I’ve listed all of the NFL Free Agent Signing Grades here, which included the trades. Because I’ve begun posting polls for the trades, I thought it would make sense to list just the NFL trades here, so archiving the voting would be easier.
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Texans acquire WR Stefon Diggs, 2024 6th-round pick, 2025 5th-round pick from Bills for 2025 second-round pick
Teams with talented quarterbacks under rookie contracts have a huge financial advantage, and this is a primary example. The Texans are paying C.J. Stroud very little compared to the value he provides, which allows them to make a blockbuster move like this.
Trading for Stefon Diggs was unexpected. The Texans already had a strong duo in Nico Collins and Tank Dell. However, they now possess the league’s best trio of receivers with Stefon Diggs joining the group. Diggs will be a great target for Stroud, and his presence will make Collins and Dell even more potent. The compensation is fair as well; the Texans had two second-round picks in 2025, so they had the luxury of surrendering one of them. They’re also getting two third-day picks in return, which didn’t even seem necessary.
As for the Bills, this is a big disappointment for them. They’re a Super Bowl contender, but losing their primary receiver will have big consequences. Granted, this receiver draft class is phenomenal, but it’s highly unlikely that whichever wideout the Bills obtain at No. 28 will be able to match Diggs’ production this season. I can understand the Bills needing to shed Diggs’ contract with Allen being so expensive, but this trade will undoubtedly make Buffalo worse in the short term.
Grade for Texans – A+
Grade for Bills – C-
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Jets acquire DE/OLB Haason Reddick from Eagles for 2026 second- or third-round pick
The writing was on the wall regarding Haason Reddick’s departure from Philadelphia. The Eagles acquired Bryce Huff this offseason, so they were destined to move Reddick at some point. It became official today, with Reddick being sent to the Jets for a third-round pick in 2026 that could become a second-rounder if Reddick plays more than 67.5 percent of the snaps and accumulates 10 or more sacks in 2024.
I like this trade for both teams. The Jets are all in to win the Super Bowl this and perhaps next year, so adding a supreme talent like Reddick makes a ton of sense. The compensation is fair for Reddick, who has logged 11 or more sacks in each of the past four seasons. He’ll boost the Jets’ already-great pass defense, giving the team a good chance to contend with all the teams that have elite quarterbacks in the AFC. There is some downside because Reddick turns 30 soon, but Reddick should continue to perform on a very high level over the next couple of seasons.
As for the Eagles, they signed Huff, so they were able to let Reddick go for fair compensation. This is the sort of move Philadelphia has made quite often over the years, shipping out highly paid players as they cross the age of 30. Huff isn’t as good as Reddick now, but he’ll eclipse him by 2026, so the Eagles are both gearing up for another Super Bowl run and ensuring their success in the future.
Grade for Jets – A-
Grade for Eagles – A-
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Titans acquire CB L’Jarius Sneed from Chiefs for 2025 third-round pick and seventh-round pick swap
No one should be surprised that L’Jarius Sneed was traded despite the fact that he was a shutdown cornerback for the Chiefs last year. With Patrick Mahomes commanding a colossal contract and Chris Jones being re-signed, there simply wasn’t enough room for Sneed. As a result, he was shipped off to Tennessee for a third-round pick.
I’d normally love this compensation for the Titans because they’re getting such an incredible player for just a third-round pick. However, I’m not sure I like the fit. In fact, when I saw this trade for the first time, I said aloud, “What are the Titans going to do with Sneed?” Sneed is 27. By the time the Titans are ready to compete for a playoff spot again in an improving AFC South, Sneed will be 29 at the very least, and he could be on the edge of regression. Tennessee is a team that should be acquiring draft capital; not surrendering it for talented veterans.
As for the Chiefs, it feels like they should have gotten a bit more for Sneed. I understand that they didn’t have much leverage, but a shutdown cornerback in his prime like Sneed should have fetched more than a third-round pick. Still, Kansas City won’t be in rough shape or anything because it has so much cornerback talent on the roster.
Grade for Titans – B-
Grade for Chiefs – C+
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Steelers acquire QB Justin Fields from Bears for 2025 conditional third-day draft pick
Rumors floated around that Mike Tomlin was a huge fan of Justin Fields, but Pittsburgh no longer seemed like a viable option for Fields in the wake of the Russell Wilson signing. How could the Steelers justify spending significant resources on Fields after signing Wilson?
Well, we have our answer. And that would be that the Steelers didn’t. Pittsburgh is relinquishing just a 2025 sixth-round pick that could turn into a fourth-rounder based on playing time. Of course, the real cost is spending money on Fields’ impending contract, but it’s not like the Steelers are ever in a position to land a franchise quarterback, given that their great defense and coaching staff will prevent them from having one of the worst records in the NFL.
Still, this is a slam dunk for the Steelers, who may have their quarterback of the future. Fields has injury concerns, but if he can remain healthy, he’s talented enough to lead Pittsburgh to a deep playoff run.
The Bears, meanwhile, lost this trade by a mile. I don’t know what they’re thinking. They should have taken a page from the Eagles’ playbook when Philadelphia had Sam Bradford and drafted Carson Wentz second overall. Instead of trading Bradford for pennies on the dollar, they held on to him until they found a team that was desperate. That turned out to be the Vikings, who panicked when Teddy Bridgewater suffered a devastating injury. The Eagles consequently secured a first-round pick for Bradford. The Bears couldn’t even get a third-, or even a guaranteed fourth- or fifth-rounder! What a horrible mismanagement of resources.
Grade for Steelers – A+
Grade for Bears – MILLEN
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Eagles acquire QB Kenny Pickett from Steelers for swaps of picks Nos. 98 and 120; 2025 7th-round pick
This trade is so confusing for both teams. I don’t understand why the Steelers are giving up on Kenny Pickett so quickly. Pickett had enough talent to be chosen in the first round, yet Pittsburgh is giving up on him after just two seasons in which Pickett struggled under inept offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Pittsburgh signed Russell Wilson, but he’s just a short-term solution at best. I thought Pickett would learn under Wilson and then eventually get a second chance, but apparently not.
For the Eagles, I’m not sure what they want with Pickett. They obviously have Jalen Hurts, and he’s just two months older than Pickett. It never hurts to have a quarterback to groom for the future, but I’m not sure how much of a difference there is between Pickett and Tanner McKee. I don’t get the Eagles moving down from 98 to 120 for Pickett unless they’ve suddenly grown bearish on Hurts despite the fact that he played like an MVP candidate for half of 2023.
Update: We now know why the Steelers gave up on Kenny Pickett, as they cleared him out for Justin Fields. This grade has been adjusted.
Grade for Eagles – D
Grade for Steelers – A-
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Vikings acquire Nos. 23, 232 from Texans for Nos. 42, 188, 2025 2nd-round pick
The Vikings have made their intentions known: They want to trade up for a quarterback. They have nothing at the position, so if they don’t want to trade for Justin Fields, they have no alternative but to move up for a franchise signal-caller.
Of course, Minnesota’s decision will hinge on which quarterback it can obtain. If the Patriots are stupid enough to trade out of No. 3, the Vikings will earn a great grade by obtaining either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels. If, however, they can only land J.J. McCarthy, then this will seem like a waste of resources.
As for the Texans, it seems as though they lost this trade because they surrendered a first-round pick without obtaining one back in return. The trade value chart says Minnesota won this deal by a slim margin, but I can’t help but feel that the Texans were cheated out of a prospect who could help them advance deep into the playoffs this year.
Grade for Vikings – B+
Grade for Texans – C-
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Bears acquire WR Keenan Allen from Chargers for 4th-round pick
As someone who considered betting the Bears at 50/1 to win the Super Bowl, I said I was disappointed with how their offseason had gone thus far. They barely signed anyone of note in free agency, and when they did, it was an overpay at running back or tight end.
Well, I can’t say I’m disappointed any longer. This is a blockbuster move to make sure Caleb Williams has some amazing weapons at his disposal. The Bears already had D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet, but really nothing beyond those two players. Williams will now have Allen added to his arsenal, which has to make him very excited. Allen is a receptions monster who helped develop one young quarterback in Justin Herbert, so he’ll be able to help Williams similarly. Allen has a checkered injury history, but the Bears are just giving up a fourth-round pick. This is a steal.
The Bears definitely won this trade. The Chargers were effectively forced into a deal because they were up against the salary cap, and Allen didn’t want to take a pay cut. This move definitely hurts the Chargers’ chances of being competitive in 2024, as Quentin Johnston is the remaining No. 1 receiver. When my 2024 NFL Mock Draft is updated next week, I’m going to slot Malik Nabers to them at No. 5 overall.
Grade for Bears – A
Grade for Chargers – D
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Seahawks acquire QB Sam Howell from Redskins for swap of 3rd- and 4th-round picks and swap of 5th- and 6th-round picks
It’s not very surprising that the Seahawks traded for Sam Howell. They’ve reportedly been fans of Howell, and they needed a backup quarterback in the wake of Drew Lock’s departure. Ideally this quarterback would be a young player with future starting potential.
Sam Howell fits that description. He struggled late last year, but had some very bright moments at times, particularly against the Eagles. He was ultimately betrayed by his offensive line, but he could be a decent quarterback if he’s well protected. The Seahawks are giving up a bit more than I would have liked, as swapping third- and fourth-round picks is somewhat significant, but it’s not an egregious overpay.
On the other end, I love this trade for the Redskins. They have no use for Howell because they own the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They also have a veteran backup in Marcus Mariota, so Howell wasn’t even guaranteed to make the final roster. Moving up from the fourth to the third round could allow them to secure an impactful prospect.
Grade for Seahawks – B
Grade for Redskins – A
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Cardinals acquire QB Desmond Ridder from Falcons for WR Rondale Moore
It’s hard to believe, but the Desmond Ridder era has finally come to an end in Atlanta. I’m sure Falcons fans will fondly remember the days when Ridder would constantly fumble into the end zone.
Ridder was woeful last year. He’ll obviously make for a better backup, but I’m not even sure he can be an average backup. Perhaps the Cardinals believe they can develop him into being a solid No. 2 option behind Kyler Murray, but Arizona can’t count on winning many games if/when Murray gets hurt.
The Cardinals, however, didn’t give up much, surrendering only Rondale Moore. The 24-year-old receiver has seen his receptions drop in each of the past three seasons, as he’s looking more and more like a second-round bust. However, the Falcons have a promising offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson, so perhaps Robinson can figure out a way to utilize Moore. I think Atlanta has more upside in this trade, but this is a swap that could very easily become insignificant for both parties.
Grade for Cardinals – B-
Grade for Falcons – B+
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49ers acquire DT Maliek Collins from Texans for 7th-round pick
The 49ers continue to beef up their defensive line. They lost Arik Armstead and presumably Chase Young this offseason, so they had to find some replacements. They signed Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos and Jordan Elliott, and now they’ve traded for Maliek Collins.
Collins projects to be a better defensive tackle option than Elliott. Collins is a solid interior pass rusher who will be a nice piece in San Francisco’s rotation. The price is great, as it’s just a seventh-round pick. If I were the Texans, I would have preferred to keep Collins rather than ship him away for next to nothing.
Grade for 49ers – A
Grade for Texans – D
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Jets acquire OT Morgan Moses from Ravens for 6th-round pick, swap of 4th-round picks
Aaron Rodgers’ injury wasn’t the only issue the Jets had last season. Their offensive line was also in shambles, so blocking for Zach Wilson was a major problem. Wilson never had a chance, so the Jets had to make sure that Rodgers will have better players in front of him in 2024.
Morgan Moses will help ensure that. Jets fans are familiar with Moses, who played for them one year. Moses started at right tackle for the Ravens since and did a good job. The one downside is that he’s 33, but Moses has not shown any signs of regression. He’ll be a solid short-term solution at a reasonable price, as all the Jets have given up is a sixth-round pick and 20 spots in the fourth frame.
As for the Ravens, they needed to clear some cap space, so I understand this trade. Still, Baltimore is getting weaker up front, which is never a good thing.
