2024 NFL Trade Grades
I’ll be keeping track of the various NFL trades that occur throughout 2024 on this page (most recent first). For every trade, I will list the assets each team received, analyze the trade, and provide trade grades for each team. Unless a specific trade is really notable, I’ll only be grading trades involving players, not just draft picks. For free agent signings and extensions, see this page.
November 5, 2024—TRADE DEADLNE DAY (1 Week Later This Year Thanks to the Browns)
Texans Trade DT Khalil Davis to 49ers for 2026 7th-Round Pick:
This one snuck in just before 4 PM, and it’s the least-consequential trade of all. I’m honestly surprised that the 6-3 Texans traded away anyone at all, even if Davis only plays 32% of the defensive snaps. He’s a journeyman depth piece who played with USFL’s Birmingham Stallions before joining Houston last year. Davis is a large man (315 lbs) who can clog some holes and push the pocket. I don’t believe this trade moves the needle at all for SF, but with their injuries, you know they need the depth. We can also say that this barely cost the Niners anything. Credit the Texans for getting any value out of a bottom-of-the-roster player, but they really didn’t need to make this sort of move for a 7th-round pick in 2026.
Grades: Texans: B; 49ers: B
Rams Trade CB Tre’Davious White, 2027 7th-Round Pick to Ravens for 2026 7th-Round Pick:
The fact that LA is getting so little back for White is sad. He was one of the league’s very best corners a few years ago, but consecutive brutal injuries have not been kind to him. White joined the Rams this year on a 1-year, $4.25M prove-it contract, and he definitely hasn’t proven it. He struggled early in the season and has been a healthy scratch for several games, with the Rams promising to try and find him a new home. That home happens to be Baltimore, a team with an atrocious pass defense. The question becomes whether White can help them. At this cost, who cares? This trade merely has the Rams getting a 7th-round pick one year earlier, which registers as 0 points on most draft charts. It wasn’t even worth doing this trade for the Rams, who have playoff aspirations of their own. I’d have kept the depth White provided. Baltimore wins the deal as a result, but I really don’t know what kind of player they’re getting. The upside seems limited, but so is the downside.
Grades: Rams: D-; Ravens: B+
Packers Trade DE Preston Smith to Steelers for 2025 7th-Round Pick:
Pittsburgh acquired more players than anyone this deadline day! This move makes less sense from a need standpoint, but it’s a better value. The Steelers do not need edge rushers with TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith on the team. However, you can never have too many of them, and depth is critical if you want to be a contender. Smith’s sack production (2.5) and snap count (54%) are down this year, but he had 8+ sacks in each of the past 3 seasons. I doubt he has fallen off that much; this seems like an issue caused by a lack of opportunities. His play time probably won’t increase in Pittsburgh, but the pick cost was so cheap that they couldn’t resist. Green Bay’s side of this makes less sense. They save cash on a player who is likely in decline overall, but they’ll incur cap hits north of $9M in each of the next two seasons even with Smith off the team. Additionally, the Packers think they’re contenders, and they have a 6-3 record. Why would you trade away a proven edge rusher for so little? It doesn’t make sense to me.
Grades: Packers: D; Steelers: B+
Jets Trade WR Mike Williams to Steelers for 2025 5th-Round Pick:
Ever since New York acquired Davante Adams, Williams has been on the trade block. You can argue that he has been there since he caused Aaron Rodgers to throw a game-losing INT against the Bills. Signed for $15M coming off a torn ACL, Williams has been a disappointment (like most of the Jets) with just 12 catches for 166 yards. Adams made him expendable, but the Jets probably wanted to offload him anyway. Pittsburgh has been trying to acquire a WR for a while. They tried to get Brandon Aiyuk and then Christian Kirk (both of whom are now out for the season). This is a Plan C trade, and it’s far from optimal, but I know what the Steelers are trying to do. George Pickens is basically the only consistent WR on the team, they have an elite defense, and Russell Wilson is igniting the passing game. Another weapon was required, and this one didn’t cost Pittsburgh a whole lot. It’s also fair to guess that Williams, a former 1st-rounder and deep threat, will be better late in the season once he’s further removed from his ACL injury. New York did great to get a strong return for damaged goods, while Pittsburgh probably overpaid but not by much.
Grades: Jets: A+; Steelers: B
Saints Trade CB Marshon Lattimore, 2025 5th-Round Pick to Commanders for 2025 3rd-, 4th-, and 6th-Round Picks:
This was arguably our biggest move of the day. Washington is a surprising 7-1 team, but their secondary is awful. Now they’re adding a Pro Bowl CB to their defense. Lattimore is due $36.5M in pay over the next two years, and New Orleans simply cannot afford to keep him. They’ll still incur a dead cap charge for trading him, but I’ve been suggesting that the Saints need to trade veterans and start over. I wish they made more moves, but this one is pretty good. It helps their cap and brings in 3 valuable picks for a player who has often been injured over the past couple of years. However, when healthy, he is one of the better CBs in football, and the Saints will miss him. The Commanders can definitely use him to their advantage if he stays on the field. I might’ve squeezed the cap-strapped Saints to get better trade terms, but that’s not a big deal if Lattimore does what Washington thinks he can do. The market just seems be poor this deadline, so teams are having to settle for lesser returns.
Grades: Saints: B; Commanders: A-
Panthers Trade WR Jonathan Mingo, 2025 7th-Round Pick to Cowboys for 2025 4th-Round Pick:
Speaking of surprise buyers, Dallas actually added a player at the deadline, acquiring former 2nd-round WR Jonathan Mingo from Carolina. Mingo has done nothing this year with just 12 catches. He did earn 418 yards on 43 receptions as a rookie last year, but he’s widely considered a bust, especially with players like Rashee Rice being drafted shortly after him. Dallas is obviously betting that the mess in Carolina caused Mingo to struggle. I know multiple teams who valued Mingo highly in the 2023 draft, so he clearly possesses talent. The Cowboys paid too much though, and Carolina easily wins the deal. Mingo was working his way out of town anyway, so a 4th-round pick is far from chump change. My issue on the Dallas side is the fact that they’re buying at all. They’re 3-5 and are placing QB Dak Prescott on IR with a hamstring injury. If Mingo becomes a long-term piece, this will work out. The risk-reward ratio here is just terribly skewed against the Cowboys; they’re far more likely to regret this deal than love it.
Grades: Panthers: A+; Cowboys: D+
Bears Trade RB Khalil Herbert to Bengals for 2025 7th-Round Pick:
No wonder the Bengals refused to trade Tee Higgins: they’re buyers! We learned that Zack Moss would be out for at least the regular season with a neck injury, so Cincinnati had to sign a free agent or trade for someone. Based on who they traded for and what it cost, I agree with their decision. Herbert is stuck behind D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson in Chicago, but he’s only 26 years old and ran for 600+ yards in each of the past two years. At the very least, he provides a power element to complement Chase Brown. He might even receive a good share of the carries if he looks as good as he once did with the Bears. I’m surprised Chicago could only get a 7th-round pick for Herbert. RB valuations are up this year, and it’s not like the free agent pile is filled with options of Herbert’s caliber. I understand selling on a player who is not being used at all by your team, but you also need to maximize his market. I don’t believe Chicago did that here, but it’s better than nothing with Herbert in a walk year.
Grades: Bears: C+; Bengals: A
Browns Trade OLB Za’Darius Smith, 2026 7th-Round Pick to Lions for 2025 5th-Round Pick and 2026 6th-Round Pick:
We’ve all been waiting for the Lions to add a pass rusher. Since Aidan Hutchinson went down, Detroit has struggled to affect opposing QBs. Smith will help a ton. He isn’t playing as many snaps as he used to now that he’s 32, yet he still has 5 sacks this season. In fact, he has reached 5 sacks in every season in which he has played 8+ games since 2018. That’s a model of consistency, and the Lions are getting him for this year and next (he has one year worth $11M left on his deal) for a pretty low cost. If they weren’t Super Bowl favorites before, they just might be now. Cleveland was correct to start rebuilding by offloading veterans, but they really couldn’t get a day-2 pick for a premium position and a player who isn’t a rental? No, Smith is not a part of this team’s future due to his age, but they didn’t HAVE to trade him now. I think the Browns sold low (to Detroit’s benefit).
