2025 NFL Trade Grades

I’ll be keeping track of the various NFL trades that occur throughout 2025 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.

September 13, 2025

Patriots Trade WR Ja’Lynn Polk, 2028 7th-Round Pick to Saints for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
Part of the fearsome 2023 Washington Huskies passing attack, Polk was eagerly drafted by the Patriots in the second round of last year’s draft. His tenure with the team has been so poor that they’re already giving up. Polk caught just 12 passes as a rookie and seemed lost, failing to assert himself in a lackluster WR room. During the 2025 preseason, he hurt his shoulder and got himself placed on season-ending IR. If he’s going to revive his career, it’ll have to be in New Orleans, which strikes me as an ideal landing spot. The Saints, despite their refusal to admit it, are rebuilding, and they need young building blocks. They’re getting a receiver who was considered good enough to be a 2nd-round pick on essentially a 2-year rookie deal. It’s the epitome of a buy-low opportunity, as Polk has too much talent to be a complete waste of capital. For New England though, I get it. The current regime didn’t pick him, and they had enough. A clean break may have been best for all involved, but NO won this trade handily.
Grades: Patriots: C-; Saints: A

September 8, 2025

Jaguars Trade RB Tank Bigsby to Eagles for 2026 5th- and 6th-Round Picks:
I figured the Jags would trade one of their RBs this year, but I didn’t think it would be Bigsby. Travis Etienne had a big game last week against a porous Panthers defense, but he struggled most of last year. I guess his first-round pedigree won out, because Bigsby was clearly the better runner in 2024. He earned 766 yards and 7 TDs on the ground at a 4.6 YPC clip (Etienne averaged 3.7 YPC behind the same line). Philly, suffering an injury to backup Will Shipley, pounced and acquired Bigsby for a pair of day-3 picks. Even as someone who likes Bigsby, I feel like this is a premium price. I get the premise: Saquon Barkley shoulders a heavy load, and he’s not exactly the pinnacle of durability. Having someone to take on some of those touches will be beneficial once the playoffs come around. Jacksonville cleared their logjam at a good price, but unless rookie Bhayshul Tuten breaks out, they traded their best runner. The Eagles definitely insured themselves, but they probably didn’t have to pay this much for an equivalent RB.
Grades: Jaguars: B+ ; Eagles: B-

August 28, 2025

Cowboys Trade OLB Micah Parsons to Packers for DT Kenny Clark, 2026 1st-Round Pick, 2027 1st-Round Pick:
Well this certainly escalated QUICKLY. Deadlines spur actions, and with week 1 approaching, Dallas had to settle the Micah Parsons situation. Owner Jerry Jones appeared finished with him and especially his agent, so the team decided to listen to trade offers. When Green Bay came forward with this one, I imagine he couldn’t say “yes” quickly enough. Parsons is a young, elite pass rusher who is one of the very best players in the game. However, Jones offered him a record-setting contract, and it wasn’t enough. Green Bay shattered that record, and I’ll grade that shortly, but Dallas was justified in not budging from their fantastic 5-year, $202.5M offer. When a player is due a huge extension, getting appropriate trade compensation is tricky. I think they succeeded here. Two first-round picks are equal to the sum you’d get as part of a tag-and-trade scenario, plus a 3-time Pro Bowl DT is included. Dallas is worse right now, but their future may actually be brighter. From Green Bay’s perspective, this is an all-in type of move. Clark is a really good player, but Parsons plays a more important position and one where the Packers had a weakness. If I believed more in Jordan Love, I’d love (pun intended) this trade more. This is a trade for both now and the future, but it signals an intent to compete for titles immediately. I still wouldn’t put Green Bay in the Super Bowl favorites tier, so maybe they weren’t the ones who should’ve made this move. However, it certainly sends a message, and the Packers now possess an elite edge rusher for the first time since the Clay Matthews days.
Grades: Cowboys: B; Packers: B-

