NFL TRADE DEADLINE RECAP

 

THE BEARS DID WHAT?!

The NFL trade deadline passed during Halloween afternoon, and while the most significant trade may have been an NBA deal, there were still plenty of moves made. Who better than I to break down every major deadline deal!

TRADE 1

VIKINGS RECEIVE: QB Josh Dobbs, 2024 seventh-round pick

CARDINALS RECEIVE: 2024 sixth-round pick

Grades

Vikings: C-

Cardinals: B

Kyler Murray should be back soon for the Cardinals, so they have little to no use for Dobbs now. While his past few weeks have not been great, Dobbs has proven to be a functional quarterback at the bare minimum. The Cardinals' whole QB situation is up in the air right now, but at least they got something out of Dobbs' short stint in Arizona -- hence the solid B grade. 

As for the Vikings... they lose Kirk Cousins for the year and instantly go on the search for a replacement. At 4-4, they still think their season is alive. Well, with Josh Dobbs, it certainly isn't. Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston, or even Colt McCoy off the streets would all have been better options than Josh Dobbs. Sure, they gave up next to nothing to get him, but the upside is not there. I get that they have to do something to show the team and the fans that they aren't going to roll over and die. But with Justin Jefferson still on IR and Captain Kirk done for the season, maybe rolling over is the best option. All I know is Josh Dobbs was NOT the way to go, so a C- it is.

TRADE 2

SEAHAWKS RECEIVE: DL Leonard Williams

GIANTS RECEIVE: 2024 second-round pick, 2025 fifth-round pick

Grades

Seahawks: A

Giants: A

Now, Leonard Williams may not have lived up to all the hype after swapping New York teams when he was traded four years ago. But Williams has proven to be a formidable lineman who, at times, flashes his superstar abilities. The Seahawks find themselves atop the NFC West with the second-best record in the entire conference, so a year after selling Russell Wilson, they decided to become buyers. Seattle has put on a masterclass on "reloading" instead of rebuilding, and this move continued that trend. Many thought they would draft a pass rusher with one of their two first-round picks last draft. Instead, they drafted a corner and receiver to an already stacked group and, now, trade for a solid veteran to sure up that pass rush.  

What is this? A trade I deem a win-win for both sides? While my outlook on the Giants season as a whole is FAR from a "win," I do like this move for them. After a shockingly good season last year, the Giants have failed to meet expectations so far this year. With their starting and backup quarterbacks out with injuries, the G-men decided to sell. To be fair, the Giants have a nice rotation of defensive linemen. So Willams, nearing the end of his contract, might have just been the odd man out.

TRADE 3

LIONS RECEIVE: WR Donovan Peoples-Jones

BROWNS RECEIVE: 2025 sixth-round pick

Grades

Lions: B+

Browns: D+

St. Brown, Reynolds, Raymond, Williams and now the Lions add Peoples-Jones (DPJ) to a talented WR room. DPJ is entering the last year of his rookie deal, which is why the Lions only had to give up a future sixth-rounder! This struck me as the most surprising move of the deadline, but it shows the Lions are serious about being serious. I am a big fan of DPJ and thought he was being severely underutilized in Cleveland, so I am excited to see him get a chance to shine in an explosive offense. There is a world where DPJ earns himself the No. 2 spot on this depth chart. There is also a world where DPJ's production remains similar to that in Cleveland, and I'm proven wrong. Either way, the price the Lions paid to find out is too sweet to deny, which is why they get a B+ from me. 

The Browns turned a sixth-round receiver in DPJ into 3.5 years of mediocre production and another sixth-round pick down the road... yippee! The Browns' season has been a head-scratcher -- a Super Bowl-caliber defense but an offense riddled with injury and a "leader" who refuses to suit up. A change of scenery should do wonders for DPJ, and honestly, I think that goes to any player rotting away in Ohio. Now the Browns get to roll the sixth-round dice again and hope to hit... again, which is unlikely. 

TRADE 4

BEARS RECEIVE: EDGE Montez Sweat

COMMANDERS RECEIVE: 2024 second-round pick

Grades

Bears: F

Commanders: A

NOW FOR THE MAIN EVENT. The Bears, for a SECOND year in a row, pull off the WORST trade of the deadline. Sweat is a very talented player! Sweat is NOT the problem here. And I won't even mention how the Bears traded MORE for Sweat than the Niners did for his former teammate Chase Young. My issue is that they traded anything AT ALL! WHY are the Bears buying??? They have the second-worst record in the NFL at 2-6, an injured QB, and a bumpy road ahead. Not only did they buy, but they traded for a player who is set to be a free agent after this season!!! So, it's not even guaranteed that Sweat stays in Chicago when the year is up. AND EVEN IF... even if the Bears extend Sweat, couldn't they just have signed him in free agency?? It's not like they are contenders this season, and having Sweat for the last 10 weeks of this year will make a difference. If anything, adding talent to this sinking season only hurts them since every win makes their draft position worse. This. Deal. Makes. No. Sense. 

The Commanders are blowing it up. Good for them. They may have found their QB of the future in Sam Howell... maybe. But the rest of the roster needs reworking. So, the best thing to do is gather more darts to throw at the dart board that is the NFL draft, and they are doing just that. Fleecing a second-rounder on an expiring player is just the icing on top.

TRADE 5

49ERS RECEIVE: EDGE Chase Young

COMMANDERS RECEIVE: 2024 third-round pick

Grades

49ers: A

Commanders: A-

The 49ers got Chase Young for free. They traded a compensatory third-round pick for Young, and if he decides to leave after this season, then the 49ers could get a comp pick right back. It pays to know your way around the compensatory pick system, and the 49ers, who received the most comp picks last year, have mastered it. Now, the hype for Young has been blown out of proportion. He was great... in college. But ever since Young suffered a season-ending injury in his second year in the league, he has never been the same. Young won't have to worry about being the marquee player in this incredibly stacked defensive front in San Francisco. This may lead to better production out of Young. Basically, if Young can't succeed in this system, then I doubt he will succeed anywhere. For the Niners, this move may have been the most low risk high reward move I've seen in a while. A no-brainer for the 49ers.

The Commanders get less for Young than they did for Sweat, but that mostly has to do with Young's injury history. Overall, the Commanders did well. I already detailed the team's outlook in the previous trade. Young’s career has been circling the toilet bowl for a couple of years now. So, if Young turns his career around, then the Commanders can say they at least got something for him. If Young doesn't turn things around, then the Commanders can pat themselves on the back for getting a day 2 pick out of him. Either way, they can breathe easier as they finally put the headache that was Chase Young to rest.

Now for some speed grading:

TRADE 6
BILLS RECEIVE: CB Rasul Douglas, 2024 fifth-round pick
PACKERS RECEIVE: 2024 third-round pick
Grades
Bills: C+
Packers: B+

TRADE 7
JAGUARS RECEIVE: OG Ezra Cleveland
VIKINGS RECEIVE: 2024 sixth-round pick
Grades
Jaguars: A

Vikings: D