Grades: Browns: C; Lions: A+
November 4, 2024
Broncos Trade OLB Baron Browning to Cardinals for a 2025 6th-Round Pick:
Denver made the “mistake” of drafting too well at the OLB position in 2021. They had to choose whether to keep Browning or Jonathon Cooper, and they chose the latter. I’m grading Cooper’s extension shortly, but that deal means that they were going to lose Browning in free agency. Instead of allowing that to happen, they picked up a draft asset via trade. The writing was on the wall for Browning. After earning 5 and 4.5 sacks over his last two seasons, he has 0 this year while playing just 46% of the defensive snaps. In short, he’s not a bad player; he’s squeezed out due to Denver’s depth. Arizona has no such depth. Dennis Gardeck was their best rusher, and he tore his ACL a few weeks ago. Suddenly in contention at 504, the Cardinals knew their biggest weakness and went after it with a late-round draft choice. If they can extend Browning this deal would be even better, but even as a rental, a 6th-round pick is a good price. Denver probably could’ve gotten a 6th-rounder for Browning via a compensatory pick, but it would’ve conveyed in 2026. This way, they get their guaranteed selection a year earlier, so I like this for them as well, even if they’re selling a bit low.
Grades: Broncos: B; Cardinals: A
October 29, 2024
Jaguars Trade OT Cam Robinson, Conditional 2026 7th-Round Pick to Vikings for Conditional 2026 5th-Round Pick:
The Jaguars keep selling, this time sending a lineman to a team that BADLY needed one. Last week, Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw tore his ACL and MCL, and once David Quessenberry replaced him, QB Sam Darnold’s pass protection completely broke down. As a team who is contending perhaps a bit ahead of schedule, Minnesota needed to acquire a veteran tackle without giving up a fortune. That made them a perfect match for Robinson, who is in the last year of his deal. We already have the details about the conditional picks: the one going to Minnesota can disappear, while the one heading to Jacksonville can become a 4th-rounder. Both conditions are met once Robinson satisfies a playtime threshold. Robinson has had stretches of decent play but just got benched this past week. He’s good in pass protection though, which Minnesota needs. This is wise for the Vikings; they signal to their players that they’re in it to win it, and they shore up their biggest weakness at a low cost. Jacksonville probably should’ve gotten more considering how scarce offensive linemen are, but their leverage was poor, and a flat 4th-round pick isn’t too bad if it conveys that way.
Grades: Jaguars: B; Vikings: A+
Panthers Trade WR Diontae Johnson, 2025 6th-Round Pick to Ravens for 2025 5th-Round Pick:
Johnson is returning to the AFC North via his second trade this year. Pittsburgh sent him to Carolina for CB Donte Jackson, and the goal was to help 2nd-year QB Bryce Young. Young played terribly and Johnson did nothing until Andy Dalton took over the as the starter. At that point, Johnson looked more like his Steeler self, which is obviously who Baltimore hopes is being acquired here. This is surprisingly low compensation for Johnson, especially once you learn that Carolina is paying most of his remaining salary. He had issues with drops and attitude in Pittsburgh, but I don’t think he has been a problem for the Panthers; they merely want to tank. Is this really the best they could get? Paying $3M or so for a 1-round jump on day 3 is ludicrous to me, particularly when a team like the Texans just lost Stefon Diggs and could be looking for WR help. Baltimore got a steal here, but they didn’t really need Johnson. Their defense is the impediment to making a run, though WR Rashod Bateman’s bad day on Sunday might have caused some alarm in the front office. I wouldn’t have spent resources on a receiver if I were the Ravens, but this barely qualifies as a resource. Carolina only avoids an F because this helps their chances of picking #1. It’s an otherwise terrible trade.
Grades: Panthers: D-; Ravens: A-
October 28, 2024
Patriots Trade OLB Josh Uche to Chiefs for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
It has been quite a long time since New England was consistently a seller. A Bill Belichick-developed edge rusher is on the move to KC, who seems to be acquiring everyone right now. Uche, a 5th-year player, had an elite third season when he posted 11.5 sacks. That definitely looks like an outlier year, as he has never exceeded even 3 sacks in any other year. He isn’t a starter, but he comes on an affordable 1-year, $3M contract; the Chiefs will inherit the prorated remainder of that. New England supposedly wanted a 5th-round pick, but I think they’re lucky to get this much if we’re being honest. Uche is a nice depth piece who never developed into anything more despite the availability of ample playing time. Adding draft capital like this is wise of the Patriots to do. That said, I like this for Kansas City as well. Any team that wants to make a deep playoff run needs a stable of edge rushers who can rotate into a game to keep each other fresh. Since Uche is at least serviceable, he’s better than pretty much anything else available at this price or lower. Only a contender would be graded highly for this move, and I thought Detroit might swoop in after losing Aidan Hutchinson. Instead, it’s the reigning champs, who seem to keep getting scarier.
Grades: Patriots: A-; Chiefs: A-
October 24, 2024
Titans Trade LB Ernest Jones to Seahawks for LB Jerome Baker, 2025 4th-Round Pick:
Jones is a well-traveled man. The Rams traded him to Tennessee with one year remaining on his rookie deal after contract talks stalled. Now he’s on the move again in exchange for another linebacker on an expiring contract. These LBs are very different though. Jones is a thumper who had 145 tackles last year, while Baker is less of a run defender but excels in coverage. This comes down to the fact that Baker didn’t fit in new Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald’s scheme, and Seattle badly needed run defense. In doing so, they grossly overpaid. I really like Jones, and he knows the NFC West well from his time in LA, so I would’ve traded one of these two assets for him. I can’t comprehend trading the mid-round pick AND Baker for Jones though, as coverage linebackers are usually more in demand anyway. Jones is younger but due a more expensive extension, but the Titans aren’t really on his timeline, so this was a really good trade for them. They somehow got more for Jones than for DeAndre Hopkins! Seattle definitely got better given their needs, but this was an expensive way to go about doing it.
Grades: Titans: A; Seahawks: C+
Titans Trade WR DeAndre Hopkins to Chiefs for Conditional 2025 5th-Round Pick:
The Titans have begun their fire sale, making two trades yesterday. Their first was their biggest, with star WR DeAndre Hopkins joining Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The conditional pick here can be bumped up to a 4th-rounder, and Tennessee is paying some of the remaining money on Hopkins’ contract. The 32-year-old free agent to be has had a nondescript season thus far. He has just 15 catches for 173 yards and 1 TD. However, we must remember that Hopkins was a 1000-yard WR just last year, and this year he was playing the whole season with Will Levis as his QB. You can’t do much worse than that. You also can’t do much better than Mahomes. Kansas City lost Rashee Rice for the year, Hollywood Brown for most of the year, and JuJu Smith-Schuster for at least this week. This team was hurting for receivers. In making this trade, they found an affordable option who will likely appear reborn with a competent QB throwing him the ball. If the Chiefs weren’t Super Bowl favorites before, they probably are now. I get that Tennessee needed to get draft capital for a player on an expiring contract who didn’t want to be there. Even if this pick is upgraded to a 4th-rounder, it’s not all that great. Remember that KC paid a third-rounder for Kadarius Toney, so this is a lesser pick for a far better WR. KC wins this deal by a mile, and if you’re a Titans fan, you’d rather them keep Hopkins and bench Levis.