August 27, 2025

Panthers Trade WR Adam Thielen, Conditional 2026 7th-Round Pick, 2027 5th-Round Pick to Vikings for 2026 5th-Round Pick, 2027 4th-Round Pick:
Welcome home Adam! The Minnesota State alum and longtime Viking is returning to his original team in a complicated trade. These picks boil down to this: Minnesota upgrades their 5th-rounder in 2027 to a 4th, and they obtain a 2026 5th-rounder while maybe sending a 7th back. It’s pretty clear that Carolina still isn’t ready to compete, so an older receiver doesn’t do them a ton of good. That’s particularly true for a team that spent their last two first-round picks on wideouts. I’d still prefer to have a veteran like Thielen in the room, especially for the development of Bryce Young, but I understand why Carolina moved on. Meanwhile, Minnesota needs a fill-in for the suspended Jordan Addison and a reliable WR3 for when he returns. Thielen is an excellent fit for that role, and he doesn’t cost a ton. I lean toward the Vikings here with my grades, as Young may really miss Thielen.
Grades: Panthers: B-; Vikings: A-

Lions Trade WR Tim Patrick to Jaguars for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
When the Lions signed Patrick, it was a great story. He revived his career after brutal injuries in 2022 and 2023 with Denver, returning to a quality WR3. Unfortunately for Patrick, 3rd-round rookie Isaac TeSlaa’s emergence pushed him out. TeSlaa is essentially a younger and faster version of Patrick, but Jacksonville needed whatever big receiver they could acquire. At 6’5″, Patrick is easily the biggest body in the Jaguars’ WR room now. That’s important because new HC Liam Coen worked with a tall WR named Mike Evans in Tampa Bay, so he’ll know how to use Patrick. I think this is a pretty fair trade; Patrick can take some pressure off of Travis Hunter, and Detroit acquires a bit of draft capital for a player they were no longer using.
Grades: Lions: B; Jaguars: B+

August 26, 2025

Texans Trade OL Austin Deculus to Chargers for Conditional 2027 7th-Round Pick:
Nope: I don’t know the condition related to this pick either. As with the Jerrell trade, this is a case where a team is acquiring a lineman from an already poor unit. Houston’s line was their Achilles heel (and could be again this year), and Deculus could only earn one start in 13 appearances with them. I appreciate the Bolts adding some depth up front, but if Deculus has to play, the team is already doomed. Not much more to say about this one; the Texans win this very minor swap.
Grade: Texans: B+; Chargers: C

Cowboys Trade OL Asim Richards, 2028 7th-Round Pick to Saints for 2028 6th-Round Pick:
In Richards’ two-year career, he has just one start. New Orleans clearly saw enough to prioritize him over potential waiver claims though, sending a future pick swap to Dallas (what’s with these 2028 picks being moved anyway?). The best thing about Richards is his versatility, as he possesses experience at both guard and tackle. New Orleans spent their last two first-round picks on tackles, and another first-round tackle (Trevor Penning) moved inside to guard, so this feels like a depth move. It’s not a big trade, so I won’t be harsh, but I ask again: why are the Saints acquiring players? They’re among the league’s worst teams. Dallas gets the typical “asset for nothing” grade, while New Orleans leaves me scratching my head.
Grades: Cowboys: B+; Saints: C+

Seahawks Trade OT Michael Jerrell to Falcons for Conditional 2027 7th-Round Pick:
As usual, I don’t know the condition on the pick, but it’s such a small asset that it doesn’t matter. Atlanta is in trouble at RT. Kaleb McGary just went down for the season, and Storm Norton is also hurt. They needed SOMEONE, but they interestingly picked Jerrell. Based on last year’s performance, I’m not too keen on poaching anybody from Seattle’s offensive line unless Charles Cross becomes available (he won’t). If you couldn’t crack the starting lineup for the Seahawks’ line in 2024, you weren’t that good. Jerrell did start 3 games because of injuries to others, but he wasn’t very effective. He’s young and athletic, so maybe the Falcons see some upside. This trade can’t hurt them, and it may or may not help Seattle, but the latter did slightly better here.
Grades: Seahawks: B; Falcons: B-