Grade for Jets – A
Grade for Ravens – C
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Panthers acquire WR Diontae Johnson from Steelers for CB Donte Jackson
Be careful what you wish for. Diontae Johnson voiced his displeasure with the Steelers offense, so Pittsburgh sent him off to a different team. Johnson will now be playing in Carolina with Bryce Young, who was atrocious in his rookie season.
Still, this is an exciting trade if you’re a Panthers fan. Johnson may be disruptive, but most receivers act this way. Johnson will provide the Carolina offense with a dynamic threat they sorely lacked last year.
In return for Johnson, the Steelers are getting much-needed help at cornerback. This was a big problem area last year, as Patrick Peterson was a bust signing. Jackson is a solid and versatile cornerback, as he can play both outside or in the slot.
I’d say this is a fair trade for both teams. Johnson and Jackson are close in talent, and both teams are filling needs.
Grade for Panthers – B+
Grade for Steelers – B+
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Texans acquire RB Joe Mixon from Bengals for conditional 2024 7th-round pick
It was initially announced that Joe Mixon would be released, but Houston ended up trading for him. I wondered why the Texans would do that when they could have just signed him, but we know why. All Houston relinquished was a seventh-round pick, and it’s even conditional.
This move seems to have drawn lots of acclaim on Twitter, but people praising the Texans must not have watched Mixon the past couple of years. Mixon has been a rapidly declining player, so much so that I wrote that Chase Brown should have drawn starts over him late last year. Mixon can catch the ball out of the backfield, which is nice, but it’s not enough to offset his pedestrian running.
Then again, I can’t grade this poorly for the Texans because they didn’t surrender anything of note. The Bengals didn’t receive anything of note either, making this a very “blah” trade.
Grade for Texans – B
Grade for Bengals – B
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Lions acquire CB Carlton Davis, 2024 6th-round pick, 2025 6th-round pick from Buccaneers for 2024 3rd-round pick
It wasn’t too long ago that the Lions had one of the worst defenses in the NFL. They improved against the run substantially last year, but still struggled to stop the pass. They had to find some help in the secondary, so they’ve begun by trading for Carlton Davis.
Davis would have fetched more than a third-round pick and two sixth-round selections in the past, but he’s coming off a down year. However, Davis, who has been injury-prone, is still young enough (27) to rebound. If he can manage to stay healthy, he’ll be a nice addition for Detroit’s secondary. The risk, however, will prevent the Lions from earning a great grade.
As for the Buccaneers, they’re in a position where it would be in their best interest to dismantle the team and tank. They’re not doing that, but at least they’re picking up extra assets by trading an injury-prone player.
Grade for Lions – B
Grade for Buccaneers – B+
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Giants acquire DE/OLB Brian Burns from Panthers for 2024 2nd- and 5th-round picks
This is what you would call selling low. The Panthers had an offer for two first-round picks for Brian Burns in the past, but turned down the offer. Now, they’re shipping Burns out of town for second- and fifth-round choices. This absolutely cannot sit well with the fans.
The Giants are the winners of this deal, but I’m not even crazy about the trade for them. This seems like the sort of move a team on the verge of Super Bowl contention would make. The Giants are far away from that, and spending resources on Burns means that could make upgrading the offensive line more difficult. Granted, Burns is a huge upgrade to the pass rush, but I don’t think he’s going to get New York deep into the playoffs, at least not in the next year or two.
Grade for Giants – B
Grade for Panthers – D
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Jaguars acquire QB Mac Jones from Patriots for 2024 6th-round pick
The Jaguars had a major problem late last year. Trevor Lawrence was dealing with so many injuries and playing through them that I called him the black knight from the Monty Python movie. Lawrence continued to take the field because the Jaguars didn’t have a viable backup quarterback, so they were doomed without him.
Mac Jones changes that. Jones had a rough 2023 campaign, but has shown in the past that he can be a solid game manager. He makes for a perfect backup, and it’s not out of the question that he can still be developed. Perhaps if the Jaguars coach him up, they can flip him for a fourth-round pick in the future.
The Patriots, meanwhile, did well to get something for Jones. They had no leverage with everyone knowing that they will be drafting a quarterback third overall, so getting a sixth for Jones is fine. This trade makes sense for both teams.
Grade for Jaguars – B
Grade for Patriots – B
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Browns acquire WR Jerry Jeudy from Broncos for 2024 5th-, 6th-round picks
It’s no surprise that Jerry Jeudy was traded. Jeudy had some bright moments in Denver, particularly during the final month of the 2022 season, but was a big disappointment overall. He had issues with drops, while his effort was questioned at times. Denver has a natural replacement in Marvin Mims, who, according to Sean Payton, didn’t see much playing time as a rookie because he and Jeudy played the same position. Trading Jeudy unlocks Mims, so the Broncos aren’t losing much. Acquiring fifth- and sixth-round picks when they had no leverage is a fine move.
However, the Browns may have won this trade. They desperately needed a No. 2 receiver across from Amari Cooper, and Jeudy will provide that at a cheap price. There’s definitely a chance that Jeudy will continue to disappoint, but a new environment could be just what he needs. There’s still some untapped potential with him, so if he finally lives up to it, the Browns will have gotten a steal.
Grade for Browns – A-
Grade for Broncos – B
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Bears acquire G/C Ryan Bates from Bills for 2024 5th-round pick
The Bears recently tried to acquire Ryan Bates in free agency, but the Bills beat them to the punch. Chicago finally got its man, acquiring Bates from Buffalo for a fifth-round pick.
This isn’t a bad trade for Chicago, but it’s a rather curious one. Bates is a solid depth player who can start at multiple positions on the offensive line. However, the Bears could have obtained someone comparable to him in free agency without surrendering any sort of draft compensation. It may have cost them more money, but they’ve got plenty of cap space.
Given the unnecessary use of resources, I can’t grade the Bears favorably. I like that they strengthened their blocking for Caleb Williams (presumably), but the Bills won this trade because they got a free draft pick out of it.
Grade for Bears – C
Grade for Bills – A-
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Jaguars acquire G Ezra Cleveland from Vikings for 2024 6th-round pick
I missed this trade from Tuesday, as it was buried within the other deals. However, it’s a significant one, as the Jaguars were able to obtain a much-needed offensive line boost for pennies on the dollar.
Ezra Cleveland is a talented blocker. He excels in both pass protection and run blocking. He’s also just 25, so there’s a lot of room for growth. Getting him for just a sixth-round pick to boost Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne’s blocking was a major steal.
The Jaguars won this trade by a mile. I don’t know why the Vikings gave away such a talented, young blocker for next-to nothing.
Grade for Jaguars – A+
Grade for Vikings – D
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Bills acquire CB Rasul Douglas from Packers for swap of 2024 3rd- and 5th-round picks
This has to be the least-surprising deal of the trade deadline. Buffalo’s defense has been in shambles ever since losing Tre’Davious White and Matt Milano to injury. The Bills desperately needed to find a cornerback upgrade, and they managed to do so by acquiring Rasul Douglas.
Douglas was once an NFL journeyman, but he found a home with the Packers. He became an excellent cornerback, so he’ll be able to help the Bills defend the great passing attacks in the AFC. Buffalo is essentially moving down two rounds, trading a third for a fifth, so this seems to be a great deal for them.
As for the Packers, they’ve become serious sellers since they’ve dropped four in a row. Their once-promising 2-1 start turned into a 2-5 disappointment, and they need to keep losing to obtain an upgrade over “No Cookie” Jordan Love. It’s a disappointment that they weren’t able to net any assets for Douglas, but a third-round pick should help the rebuilding process.
Grade for Bills – A
Grade for Packers – B-
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Lions acquire WR Donovan Peoples-Jones from Browns for 2025 6th-round pick
The Lions don’t have many weaknesses because their front office has put together a tremendous roster. Receiving depth, however, is an issue because Jameson Williams has not lived up to his first-round billing just yet. There’s still plenty of time for that to happen, but the Lions needed some help this year as they make their playoff run.
Donovan Peoples-Jones won’t move the needle very much, but he’s a solid addition for the Lions. He’ll be a fine tertiary option for Jared Goff. Peoples-Jones has always been inconsistent in Cleveland, but it never seemed as though the Browns ever figured out how to use him. Perhaps Detroit will have better luck.
I think this is fair compensation for both teams. I think the Lions come out a bit ahead, but it’s nice that the Browns could get something for a player they didn’t use enough.
Grade for Lions – B+
Grade for Browns – B
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49ers acquire DE Chase Young from Redskins for 2024 3rd-round pick
The Redskins have decided to completely blow up their roster. This is for the best because the way they are currently built, they won’t be able to compete for a Super Bowl anytime soon. Tanking for Drake Maye and then building around him with plenty of draft picks is the correct decision.
That said, it’s a bit disappointing that the Redskins weren’t able to get more than third-round pick for Chase Young. He’s still just 24, so he could have been a building block for the future. I don’t like selling low like this, but I can understand why it happened.
The 49ers, meanwhile, needed to do something to stop their three-game skid. The offense will be fine once Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel return from injury, but the defense had to be upgraded after it failed to get off the field against the Vikings and Bengals. They couldn’t get any pressure on Kirk Cousins or Joe Burrow, so acquiring another talented pass rusher was essential.
Young hasn’t quite lived up to his draft billing, but only because of injuries. He’s still having a good season with five sacks. He’ll be even better in San Francisco, as opposing offenses won’t be able to focus on him with all the attention being placed on Nick Bosa. Young is a steal for just a third-round selection.
Grade for 49ers – A+
Grade for Redskins – C+
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Vikings acquire QB Joshua Dobbs from Cardinals for swap of 2024 6th- and 7th-round picks
Some would disagree with this because team records can mean everything to some, but I thought this version of the Vikings was better than the 2022 team that went 13-4. The difference has been the defense, which has improved markedly under Brian Flores. Jordan Addison also helps as having a second dynamic weapon in the passing game.
Unfortunately for the Vikings, they lost Kirk Cousins to a torn Achilles. There were some wild projections for what the Vikings could do to replace Cousins. Asking Tom Brady to come out of retirement was even mentioned. However, this was probably the best Minnesota could do, as Dobbs is a solid, veteran backup quarterback. Dobbs is an intelligent passer and can scramble out of pressure. He had some nice moments in Arizona, but was surrounded by mostly garbage. Things will be different in Minnesota. Dobbs will have the support of a terrific offensive line and two game-breaking receivers once Justin Jefferson returns from injury. And, as mentioned, the defense is playing at a high level, so Dobbs won’t be in a position where he’ll have to do everything like he did in Arizona.
I think this is a terrific trade for the Vikings. Dobbs can be a quality game manager, and he comes at a very cheap price. A swap of late-round choices will probably be meaningless, so there’s no risk to this deal.
As for the Cardinals, it makes sense to trade Dobbs. They want to see what they have in Clayton Tune, and Kyler Murray is due back soon anyway.
Grade for Vikings – A+
Grade for Cardinals – A-
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Bears acquire DE Montez Sweat from Redskins for 2024 2nd-round pick
Of all the teams that could have acquired a major talent on the day of the trade deadline, the Bears would have been near the bottom of everyone’s pool. Yet, it makes sense, almost. The Bears are going to have a ton of cap space next offseason, so they’re essentially treating this like a free agency signing that’s occurring five months early. Sweat is a tremendous pass rusher and will fill a huge need for Chicago.
I wrote “almost” as far as this making sense because there’s one negative attached to this trade, and that would be that the Bears could win more games because of Sweat this year. That will hurt their draft positioning. Obviously, they have Carolina’s pick as well, but landing the top two selections in the draft would allow them to deal the No. 2 pick for a king’s ransom. That no longer seems to be a likely scenario. Still, obtaining Sweat for an atrocious defense is a great move.
As for the Redskins, it’s no surprise that they’ve begun the rebuilding process. They’ve already won too many games to land Caleb Williams, but perhaps they can tank enough to obtain Drake Maye. Getting a high second-round pick is a nice piece for the future.