Grades: Titans: C-; Chiefs: A+
October 15, 2024
Texans Trade RB Cam Akers, Conditional 2026 7th-Round Pick to Vikings for Conditional 2026 6th-Round Pick:
You’d think we were at the trade deadline with all the action we’ve seen today. Akers, who played 6 games with Minnesota last year and signed with Houston in the offseason, is heading back to the Vikings. This was an easy decision for the Texans. With Joe Mixon back in the lineup, Dameon Pierce looking good again, and Dare Ogunbowale taking the leftover snaps, Akers was superfluous. We don’t know the conditions on these picks, but they don’t really matter. Picking up any asset for a player signed as an afterthought just months ago is a win. Minnesota’s side of this is a bit more complicated. I know Aaron Jones has an injury, but he’s expected back very soon. The Vikings also have Ty Chandler, who seems like a better version of Akers. I suppose this was low-cost insurance in the form of a player who knows their system. The team could’ve found that in another former Viking such as Latavius Murray, a practice squad player, or another free agent back. This is too cheap a deal to penalize them much, however.
Grades: Texans: A+; Vikings: B-
Browns Trade WR Amari Cooper, 2025 6th-Round Pick to Bills for 2025 3rd-Round Pick, 2026 7th-Round Pick:
Jacksonville starting their fire sale must’ve spurred the Browns to start one of their owns. In this case though, a far more relevant player is on the move. Both AFC East teams in last night’s Monday Night game needed receivers, but Buffalo’s need was far more acute. After trading Stefon Diggs and losing Gabe Davis during the offseason, all the Bills did was spend a 2nd-round pick on Keon Coleman. That’s not enough. Acquiring Cooper makes this offense much more potent. He’s a true WR1 who produces in every system and with every QB. For the equivalent of a low 3rd-round pick, the Bills have become a nearly complete team. As far as Cleveland is concerned, I get the move, but I don’t love it. Cooper has become unhappy there, and who wouldn’t while watching Deshaun Watson fire inaccurate passes when you’re getting wide open? It was highly unlikely that Cooper would re-sign with the Browns this upcoming free agency period, so they figured they would get something for him now instead of letting him walk. This pick swap is slightly better than the highest possible compensatory draft pick, and Cleveland will now be worse so that they can earn a higher pick of their own. This is a slam dunk for Buffalo, but it’s decent for the Browns as well.
Grades: Browns: B; Bills: A+
Raiders Trade WR Davante Adams to Jets for Conditional 2025 3rd-Round Pick:
The long-awaited reunion is finally taking place. QB Aaron Rodgers has something to smile about now, as one of his favorite all-time WRs is joining the Jets in exchange for a 3rd-round pick that can become a 2nd-rounder based on performance. In addition, New York is taking on all of Adams’ remaining salary, which is only guaranteed for this year. He has two expensive nonguaranteed years that will likely need to be reworked, or else this is a rental. Las Vegas had been demanding a 2nd-round selection, so this is somewhat of a compromise: if Adams is an All-Pro or the Jets reach the AFC Championship game, the Raiders still get the pick they want, but the baseline compensation is a bit lower. Though injured right now, Adams should be returning soon, and he is still a high-end WR. He produced 1144 yards and 8 TDs last year with a revolving door at QB. It’s not unreasonable to think that he could be even better with his old pal Rodgers. Maybe this is the shot in the arm the Jets need to save their floundering season. At 2-4 and mired in offensive inefficiency, New York badly needed a WR to pair with Garrett Wilson. Mike Williams has been terrible, and while Allen Lazard (another former Packer) has been alright, it has become too easy for teams to blanket Wilson and force others to beat them. The Jets are more all in than most teams in NFL history, so the pick compensation is fairly irrelevant to them. For Las Vegas, this was about needing a split. Adams has been unhappy there basically since they cut his college teammate (Derek Carr), and losing doesn’t sit well with him. The Raiders demanded a very high cost in a trade, but they basically got it without paying his salary. That’s well done, especially since Adams’ age means that he won’t be a part of their rebuild. Moving on was the right choice for all involved. One side note: does this added salary mean that the Jets will be moving on from OLB Haason Reddick? Stay tuned.
Grades: Raiders: A-; Jets: A-
Jaguars Trade DL Roy Robertson-Harris to Seahawks for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
The fire sale has officially begun. It has been a while since we had in a trade; in fact, this is our first midseason swap of the year. However, Jacksonville’s season is veering off a cliff at 1-5, and they appear to already be in seller mode. Their first move is to send veteran defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris to Seattle. I’ve long thought that Harris is an undervalues asset. Versatile enough to play on the edge or inside, he defends the run well while also providing some pressure on the QB. He has 2 sacks so far in 2024, 1.5 shy of his career high. That said, his run defense is what Seattle covets. The Seahawks are being continually gashed on the ground, and some injuries along the defensive line haven’t helped. They receive Robertson-Harris for this year and two nonguaranteed seasons. I don’t know if this is a rental or if they’ll keep him beyond 2024, but he helps the team now at a low cost. Jacksonville did decently enough to obtain a 6th-rounder for a player who probably isn’t quite worth his price tag. They won this trade, but their fans most definitely lose, as they can see what’s coming in the near future.
Grades: Jaguars: B+; Seahawks: B-
August 29, 2024
Commanders Trade DT John Ridgeway, 2025 7th-Round Pick to Saints for 2025 6th-Round Pick:
Ridgeway was a 2022 5th-round pick of the Cowboys, who waived him that offseason. Rather than waive him a second time, Washington is trading him to New Orleans. He didn’t have a ton of production in his 2 pro seasons, but that’s hardly his fault. It’s tough to crack a lineup when Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are your starting DTs. From what we have seen, I think this is a good gamble for the Saints. His performance this preseason against New England piqued teams’ interest. In particular, while he isn’t a pass rusher, he’s good against the run. New Orleans had an elite run defense a couple of years ago, but it slipped last season. I imagine this trade is part of an effort to rebound in that department. A one-round drop on day 3 of next year’s draft is worth kicking Ridgeway’s tires. I don’t hate this for Washington either, as it was clear that they had no use for Ridgeway no matter how well he played. Picking up an asset for a player instead of cutting him is always a solid business decision.
Grades: Commanders: B+; Saints: A-
Falcons Trade QB Taylor Heinicke to Chargers for Conditional 2025 6th-Round Pick:
We knew the Bolts couldn’t possibly enter the season with Easton Stick as Justin Herbert’s backup. Now they won’t, as Heinicke will take over that role. This pick is a 7th-rounder that will upgrade if certain playing time-related conditions are met. The fact that we even have a trade involving the Chargers is interesting; former GM Tom Telesco traded just once outside of the draft throughout his entire tenure. New GM Joe Hortiz just completed his second trade today alone! Anyway, this isn’t as positive a move as it would’ve been two years ago. Heinicke has looked dreadful in Atlanta, though he did well as a reserve in Washington. He’s certainly an upgrade over Stick, but I’m not entirely thrilled with him starting in the event of a Herbert injury. The cost is low enough that it’s a decent flier. For Atlanta, this is fantastic. Heinicke took a pay cut this offseason, but now they’re not paying any of his guarantees. Michael Penix Jr will be a better backup for Kirk Cousins, and the team picks up a minor asset to shed this contract. Excellent work.
Grades: Falcons: A+; Chargers: B-
Titans Trade DB Elijah Molden to Chargers for 2026 7th-Round Pick:
I thought it might take a bit more to pry this former 3rd-rounder away from Tennessee. Though Molden became expendable after the Titans added Chidobe Awuzie and L’Jarius Sneed, injuries have been his only real issue. He moved from CB to S last year after missing most of 2022, and he did well in his new role, earning 73 tackles and a pick six. LA has a mediocre pass defense, so a 7th-rounder (not even in the upcoming draft) is a pittance for someone who can step in and start either at FS or in the slot. The Titans aren’t even getting much savings here, as Molden is still on a rookie contract. I’d have preferred to keep him as a depth piece and spot starter instead of shipping him out for pennies on the dollar. The Chargers certainly won’t complain.