Rams Trade OT KT Leveston to Browns for 2028 7th-Round Pick:
This trade is intriguing because Leveston has never played a regular-season snap. He was a 7th-round pick in 2024 and comes with solid measurables at 6’4″ and 335 lbs. Cleveland got a first-hand look at Leveston in their last preseason game against the Rams and he performed well. His run blocking is well ahead of his pass protection at this point, but the Browns are trying to re-emphasize the running game. Leveston is a developmental player who will cost nothing more than a 7th-rounder 3 years from now, so I have no issue with the Browns kicking his tires. LA receives a very tiny asset for a player they were cutting, so good job.
Grades: Rams: B; Browns: B

Vikings Trade CB Mekhi Blackmon to Colts for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
Minnesota is a little late amassing draft picks given how few they had in April, but whatever. Blackmon, a 3rd-round pick in 2023, looked like an ascending player as a rookie. He broke up 8 passes despite playing just 43% of the snaps and proved to be a good tackler. An ACL tear cost him the entire 2024 season though, so maybe the Vikings simply don’t think he’s the same player anymore. The Colts are gambling that this line of thought is wrong, and they could use Blackmon’s help if he’s healthy. I figured that Minnesota needed that sort of help more, so I’d be a little concerned that they’re giving up on a 26-year-old player with good tape. They know him better than anyone, so these grades could be way off depending on how Blackmon looks physically.
Grades: Vikings: C; Colts: B+

August 25, 2025

Browns Trade QB Kenny Pickett to Raiders for 2026 5th-Round Pick:
Man, if not for Brock Purdy, the 2022 QB class might go down as the worst in history. The lone first-round QB from that class has now been traded for the third time. He was once the only QB on Cleveland’s depth chart after being acquired for a 5th-rounder and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (addition by subtraction). Then, Joe Flacco got signed, and Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders were drafted. Pickett could’ve beaten out the rookies, but a hamstring injury cost him the bulk of the summer. The Browns didn’t really want to keep 4 QBs, and with Flacco named the starter, Pickett became the odd man out. They found a trade partner in Las Vegas, who lost backup Aidan O’Connell to a broken wrist. Pickett was one of the better available options to replace him, but why trade this pick? Cleveland should’ve gotten less than what they sent Philly to acquire him, and LV isn’t even a contending team that needs a premium backup. The Browns weren’t wise to acquire Pickett to begin with, but they rectified their mistake in full.
Grades: Browns: A; Raiders: C-

Jaguars Trade OT Fred Johnson to Eagles for 2026 7th-Round Pick:
One tackle out, one tackle in for the Eagles. As always, Trader Howie is VERY busy…maybe even more than normal. Just as we saw with Derrick Nnadi, Johnson is a player being traded back to the team that let him walk a few months ago. Philadelphia wanted Johnson back but not enough to pay him a minimum salary during free agency. Their trade of Darian Kinnard made a depth lineman important, so they chose one they’re familiar with. If you ascribe to the theory that the value of a pick decreases by one round for each year out you go, then the picks the Eagles have gained and sent out in these two trades are basically equal, and they ended up with the better player. However, they should’ve just signed Johnson to begin with. Jacksonville picks up a minor asset for someone they were going to release tomorrow, so I’m a fan of their end of this swap as well.
Grades: Jaguars: B+; Eagles: B

Eagles Trade OT Darian Kinnard to Packers for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
Offensive linemen are always in demand, but I didn’t realize there would be a market for a former 5th-round pick with just 3 career regular-season appearances. Kinnard has been trained by the Eagles for the past year, which is always a good sign. However, the fact that they were willing to give up on the former All-American is a less positive indicator. This is a team that always gets the best out of their linemen, so he likely won’t fare as well somewhere else. Green Bay did need line depth due to injuries up front, but I feel like they could’ve gotten a similar player from another team’s cuts (perhaps even Kinnard himself). For Philadelphia, managing to extract a 6th-rounder for a cut candidate is a great deal.
Grades: Eagles: A; Packers: C