Grade for Bears – B+
Grade for Redskins – A-
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Falcons acquire DT Kentavius Street from Eagles for swap of 2024 6th-round and 2025 7th-round draft picks
The Falcons suffered an unfortunate injury this past week, as Grady Jarrett was lost for the season for a torn ACL. They had to acquire some help at the position to replenish their depth, so it’s understandable why they’d acquire Kentavius Street from the Eagles.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, this deal won’t move the needle at all. Street has played extensively in just three games this year, and he was nothing more than a below-average producer at best. He’s just a body to have in the interior. A swap of sixth- and seventh-round picks for him is acceptable.
As for the Eagles, Street barely played most weeks, so it made sense to trade him. They can probably find someone similar to replace him anyway.
Grade for Falcons – B-
Grade for Eagles – B+
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Seahawks acquire DT Leonard Williams from Giants for 2024 second- and 2025 fifth-round draft picks
Who would have thought that the Seahawks would be such aggressive buyers at the trade deadline? Seattle, already boasting the No. 1 defense in the NFL, have gotten even better on that side of the ball in the wake of this trade.
Leonard Williams is a stellar interior defensive lineman who does it all. He’s an excellent pass rusher and can also stop the run well. The Seahawks needed one more piece on the defensive line, and Williams is a perfect fit. Surrendering a second-round pick will hurt a bit, but this trade could really put Seattle over the top in a weak conference.
As for the Giants, I like this trade for them as well. They’re obvious sellers, and they need to rebuild. Williams is 29, so by the time New York is ready to compete for a Super Bowl, he would have been too old.
Grade for Seahawks – A-
Grade for Giants – A
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Eagles acquire S Kevin Byard from Titans for 2024 fifth- and sixth-round draft picks, S Terrell Edmunds
I’ve been calling the Eagles overrated for good reason. They’re 6-1, but almost rank outside the top 10 in net EPA. They’re 17th in defense because of their inability to cover. They had to find someone to help in the secondary, which would explain this trade.
Kevin Byard has been one of the better safeties in the NFL in recent years. That may have changed, given that he’s 30 now, however. Byard is currently having a down year, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t rebound in a new situation. Either way, Byard will be a huge upgrade next to Reed Blankenship for a very reasonable price. I love this trade for the Eagles.
As for the Titans, it’s smart of them to know that they needed to begin the rebuilding process. I think they could have gotten a bit more for Byard, but he is 30, so the compensation wouldn’t have been much more.
Grade for Eagles – A
Grade for Titans – C
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Chiefs acquire WR Mecole Hardman from Jets for swap of 2025 sixth- and seventh-round draft picks
Here’s the latest swap of sixth- and seventh-round picks, with the Chiefs acquiring Mecole Hardman along with the seventh in exchange for a sixth. Hardman will return to the team that drafted him after nearly half a season with the Jets.
Hardman signed a 1-year deal with the Jets, but barely played; he was on the field for 28 snaps. The Jets wanted to use both Xavier Gipson and Randall Cobb over him. I get Gipson, but utilizing Cobb was a huge mistake. Perhaps the coaches could have tried inserting Hardman into games over Cobb.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, haven’t had the usual success they’ve experienced with their gimmick plays, so perhaps that’s why they wanted to bring Hardman back to the team. The price is small, so I’m in favor of it.
Grade for Chiefs – B+
Grade for Jets – C
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Falcons acquire WR Van Jefferson from Rams for 2025 sixth- and seventh-round draft picks
Prior to the season, the Rams were seen as a team that was devoid of receiving talent beyond Cooper Kupp. Things have changed, however, in the wake of Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell emerging. With Kupp returning from injury, the Rams suddenly had no room for Van Jefferson, so it made sense to trade him for a couple of late-round picks.
The Falcons, conversely, don’t really have anything beyond Drake London. Mack Hollins is as pedestrian as it gets, and Atlanta needed another deep threat. Jefferson, who registered 802 yards and six touchdowns in 2021, can at least serve as a distraction for defenses to open things up for Bijan Robinson. He’s well worth it for a pair of late-round draft choices. This seems like an equal trade for both teams.
Grade for Falcons – B+
Grade for Rams – B+
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49ers acquire DE Randy Gregory from Broncos for swap of 2024 sixth- and seventh-round draft picks
Teams certainly love swapping sixth- and seventh-round picks. We saw it with the J.C. Jackson and Chase Claypool deals, and now the Broncos and 49ers have engaged in a deal with the same compensation.
Randy Gregory had a few bright moments for the Broncos last year amid an injury-plagued season. There were no bright moments this season, as Gregory played extremely poorly. The Broncos considered cutting him, but the 49ers called them and took Gregory off their hands. I considered if the 49ers would be paying Gregory’s egregious salary, but that will not be the case. Denver will foot the bill for the $10 million remaining this season.
With that in mind, this is a small price to pay for the 49ers, who lost defensive line depth this offseason. Gregory will help in that regard, making San Francisco the winner of this trade.
Grade for 49ers – B+
Grade for Broncos – C-
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Dolphins acquire WR Chase Claypool from Bears for swap of 2025 sixth- and seventh-round draft picks
It wasn’t too long ago that the Bears acquired Chase Claypool. In fact, you can still see the grade below. They surrendered a second-round pick for Claypool, meaning that they turned their second-round selection into a sixth-round choice. That obviously is a huge failure, but at least Chicago recognized a sunk cost.
Claypool did not work out in Chicago, but that doesn’t mean that he’s doomed to fail in Miami. He has a ton of speed, so I have to think that Mike McDaniel will figure out creative ways to use him. I’m not very bullish on him panning out for Miami, but the Dolphins aren’t really giving up anything for him, so they’re definitely the winners of this trade.
Grade for Dolphins – B+
Grade for Bears – C
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Patriots acquire CB J.C. Jackson from Chargers for swap of 2025 sixth- and seventh-round draft picks
This trade shouldn’t be surprising at all, and it makes so much sense for both teams. J.C. Jackson was supposed to be the solution for the Chargers’ poor secondary. Instead, he struggled so much in Los Angeles that he was benched recently. The Chargers had no more use for him, so it’s a positive that they were able to get something for him.
The Patriots, meanwhile, have so many injuries in their secondary. They nearly ran out of bodies against Dallas. Acquiring a player with experience in Bill Belichick’s system was a logical move. Perhaps Jackson can revert to the terrific player he once was in New England under Belichick’s coaching once more.
Grade for Patriots – B+
Grade for Chargers – B+
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Vikings acquire RB Cam Akers from Rams for swap of 2026 draft picks
When Cam Akers was a healthy scratch Week 2, many assumed that he would be traded. That turned out to be the case, as the Rams dealt him to Minnesota. In doing so, they picked up a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Vikings received a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in addition to Akers.
I’d give the Rams a slight victory in this trade. It makes sense that the Vikings would want to obtain a running back to contend with the fumble-prone Alexander Mattison, but with there being so many viable options available on the open market, I don’t know why it was necessary to trade a draft resource. That said, swapping a sixth with a seventh isn’t a big deal. Also, Akers has the potential to be an upgrade over Mattison, but he also has an extensive injury history.
The Rams, meanwhile, were free to trade Akers because Kyren Williams has emerged as a quality player. With Akers relegated to the bench, it made sense to move him for a resource.
Grade for Vikings – B
Grade for Rams – A-
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Eagles acquire TE Albert Okwuegbunam from Broncos for swap of 2025 third-day picks
Dallas Goedert is one of the better tight ends in the NFL, but the Eagles didn’t have much behind him. It wasn’t too long ago that Philadelphia had a terrific one-two punch at the position with Zach Ertz joining Goedert. This trade ensures that the Eagles will have great tight end depth once again.
Okwuegbunam is an athletic tight end with upside. He’s only 25, so he can still be developed to be a consistent player. Obtaining him for just a swap of sixth- and seventh-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft is a steal. As for the Broncos, they were very deep at tight end and were going to waive Okwuebgunam, so it’s at least nice that they got something for him.
Grade for Eagles – A
Grade for Broncos – B
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Rams acquire G Kevin Dotson from Steelers for swap of third-day picks
The swap of picks in this Kevin Dotson trade is as follows: The Steelers will get the Rams’ fourth-round pick this year, and they’ll send their fifth-rounder to Los Angeles. The same thing will happen in 2025, except the Steelers will get a fifth and will relinquish a sixth.
Given those terms, I think this trade makes sense for both teams. Dotson is a quality backup, but was buried on Pittsburgh’s depth chart. The Steelers getting a selection that could easily be in the top 10 of Day 3 is a great acquisition for a player who likely wasn’t going to see the field for them this year. As for the Rams, their offensive line depth is horrendous, so they needed to obtain better reserve blockers in case their front is ravaged by injuries like it was last season.
Grade for Rams – A-
Grade for Steelers – A
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Cowboys acquire QB Trey Lance from 49ers for 4th-round pick
This is somehow a bad trade for both teams. I really don’t get it for the Cowboys. They have an established franchise quarterback in the Dak Prescott, and they have a solid backup in Cooper Rush. What are they going to do with Trey Lance? Develop him and then trade him for a third-round pick? This seems like a waste of a resource.
As for the 49ers, it seems premature to give up on a quarterback with such great talent, especially given that Brock Purdy is not a guarantee just yet. What if Purdy struggles in his second year? It would be nice to turn to Trey Lance in that instance, assuming that he developed at all. That said, I think the 49ers won this trade because Lance may just be a lost cause, given his lack of development and horrible pocket awareness and field vision. Plus, moving Lance rids the locker room of a potential headache.
Grade for Cowboys – D
Grade for 49ers – C+
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Cardinals acquire QB Joshua Dobbs, 7th-round pick from Browns for 5th-round pick
I don’t understand this trade for the Cardinals. Moving down from the fifth to the seventh round Won’t have the greatest impact, but This trade seems completely unnecessary.
The Cardinals obviously have quarterback issues with Kyler Murray nursing a torn ACL, but it’s not like Joshua Dobbs is going to start over Colt McCoy. The Cardinals also have Clayton Tune as a backup, and Tune played rather well in the second preseason game, so where does Dobbs fit in? If the Cardinals wanted another quarterback so badly, they could have waited after final cuts and signed someone comparable to Dobbs.
The Browns obviously won this trade. Dorian Thompson-Robinson became the favorite to win the No. 2 job anyway, so moving up two rounds by trading someone irrelevant is definitely a terrific transaction.
Grade for Cardinals – D
Grade for Browns – A
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Giants acquire LB Isaiah Simmons from Cardinals for 7th-round pick
Isaiah Simmons had many supporters in the draft community when he entered the NFL, as many people fell in love with his incredible athleticism. Some of Charlie Campbell’s sources, however, questioned if Simmons had a natural position in the pros. Those concerns came to fruition, as the Cardinals struggled to utilize Simmons properly. Simmons has struggled to cover and tackle thus far in his career.
Despite this, I love this trade for the Giants. Their defensive coordinator, Wink Martindale, loves to blitz, and that’s the one thing Simmons has done extremely well in the NFL. Simmons figures to be an intriguing asset in Martindale’s system as a pass rusher. Plus, it’s not out of the question that Simmons could be a late bloomer. He’s still just 25, so there still might be some untapped potential.
The Giants clearly won this trade. Even if Simmons fails for them, they’ve risked nothing by acquiring him. The Cardinals, on the other hand, should have figured out how to get the most out of Simmons. I’d rather have him than some meaningless seventh-round pick.
Grade for Giants – A
Grade for Cardinals – C
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Lions acquire WR Denzel Mims, 7th-round pick from Jets for conditional 6th-round pick
It’s almost difficult to believe that Denzel Mims was once a second-round pick. Mims registered 357 receiving yards as a rookie in 2020, but has struggled since, failing to record 200 yards in any single season.
The Lions aren’t really giving anything up for Mims, and yet they can’t be declared the winners of this trade. Mims is still young, but it’s difficult to envision him achieving anything in the NFL. Really, the only benefit for Detroit is that Dan Campbell can now yell, “Shut up, Mimsy!” if he’s frustrated. It’s nice that the Jets were able to potentially upgrade a late-round choice, even if it is going from the seventh to the sixth round.