Grades: Titans: D+; Chargers: A
August 27, 2024
Cowboys Trade TE Peyton Hendershot to Chiefs for Conditional 2026 7th-Round Pick:
Here we have a cut that was prematurely reported, likely to stir trade interest. Hendershot was on his way out of Dallas, but KC decided not to risk letting him hit the market. Two years ago, Hendershot signed with Dallas as a UDFA to serve as an intriguing developmental piece. His receiving production never took off, but he’s a good blocker and special teamer. With Jake Ferguson, Luke Schoonmaker, and now Brevyn Spann-Ford on the roster, there was simply no room for Hendershot. This is practically the lowest return you can receive in a trade, but it’s not a value of 0. The Chiefs are just trying to fill out depth positions on their Super Bowl-caliber roster. Travis Kelce is great, but he’s not a blocking TE by nature. Hendershot gives the team that complementary piece and some insurance at a minimal cost. I’d say this is fair for both teams.
Grades: Cowboys: B+; Chiefs: B
Jets Trade DB/KR Brandon Codrington, 2026 7th-Round Pick to Bills for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
Some intradivisional trade partners are rarer than others; you have to go back to 1987 for the last swap between these two teams. It’s a minor one though, as the Jets were never keeping Codrington with Xavier Gipson around as the returner. Signed as a UDFA just this year, Codrington had some nice moments in the preseason. His return chops are probably what intrigued Buffalo, who have basically nobody else at that spot on their depth chart. A one-round drop on day 3 two years from now is a fair price to solidify that position. For the Jets, this is a free pick. Codrington was likely only signed to give Gipson rest during meaningless exhibition games. Now they’re turning him into an upgraded selection just a few months later. That’s the ideal outcome!
Grades: Jets: A+; Bills: B
Rams Trade LB Ernest Jones, 2026 6th-Round Pick to Titans for 2026 5th-Round Pick:
Tennessee is making so many additions this offseason for a team that probably doesn’t have its franchise QB and is not a contender. Their latest is Jones, who surprisingly became available in the last week. This is another really good one. Though Jones never requested a trade, his negotiations with the Rams for an extension were going poorly, which prompted this move. Jones deserves what he’s likely asking for; in his 3rd season, he earned 145 tackles (14 for loss), 4.5 sacks, and 6 PBUs, shattering career highs. His coverage is decent, but he’s elite in run support and apparently has some pass rushing skills. He is an asset to Tennessee, especially at this low cost. Hopefully the Titans extend him, or I might have to reduce their grade. A 1-year rental for a mediocre team is dumb, but if he sticks around long-term, it’s a fantastic trade. LA made a mistake regardless of the outcome with Tennessee. Jones was an anchor of their defense, and this move seriously damages the team’s championship hopes.
Grades: Rams: F; Titans: A
August 26, 2024
Cardinals Trade OLB Cameron Thomas to Chiefs for 2025 7th-Round Pick:
I didn’t think Arizona was in a place where they should be shipping out young developmental prospects, but that must mean they’ve soured on Thomas. He had 3 sacks as a rookie in 2022, but he earned none last year. His playing time actually increased to 35% of the defensive snaps, so that’s a bit peculiar. KC must see something in the former 3rd-round pick that Arizona didn’t. Perhaps it’s the 3 sacks Thomas earned this preseason. What I like is how he did it: with a relentless motor. Effort players can excel in a rotation late in games when the opposing team gets tired. The Chiefs want waves of rushers in their scheme, so this actually makes sense for them. Acquiring a player with a 3rd-round pedigree for a mere 7th-rounder is a smart move. Arizona appears to be giving up on Thomas too soon. They could’ve kept him for one more year and still traded him next offseason if he didn’t improve. As always, an asset is better than nothing when you’re about to cut a player, but why cut this one?
Grades: Cardinals: C; Chiefs: A-
Titans Trade QB Malik Willis to Packers for 2025 7th-Round Pick:
A QB trade might be the most interesting move among the pre-roster-cut transactions. I remember a time when Willis was a first-round prospect. He fell to the 3rd round, struggled, and barely played for Tennessee. Whenever he did see game action, he performed poorly as a passer, but he has always possessed great running talent. Perhaps as a result of a better-than-expected showing in this week’s preseason game, Willis attracted trade interest. With Will Levis and Mason Rudolph around, the Titans didn’t need to keep a failed project. A 7th-round pick isn’t much, but it’s something for a team that seems to want to roll with 2 signal callers on their initial 53-man roster. Green Bay’s side of this is intriguing. Sean Clifford was, is, and likely will remain terrible. I thought rookie Michael Pratt looked better. However, I and HC Matt LaFleur didn’t trust either one of them as Jordan Love insurance. I suppose my main qualm here is this: I don’t trust Willis any more than I trust Pratt. Another former Titan, Ryan Tannehill, is available to be signed for free (in terms of draft capital). Other QBs who are just as good as Willis are also going to be cut tomorrow. This seems like a wasted 7th-rounder, but since that’s such a low pick, I won’t be brutal on GB.
Grades: Titans: B+; Packers: C
Jaguars Trade OLB Trevis Gipson to Seahawks for 2025 6th-Round Pick:
Seattle has been ridiculously active in the trade market. Three days ago, they traded an OLB away (Darrell Taylor). Now, they’re adding one, acquiring Gipson from Jacksonville. The 6th-rounder going to the Jaguars means that the Seahawks essentially swapped Taylor for Gipson. Personally, I’m not a fan of that. Taylor had far more consistent sack production, whereas Gipson is joining his 4th team since his 2020 debut. Gipson performed best with Chicago in 2021, when he had 7 sacks. His production has declined since, so I wonder what Seattle sees as a reclamation project. For Jacksonville, this is easy: grab a free agent for little money and flip him for a valuable asset months later. In Seattle’s case, the value isn’t awful, but it’s not great. The Taylor aspect of these moves doesn’t help their cause either.
Grades: Jaguars: A+; Seahawks: D+
August 24, 2024
Browns Trade DT Chris Williams, 2025 7th-Round Pick to Bears for 2025 6th-Round Pick:
I contemplated not covering this trade, but I remembered my promise to cover them all. Williams is someone even I’m not too familiar with. He spent 2021 and 2022 with the Colts and had 6 tackles over 13 games (0 starts). Last season, he was on a couple of practice squads. The Browns, having never actually used Williams in a regular-season game, are once again printing draft capital, upgrading a day-3 pick by a round for someone they weren’t going to keep. For Chicago, I guess this is depth? I don’t think a trade was necessary, but your minimum grade is capped when you give up this little.
Grades: Browns: A; Bears: C
August 23, 2024
Seahawks Trade OLB Darrell Taylor to Bears for 2025 6th-Round Pick:
Another Seahawks trade, but this one doesn’t make nearly as much sense. A second-round pick in 2021, Taylor hasn’t become a starter but has been a mainstay in the pass rushing rotation. Playing nearly half the defensive snaps, Taylor racked up 21.5 sacks over his 3 pro seasons. I don’t understand moving on from a viable edge rusher for such a paltry return. Chicago, on the other hand, wants to compete with rookie QB Caleb Williams, and they recently attempted to trade for Matt Judon (but failed). This is a very nice plan B. Lining up alongside Montez Sweat will give Taylor plenty of 1-on-1 matchups, and I expect him to win a good amount of those. He’s entering the last year of his contract, but he comes with a cheap salary, and the draft pick cost to acquire him was very cheap. Someone had to be willing to offer Seattle more, but Chicago won’t complain.
Grades: Seahawks: D-; Bears: A+
August 22, 2024
Seahawks Trade CB Michael Jackson to Panthers for LB Michael Barrett:
This is more of your typical end-of-preseason trade: two players who weren’t going to make their current teams being traded for one another. Both players are actually intriguing in this case. Carolina suddenly needed a CB because Dane Jackson hurt his hamstring and may start the season on IR. That drew them to Michael Jackson, who had a very good 2022 season in Seattle but didn’t play as much in 2023. In return, they’re sending Barrett, a 2024 7th-round pick who hasn’t yet played a regular season down. I guess Carolina wasn’t keeping Barrett, which is a bad sign because this team needed LB help after losing Frankie Luvu in free agency. Still, Barrett was a star on the national champion Michigan Wolverines this past season, so even though he’s physically limited, he bring smarts and production. I like this deal from both perspectives. Seattle wants more developmental pieces, while Carolina wants more help right now (they are understandably tired of losing). This feels about even value-wise.