August 24, 2025

Jets Trade DT Derrick Nnadi, Conditional 2027 7th-Round Pick to Chiefs for Conditional 2027 6th-Round Pick:
Not every DT trade involving the Jets has New York importing the player. I don’t know what conditions are attached to this pick swap, but given that it’s a late-round swap two years from now, I’ll grade this while assuming that the picks will convey. Nnadi played in KC for the past 7 years, and he was a starter for 6 of them. He became a reserve in 2024, and he signed with the Jets this offseason. Now that New York has acquired so many DTs, Nnadi is expendable, and the Chiefs wanted him back. Granted, they didn’t want him badly enough to re-sign him in the first place, which would’ve saved them a miniscule amount of draft capital. Still, they saw a need during the preseason and addressed it. This seems like a very fair trade for both sides.
Grades: Jets: B+; Chiefs: B+

Vikings Trade QB Sam Howell, 2026 6th-Round Pick to Eagles for 2026 5th-Round Pick, 2027 7th-Round Pick:
Minnesota trading for Howell made sense: he’s a young QB with starting experience who could be a great CB2. However, his preseason performance was lackluster, mostly because he has absolutely no experience in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. With nothing behind Howell, he stuck around through the preseason, but things have now changed. The Vikings signed Carson Wentz to back up JJ McCarthy (I’ll grade that signing as soon as I have the contract details) and traded Howell to the Eagles, whose backup Tanner McKee has a broken thumb on his throwing hand. Philly insists that this trade would’ve taken place regardless of McKee’s injury, which makes it a little more curious. By all accounts, the Eagles love McKee, and his injury wasn’t expected to cost him more than a couple of games. Spending this minor draft capital for a third quarterback is thus a little suspect, though I like the value for Howell. I was high on him coming out of college, and though I’m not as sold now, he’s at least serviceable. For Minnesota, they seemingly upgraded at the backup QB spot yet gained capital, which is a nice move.
Grades: Vikings: A-; Eagles: B-

August 22, 2025

Commanders Trade RB Brian Robinson Jr to 49ers for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
The 49ers adding weapons is not a surprise. Their insistence on spending draft capital at the position continues to confound me though. Kyle Shanahan, much like his father Mike, has a scheme that turns UDFA backs into good producers. San Francisco recently traded one of them, Jordan Mason, in another success story. Therefore, I don’t understand why they’d trade a pick for Robinson. While Robinson is worth that sort of value, this particular team shouldn’t have spent it despite injuries at the position. For Washington, this is easier. Robinson seemed to play well for them, but his one-cut bruising style didn’t mesh with the offense installed last year for Jayden Daniels. Chris Rodriguez seems to have taken Robinson’s role, making the latter a likely cut. I always endorse acquiring a pick for a player you’re dumping anyway, though I might not have dumped this back to begin with.
Grades: Commanders: B+; 49ers: C

August 20, 2025

Chiefs Trade WR Skyy Moore, 2027 7th-Round Pick to 49ers for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
San Francisco is in a bad way with receivers. Deebo Samuel is gone, Brandon Aiyuk won’t be back until at least week 6, and Jauan Jennings may miss time too. Now Demarcus Robinson has been suspended 3 games. The team had to do something, and that “something” is swapping late-round picks 2 drafts from now with the Chiefs for their former 2nd-round pick. Moore has been a complete bust. While he’s athletic, he never consistently produced, even with Patrick Mahomes at QB. He fell very low on the depth chart and was likely to be cut. In his last preseason game, he gave us a microcosm of his career: an 88-yard PR TD and a couple of drops on offense. Expecting him to contribute offensively is probably foolish, but I do like him as a returner. For this price, he’s worth acquiring if that’s his intended purpose. KC simply picked up a tiny asset for a player they were dumping anyway. That’s smart business, even if it’s just a one-round upgrade in 2027.
Grades: Chiefs: B+; 49ers: B