Grade for Lions – C+
Grade for Jets – B
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Browns acquire DE Za’Darius Smith, 2025 6th-, 7th-round picks from Vikings for 2024 & 2025 5th-round picks
You’d think the Browns would have possessed a great pass rush in recent years because of Myles Garrett’s presence, but that hasn’t been the case. No one has been able to generate pressure on the quarterback aside from Garrett, so this trade can’t be too surprising. Za’Darius Smith logged 10 sacks last year, so he will be a viable bookend for Garrett. He’ll certainly help Cleveland improve defensively and potentially reach the playoffs. Smith is just a 1-year rental with an expiring contract, but the Browns didn’t surrender much in this trade.
As for the Vikings, this is definitely a disappointing development and an obvious ramification of Kirk Cousins’ horrible contract. The Vikings needed to shed some salary, so at least they’re able to upgrade two late-round selections into a pair of mid-round picks. That said, Smith’s departure will really hurt a defense that was already poor against the pass.
Grade for Browns – A
Grade for Vikings – C-
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Eagles acquire RB D’Andre Swift from Lions for swap of 7th-round picks, 2025 4th-round pick
The Eagles reportedly were interested in both Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round, but both went off the board earlier than most people expected. Thus, the Eagles didn’t have a realistic chance to land either of them despite coming away with two terrific first-round picks. The Eagles still needed a running back, and the Gibbs selection was able to facilitate this trade.
With Gibbs on the Lions, Swift was suddenly available for trade. The Lions did well to unload him, and I’m not surprised the Eagles had interest. Swift is a very talented running back who is capable of going the distance whenever he touches the ball. The problem is that he seldom touches the ball because he’s always hurt. Swift hasn’t played in fewer than 13 games in any of his three NFL seasons, but he has been limited in many of the contests in which he was able to be active. Swift was constantly hindered with an injury last year, which is why he had 11 games where he saw single-digit carries.
Swift can be a dynamic player for the Eagles if he can remain healthy. That’s a big “if,” but the Eagles didn’t give up much for him, relinquishing a fourth-round pick in a couple of years. The price could be worth it, as Swift could make some big plays to help the Eagles win games.
Grade for Eagles – B+
Grade for Lions – A
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Jets acquire QB Aaron Rodgers and 5th-round pick (No. 170) for swap of 1st-round picks (13 & 15), 2023 2nd-round pick (No. 42), 6th-round pick (No. 207), 2024 1st- or 2nd-round pick (conditional)
Our national nightmare is over. The days of wondering when Aaron Rodgers will be traded have come to an end, as the future Hall of Fame quarterback has finally been dealt to the Jets.
Of course, it was more about how much the Jets would relinquish for Rodgers than if he’d actually be traded to the Jets. Considering the Packers had no leverage – they couldn’t possibly pay Rodgers’ massive salary if he didn’t want to play in Green Bay – I assumed the Jets would surrender two third-round picks, with the 2024 selection possibly becoming a second-rounder based on conditions. I also assumed the Jets and Packers would flip picks.
Never once did I consider that the Jets would surrender a package that includes a second-round choice and a conditional selection that will become a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65 percent of snaps. This is way too much to give up for Rodgers, and the Packers got away with highway robbery. Jets fans should be very frustrated with Joe Douglas’ poor trade negotiation skills.
That said, even though the Jets lost this trade, they ultimately come out winners in the short term because they’re now a top-five team with Rodgers (see my NFL Power Rankings for more). If the Jets do what the Buccaneers did in 2020 with Tom Brady and what the Rams did in 2021 with Matthew Stafford, then it will all have been worth it. However, the Packers are definitely the winners in this deal, as all of these selections will be vital to their rebuilding process with No Cookie Jordan Love.
Grade for Jets – C+
Grade for Packers – A+
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Steelers acquire WR Allen Robinson from Rams for swap of 7th-round picks
The Rams thought they were getting a legitimate No. 2 receiver last year when they acquired Allen Robinson. Instead, they obtained a washed-up player who couldn’t generate any separation. It appeared as though they would be stuck with him for another season because of his contract, but they found a sucker to take on part of the deal.
The Steelers are that sucker, and they will pay about $5 million of Robinson’s $15 million contract. This means the Rams will foot $10 million of the deal, but this is the best thing they could have hoped for. This will give the Rams some needed financial breathing room, and they’re even moving up 17 spots in the seventh round. That last part isn’t overly significant, but it seems like an unncessary bonus for a move that is addition by subtraction.
As for the Steelers, I don’t know why they’re bothering with Robinson. Paying $5 million for him is $5 million too much. Robinson sucks now, so I don’t see any upside in this trade.
Grade for Steelers – D
Grade for Rams – B+
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Falcons acquire CB Jeff Okudah from Lions for 5th-round pick
It’s almost hard to believe that Jeff Okudah was the No. 3 overall pick three years ago. He hasn’t come close to living up to those expectations, struggling in his first and third seasons, and missing all but one game of the second with a torn Achilles. Okudah had suffered numerous other injuries in his first three years, which contributed to his struggles.
That said, I like that the Falcons are buying low on him. Okudah has plenty of talent, and he won’t even be 25 until February. If he can remain healthy, there’s a chance he’ll finally perform on a high level. Doing so would fill a big need in Atlanta’s secondary at a very cheap price. Conversely, if Okudah continues to struggle, losing out on a fifth-round pick won’t be the end of the world.
The Falcons definitely won this trade, but this wasn’t an awful deal for the Lions because they would have lost Okudah to free agency soon anyway. They signed Cameron Sutton and potentially plan to draft a cornerback with an early selection, so they would have obtained a replacement for Okudah anyway. Still, it’s a disappointment that their No. 3 overall pick turned into just a fifth-rounder.
Grade for Falcons – A-
Grade for Lions – C+
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Browns acquire WR Elijah Moore from Jets for swap of 2023 2nd- and 3rd-round picks
No one should be surprised that Elijah Moore was traded after they signed Mecole Hardman earlier in the day. Moore and Hardman were redundant pieces of the offense, so Moore had to go. Moore already made it known that he was disgruntled, so a replacement was needed anyway.
The Jets did well to move up from No. 74 to 42. With this improved draft capital, trading selections for Aaron Rodgers will sting less. I think they won this trade, though I don’t hate the move for the Browns either. Cleveland sorely lacked receiving depth behind Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Moore is young and has upside. I don’t like that the Browns won’t be picking until No. 74, but Moore should be able to help Deshaun Watson.
Grade for Browns – B
Grade for Jets – A-
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Cowboys acquire WR Brandin Cooks from Texans for 2023 5th-round pick, 2024 6th-round pick
Has Dallas’ quest to find a No. 2 receiver finally ended? They flirted with Odell Beckham Jr. late last year before declining to sign him. They then obtained T.Y. Hilton, who didn’t do much outside of convert a crucial third-and-33 versus the Eagles. Beckham was discussed again in the offseason, but Dallas has finally settled on Brandin Cooks, whom it acquired in a trade with the Texans.
Cooks definitely has more upside than Hilton, but there is a very low floor. Cooks has a very dubious concussion history, and one more concussion could knock him out of the league for good. Furthermore, Cooks showed signs of a decline last year. This, however, may have been a byproduct of catching passes from terrible quarterbacks and losing interest because the team was so bad. Cooks could definitely rebound in 2023.
I wouldn’t like this trade for the Cowboys if they were surrendering significant resources, but they are not doing so. A pair of third-day picks won’t make a huge difference, especially with one being a sixth-rounder in 2024. Furthermore, the Texans have agreed to take on $6 million of Cooks’ salary, which is a huge deal.
The Cowboys definitely won this trade. Cooks made it known that he didn’t want to play in Houston, so the team didn’t exactly have any leverage. However, agreeing to pay $6 million is a loss, even if it netted those late-round picks.
Grade for Cowboys – A-
Grade for Texans – C-
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Cowboys acquire CB Stephon Gilmore from Colts for 5th-round pick
The Cowboys had to find better cornerback play across from Trevon Diggs. They may have been able to do so via the 2023 NFL Draft, but as you can see in my 2023 NFL Mock Draft, all the top cornerbacks are off the board by the time Dallas is on the clock.
Trading for Stephon Gilmore is a short-term solution, but it’s one that could really pay off in the near future. Gilmore obviously isn’t the elite shutdown cornerback he once was now that he’s in his 30s – he’ll turn 33 in September – but he was still able to perform on a high level last year. He’s a great bargain for a fifth-round pick, which will actually be Dallas’ compensatory selection, so it’s almost a sixth-round choice.
The Cowboys definitely won this trade, but I understand why Indianapolis would make this move. The Colts are rebuilding, as they’ve definitely fallen behind the Jaguars. By the time they’re good again, Gilmore will probably be entering retirement, so it makes sense to get something for him.
Grade for Cowboys – A
Grade for Colts – B
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Giants acquire TE Darren Waller from Raiders for 3rd-round pick
This pick used to acquire Darren Waller was the one the Giants obtained for Kadarius Toney. The thought of transforming Toney into Waller seems great until you realize that Waller will turn 31 early during the 2023 season.
Still, I think this is a fine trade for the Giants because they are in win-now mode with Daniel Jones receiving a large contract. Jones desperately needed receiving help, and Waller certainly fits the bill. The only concern here is Waller’s durability. He has missed 14 total games in the past two seasons, so it remains to be seen if he can stay on the field.
With that in mind, I think the Raiders won this trade. Getting a third-round pick for a soon-to-be 31-year-old tight end with a dubious injury history makes sense, especially after acquiring a capable possession receiver earlier in the day.
Grade for Giants – B
Grade for Raiders – B+
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Texans acquire G Shaq Mason, 7th-round pick from Buccaneers for 6th-round pick
Shaq Mason is certainly not once the elite guard who blocked for Tom Brady in New England. He was an above-average guard who blocked for Brady in Tampa Bay last year, and given the Buccaneers’ salary cap woes, he needed to be shipped to another team.
The Texans made a ton of sense as a trade target. Last year’s first-round pick, Kenyon Green, was a huge bust, so Mason will be a big upgrade if Green doesn’t improve in his second season. This better line play will be crucial, given that the Texans will be starting a rookie quarterback. Given that this rookie quarterback will probably be lightweight Bryce Young, Houston’s offensive line will need to be optimized to shield the new signal-caller.
I think the Texans definitely won this trade. They took on a highly priced player, but barely surrendered any draft capital to do so. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, will continue to see their offensive line worsen, and they didn’t get much in return.
Grade for Texans – B+
Grade for Buccaneers – C
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Falcons acquire TE Jonnu Smith from Patriots for 2023 7th-round pick
I still can’t believe the Patriots signed Jonnu Smith to a 4-year, $50 million contract with $31 million guaranteed a couple of seasons ago. The Falcons could apparently believe that because they were willing to take on Smith’s horrendous contract in the wake of this trade.
The fit makes sense for the Falcons in general because Arthur Smith coached Jonnu Smith in Tennessee. However, the Falcons already have Kyle Pitts, so I don’t quite understand why they would take on a tight end contract like this. The draft compensation, a seventh-round pick, is fair, but it seems like Atlanta could have obtained a cheaper alternative.
As for the Patriots, it’s a positive that they were able to get rid of Smith by realizing that he was a sunk cost. Getting something, even a seventh-rounder, is better than nothing.
