Trade Deadline

Some quick thoughts on the trade deadline moves:

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: I completely understand the Colts pushing all their chips in for this season. They’ve been one of the best teams in the NFL. Corner was a need and Sauce Gardner is one of the best in the NFL, but man did they pay a steep price. Two first round picks AND a young receiver with some upside. Does Sauce make the Colts better? Absolutely. Does he push them over the top in the AFC? Possibly. All I am going to say is Indianapolis better hope Daniel Jones doesn’t revert to what many of us believe he really is because the Colts won’t have a first round pick until 2028.

DALLAS COWBOYS: Only Jerry Jones would go all in on a lost season. Don’t get me wrong, Quinnen Williams & Logan Wilson are good players and Dallas’ defense needs the help, but you gotta ask, why not just pay Micah Parsons? In the long run, this might work out for the Cowboys, but I’m scratching my head that Jerry thinks two players can lift this Cowboys team to a playoff run in the stacked NFC.
NEW YORK JETS: You can’t help but feel for a fanbase when a team throws in the towel on a season, but the Jets absolutely made the right moves here. They are loaded with high end draft ammunition for the next two years (3 firsts & 2 seconds in 2026, 2 firsts & a second in 2027). The first step in a rebuild is getting your franchise QB, the Jets took a shot with Justin Fields and it didn’t work, now they have to capital to get one either through the draft or acquiring a veteran. They could have garnered more draft capital by lowering the asking price on RB Breece Hall & DE Jermaine Johnson, but what they did get is pretty impressive.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Seattle had already established themselves as legit Super Bowl contenders and adding a true deep threat to their passing game only strengthens that. Rashid Shaheed will complement Jaxon Smith-Njigba & Cooper Kupp perfectly. If Sam Darnold doesn’t fold in the playoffs like he did last season, Seattle is a threat.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Howie Roseman does it again. He addressed the Eagles two biggest areas of need, corner & pass rush, and he got good players at a decent price. Jaelan Phillips is an electric pass rusher when healthy and he could take over the void left by Josh Sweat. Michael Carter II is a good add at cornerback, he’s young and has some upside. Jaire Alexander was a Pro Bowler not long ago and he’s worth the risk at such a cheap price.
CHICAGO BEARS: Even though my Bears only made a minor move, I have to address them. Pass rush and corner were their two biggest needs. They addressed the pass rush by acquiring Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. It’s not a needle moving move, but it’s also not mortgaging the future on a season with a limited ceiling. I know they talked with the Jets about Jermaine Johnson, the asking price was too high, and I imagine they inquired about other possibly available pass rushers like Miami’s Bradley Chubb and the Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux or Brian Burns. They went the cheap route and I’m fine with that. Corner could work itself out, Kyler Gordon should be back soon and Jaylon Johnson may be ready by December, there are also reports they’re going to meet with free agent Asante Samuel Jr. The Bears did nothing exciting, and I’m okay with it.

Contenders That Should Have Done More

BUFFALO BILLS: Buffalo could’ve used help at wide receiver & defense and there were options available. To come up empty seems like something they may regret.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Both of the Chargers starting offensive tackles, Rashawn Slater & Joe Alt, are out for the season. To not swing a deal for a possible upgrade, more than Trevor Penning, to what they have could come back to bite them.
DETROIT LIONS: Detroit could have used offensive line help, too, and reinforcements for a banged up secondary.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: With the rash of injuries the Niners suffered to their receiver corps and pass rush, I’m a bit surprised they weren’t more aggressive.

TENNESSEE TITANS: As bad as Tennessee has been, they did have a couple desirable assets, WR Calvin Ridley & DT Jeffrey Simmons to name two. As far as Simmons goes, I understand the reluctance to trade away players of that caliber, but the simple fact is that he is 28 years old and I seriously don’t think he fits into Tennessee’s timeline to contend.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: The Saints should be in full rebuild mode. They did trade Shaheed & Trevor Penning, but they had other assets, especially in the secondary, they could’ve moved.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: Miami got a third rounder for Jaelan Phillips, but they should have been able to trade more. With so many teams needing pass rushers, I’m surprised that Bradley Chubb & Matthew Judson are still Dolphins.
NEW YORK GIANTS: The Giants have an excess of pass rushers and I’m a bit shocked that someone didn’t pay handsomely to pry one of them away.