Vikings Trade DT Harrison Phillips, 2027 7th-Round Pick to Jets for 2026 6th-Round Pick, 2027 6th-Round Pick:
I’m not sure why the Jets are collecting every DT in the league, but this trade is far better than their previous one. Phillips is a legitimate starter on the defensive interior who has gotten better each year. Since joining Minnesota in 2022 and receiving increased playing time, Phillips has been far more productive. His best season came in 2023, when he had a whopping 92 tackles and 3 sacks. Despite that, he became unnecessary once the Vikings acquired Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. No longer worth $7.4M to them, Minnesota got New York to pay half of Phillips’ salary as part of this trade along with the draft capital. The Jets sent one late-round swap and an additional 5th-rounder for Phillips, which seems smart to me. He’ll slot next to Quinnen Williams, a great rusher, as a highly complementary piece. I don’t think the Vikings needed to make this move, but the Jets are likely very happy to take Phillips off their hands for relative peanuts.
Grades: Vikings: C-; Jets: A

Browns Trade DT Jowon Briggs, 2026 7th-Round Pick to Jets for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
I didn’t have Briggs on my radar as a player who might get traded. He was a 7th-round pick a year ago and appeared in just 6 games, earning 13 tackles. Clearly, Cleveland has already given up on his development and decided to recoup a portion of their assets. Briggs was a teammate of Jets CB Sauce Gardner in college, so I imagine that played a role in New York’s interest. He’s a reasonably big body at 6’1″ and 313 lbs, and maybe he can provide some depth. I don’t think any draft assets were needed to acquire a player of this caliber though. That said, the pick swap is minimal at just one round on day 3. I’m giving the edge to the Browns here for getting the better end of the deal, but it’s mostly inconsequential for both sides.
Grades: Browns: B; Jets: C+

Broncos Trade WR Devaughn Vele to Saints for 2026 4th-Round Pick, 2027 7th-Round Pick:
Why on earth are the Saints acquiring players? I understand them wanting to surround one of their young QBs (Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough) to better evaluate them, but sending draft capital now to do so is insane. Vele came into the league last year as a 26-year-old 7th-round rookie, and he did pretty well. He earned 475 yards and 3 TDs on 41 catches, showing his worth as a big-bodied strider (he’s 6’5″). That’s a bit redundant for Denver with Courtland Sutton already on the roster and now rookie Pat Bryant. I would’ve said to just keep him anyway as developmental depth, but this is a great return. Denver gets their 7th-rounder back a couple years down the road and adds a 4th-round pick. For reference George Pickens cost the Cowboys the equivalent of a 3rd-round selection, and he’s far more talented. Thus, this was an offer that the Broncos couldn’t refuse. Conversely, that means the Saints overpaid royally. The bad value plus the fact that New Orleans should be tanking makes this a bad trade in the Big Easy. I only spare them an F grade because Vele is a decent enough player.
Grades: Broncos: A+; Saints: D-

August 17, 2025

Jaguars Trade C Luke Fortner to Saints for DT Khalen Saunders:
After this week’s preseason game between these teams, I came to the conclusion that the Saints didn’t have nearly enough offensive line depth. They apparently agreed, acquiring Fortner from their opponent. Fortner started and looked pretty good for his first two pro seasons, but he fell out of favor and became a backup in 2024. Even with Mitch Morse retiring, Fortner was not going to start. He probably won’t start for the Saints either unless he moves to guard. In return, the Jags are getting Saunders, who is most notable for his time in KC. He’s a very big body who is active in run support, but he also pushes the pocket. Jacksonville needs him due to some injuries on the defensive front. I feel like the Saints are trading a player whose value is on the rise for one whose value is at its nadir. Both players will serve important roles for their new teams, but a backup interior lineman is harder to acquire than a quality DT. Plus, I really like Saunders, so the Jaguars win this trade.
Grades: Jaguars: A; Saints: B-