Grades: Seahawks: B+; Panthers: B+
Commanders Trade WR Jahan Dotson, 2025 5th-Round Pick to Eagles for 2025 3rd-Round Pick and Two 2025 7th-Round Picks:
The Commanders sure are busy today! This time they’re completing a rare intradivisional trade. I call them rare, and they really are, but this is our second such deal in 8 days. Dotson showed a lot of promise as a rookie, earning 523 yards and 7 TDs. Last year, like the rest of the Washington offense, he took a bit of a step backwards, tallying 518 receiving yards but only 4 TDs. As a former first-round pick, Dotson should have gotten a longer leash than this, but HC Dan Quinn didn’t pick him, and he’s apparently not a fan. I personally had a 2nd-round grade on him coming out of Penn State, and these numbers he has put up so far are fine when viewed through that lens. While I can respect Washington extracting a bit of draft capital for a player they were dumping, I don’t think the move should’ve been made. It especially hurts rookie QB Jayden Daniels. For Philly, this is great. The Eagles wanted a #3 receiver, and this is even cheaper in terms of picks than drafting one. Don’t expect Dotson’s stats to improve with so many mouths to feed, but the value Philadelphia is getting is great. I wouldn’t give up on Dotson yet, but Washington clearly has.
Grades: Commanders: D; Eagles: A
Browns Trade K Cade York to Commanders for Conditional 7th-Round Pick:
Poor Washington can’t get their kicker position right. Joey Slye didn’t work out last year, so they signed Brandon McManus in free agency. McManus was subsequently sued for sexual assault, forcing Washington to release him (have we learned nothing from the Matt Araiza case?). The Commanders then signed Riley Patterson, who has been terrible this preseason. Patterson is being cut upon the completion of this trade, which brings another mediocre kicker to town. York was supposed to be great for Cleveland, but he struggled and lost his job to Dustin Hopkins, who turned out to be stellar. The Browns actually signed York for camp. Doing that and then trading the second kicker you aren’t keeping anyway is basically printing draft picks. Meanwhile, Washington got a kicker who is no better than a free agent option. Granted, they barely gave up anything (and might not if this move fails as well), but this was still an unnecessary trade. One final note: I’m not factoring the Browns originally spending a 4th-round pick on York into this grade. I’ve hammered them for that elsewhere.
Grades: Browns: A+; Commanders: C
August 14, 2024
Giants Trade DT Jordan Phillips, 2026 7th-Round Pick to Cowboys for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
Another 6th/7th swap, but this one is peculiar in that it’s an intradivisional trade. Phillips just signed with the Giants this offseason from Buffalo, and he’s already on the move. I can see why this move was made from both sides. Dallas has focused on acquiring run-stuffing DTs, but they don’t have an interior rusher. That’s exactly what Phillips is. At this low cost, acquiring him makes sense for a team in “win playoff games or else” mode. New York would probably like having Phillips next to Dexter Lawrence in subpackages, but NYG runs a 3-4 scheme, so Phillips was a backup to them. Since the Giants aren’t going to be good anyway, I like them improving their draft capital, even if it marginally helps their hated foes.
Grades: Giants: B+; Cowboys: B+
Patriots Trade OLB Matthew Judon to Falcons for 2025 3rd-Round Pick:
The contract saga between Judon and the Patriots has come to an end. New England’s Pro Bowl edge rusher is entering the last year of his deal, which is set to pay him $6.5M. He rightly believes that he’s worth much more, and though he promised to honor the contract if necessary, negotiations toward a new one were becoming acrimonious. Over in Atlanta, rookie Bralen Trice tore his ACL in the team’s first preseason game, and the Falcons needed edge rushers before that. Judon had an injury-plagued 2023, but he had 15.5 sacks in 2022 and is a good bet for at least 9 any given year. He helps Atlanta immensely at a low cost, but I’m curious if he will get a new contract now. New England sheds a potential conflict, but they’re definitely a worse team now. That would be fine if they were tanking for a QB. However, they just drafted Drake Maye. I’d much rather have Judon, and Atlanta wisely agrees.
Grades: Patriots: C+; Falcons: A-
August 12, 2024
Seahawks Trade C Nick Harris, 2026 7th-Round Pick to Browns for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
I didn’t expect a trade involving someone signed on the very first day of free agency. Seattle, needing line help, signed Harris away from…the Browns. The very team now wanting him back. What has changed since then? First, Cleveland has suffered unexpected injuries up front. The Seahawks also just signed Connor Williams to play center. That made Harris expendable, so the team got a minimal asset instead of releasing him. I have issues with this. Both of these teams should now know the value of line depth and want to retain players with spot starting ability. Next, why would Williams preclude Harris from staying? Williams is coming off an ACL tear and doesn’t have the best injury history. He also has guard experience, so both players could contribute. This isn’t the highest-level player, so I can’t be too harsh. However, getting next to nothing for a nice piece isn’t good. For Cleveland, I like that the team fixed its mistake at a low cost. Paying even this price for a player you should’ve kept in the first place isn’t ideal though.
Grades: Seahawks: D+; Browns: B
August 9, 2024
Cowboys Trade CB Nahshon Wright to Vikings for CB Andrew Booth:
It’s been a while since we had a trade! This reminds me of last year’s trade involving the Cowboys, when they sent a struggling CB (Kelvin Joseph) to the Dolphins in exchange for their struggling CB (Noah Igbinoghene). As with that trade, Dallas is acquiring the player with an extra year of control. Wright was almost exclusively a special teamer last year, though he played about a quarter of the defensive snaps in 2022. Booth, as a 2nd-rounder in 2022, was expected to do better, but injury and ineffectiveness led him to play just 13% of his team’s defensive snaps as well. Minnesota comes out a little ahead in cap space, but the Cowboys got the player with a bit more potential. The fact that the Vikings gave up on Booth is a terrible sign, but perhaps Dallas can salvage him. As both players are equivalent special teamers, I give the Cowboys a slight edge in this likely-to-be-meaningless trade.
Grades: Cowboys: B; Vikings: B-
May 9, 2024
Rams Trade WR Ben Skowronek, 2026 7th-Round Pick to Texans for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
You usually see this type of trade near roster cut day. When a team is about to release a player and announces that intention, sometimes, in a bid to beat another team on the waiver wire or in free agency, a team dangles a pick swap for that player. That’s exactly what happened here. The Rams intended to release Skowronek, but Houston offered to trade for him. This was an easy decision for LA, who obtains an asset (however minor) for someone they were going to release for free. It’s a little less clear-cut for the Texans. Skowronek comes with 12 starts in 3 years with minimal production outside of 2022 (376 yards). He is a good blocker, but the Texans are loaded at the WR position, with Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, Noah Brown, and John Metchie already on the roster. As minimal as this trade cost was, bringing in a likely WR7 who may just get cut feels like a waste of resources. This is nothing against Skowronek; he’s just joining possibly the most crowded depth chart in the NFL.
Grades: Rams: A; Texans: C
April 28, 2024
Jets Trade DE John Franklin-Myers to Broncos for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
For teams that had some animosity last year, they sure like to trade. Last week it was Zach Wilson, and now it’s John Franklin-Myers heading to Denver. This was the only draft-day trade that involved a player, and it didn’t even include a 2024 pick! The Jets couldn’t/didn’t want to afford Franklin-Myers’ $13.3M salary, so a trade makes sense. However, by dumping the entire figure, the team limited its return. A 6th-rounder 2 years from now is extremely low compensation, which is why Denver was willing to give it up. A win-now team like New York probably shouldn’t have parted with a good rotation player who defends both the pass and run. The Broncos wanted him because of those exact skills, and they have reworked/extended his contract as part of the deal (I’ll be grading that separately). Denver’s thin D-line will benefit from Franklin-Myers at a low draft price. I wouldn’t have done this if I were the Jets, but I understand why they did so. The Broncos keep winning the trades between these two teams.