Grade for Falcons – C-
Grade for Patriots – B
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Dolphins acquire CB Jalen Ramsey from Rams for 2023 3rd-round pick, TE Hunter Long
Charlie Campbell reported a couple of weeks ago that the Rams wanted to get rid of Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey was still a great player for them, but they were fed up with his toxic attitude. This perhaps is not the sort of compensation Rams supporters thought they would receive for a great cornerback, but the trade still makes sense, especially given Los Angeles’ lack of leverage. The Rams’ Super Bowl window is closed, yet the team lacks draft capital. Obtaining a third-round pick will certainly help the rebuilding process.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, had a huge hole at cornerback in the wake of Byron Jones’ injuries. Jones was supposed to join Xavien Howard to form a great cornerback tandem, but Jones’ health woes prevented that from happening last year. Ramsey now gives the Dolphins their desired great cornerback duo. As long as Ramsey and Howard remain on the field, it’s going to be very difficult to throw on Miami, which is crucial for the Dolphins because of the high-powered passing offenses in their division. If Aaron Rodgers joins the Jets, Ramsey will be very important in those matchups, as well as those against the Bills.
The one downside for Miami is Ramsey’s attitude. He could potentially poison the locker room. However, as long as the Dolphins are winning, things should be fine. A third-round pick isn’t a huge price to pay for someone of Ramsey’s caliber, so I like this deal for Miami.
Grade for Dolphins – A
Grade for Rams – B
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Panthers acquire No. 1 overall pick from Bears for WR D.J. Moore, No. 9 overall pick, 2023 2nd-round pick, 2024 1st-round pick, 2025 2nd-round pick
When the Texans foolishly won during the final week of the season, the Bears secured the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which allowed them to trade the selection for a king’s ransom. This particular king was worth an extra first-round pick, two second-round selections, and a No. 1 receiver.
I imagine this is the most the Bears could have gotten from any of the teams seeking to move up for one of the top quarterbacks in this class. This haul will give them a great foundation to build around Justin Fields. They’ve given Fields a top wideout in D.J. Moore, and they’ll be able to either protect him with an offensive lineman or pair him with a dynamic backfield threat in Bijan Robinson with the No. 9 overall pick. The Panthers probably won’t be great in 2023, so the 2024 first-round pick they obtained from Carolina could be in the top 10.
The Panthers, meanwhile, had to do whatever it took to trade up to No. 1. The best-case scenario with staying at No. 9 overall would have been settling for Will Levis. In the wake of this trade, the Panthers can choose whichever quarterback they prefer between Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud. Sure, they had to surrender lots of resources in the process, but either Young or Stroud will allow them to begin the rebuilding process under their new coaching regime.
Grade for Panthers – B+
Grade for Bears – A+
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Jets acquire S Chuck Clark from Ravens for 2024 7th-round pick
When Adam Schefter announced that the Jets agreed to a trade, everyone was excited that the Aaron Rodgers news would finally break. Unfortunately, the deal had nothing to do with Rodgers, as New York acquired a veteran defensive back.
The Jets had a weakness at safety, so filling that void for a seventh-round pick seems like a great move. Chuck Clark isn’t a great player by any means, but he’s a solid, reliable player who hasn’t missed a single snap in the past three years. Getting him for almost nothing is a win for the Jets, while the Ravens had to do this to clear up salary cap space.
Grade for Jets – A
Grade for Ravens – C-
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Falcons acquire CB Rashad Fenton from Chiefs for conditional 7th-round pick
Thanks to some lucky wins earlier in the year, as well as the incompetence of the Buccaneers, the Falcons find themselves in first place of the NFC South. They have a good chance of making the playoffs, so they had to acquire some help to fix their greatest issue, which is their cornerback depth. Casey Hayward and A.J. Terrell are both injured, so the Falcons needed to find some viable corners to play while the duo recovers.
Rashad Fenton performed well for the Chiefs in 2021. He struggled to start the 2022 season and was ultimately benched. However, he would still be an upgrade over what the Falcons have in reserve, so I like this trade. Atlanta has given up nothing for him, so why not make the move?
The Chiefs, meanwhile, weren’t even playing Fenton, so it made sense for them to do this trade as well. A conditional seventh-round pick is almost certain to be irrelevant, but so was Fenton is a deep cornerback group.
Grade for Falcons – A
Grade for Chiefs – B+
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Bills acquire RB Nyheim Hines from Colts for RB Zack Moss, 2023 6th-round pick
There was speculation that the Bills would acquire Christian McCaffrey. They didn’t get McCaffrey, so they had to settle for Nyheim Hines as a consolation prize.
Hines will be a nice addition to Buffalo’s offense. He’ll serve as what James Cook was projected to be – a dynamic safety valve for Josh Allen. The Bills aren’t surrendering anything for Hines, so this is a great trade for them.
As for the Colts, it made sense to trade Hines in the wake of Deon Jackson’s emergence, but why didn’t they just settle for a better draft pick? I don’t understand the purpose of acquiring Zack Moss, an ineffective plodder.
Grade for Bills – A+
Grade for Colts – C-
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Jaguars acquire WR Calvin Ridley from Falcons for two conditional draft picks
It’s difficult to grade this trade because we don’t know what this exact compensation is, then again, we also don’t know when Calvin Ridley will be able to play again after betting on NFL games.
The Jaguars will reportedly surrender a fifth- or sixth-round pick this year and a 2024 second-, third- or fourth-round choice, depending on when Ridley is reinstated and other factors. I don’t see why Ridley can’t play as early as the opening week in 2023, so I love this trade for the Jaguars, who needed to give Trevor Lawrence a viable No. 1 receiver. Jacksonville overpaid Christian Kirk, but has gotten a nice bargain with Ridley.
As for the Falcons, I don’t get why they’re moving Ridley when he’ll likely be back next year. Desmond Ridder, or whichever quarterback the Falcons draft in 2023, will need all the weapons he can get. Drake London is very promising, but he and Ridley would have formed a great duo to pair with Kyle Pitts.
Grade for Jaguars – A-
Grade for Falcons – C
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Dolphins acquire RB Jeff Wilson Jr. from 49ers for 5th-round pick
The Dolphins traded Chase Edmonds to the Broncos in the Bradley Chubb deal, so they needed a solid backup behind Raheem Mostert. I expected them to sign someone, but they sent a fifth-round pick to the 49ers for Jeff Wilson Jr.
Wilson is a decent backup, but I don’t think the Dolphins needed to waste a fifth-rounder on someone like him when there were comparable options on the open market. The 49ers easily won this trade, as they obtained a free draft pick for a player they weren’t using anymore.
Grade for Dolphins – C-
Grade for 49ers – A
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Steelers acquire CB William Jackson, 2025 7th-round pick from Redskins for 2025 6th-round pick
William Jackson was seen as a terrific cornerback a couple of years ago. The Redskins thought highly enough of him that they gave him a $42 million contract. Jackson has been torched on a weekly basis, however, as he apparently became fat and happy as a result of his new money.
The Redskins weren’t getting anything out of Jackson, but it’s not like this trade moves the needle at all. The best aspect of this trade is that the Redskins got out of a bad contract. The Steelers, meanwhile, might be able to get something out of Jackson. Mike Tomlin is an excellent defensive coach, so he could have Jackson playing on a higher level. If not, Pittsburgh won’t stand to lose much, as a late-round pick swap in 2025 is meaningless.
Grade for Steelers – B+
Grade for Redskins – B
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Dolphins acquire DE Bradley Chubb, 2025 5th-round pick from Broncos for RB Chase Edmonds, 2023 1st-round pick, 2024 4th-round pick
The Dolphins have an excellent offense, but their defense looked terrible against the Lions last week. Their biggest problem has been their inability to generate a quality pass rush. That’ll no longer be the case in the wake of this trade.
Though Miami is surrendering a first-round pick – San Francisco’s selection – this trade is worth it because the team has obtained a legitimate No. 1 pass rusher. Chubb is having an excellent season as he enters his prime. He’s due for a big contract soon, but given his talent level, age (26), and positional importance, he’ll be worth it. His presence will allow the Dolphins to be more competitive with the Bills and Chiefs because they’ll be able to pressure elite quarterbacks without blitzing.
As for the Broncos, the Russell Wilson experiment has failed, so they have to begin anew. That was going to be difficult with no first-round pick, so at least they obtained one in return for Chubb. Part of me wonders if they should have tried again next year with a better coaching staff, but Denver will no longer possess an elite defense.
Grade for Dolphins – A
Grade for Broncos – B
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Bears acquire WR Chase Claypool from Steelers for 2023 2nd-round pick
I like the idea of this trade for the Bears. Chicago’s front office did a poor job of surrounding Justin Fields with talent this offseason, neglecting to fill the major holes at receiver and on the offensive line. The Bears are at least making amends for that by trading for a talented receiver.
That said, I’m dubious about surrendering a second-round pick for Chase Claypool, even if it’s Baltimore selection (via the Roquan Smith trade.) Claypool had a great rookie year, but has disappointed since, and there are some character concerns that should be worrying. I would have thought about giving up a third for Claypool, but not a second.
I’d say the Steelers won this trade. They have two other talented receivers in Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, so they were able to afford to offload Claypool before his big contract. They obtained great value for Claypool.
Grade for Bears – C
Grade for Steelers – A
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Vikings acquire TE T.J. Hockenson, 2023 4th-round pick, conditional 2024 4th-round pick from Lions for 2023 2nd-round pick, 2024 third-round pick
Minnesota’s front office made some dubious decisions during the 2023 NFL Draft, and the head-scratching choices continue. They acquired T.J. Hockenson from the Lions for two second-day selections. They also obtained a fourth-round pick from Detroit.
Hockenson is a talented player, but he’s just a tight end. Non-elite tight ends who are paid big contracts often disappoint, and Minnesota will have to pay Hockenson handsomely in the near future. In addition to that, the Vikings surrendered two second-day picks for this dilemma. It’s not ideal, especially when considering the team already had Irv Smith Jr. on the roster. There’s no doubt that Hockenson is better than Smith, but he wasn’t a necessary addition, especially when considering both the compensation and impending contract.
As for the Lions, they did well to offload a soon-to-be highly priced tight end for two premium picks. I’m not a big fan of sending Hockenson to a divisional rival, but that’s the only thing wrong with this trade. Detroit will miss Hockenson, but it’ll have plenty of weapons for either C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young with Jameson Williams set to return from injury soon to join Amon-Ra St. Brown, D.J. Chark, and D’Andre Swift.
Grade for Vikings – C-
Grade for Lions – B+
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Ravens acquire LB Roquan Smith from Bears for 2nd-, 5th-round picks
Roquan Smith openly wept in the wake of hearing that his former teammate, Robert Quinn, had been traded to the Eagles. I heard the joke on Stokastic’s DFS show that Smith may have been crying because he was upset that he wasn’t the one who was traded. Perhaps Smith will now have tears of joy because he’ll be playing for a much better football team.
The Ravens had surrendered big plays in the running game this year, as Josh Bynes has been a major liability in this regard. Baltimore had to acquire someone to strengthen its defense, which has ranked 23rd in EPA in the past six weeks. Smith, who will be a big upgrade, is just 25, so he could continue to improve. He could be the centerpiece of Baltimore’s defense for years to come.
I’d say this compensation is fair for both teams. The Bears need to continue to rebuild, so it made sense to trade the disgruntled linebacker. I’d actually give the Bears the edge in this trade, as off-ball linebackers don’t hold great value, though Smith is a very talented player.
Grade for Ravens – B
Grade for Bears – B+
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Chiefs acquire WR Kadarius Toney from Giants for conditional 3th-round pick, 6th-round pick
Kadarius Toney flashed onto the scene last year with some amazing performances before suffering an injury. There was a ton of hype surrounding him heading into his second year, but he has been a huge disappointment. He reportedly clashed with the coaching staff, then nursed a hamstring injury for more than a month. The Giants finally decided to cut ties with the 2021 first-round pick, sending him to the Chiefs for a conditional third-round choice and a sixth-round selection.
I’m curious to see what the conditions on the third-round pick are, but this seems to be an excellent trade for the Chiefs. They needed one more dynamic weapon to pair with Patrick Mahomes in the wake of the Tyreek Hill departure, and they’re doing a good job of buying low on Toney. I would imagine that Toney’s hamstring will suddenly feel much better now that he’s with a new team, and I also believe that Andy Reid will get the most out of his new toy.