Eagles Trade TE Harrison Bryant, 2026 5th-Round Pick to Texans for WR John Metchie III, 2026 6th-Round Pick:
The Eagles sure love offseason and preseason trading. This time, they’re trading a seldom-used TE for a seldom-used receiver. I find the pick swap fascinating because the teams are actually reacquiring their own picks. These selections went in the other direction during the Kenyon Green-CJ Gardner Johnson swap, but this time the pick upgrade is slightly in Houston’s favor. As far as the players, I’m not sure what either team is hoping for. Metchie missed his entire rookie year with leukemia and then did next to nothing thereafter. He was a likely cut candidate. Bryant was TE3 in Philly behind constant trade candidate Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra. He’ll probably be TE3 in Houston as well. I give a slight edge to the Texans here. They traded a likely cut for a similar player, but they upgraded their draft pick. Philadelphia didn’t need another WR, but I think Metchie has more upside still than Bryant does. Therefore, the tiny pick swap is the difference in the teams’ grades, and I can’t go too low or high with either.
Grades: Eagles: B-; Texans: B

August 5, 2025

Eagles Trade DT Thomas Booker to Raiders for CB Jakorian Bennett:
Usually these low-level trades happen AFTER the final preseason game, just before roster cutdowns. Not only is this oddly early for such a trade, it’s a rare player-for-player swap without any draft picks attached! Booker, a 2022 5th-round pick of the Texans, was only with Philly for 1 year after not being on an active roster in 2023. He barely played for the Eagles, and he was deemed superfluous even after losing DT Milton Williams in free agency. The Raiders need bodies at the position after releasing Christian Wilkins, but I don’t know that Booker will even make the roster. Bennett is more interesting. As a 2023 3rd-rounder, he made 4 starts that year and 7 more in 2024. Despite the limited starts, he earned 11 PBUs in those two seasons. He has decent size at 5’11”, and even though he projects as a backup for a loaded Eagles team, that depth is great to have for a team trying to repeat as Super Bowl champions. I doubt this trade will be very impactful, but even still, the Eagles won it easily.
Grades: Eagles: A; Raiders: C

July 1, 2025

Giants Trade TE Darren Waller, Conditional 2027 7th-Round Pick to Dolphins for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
Now the Jonnu Smith trade makes a bit more sense. Miami had nothing at TE after moving him, but it seems they had this move up their sleeves. Waller was out of football for the past couple of years, enjoying retirement after a health scare. He missed the game though, and the 32-year-old is back. The Dolphins and Waller agreed to a 1-year, $5M reworked contract, but the Giants still owned his rights, necessitating this low-level pick swap. This is fantastic for the Giants. The compensation is both minimal and conditional, but receiving ANYTHING for a player they moved on from and thought was done is like finding a free draft pick on the street. For Miami, it’s interesting and presents decent upside. A player out of football two years may not be the same guy, and banking on him is a risky endeavor. At his best, Waller is a great athlete with elite size. That would be a bargain at $5M and a 1-round pick drop. Thus, I will give the Dolphins a decent grade. I just don’t know that this is how you should plan a TE room.
Grades: Giants: A+; Dolphins: B

June 30, 2025

Dolphins Trade CB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith, 2027 7th-Round Pick to Steelers for S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2027 5th-Round Pick:
Who says the NFL is mostly dead this time of year? After months of agreeing to look for a trade partner, the Dolphins have finally unloaded Jalen Ramsey. He’ll be joined by Jonnu Smith, who made the Pro Bowl last year but couldn’t secure a new contract from the team. Pittsburgh is giving Ramsey a $1.5M raise to $26.6M for 2025, and Miami is only paying $3M of the contract. Smith also got an extension, which will be graded separately. Miami and the aging Ramsey agreed to part ways, but Smith did not want to leave. Both are important for Pittsburgh, who needed another CB and a pass catcher for Aaron Rodgers (after trading George Pickens). Ironically, the man they’re sending to Miami, Fitzpatrick, was drafted by Miami and shipped to Pittsburgh several years ago. He didn’t fit the Dolphins’ scheme under Brian Flores but does not. If this were just Ramsey for Fitzpatrick, I’d call this completely fair. Ramsey is older and about to decline while earning a hefty sum, but he plays the more premium position. Fitzpatrick has several good years left, though safeties are replaceable in general. That leaves the trade of Smith for a late-round pick swap. I think that move in particular makes Miami a worse team in a critical season, and it shows that the Steelers are going all-in. This aspect of the trade really swings it in Pittsburgh’s direction.
Grades: Dolphins: C; Steelers: A-