Grades: Jets: C+; Broncos: A
April 22, 2024
Jets Trade QB Zach Wilson, 2024 7th-Round Pick to Broncos for 2024 6th-Round Pick:
So much for Wilson being an “asset“. All it took to pry him away was a day-3 pick swap, and New York is paying half of his salary! The ugly truth for the Jets is that one of two things happened: Wilson was a complete bust, or the team ruined him. In either case, he was not the asset the team thought or pretended he was, so teams could wait until the price came down before taking a flier. Denver currently does not have a starting QB (I’m not counting Jarrett Stidham), but their #12 overall draft selection isn’t high enough to obtain one. They also have minimal assets due to the Russell Wilson trade. It makes sense for them to give someone who had #2-overall-pick talent a fresh start with a QB guru like Sean Payton. New York needed to move on as well. It’s clear that things were over between the Jets and Wilson, and he was never going to become a starter there. Still, this is a pathetic return even under the sunk cost theory. The Broncos aren’t risking anything, so despite the fact that I don’t expect much of Wilson, this is a risk that is well worth taking, especially if it keeps the team from doing something stupid during the draft.
Grades: Jets: C ; Broncos: A-
April 12, 2024
Browns Trade OT Leroy Watson to Titans for 2024 7th-Round Pick:
Starting now and through the draft, you’ll see a few of these minor trades where teams add depth pieces in exchange for late-round picks. That’s exactly what we have here, with Cleveland sending a backup tackle to the Titans. The Browns were actually Watson’s 3rd team since becoming a UDFA in 2022, and they’re the only team to put him on an active roster. He had no starts in 2023 while appearing in 7 nondescript games. On the plus side, he committed no penalties. Tennessee somehow acquired 0 tackles or guards in free agency despite a pressing need, so this is at least a step in that direction. However, in all honesty, this is the type of trade I would skip if I hadn’t promised to grade all trades involving players. If Watson starts, he’ll probably be an upgrade over what the Titans fielded last year, but it would also be a signal that Tennessee failed to address their protection issues. I guess I’ll commend them for acquiring a player with some NFL development who is probably better than anyone they’d acquire in the 7th round. He was more valuable to Cleveland, and line depth seems worth more than a 7th-rounder to me.
Grades: Browns: C-; Titans: B+
April 3, 2024
Bills Trade WR Stefon Diggs, 2024 6th-Round Pick, and 2025 5th-Round Pick to Texans for 2025 2nd-Round Pick:
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. We’ve been hearing about the discontent of Diggs in Buffalo for some time, and while the team has denied or downplayed it at every turn, we always knew that 2023 or 2024 would be his last season with the team. It’s clearly the former, as the perpetually disgruntled wideout has been traded to the up-and-coming Texans. Diggs is coming off a “down year”, which for him still means a Pro Bowl season with 107 catches for 1183 yards and 8 TDs. I’m not sure if he was mad at QB Josh Allen or the organization, but the fact is that this is the 2nd city Diggs has forced his way out of. At some point you have to consider him a locker room risk, but I think the gamble if worth it for Houston. With QB CJ Stroud on a rookie contract, the Texans can afford Diggs, who now forms a great WR trio along with Nico Collins and Tank Dell. I credit the Texans for realizing that their rebuild was progressing ahead of schedule and deciding to go big. Diggs is certainly worth a 2nd-round pick next year, and the two day-3 picks coming back are extra sweeteners. Buffalo probably wanted to be rid of Diggs, but a receiver of his caliber isn’t easily replaced. The cupboard is completely bare at the position, and the team may have to spend a 1st-round pick on a wideout, which would negate the return. Unless the Bills were thinking addition by subtraction, I can’t fathom why they’d make this move, especially with another AFC contender. Buffalo is currently the 3rd-best team in the AFC East and fading.
Grades: Bills: D ; Texans: A-
March 29, 2024
Eagles Trade OLB Haason Reddick to Jets for Conditional 2026 3rd-Round Pick:
Reddick became expendable once the Eagles signed Bryce Huff (ironically from the Jets). They had been looking to offload Reddick’s $14.5M salary for 2024, and they found a buyer. The conditional pick in this trade becomes a 2nd-rounder if Reddick plays 67.5% of the snaps this year and has 10+ sacks. New York is essentially trading Huff and a pick for Reddick on aggregate. The Jets needed another edge rusher and tried to sign Jadeveon Clowney. Instead, they did better, acquiring someone with 11 or more sacks in each of the past 4 seasons. Reddick did this with 3 different teams, so there’s no doubt that he can translate to a new system. Huff is the younger player, which fits Philly’s timetable, whereas the 29-year-old Reddick matches New York’s win-now mandate. For this season, Reddick is likely to be the better player. I don’t know why the Eagles thought they had to move him so badly and bring in Huff, as I’d prefer Reddick for the next 2-3 years. The Jets will try to sign him to an extension, but even if they don’t and he walks after next season, they’ll likely get a 3rd- or 4th-round compensatory selection for him. That pick will be equal to or better than the one they’re trading away in most scenarios, so they’re really just spending money for an elite QB hunter. The Jets are the clear winners, as Reddick makes the team’s Super Bowl prospects even more real.
Grades: Eagles: D+; Jets: A+
March 23, 2024
Chiefs Trade CB L’Jarius Sneed to Titans for 2024 7th-Round Pick Swap and 2025 3rd-Round Pick:
KC finally moved their franchise corner. When the team applied the franchise tag to Sneed, it was done with the intent of trading him if a reasonable deal couldn’t be reached. Once Chris Jones was re-signed, the Chiefs could no longer afford Sneed and had to move him. The bigger surprise is that it’s Tennessee who came calling. The Titans have made a lot of moves as if they’re gearing up for a playoff run, but they’re nowhere close. Houston and Jacksonville are both well ahead of them, and the Titans don’t even know if they have their QB yet. Regardless of all of that, I still like this move for them. A 3rd-rounder next year and a pick swap next month form a very low price for one of the game’s premier corners. The free agency CB crop was weak, so a young star like Sneed would’ve fetched far more if he wasn’t due for a new contract (which Tennessee is ironing out now). He and Chidobe Awuzie will form the best corner duo the Titans have had in years, and both will be under contract for at least the next 3 years. This is poor value for the Chiefs, who know what kind of shutdown corner Sneed is. He shadows #1 receivers and still produces. That’s business in the NFL though, and Trent McDuffie is ready for the CB1 role. Given that the Chiefs really needed that $19.8M in cap space (which they clear immediately), I can’t say I blame them since Sneed reportedly didn’t want to play on the tag. The money can go toward offensive line help, which is more sorely needed. Sneed is just worth more than this compensation.
Grades: Chiefs: C; Titans: B+
March 16, 2024
Bears Trade QB Justin Fields to Steelers for Conditional 2025 6th-Round Pick:
“With the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select Caleb Williams.” Roger Goodell can practice saying those words now, because Chicago is no longer questionable to draft a QB at #1. They have made their decision, trading Justin Fields for a 6th-rounder that can become a 4th-round pick based on playing time. That means they’re hoping Russell Wilson flops, because NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted that Wilson is the starter and that there will be no competition. Ideally, Fields would go somewhere, play the season, and give that team enough information determined whether to move forward with him. Based on the destination and the compensation, Fields is the clear-cut backup in Pittsburgh, so they’ll have to do their intel collection behind the scenes. After trading Kenny Pickett (see below) and watching Mason Rudolph sign with Tennessee, the Steelers had nobody behind Wilson. Fields’ running threat makes him a very good backup option, as he can come in without needing too much chemistry with the receivers. Chicago basically did this trade out of desperation. For obvious reasons, it would be highly awkward to have Fields around after drafting Williams. The locker room might be uneasy and conflicted in terms of their loyalty, so Fields had to be moved. Unfortunately, everybody knows this, so Chicago had no leverage in trade talks. This is a very weak return. Even the best possible compensation, a 4th-rounder next year, is less than what Kenny Pickett or Sam Howell fetched. While it’s unknown what Pittsburgh’s long-term plans for Fields are, they undoubtedly got him at a bargain. The Bears probably should have waited until draft day to make a move like the Cardinals did with Josh Rosen. Their return couldn’t have been much worse.
