching.
Graziano: The Giants could be shaking things up at quarterback too, should they decide to give J.J. McCarthy the start this week at Houston or after their Week 8 bye. They’d also love to alter things at running back, apparently. The new coaching staff has clearly soured on Cam Skattebo, the Giants just released Najee Harris and it wouldn’t be shocking to see them add someone from the outside or give Tyrone Tracy Jr. a bigger chance.