As for the Giants, it seemed like things were irreparable with Toney, so it made sense to trade him. They’re not getting full value for him, but it’s not like they had any leverage, given Toney’s reluctance to play for them.
Grade for Chiefs – A-
Grade for Giants – B-
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Eagles acquire DE Robert Quinn from Bears for 4th-round pick
I broke some news on last night’s picks video:
This trade makes so much sense. The Eagles are the favorites to advance to the Super Bowl, and once they get there, they’ll likely battle the Bills, Chiefs or Bengals. In all three of those matchups, they’ll need as great of a pass rush as possible. The key to beating an elite quarterback, without outscoring them in a shootout, is to put tons of pressure on them without blitzing at all. Robert Quinn, who logged 18.5 sacks last year, will definitely strengthen Philadelphia’s pass rush. Quinn is having a down year so far, but he’s not too far removed from that 18.5-sack campaign. There’s a chance he might be on the decline – he turns 33 soon – but he’ll definitely help the team. I’d say there’s a good probability that he’ll improve in the second half of the season now that he’s with a contender. Having other studs on the defensive line to take attention away from him will help matters.
The compensation is logical for both teams. The Eagles aren’t giving up much because they still have six picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, including two first-round selections. The Bears, meanwhile, don’t have much of a chance to reach the playoffs, so it makes sense for them to obtain draft capital in their rebuilding process.
Grade for Eagles – A-
Grade for Bears – B+
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Cowboys acquire DT Johnathan Hankins from Raiders for late-round pick swap
The Cowboys have a fantastic pass rush, but their run defense isn’t on the same level. They’ve been mediocre against the rush, so it would make sense that they would pull the trigger on a trade like this. Johnathan Hankins is a fine, rotational player who can be on the field for 20-25 snaps to help stop ground attacks. The Cowboys and Raiders are swapping sixth- and seventh-round picks to make it happen, so it’s not like Dallas is giving up anything.
As for the Raiders, I’m a bit confused as to why they made this trade. They’re 2-4, but I think they could still make a playoff run now that they’re healthier than they were in Weeks 2 and 3. It’s not a huge loss by any means, but I don’t think the Raiders should be sellers at the moment.
Grade for Cowboys – B+
Grade for Raiders – C+
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Jets acquire RB James Robinson from Jaguars for 6th-round pick
The Jets appeared to have a tremendous running game to pair with their top-10 defense, which gave them an avenue to make the playoffs this year. This changed when Breece Hall suffered a knee injury in Denver. There was speculation that the Jets would obtain Kareem Hunt, but James Robinson is another viable option.
Robinson ran well for Jacksonville to start the year, but was phased out of the offense in favor of Travis Etienne. He didn’t even receive a single touch last week. However, that just means he’s well rested for his new team. Robinson will be a solid complement to Michael Carter. He doesn’t have the game-breaking ability of Hall, but he’s a quality runner who is well worth the price of a late-round pick. Jacksonville also did well to obtain something for someone they weren’t using at all, but the Jets won this trade.
Grade for Jets – A
Grade for Jaguars – B
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49ers acquire RB Christian McCaffrey from Panthers for 2023 2nd-, 3rd-, 4th-round picks, 2024 5th-round pick
Carolina’s fire sale continues! We all knew Christian McCaffrey would be traded because of his egregious contract. The only question was where. The Bills and Eagles were discussed as leading candidates, but the 49ers swooped in and snatched him.
I have to say that I’m surprised the 49ers ended up being the team that traded for him. Elijah Mitchell will be returning soon, and Deebo Samuel is more than capable of handling carries. McCaffrey will definitely provide the team with some major juice, however, and he, in a vacuum, is worth the draft compensation. That said, his contract must be considered. He’s going to be extremely difficult to roster after this season, so this seems like a short-term rental for the 49ers. Given that they are arguably the best team in the NFC, it could definitely be worth it if McCaffrey gets them over the hump. McCaffrey can do that if he stays healthy, but his durability is a major question mark. This trade could easily end up backfiring. I kind of like the deal for San Francisco, but there’s real downside.
As for the Panthers, their fans have to be disappointed that no first-round pick was acquired, but that was never a possibility, given how bad McCaffrey’s contract is. Still, shedding themselves a bad contract and picking up needed draft picks is a nice way to begin the rebuilding process.
Grade for 49ers – B
Grade for Panthers – B-
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Cardinals acquire WR Robbie Anderson from Panthers for 2024 6th-round pick, 2025 7th-round pick
Carolina’s fire sale begins! It wasn’t Christian McCaffrey or D.J. Moore, but the Panthers opted to move their other known play-making threat, Robbie Anderson. This was not a surprise, given that the coaching staff kicked Anderson out of last week’s game after he yelled at them.
Anderson has enjoyed some bright moments in his career, but hasn’t really done much since 2020. Then again, he hasn’t exactly been paired with the best quarterbacks, so there’s still some potential. Arizona did well to buy low on him, risking almost nothing. The Cardinals had to make a move for a receiver, given Marquise Brown’s serious injury.
As for the Panthers, it’s nice that they’re getting something for Anderson, even if they are selling low. Anderson wasn’t going to produce anything for them, especially after his spat with the coaching staff, so they had to trade him.
Grade for Cardinals – B+
Grade for Panthers – B
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Browns acquire LB Deion Jones from Falcons for 2024 late-round pick swaps
The Browns’ run defense has been miserable the past couple of weeks. They haven’t been able to tackle anyone since losing Anthony Walker to injury. They had to do something to fix their biggest problem, so they acquired Deion Jones from the Falcons for a swap of 2024 sixth- and seventh-round picks.
This would be an amazing trade for the Browns if this were still 2017. Jones, however, has endured injuries throughout his career and now is just a shell of his former self. He’s still only 27, so there’s a chance he could rebound, but it’s more likely that he’s just done.
Still, it doesn’t hurt the Browns very much to make this trade. It wasn’t a high price to pay for Jones even though he’s currently on injured reserve. The Falcons wanted to cut him during the offseason, in fact, so it’s nice that they’re getting something for him.
Grade for Browns – B
Grade for Falcons – B
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Vikings acquire WR Jalen Reagor from Eagles for 2023 7th-round pick, conditional 2024 4th-round pick
Everyone though the Eagles would select Justin Jefferson with the 21st-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. They picked Jalen Reagor instead, and the rest is history. Jefferson has emerged as one of the best receivers in the NFL, while Reagor has been a colossal bust.
I was shocked that Reagor survived final cuts, but the Vikings apparently were not because they surrendered draft capital for him. I love this move for the Eagles because they easily could have released Reagor, so getting something for him is nice. The fourth-round pick in 2024 could be downgraded to a fifth-round choice, but it’s still a sweet deal for Philadelphia to salvage something for Reagor.
I don’t hate this trade for the Vikings either. They’re buying Reagor at an all-time low, and they need a future replacement for Adam Thielen. Reagor has been a miserable player in the NFL thus far, but he still has talent, so perhaps Minnesota could develop him into a functional player.
Grade for Vikings – B
Grade for Eagles – A
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Eagles acquire S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, 2025 7th-round pick from Saints for 2023 5th-round pick, 2024 6th-round pick
It’s my opinion that if you remove all the quarterbacks from every team in the NFC, the Eagles would be ranked as having the best roster in the conference. The one hole was at safety, but that’s no longer the case in the wake of this trade.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is a talented defensive back with tons of upside because he’s only 24. He’s also extremely versatile; he can play anywhere in the secondary, though he’s best at safety or in the slot. The Eagles will use him in those positions in a Malcolm Jenkins-type role, and he’ll serve as a big upgrade. The sixth- and seventh-round picks are a swap, so this is really only for a fifth-round choice, which seems like a great deal.
As for the Saints, they’ve endured salary cap issues, so they couldn’t agree to terms with Gardner-Johnson. It makes sense for them to obtain something for him, but they are the losers of this trade.
Grade for Eagles – A
Grade for Saints – C+
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Cardinals acquire G Cody Ford from Bills for conditional 2023 5th-round pick
Cody Ford didn’t quite pan out for the Bills. He was chosen in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but barely played last year. He struggled mightily when on the field, forcing Buffalo to upgrade guard this offseason.
With that in mind, I’m shocked the Cardinals surrendered a fifth-round choice for Ford. Ford is still young (25) and can play guard and right tackle, but he hasn’t shown any signs that he can be a quality starting offensive lineman in the NFL. If I had to guess the compensation for Ford, I would have gone with what the Vikings dealt to the Raiders for Nick Mullens: a conditional seventh-round pick.
I’m not going to completely fail Arizona because the team needs offensive line help, and Ford’s career could still be salvaged, but there’s no doubt that the Bills won this trade.
Grade for Cardinals – D
Grade for Bills – A
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Vikings acquire QB Nick Mullens from Raiders for conditional 2024 7th-round pick
The Vikings’ backup quarterbacks have struggled this preseason. Sean Mannion doesn’t appear to be an NFL-caliber quarterback, while Kellen Mond made some glaring mistakes this past weekend. As I wrote on the preseason recaps page, “[Mond] has some great tools, but is incredibly raw.”
It makes sense for Minnesota to acquire a capable No. 2 signal-caller. Nick Mullens is limited in what he can do, but he can hold down the fort for a few games in the wake of a Kirk Cousins injury. It’s not really costing Minnesota anything to acquire him, so I like this move for them.
As for the Raiders, they had two quality reserves behind Derek Carr, so they could afford to trade one of them. Jarrett Stidham is probably worse overall than Mullens, but there’s not much of a difference between the two. I think this is an even trade for both sides. The only loser in this deal, because Mannion and Mond, is Mullens, who will now have to spend his winters in Minneapolis rather than Las Vegas.
Grade for Vikings – B+
Grade for Raiders – B+
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Bears acquire WR N’Keal Harry from Patriots for 2024 7th-round pick
To say that N’Keal Harry hasn’t lived up to his draft status is a severe understatement. He was chosen with the final pick in the opening round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and yet his career-high numbers through three seasons are 33 catches, 309 yards and two touchdowns. Harry’s primary issue has been his inability to separate.
I have no faith in Harry, and it’s telling that Bill Belichick doesn’t either. Belichick’s stance on Harry should tell the Bears everything they need to know about the former Arizona State product, but they don’t have anything at receiver outside of Darnell Mooney. I understand why they’d take a chance on Harry, though he’ll contribute very little. The Patriots, meanwhile, at least got something for Harry when they were almost certain to cut him.
Grade for Bears – C-
Grade for Patriots – B
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Panthers acquire QB Baker Mayfield from Browns for 2024 conditional 5th-round pick
It was only a matter of time before Baker Mayfield was moved to the Panthers, Seahawks or Lions. The Browns signed Deshaun Watson to a mega deal, so they angered their former quarterback, losing all leverage with him in the process. The only question was whether Mayfield would be traded or cut.
The Panthers traded for Mayfield, giving up just a conditional fifth-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Of course, the main concern is Mayfield’s contract, which is the primary reason Cleveland received so little in return. The Panthers didn’t want to fully pay Mayfield’s contract, and understandably so. They will not be doing that, as the Browns and Panthers have agreed to split the finances.
This is an enormous deal for the Panthers, who automatically become a Super Bowl contender in the wake of this trade. Mayfield struggled last year, but only because he suffered two shoulder injuries in a span of four weeks. Mayfield will rebound to 2020 levels, especially with Carolina’s superior supporting cast. The Panthers did a great job of bolstering their offensive line this offseason, and they’ll have Christian McCaffrey returning from injury as well. Sam Darnold was holding the team back, so Mayfield will be a huge upgrade.
As for the Browns, they can’t be graded highly at all. It made sense for them to trade Mayfield, but only because of other blunders they made along the way. As mentioned earlier, they had no leverage. They’ve gotten almost nothing for their franchise quarterback, and they have to foot half the bill.
Grade for Panthers – A+
Grade for Browns – D-
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Falcons acquire WR Bryan Edwards, 7th-round pick from Raiders for 5th-round pick
Bryan Edwards seems to be one of those players who always looks good in training camp or preseason games, and yet never does anything in real action. He caught 34 passes in 2021 after logging 15 receptions the prior season. With Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Demarcus Robinson all in front of Edwards, there was no room for him on the roster, so this trade makes sense for the Raiders.