Grades: Bears: D; Steelers: A-
March 15, 2024
Steelers Trade QB Kenny Pickett and 2024 4th-Round Pick to Eagles for 2024 3rd-Round Pick and Two 2025 7th-Round Picks:
Just like that, Pittsburgh has given up on their 2022 first-round pick. Putting aside the fact that the 2022 QB class looks plain ugly, this is a shocking admission. The Steelers signed Russell Wilson to compete with Pickett but seem to have handed him the job instead, signaling Mike Tomlin’s dissatisfaction with his former QB1. Pickett then requested a trade, and the Eagles came calling. Why they did I do not know. He clearly isn’t supplanting Jalen Hurts, so the Eagles paid draft capital to select a backup QB. I wonder if their plan is to groom him and then flip him again later. Maybe they just want a good backup behind Hurts, which they didn’t have on the roster. As far as the terms of the trade, Pittsburgh did well to admit a sunk cost and get the equivalent of a 4th-round pick for Pickett. He is already 25 years old, so I doubt he has a much higher ceiling than what we’ve seen. I won’t be too brutal on Philly because this isn’t an expensive gamble. It’s just not a very good one.
Grades: Steelers: B; Eagles: C-
Texans Trade 2024 1st-Round Pick (No. 23) and 2024 7th-Round Pick (No. 232) to Vikings for 2024 2nd-Round Pick (No. 42), 2024 6th-Round Pick (No. 188), and 2025 2nd-Round Pick:
As you know, I don’t usually grade trades without players involved. However, when an all-pick deal occurs before the draft and a 1st-rounder is involved, that’s intriguing. For those wondering, the 7th-rounder is the pick the Texans got for Maliek Collins two days ago. Glad we took care of that housekeeping. Anyway, this trade suggests to me that the Vikings are trying to collect 1st-round to package in a later deal. Such a deal would almost assuredly be for a quarterback. As far as the actual value here, this is a reasonable trade, though Houston is naturally obtaining the better package. The Texans are betting on that 2025 pick to be high due to Minnesota struggles (though I should remind them: Arizona thought Houston’s first-round pick sent as part of the Will Anderson trade would be high, and we know how that turned out). Regardless of where it ends up, Houston is winning this trade in terms of some draft charts (depending on how your chart views future picks). I don’t like that they’re exiting the first round entirely (as it currently stands), but having more picks will enhance their roster in the long term. If we take the trade at face value, the Vikings did fine. However, if we operate under the QB assumption, I’m very concerned. Chicago is going nowhere, so the target would have to be either Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. I wouldn’t take either of them that high, let alone trade up for one. I’ll give the Vikings a little benefit of the doubt that they’ll do something smart with their shiny new pick, but the above possibility can’t be dismissed and is factored into the grade.
Grades: Texans: B; Vikings: C-
March 14, 2024
Chargers Trade WR Keenan Allen to Bears for 2024 4th-Round Pick:
This is how you prep for a #1 overall QB to come into town. Chicago is widely expected to replace Justin Fields (who has to be hating this move) with Caleb Williams, who will now have DJ Moore and Keenan Allen as his WRs. That’s amazing. How did this only cost a 4th-round pick, you ask? The Chargers had a cap issue, and Allen has a cap hit in excess of $30M. The team asked him to take a pay cut, which he rightfully refused. We’re talking about a Pro Bowl WR who caught 108 passes for 1243 yards and 7 TDs. LA, their hands tied, had to move him, and Chicago, flush with cap space, came calling. Needless to say, the Chargers botched this terribly. They already cut Mike Williams, so without Allen as well, Justin Herbert is going to have a problem. The team is now almost boxed into taking a WR with the 5th overall pick, yet they’re getting just a 4th-rounder for a great receiver. Jim Harbaugh will wear out his welcome really soon at this pace. Don’t expect the Bolts to sniff the playoffs. Suddenly, the Bears can be really good if Williams is an instant success. His chances of being one just skyrocketed, and Chicago paid but a pittance.
Grades: Chargers: F; Bears: A+
Commanders Trade QB Sam Howell and 2024 4th- and 6th-Round Picks to Seahawks for 2024 3rd- and 5th-Round Picks:
As with the trade below, a new QB meant someone had to go. In this case though, that new QB is Marcus Mariota for some reason, as well as a player to be drafted #2 overall next month. According to draft charts, these pick swaps amount to an early 4th-round pick. Given that Washington selected Howell in the 5th round, you can argue that they got two years of Howell and then upgraded the pick. That’s not how I see it. Howell was greatly undervalued in the 5th round, and Washington is selling him short again. He had some good moments in his first season starting, and he did this with a mediocre running game and a terrible offensive line. I don’t think his story is written, and I’d have kept him to compete with the rookie instead of signing Mariota at all. For Seattle, this is a shrewd move. Drew Lock left in free agency, and Howell is an upgrade as the backup QB. Maybe he can even compete with Geno Smith for the starting job at some point given that the Seahawks still don’t seem fully invested in Smith. Howell has 2 years remaining on his cheap deal, and you weren’t finding a better QB in the 3rd round of this year’s draft anyway.
Grades: Commanders: D; Seahawks: A+
Cardinals Trade WR Rondale Moore to Falcons for QB Desmond Ridder:
Once Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins, someone had to go. I thought they’d part with Taylor Heinicke given his higher salary and equally poor performance, but he wouldn’t have drawn trade interest. Ridder did, as he’s still a young player, albeit one with very limited upside. In exchange the Falcons are getting Cousins another weapon. This is a rare player-for-player trade, but not an even one. Moore has been a disappointment in Arizona, but he has shown flashes, and it’s not like he has experienced good QB play. His speed is real, and he’ll complement the bigger, possession-type Drake London better than he did Marquise Brown. It’s a good acquisition for a player the team didn’t want or need. For Arizona, this only really tells me that they don’t believe in Clayton Tune, last year’s 5th-round pick. I’d think that Tune would have more upside given that we know Ridder’s ceiling (i.e., a mid-level backup). Ridder obviously isn’t supplanting Kyler Murray, so they must have just wanted another option in exchange for Moore. That’s not the worst thing in the world, but a pick would’ve been a much better return.
Grades: Cardinals: C-; Falcons: A
March 13, 2024
Texans Trade DT Maliek Collins to 49ers for 2024 7th-Round Pick:
This trade is the cost of signing Danielle Hunter and Azeez Al-Shaair. The Texans needed to clear cap space, so the veteran Collins was the odd man out. A veteran who was with Houston for 3 seasons, Collins was always a quality run stopper, but he added some pass rush ability recently, setting a career high with 5 sacks in 2023. Houston is saving $8M, but this doesn’t make them better, and they certainly aren’t getting fair value for Collins. I’d rather have him than Al-Shaair. San Francisco is aware of that, as they once had Al-Shaair as well. This deal would make more sense if they hadn’t cut Arik Armstead (an even better player) or just signed a worse DT (Jordan Elliott). Looking at the trade on its own, a 7th-rounder for Collins is a steal. It just doesn’t align with the roster building GM John Lynch has been doing over the last few days.
Grades: Texans: D+; 49ers: B+
Ravens Trade RT Morgan Moses and 2024 4th-Round Pick to Jets for 2024 4th- and 6th-Round Picks:
For clarification, the Ravens’ pick is #134, while the Jets’ 4th-rounder is #112. New York is familiar with Moses, as he played for the team in 2021. I imagine they regret parting ways with him given what their line became in the two seasons since. I commend GM Joe Douglas for his strategy of raiding another quality offensive line. Clearly not done after signing G John Simpson away from Baltimore, the Jets have now traded a 6th-rounder and a minor pick swap for a massive right tackle. This is music to Aaron Rodgers’ ears (and apparently Breece Hall’s ears too). Moses is a mountain of a man who has mostly been durable, and he is a massive upgrade that takes pressure off the Jets, who no longer HAVE to select a tackle with their first-round pick (though they still might). I’m not sure why Baltimore is addressing their cap issues by dumping linemen. Just because you signed Derrick Henry doesn’t mean you no longer need a blocking unit. Most good teams build out from their line, and the Ravens seem to be going against that after following the method perfectly for years. Lamar Jackson is at least used to running; he’ll be doing it a lot.
