The NFL experienced quite the busy trade deadline as 10 deals took place over Monday and Tuesday before the 4 p.m. ET cutoff point, as teams either geared up for strong second-half pushes for contention or began stockpiling assets for offseason rebuilds.
We saw blockbuster deals, such as the New York Jets sending All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis for two Colts’ first-round draft picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell. Intriguing moves, such as the Seattle Seahawks’ acquisition of wide receiver Rashid Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints for a pair of draft picks, plus the Jacksonville Jaguars swapping draft selections to the Las Vegas for Jakobi Meyers.
In all, 22 in-season trades took place, topping last year’s 18. Traditionally, these in-season deals tend to fall short of the desired impact. But this year’s action has the potential to buck that trend.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from this year’s trade deadline.
Winners
Philadelphia Eagles
Howie Roseman does it again. Philadelphia’s general manager found ways to improve his roster and help position his team for the stretch run. The Eagles stood firm on their stance that they wouldn’t trade A.J. Brown, so they now just have to figure out how to better put him to use down the stretch of the season.
They emerged from the trade deadline having acquired pass-rushing help in the form of Jaelan Phillips, who, when healthy for a full season, has been an eight-sack per year edge rusher. He’ll help fill the void that the Eagles have been struggling to fill ever since Super Bowl hero Josh Sweat departed via free agency. The Eagles also acquired cornerback Michael Carter, who will help bolster the secondary with his ability to play both cornerback and safety.
And don’t forget, Philadelphia added much-needed help for its secondary when it acquired Jaire Alexander from the Baltimore Ravens last week. He made two Pro Bowl rosters in a three-season span from 2020 to 2022, but has since struggled to stay on the field. If healthy, he has the experience and playmaking ability to help.
Indianapolis Colts
It’s rare that a team has the chance to bring in a two-time All-Pro cornerback in the middle of the season, but the Colts managed to swing such a deal on Tuesday. When the Colts get Charvarius Ward back from his stint on injured reserve because of a concussion, they’ll have an outstanding duo at cornerback, which should only help the efforts of a front anchored by DeForest Buckner. With a second-half slate that features dates with the explosive offenses of the Kansas City Chiefs and Seahawks, and two meetings apiece with divisional foes Jacksonville and Houston, a bolstered secondary will come in handy.
New York Jets
In theory. The Jets are stuck in a perpetual state of rebuilding, and the two first-round picks acquired from the Colts, and the first- and second-rounders from the Dallas Cowboys should help their efforts. But as history has shown, first-round picks don’t exactly change fortunes for the Jets. They drafted Gardner No. 4 in 2022 and wide receiver Garrett Wilson No. 10 the same year, and Gardner now has exited, and Wilson — although talented — is a fixture on underperforming offenses. But … if the Jets could ever get their act together in terms of decision-making and direction of the franchise, then having three extra first-rounders is great wealth.
Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold and the Seahawks have led the NFL in explosive plays this season. They have done it while leaning heavily on wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the NFL with 948 receiving yards, and a cast of randoms. That changes now. Shaheed gives Seattle another speedy threat capable of stretching the field. He averaged 17.5 yards per reception last season (fifth highest in 2024) but saw his numbers decrease this year thanks largely to inconsistent quarterback play in New Orleans.
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags have already invested a lot in wide receivers, but Brian Thomas Jr., although talented, is guilty of a lot of drops. And Travis Hunter has yet to make a significant impact and also is injured. Trevor Lawrence struggles with consistency enough as is, so a reliable veteran such as Jakobi Meyers should help. For the season, he has 49 catches for 352 yards. Last season, he had a career-high 87 catches for 1,027 yards despite a quarterback carousel in Las Vegas.
Cincinnati Bengals
Their deal took place a few weeks back, but landing Joe Flacco from the Browns has helped them remain competitive. If their defense could just get a stop here and there, the Bengals would still be in the playoff picture. But Flacco was a good get while Joe Burrow is sidelined with his toe injury.
Despite Cincinnati losing a couple of heartbreakers, the Bengals’ addition of Joe Flacco has been a win. (Dylan Buell / Getty Images)
Baltimore Ravens
Adding Dre’Mont Jones from the Tennessee Titans gives the defense another pass rusher, which meets a need. But the Ravens also should feel relieved that the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t emerge from the trade deadline having added another wide receiver to complement DK Metcalf, which certainly would have helped Pittsburgh’s quest to remain atop the AFC North standings.
Losers
Dallas Cowboys
Dealing Micah Parsons still feels like taking a big, fat L. Perhaps the draft haul received from the Green Bay Packers will wind up paying off in the long run. Adding defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets on Tuesday and perennial 100-tackle-per-season linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals should help the porous defense some, but they’re unlikely to save Dallas’ season. And the first- and second-round picks given up for Williams feel rather desperate. Yes, Jerry Jones snagged a couple of headlines once again, but …
Buffalo Bills
The Bills needed help on both sides of the ball. Another pass rusher would have been nice, and an interior run stopper was definitely high on the needs list. So too was an explosive pass catcher to give Josh Allen the home run threat necessary to more effectively put opponents away. But Buffalo came away from the deadline with none of those boxes checked.
Kansas City Chiefs
Although the offense has received a boost in the form of the healthy return of Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice’s return from suspension, the Chiefs still could have used a sparkplug running back, and some more help for Chris Jones along the defensive front. They failed to secure either.
Tyler Shough
It’s hard enough for rookie quarterbacks in this league. Now take away one of his fastest wide receivers, and the challenge only intensifies. New Orleans got good value for Shaheed (a fourth- and a fifth-rounder), but their young quarterback and new coach Kellen Moore will struggle even more than they already have.
Geno Smith
Already having a down year with a league-high 11 interceptions, Smith watched his life get a little more sour with Meyers’ departure. Fortunately for Smith, talented young tight end Brock Bowers is healthy once again. But the receiver ranks are even thinner than they were before. Tre Tucker (32 catches, 427 yards, four touchdowns) is now the No. 1 wide receiver while Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech have a combined 12 catches and no touchdowns this season.
A tough season for Geno Smith could get tougher without one of his top receivers. (Ian Maule / Getty Images)
Breece Hall
The New York Jets running back reportedly wanted out, and his name was linked to several teams. But the Jets’ trade deadline fire sale did not include shipping off Hall because the front office’s asking price (rumored to be a third-rounder) was too rich for suitors’ taste. Hall remains stuck with the dysfunctional franchise.
Bradley Chubb
The Miami Dolphins linebacker, like Phillips, was a strong candidate to be moved at the deadline. His pass-rushing prowess could have helped a team in contention. But instead, the Dolphins opted against moving him and instead of receiving a chance to contend, Chubb remains in Miami, where the Dolphins are seemingly headed for a major overhaul in the offseason.