I like this move a bit less for the Falcons, but Edwards has potential. He won’t even be 24 until November, so perhaps he’ll finally live up to expectations. Atlanta has nothing at receiver outside of Drake London, so it’s worth it for them to take a gamble on Edwards.
Grade for Falcons – B
Grade for Raiders – B+
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Raiders acquire QB Jarrett Stidham, 7th-round pick from Patriots for 6th-round pick
At one point, Jarrett Stidham seemed like the logical successor to Tom Brady. Stidham performed very well at times during training camp and preseason of his rookie year, but that didn’t last very long. Bill Belichick quickly grew frustrated with him, prompting the Mac Jones selection. Stidham was further demoted when Belichick used a mid-round pick this April on Bailey Zappe. Stidham suddenly was a long shot to make the roster.
Thus, it makes sense for the Patriots to trade Stidham. Getting anything for him is a plus, although swaps of sixth- and seventh-round choices are mostly inconsequential.
The Raiders are barely giving up anything for Stidham. He may not make the Raiders’ roster either – Nick Mullens is a better backup – but Stidham may have an edge because he knows Josh McDaniels’ system. Plus, the Raiders didn’t have a young quarterback to groom behind the 31-year-old Derek Carr, so it makes sense to add some competition.
Grade for Raiders – B
Grade for Patriots – B
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Chiefs acquire S/CB Lonnie Johnson from Texans for conditional 2024 7th-round pick
We’re all expecting Deebo Samuel and Baker Mayfield trades any day now. Instead, we got this. To say that Lonnie Johnson has struggled thus far in his career is an understatement. Frequently torched, Johnson doesn’t appear as though he’ll be in the pros for much longer. He was a second-round pick in 2019, but has played like a UDFA thus far.
Johnson is still 26, however, so perhaps the Chiefs will be able to turn him into a half-decent backup. This 2024 seventh-round pick they’re potentially surrendering is conditional, after all, so they may not relinquish anything. Johnson’s worth a shot as someone who was once seen as having potential. The Texans were probably going to cut Johnson after adding two defensive backs in the 2022 NFL Draft, so potentially getting something for him makes sense.
Grade for Chiefs – B-
Grade for Texans – B-
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Saints acquire two 1st-round picks (16, 19) and 6th-round pick (194) from Eagles for 1st-round pick (18), 3rd-round pick (101), 7th-round pick (237), 2023 1st-round pick, 2024 2nd-round pick
For the second year in a row, the Eagles made a blockbuster trade prior to the draft to acquire more draft capital in the future. They obtained a future first-round pick for moving down from No. 6 to 12, and they’ve done so yet again, receiving a first-rounder from the Saints in the 2023 NFL Draft for giving up one of their three opening-round choices.
This is a great trade for the Eagles for two reasons. One, the 2022 NFL Draft class is underwhelming. As Charlie Campbell reported during the Senior Bowl, “In speaking to scouts from around the league, this year’s draft lacks clear-cut high-end talent for the first round. Scouts do not have prospects graded out as high as those in last year’s elite group like Kyle Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase and Penei Sewell.”
The Eagles were not going to obtain anything resembling a blue-chip prospect; even if they traded up into the top 10. Thus, it makes more sense to obtain draft capital for next year. The 2023 NFL Draft class is packed with more talent, especially at quarterback. The Eagles might even be in a position to land one of the top signal-callers next April. Check out my 2023 NFL Mock Draft for more info.
The second reason why I love this move for Philadelphia is that the Saints’ draft choice could be very high. New Orleans is not a good team by any means. It has the potential to reach the playoffs, but that is New Orleans’ ceiling. Its floor, now that both Drew Brees and Sean Payton are gone, is probably a 4-13 record. The Eagles may have just obtained the fifth- or sixth-overall choice in a much better draft class. Plus, they also get two extra second-round choices!
As for the Saints, I have no idea what they’re doing. With the consensus being that this draft class is weak, why would they want more picks this April? Also, giving away their first-rounder, when it could be used on a potential franchise quarterback, could cripple the franchise. I don’t understand New Orleans’ plan at all.
Grade for Saints – D
Grade for Eagles – A+
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Patriots acquire WR DeVante Parker, 2022 5th-round pick from Dolphins for 2023 3rd-round pick
It should come as no surprise that DeVante Parker was dealt. The Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill and signed Cedrick Wilson this offseason, giving them a talented trio at the position that includes second-year star Jaylen Waddle. There was no room for Parker on the roster, so he had to go.
The shocking element of this development is that Parker will be going to New England. It’s not unheard of that teams from the same division trade with each other, but you’d think the Dolphins would learn from their mistake. Fifteen years ago, they traded a receiver to the Patriots for a second-day choice. That receiver was Wes Welker.
New England definitely won this deal. Parker is a talented wideout who will fill a big hole on the roster. Moving down two rounds in the draft is not the end of the world, and Parker is almost certainly better than anyone the Patriots could have acquired at the position in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Bill Belichick, for as great as he is, has a huge weakness, and that would be identifying talented receiving prospects. New England has drafted many busts at the position, so why not trade for a sure thing?
The Dolphins, meanwhile, did well to get a relevant draft choice for a player they didn’t need anymore, but the cost of strengthening the arch-rival Patriots once again definitely makes them the losers in this trade.
Grade for Patriots – A
Grade for Dolphins – C-
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Patriots acquire WR DeVante Parker, 2022 5th-round pick from Dolphins for 2023 3rd-round pick
It should come as no surprise that DeVante Parker was dealt. The Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill and signed Cedrick Wilson this offseason, giving them a talented trio at the position that includes second-year star Jaylen Waddle. There was no room for Parker on the roster, so he had to go.
The shocking element of this development is that Parker will be going to New England. It’s not unheard of that teams from the same division trade with each other, but you’d think the Dolphins would learn from their mistake. Fifteen years ago, they traded a receiver to the Patriots for a second-day choice. That receiver was Wes Welker.
New England definitely won this deal. Parker is a talented wideout who will fill a big hole on the roster. Moving down two rounds in the draft is not the end of the world, and Parker is almost certainly better than anyone the Patriots could have acquired at the position in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Bill Belichick, for as great as he is, has a huge weakness, and that would be identifying talented receiving prospects. New England has drafted many busts at the position, so why not trade for a sure thing?
The Dolphins, meanwhile, did well to get a relevant draft choice for a player they didn’t need anymore, but the cost of strengthening the arch-rival Patriots once again definitely makes them the losers in this trade.
Grade for Patriots – A
Grade for Dolphins – C-
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Dolphins acquire WR Tyreek Hill from Chiefs for 2022 1st-, 2nd-, 4th-round picks; 2023 4th-, 6th-round picks
This has already been a wild offseason thus far, and it just got crazier with Tyreek Hill traded to the Dolphins. Miami has surrendered first- and second-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, as well as three mid-round selections, for one of the most electrifying receivers in the NFL.
Despite how great Hill is, I don’t like this trade for either team. I can understand why the Dolphins would want to give Tua Tagovailoa another dynamic weapon to pair with Jaylen Waddle, but there are two issues. One, Miami will have to give Hill an obscene contract worth $30 million per year or so. Two, Hill won’t be as productive as he was with Patrick Mahomes, so will he get frustrated once he’s not posting the same sort of numbers he did in Kansas City? Tagovailoa has potential to be a solid starting quarterback in the NFL – especially with Hill and Terron Armstead joining him this offseason – but he’ll never be as good as Mahomes, so Hill won’t ever be as productive as he was in Kansas City. If Hill’s stats are down, and the Dolphins suffer a losing streak, there could be internal problems.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, are picking up extra draft choices, but these picks won’t be able to duplicate what Hill produced for them. The Chiefs’ offense won’t be as explosive without Hill – JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman are currently the top two wideouts – and in a heavy AFC arms race, Kansas City needed all the firepower it could muster. Lacking Hill, the Chiefs are unlikely to be able to keep up with the Chargers, Broncos, Bills, Bengals, Browns and Ravens. I’m aware that they had to trade Hill because they couldn’t afford to pay him the money he requested, but it’s still a damaging move for Kansas City’s Super Bowl LVII aspirations.
Grade for Dolphins – C+
Grade for Chiefs – D
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Colts acquire QB Matt Ryan from Falcons for 2022 3rd-round pick
The Falcons didn’t exactly have the best market for Matt Ryan. With most of the quarterback-needy teams addressing the position already, Indianapolis was really the only destination for Ryan, keeping in mind that Atlanta didn’t want to trade him within the division to Carolina or New Orleans. Thus, all the Falcons could fetch for Ryan was a third-round pick.
This compensation doesn’t seem like enough for a solid starting quarterback in the NFL. Granted, Ryan turns 37 in May, but he can still perform on a high level with the right talent around him. This isn’t a horrible trade by any means, but it can’t be ignored that the Falcons had an opportunity to trade Ryan last year. They could have obtained more for him during the 2021 offseason, so they made a big mistake by waiting one season. Still, they had to start over, so trading Ryan was the right decision in the end.
The Colts, meanwhile, are the big winners of this trade. If they had a quarterback who didn’t throw into triple coverage last year, they would have made the playoffs. Ryan isn’t what he once was, but he’ll definitely be an upgrade over Carson Wentz. He can led the Colts to the playoffs because the AFC South is a poor division.
Grade for Colts – A
Grade for Falcons – C+
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Titans acquire WR Robert Woods from Rams for 2023 6th-round pick
When the Rams signed Allen Robinson, it was assumed that the Rams would be parting ways with Odell Beckham Jr. Instead, it was Robert Woods who was traded, as Los Angeles sent him packing to Tennessee for a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
This compensation would be an incredible bargain for Woods if it weren’t for his torn ACL. Woods suffered that injury midway through the 2021 campaign, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be 100 percent for 2022. If the Titans gave the Rams anything more than a fifth-round choice for Woods, I’d criticize this trade, but a sixth seems worth the risk. If Woods can somehow be 80 percent of what he usually is, he’ll be a viable replacement for Julio Jones, who couldn’t stay healthy last year.
The Rams, meanwhile, had no room for Woods after signing Robinson. Woods was better than Robinson last year, but he won’t be the same after his torn ACL. Besides, Robinson has so much more potential now that he’ll be playing with a good quarterback for the first time in his career.
Grade for Titans – A-
Grade for Rams – B
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Bills acquire QB Case Keenum from Browns for 7th-round pick
The Browns traded for Deshaun Watson on Friday afternoon. They’re expected to ship out Baker Mayfield sometime soon, but they had another quarterback they wanted to deal, as they sent Case Keenum to the Bills for a seventh-round pick.
Keenum is one of the best backups in the NFL, so he’s well worth a seventh-round selection. Given the talent on Buffalo’s roster, Keenum can win some number of games if he’s forced into the starting lineup in the event of a Josh Allen injury. If Allen has to miss a few weeks, the Bills will be happy that they surrendered a seventh-round pick for a capable backup.
Cleveland, meanwhile, signed Jacoby Brissett as a cheaper option to replace Keenum. Thus, the Browns had no need for Keenum, so it’s nice that they obtained a seventh-round pick for him. This trade, as you can see, makes sense for both parties.
Grade for Bills – B+
Grade for Browns – B+
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Browns acquire QB Deshaun Watson, 5th-round pick from Texans for three 1st-round picks, 3rd-round pick, 4th-round pick
Reports indicated that Deshaun Watson’s decision was coming down to Atlanta versus New Orleans, but he had a sudden change of heart and decided to go to Cleveland instead. The Browns have reportedly traded three first-round picks, as well as third- and fifth-round choices to the Texans for Watson.