Grades: Ravens: D; Jets: A+
March 12, 2024
Steelers Trade WR Diontae Johnson and 2024 7th-Round Pick to Panthers for CB Donte Jackson and 2024 6th-Round Pick:
I think Carolina got better at trading since yesterday. The team was planning to release Jackson due to his injury issues and $10M cap hit, but they found a trade partner. Somehow, they even got a good receiver in the deal. Johnson himself had a bloated contract, but with the way the WR market has shifted in the past couple of years, it’s actually not bad anymore. Perhaps he became a problem in the locker room, having complained about the offense. I would’ve expected that to change after the Steelers changed OCs, but who knows? We also know that Pittsburgh badly needs CB help, especially after releasing Patrick Peterson. Jackson is a solid outside corner when he’s healthy, which is a good 80% of the time. I just don’t get trading a good WR2 for him and a minor pick swap. The Panthers win this deal because they needed weapons for Bryce Young more than the Steelers needed a corner. Their cost was someone they were going to jettison anyway, plus a one-round drop on day 3 of the draft. For all the good moves the Steelers are making, this was a blunder. I apologize to George Pickens and Russell Wilson, who must feel like they’re being sabotaged already.
Grades: Steelers: D; Panthers: A
Bengals Trade RB Joe Mixon to Texans for 2024 7th-Round Pick:
That’s a bit of a plot twist! Upon signing Zack Moss, the Bengals announced that they were releasing Mixon. Apparently not wanting to compete with other teams on the open market for his services, the Texans dangled a 7th-round pick in front of Cincy. The Bengals took it, and we have ourselves a trade. Mixon is a big name, but he hasn’t actually been a top performer in a few years. He topped 1000 rushing yards last year, is a good receiver out of the backfield, and pass blocks well, making him a well-rounded back. However, he hasn’t been getting many more yards than what’s blocked, so his better 2023 season probably has more to do with the offensive line improvements the team made. Viewing Mixon as expendable and wanting $6M in cap savings, Cincinnati replaced him with a cheaper but equal option. Getting any sort of pick for a player you were going to cut is great. For Houston, the compensation is low, and the team had three 7th-round picks in this draft anyway. They needed an RB after losing Devin Singletary, but there were better options available that wouldn’t have cost draft picks. If Mixon helps CJ Stroud though, I’m fine with it.
Grades: Bengals: A; Texans: B
March 11, 2024
Panthers Trade OLB Brian Burns to Giants for 2024 2nd- and 5th-Round Picks, 5th-Round Pick Swap:
Let me get this straight: the Panthers rejected an offer including 2 first-round picks for Burns before this past season, kept Burns through a 2-14 campaign, and then traded him for far less? That’s called poor management. Granted, Dan Morgan wasn’t the GM at the time, but we all know owner David Tepper is the captain of this sinking ship. The Panthers tagged Burns last week, and I said that they needed to move him or extend him. I didn’t mean to sell him for pennies on the dollar! The Giants now have to pay to extend Burns, and it’s a hefty sum (I’ll grade that transaction separately on my Free Agents page), but Carolina had plenty of space if they wanted to keep him. Conversely, I’m also not entirely sure what New York is doing. The price was cheap, and pairing Burns with Kayvon Thibodeaux forms a formidable pass rush. I just wonder if the team should’ve spent this cap space on offensive upgrades, as that side of the ball is in much worse shape. In a vacuum, this is a good trade, but S Xavier McKinney is now out the door, and the offensive line and receiving room are still messes. Finally, if they want to move up for a QB, they no longer have this 2nd-round pick to do so. At least they made their team better at a reasonable cost; Carolina got worse without reaping any rewards for doing so.
Grades: Panthers: F; Giants: B-
Buccaneers Trade CB Carlton Davis, 2024 6th-Round Pick, and 2025 6th-Round Pick to Lions for 2024 3rd-Round Pick:
Signing so many of your free agents to big deals comes with a cap cost, and for Tampa Bay, that cost is Davis. In a move that appears to be a clear salary dump, the Bucs are sending one of their better corners to the team that eliminated them from the playoffs this past season. The fact that Davis has 1 year and $14.5M left on his deal is probably the driver of this trade from Tampa’s perspective, but it makes them weaker against the pass. They also barely got anything, as the 3rd rounder is offset by a pair of 6th-round picks they’re sending to Detroit. The Lions badly needed a CB. The 49ers completely shredded them in the second half of the NFC Championship game, and Davis can help make sure that doesn’t happen again. He’s not elite, but he’s probably better than most options they can find at the end of round 1 during the draft. Davis is also experienced, which matters to a contender. I get why the Bucs had to do this to clear cap space, and getting something is better than releasing Davis, but it’s not much.
Grades: Buccaneers: C-; Lions: B+
March 10, 2024
Patriots Trade QB Mac Jones to Jaguars for 2024 6th-Round Pick:
This one blindsided me. I knew the Patriots wanted to trade Jones, but I didn’t think the Jaguars would be the top suitor. Similar to the Trey Lance trade to the Cowboys, I have no clue what Jacksonville is thinking. Jones is a clear bust who is probably no better than current backup CJ Beathard, and he’s obviously not replacing Trevor Lawrence. Giving up any asset to take on the last guaranteed year of Jones’ deal is weird. For New England, I get what they wanted to do, but was this the best they could muster? Jones’ stock is at its lowest, but his situation in Foxborough was also awful. I’d at least have tried to make things work a bit with the new regime. After all, would his value really be much worse after the team takes a QB with the #3 overall pick next month? I do believe the two sides needed to part, but this was suboptimally handled.
Grades: Patriots: C; Jaguars: F
March 9, 2024
Broncos Trade WR Jerry Jeudy to Browns for 2024 5th- and 6th-Round Picks:
What a surprise: the Broncos, who were adamant about keeping Jeudy at last year’s trade deadline, have changed their minds and moved him. This is definitely late, as I believe Jeudy had more value last season. Cleveland meanwhile continues to stockpile former Alabama 1st-round WRs at pennies on the dollar, having already acquired Amari Cooper from Dallas a season ago. The prices of these deals are similar, but Cooper was a proven WR1, whereas Jeudy has yet to deliver on his promise. From Denver’s perspective, Jeudy is incredibly frustrating. He has never had a 1000-yard season and has suffered through drops, while the WR drafted right after him (CeeDee Lamb) became a star. I can understand why they’d want to move on and save money on the cap, so I won’t judge them too harshly for giving up and getting a mediocre return. This is a worthy flier for the Browns, though I’m not sure Jeudy is going to suddenly blossom. His routes and athleticism are good, but his hands are suspect. At this price though, why not take a shot at filling your WR2 void?
Grades: Broncos: B-; Browns: B+
March 5, 2024
Bills Trade G/C Ryan Bates to Bears for 2024 5th-Round Pick:
We’re starting with the trades before the new league year even begins! I guess Bates was a cut candidate for Buffalo and they figured they’d get an asset for him. Chicago actually tried to sign Bates in 2022, but the Bills matched their offer sheet. Afterwards, Bates started 17 games that season before reverting to a backup in 2023. This is a quality depth piece for the Bears, but given that Buffalo didn’t feel the need to start him when they weren’t loaded on the offensive line themselves, his upside is probably limited. I say that the Bills won this trade because a 5th-rounder usually gets you a bit better of a guard on an expiring contract (like Shaq Mason a couple years ago). Any protection in Chicago is worthy of praise though.
Grades: Bills: A-; Bears: B