There’s no price high enough for a franchise quarterback, but it could be argued that the Browns already had one in Baker Mayfield. The former No. 1 overall pick struggled last year, but only because he injured his shoulder twice. He was terrific in 2020 and was expected to bounce back, assuming that there was no long-term damage to his shoulder. If there is, this trade makes so much more sense. Regardless, I don’t think anyone will be debating that Mayfield is better than Watson, but there is a huge price to acquiring the former Texan. Giving up three first-round picks, as well as a selection in the third frame, will have some major long-term ramifications. Thus, I don’t think this is a slam-dunk deal for the Browns, though I will still grade it favorably because they gave themselves a better chance to win the Super Bowl in the short term.
As for the Texans, they really had no choice but to trade Watson because their former franchise quarterback said he no longer wanted to play there. Given how poorly Houston’s front office had mismanaged the roster, no one could possibly blame him. The Texans obtained a good haul for Watson, though it’s interesting that Mayfield was not part of the package. The Texans will likely tank for one of the top quarterbacks next April (check out my 2023 NFL Mock Draft for more info.)
Update: Instead of trading away a fifth-round pick, the Browns are getting one from Houston, but are giving up a fourth-round selection in return. This doesn’t impact my grades.
Grade for Browns – B
Grade for Texans – B+
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Raiders acquire WR Davante Adams from Packers for 2022 1st- and 2nd-round picks
The Broncos and Chargers added future Hall of Fame players to their rosters this offseason, so the Raiders had a tough decision to make: Given that they weren’t built to compete with the other teams in the division, should they obtain highly priced veterans at the cost of their long-term cap situation to compete with the Chiefs, Broncos and Chargers now, or should they tank to rebuild quickly?
The Raiders have chosen the former strategy. We’ll see if it pays off, but even with Adams now on the roster, the Raiders still appear to be the worst team in the division. They easily have the worst quarterback and the worst blocking of the four teams. Adams will help Derek Carr immensely, but it should be noted that Adams won’t be as productive with Carr as he was with Rodgers. Someone of his caliber is still worth first- and second-round picks, but we all saw what happened when Julio Jones went from Matt Ryan to Ryan Tannehill. The disparity between Rodgers and Carr is even more vast.
I don’t completely hate this trade for the Raiders. In fact, I think they made out better than Green Bay. No matter whom the Packers draft with the Raiders’ pick at No. 22, he won’t be nearly as impactful as Adams would’ve been over the next five or so years. I get that the Packers were in a dire cap situation, but this is still devastating for Rodgers, who really has no one to throw to at the moment.
Grade for Raiders – B-
Grade for Packers – D
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Texans acquire LB Blake Cashman from Jets for 2023 6th-round pick
When I saw this trade, I was shocked. Not because of the compensation, but because I didn’t even know Blake Cashman was still in the NFL. Cashman played in just three games last season and four the year prior to that. He has made seven combined tackles in those seven starts.
With that in mind, why did the Texans give up a sixth-round pick to get Cashman? If anything, it should have been a conditional seventh-round pick based on snaps played. The Texans are just throwing their sixth-round selection in 2023 away into the garbage for no reason, as they could have obtained many other linebackers of Cashman’s caliber without surrendering draft capital. Congratulations, Jets, on your free draft choice.
Grade for Texans – F
Grade for Jets – A
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Colts acquire DE Yannick Ngakoue from Raiders CB Rock Ya-Sin
When the Raiders signed Chandler Jones, the question everyone asked was what the Raiders would do with Yannick Ngakoue, given that they had just re-signed Maxx Crosby. We found our answer minutes later when a trade between the Colts and Raiders was announced.
This seems like a fair trade for both teams. I’d say Ngakoue is a better player than Rock Ya-Sin, but not by much. Ngakoue logged 10 sacks last year, but was beaten up when trying to support the run. He’ll help the Colts’ pass rush, which was ranked dead last in pressure rate last year.
Ya-Sin, meanwhile, is a solid starting cornerback. He’s only 25, so he should continue to improve. He fills a need, and the Raiders could afford to surrender Ngakoue to the Colts for Ya-Sin because of the Chandler signing.
Grade for Colts – B+
Grade for Raiders – B+
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Buccaneers acquire G Shaq Mason from Patriots for 5th-round pick
The news just keeps getting better for the Buccaneers. Forty-eight hours ago, they didn’t even expect to have Tom Brady or any of their interior offensive linemen. Since then, Brady canceled his retirement, while Ryan Jensen was re-signed. Still, there was a big need at guard in the wake of Ali Marpet’s retirement and Alex Cappa’s free-agency departure. Tampa Bay filled one of the holes with this trade.
Shaq Mason is one of the best guards in the NFL. He’s due $16 million for the next two years, but that seems completely reasonable for a player of his caliber. He’s well worth the fifth-round pick as a short-term boost to help the Buccaneers win another Super Bowl.
The Buccaneers won this trade by a wide margin. I get the Patriots wanting to shed some salary, but I’d rather have Mason over the fifth-round pick and the freed salary cap space, given that the Patriots are developing a young quarterback. I’d want Mac Jones to have the best protection possible, but New England is a team that often seems to find talented blockers out of thin air.
Grade for Buccaneers – A
Grade for Patriots – C
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Browns acquire DE Chase Winovich from Patriots for LB Mack Wilson
This mostly seems like an even trade for both teams. The Browns and Patriots are both acquiring players who were once promising, but ended up failing. These players will theoretically help fill needs for their new franchises.
Chase Winovich was seen as the better player entering 2021. He recorded 11 total sacks in his first two seasons, but fell out of favor with Bill Belichick and barely played this past year. He’ll provide the Browns with some needed help with their edge rush. Meanwhile, Wilson was also barely on the field, playing about 10 snaps per game. New England needed linebacker depth, so Wilson could help in that regard.
I’d say the Browns won this trade, but only by a bit. I think Winovich has more upside, but this is pretty close.
Grade for Browns – B+
Grade for Patriots – B
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Browns acquire WR Amari Cooper from Cowboys for 2022 5th-round pick, swap of 6th-round pick
Amari Cooper for a fifth-round pick (as well as a swap of sixth-rounders) seems like a sweet deal at first until you consider that the Cowboys were willing to cut Cooper if they didn’t find a trading partner for him. Granted, Dallas has some major cap issues, but the team wanted to keep Michael Gallup over Cooper.
There are two issues with Cooper. One, he’s due $20 million per season for each of the next three years. This is an obscene number for a receiver who isn’t elite. Two, Cooper tends to fade each season. He seldom comes through in the clutch and sometimes disappears completely.
That said, this still isn’t a bad trade for the Browns. It’s not ideal that they have to pay Cooper tons of money, but they’re not giving up much as far as draft capital is concerned. They’re also filling a huge need. Meanwhile, the Cowboys did well to get at least something for a player they were going to cut.
Grade for Browns – B-
Grade for Cowboys – B+
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Chargers acquire DE Khalil Mack from Bears for 2022 2nd-round pick, 2023 6th-round pick
It doesn’t seem that long ago that Khalil Mack was acquired from an AFC West team for a pair of first-round picks. Now, he’s going back to that division, and yet the team that acquired him isn’t even relinquishing an opening-round selection.
Mack is a terrific acquisition for the Chargers. Patrick Mahomes and now Russell Wilson stand in the way of the Chargers winning the AFC West, so they needed to strengthen their pass rush as much as possible. They already had Joey Bosa, but had to find someone on the other side. They now have two terrific edge rushers to give Mahomes and Wilson major problems. Granted, Mack may decline soon because he just turned 31, but he’s still an excellent player who should perform at a high level in the next couple of years.
The Chargers got a steal in Mack, but I’m not going to criticize the Bears very much. Chicago is a rebuilding team, and by the time it can become a serious Super Bowl competitor, Mack will be too old. Getting a second-round pick for him is a fine move.
Grade for Chargers – A+
Grade for Bears – B-
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Redskins acquire QB Carson Wentz from Colts for two 3rd-round picks; swap of 2022 2nd-round picks
When doing the NFL Quarterback Destinations video with Jacob Camenker a week ago, I speculated that the Colts would have to cut Carson Wentz because no team would be crazy enough to take on his contract. I imagined Wentz, as a free agent, would reunite with his former offensive coordinator, Mike Groh, who is with the Giants. Wentz, despite his recent struggles, could easily beat out Daniel Jones for the starting job in New York.
I never imagined a trade would occur, but if one did, the receiving team would certainly force the Colts into paying some of Wentz’s contract. Wentz is grossly overpaid, after all. Well, the Redskins apparently didn’t get the memo because they pulled a trigger on a trade for Wentz, and they will be taking on his entire deal.
This is a complete desperation move by the Redskins. They tried to trade for Russell Wilson for a package that included three first-round picks. Twenty-four hours after learning that Wilson was sent to Denver, Washington pulled the trigger on a deal for Wentz for two third-round selections, with one potentially becoming a second-round pick based on incentives.
Just trading a pair of third-round choices for Wentz is not a terrible bargain because he’s a young quarterback who could potentially revert to the player who was the MVP favorite in 2017 prior to his knee injury. Granted, it’s not likely because Wentz has suffered so many injuries over the years, but the upside exists. The issue with this deal is that the Redskins have taken on Wentz’s albatross of a contract. The figures on the deal are so bad that the Colts would have released Wentz had they not found a trading partner. In that case, Washington could have just signed Wentz for much less and not given up two third-round picks. For that reason, this is a complete failure for the Redskins.
The Colts, on the other hand, made out like bandits. They were willing to cut Wentz, yet some team just gave them a pair of third-round picks without asking them to pay some of Wentz’s salary. Imagine being ready to take your beaten-down car to the junkyard, only to have a dumb friend ask if he can take your car for $3,000, all while paying for the inspection first. This is exactly what the Redskins did, so Indianapolis has to receive an A+ for this trade.
Grade for Redskins – F
Grade for Colts – A+
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Broncos acquire QB Russell Wilson, 4th-round pick from Seahawks for two 1st-round picks, two 2nd-round picks, 5th-round pick, TE Noah Fant, DT Shelby Harris, QB Drew Lock
The Broncos had plans to select Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft, but everything changed when they learned Aaron Rodgers would potentially be available. They attempted to acquire Rodgers, but the long-time Packer remained in Green Bay. History repeated itself this offseason, with Rodgers once again deciding to stay put, signing a $200 million contract this morning. That prompted the Broncos to pull the trigger on a deal they’ve been discussing with the Seahawks for a couple of weeks.
The primary components of this trade for the Broncos are the two first-round choices, the two second-round selections and Shelby Harris. Noah Fant is a big name, but Denver has a very viable replacement in Albert Okwuegbunam, so Fant’s departure won’t matter. Losing lots of draft capital stings, but Wilson is worth it, especially when considering next year’s first-round pick will be very late. Effectively, the Broncos are surrendering Nos. 9, 40 and 64 overall this year, and No. 23-32 in 2023, plus a talented defensive lineman in Harris on top of it.
I think when you look at it that way, the trade looks great for the Broncos. Wilson, after all, is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and he’ll give Denver a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl. Wilson will have a great running game, talented receivers, a solid offensive line and a terrific defense surrounding him in Denver. The Broncos are built to win the Super Bowl with an elite quarterback, and now they have one. I believe they are easily a top-five NFL team with Wilson, with the potential of being in the top three.
As for the Seahawks, I don’t like this trade for them. I think they should have been able to obtain three first-round picks from the Broncos. Harris is a nice player, but what’s he going to do for them while they’re rebuilding? Fant will be an upgrade at tight end for whichever quarterback they draft at nine or 40. Still, I don’t think the Seahawks obtained enough for Wilson. Seattle had a legitimate chance to make a Super Bowl run with Wilson in 2022. Given their favorable cap situation, as well as the decline of teams like the Buccaneers and Rams, the NFC was wide open except for the Packers, 49ers and perhaps Cardinals. The Seahawks were eighth in DVOA last year, so if they found a way to upgrade their pass rush, which they could’ve done with their cap room, they could’ve established themselves as one of the top teams in the NFC. Instead, they’ll be rebuilding, beginning in a year that features a pedestrian quarterback class.
Grade for Broncos – A
Grade for Seahawks – D
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