June 3, 2025

Eagles Trade DE Bryce Huff to 49ers for Conditional 2026 5th-Round Pick:
This trade has been expected for several days, but it wasn’t going to be made official until after June 1. Now it has, and the return here is a 5th-round pick that can be upgraded to a 4th-rounder based on performance benchmarks. Huff joined the Eagles after a great season with the Jets, but he bombed in his new home. His sack rate in a rotational role wasn’t sustainable there, and he never seemed to fit DC Vic Fangio’s scheme. Huff’s 3-year, $51M contract looked ugly, but Philly found a taker, and it’s the best possible spot for him. Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh is back in SF as the DC. If anyone can extract Huff’s talent again, it’s the man who did it the first time. This is a buy-low opportunity with only moderate risk for the 49ers. For Philadelphia, the team essentially paid an extreme financial cost for a mid-round selection. I credit them for admitting their free agency failure and mitigating the loss by cutting ties quickly. Both teams did well here, but the upside lies with San Francisco.
Grades: Eagles: B; 49ers: A-

May 7, 2025

Steelers Trade WR George Pickens, 2027 6th-Round Pick to Cowboys for 2026 3rd-Round Pick, 2027 5th-Round Pick:
I wondered when the Steelers traded for DK Metcalf whether they would be able to handle two tantrum-prone receivers. It seems that they have said “no”, trading Pickens to Dallas. Conversely, we all bemoaned the Cowboys not adding a WR during free agency or the draft, but this is certainly a good one. Pickens is very talented. He has produced on the field without a top-shelf QB, and he is a master of contested catches. With one year and $3.4M left on his rookie contract, this draft capital is a more-than-fair price for his services. We have to address the tantrums though, because Pickens is volatile. He earns unsportsmanlike conduct penalties at an alarming rate and seemingly mails it in on occasion. Those are the reasons Pittsburgh has had enough. If Mike Tomlin can’t deal with it, how can Brian Schottenheimer? Well, if having Pickens complement CeeDee Lamb makes Dallas’ offense potent again, Pickens will have a lot of fun and be less irritated. We’ll see if the Cowboys extend Pickens, but a 1-year audition at a sorely needed spot makes this a good trade. Dallas wins the swap, but I can see why the Steelers made the move. However, their status as contenders is much more tenuous today than it was yesterday.
Grades: Steelers: C; Cowboys: A-

April 27, 2025

Seahawks Trade 2025 5th-Round Pick (No. 172; Traded Again), QB Sam Howell to Vikings for 2025 5th-Round Pick (No. 142; DT Rylie Mills):
This is a unique trade to grade because it was during the draft in which the selections were made. Thus, we know who these picks became. Minnesota traded the 172nd pick to the Rams for picks 201 and 202, which they spent on LB Kobe King and TE Gavin Bartholomew, respectively. First, we’ll look at the pick swap itself. Essentially, the cost of moving up 30 picks in round 5 was Howell, a former 5th-rounder himself. This allowed the Vikings to upgrade their backup QB situation with an intriguing option who could step in if JJ McCarthy falters. Kevin O’Connell might be the best person to extract Howell’s considerable talent. Seattle had no use for Howell after drafting Jalen Milroe, so they used him to move up. That seems pretty fair for both sides. I’d actually equate the players selected with the resulting picks too. Thus, I’m grading this as an even win-win transaction.
Grades: Seahawks: B+; Vikings: B+

April 3, 2025

Patriots Trade QB Joe Milton, 2025 7th-Round Pick to Cowboys for 2025 5th-Round Pick:
With their Trey Lance experiment flaming out and Cooper Rush heading to Baltimore, the Cowboys were in the market for a new backup QB. Like Lance, Milton is a young player with elite athletic tools and upside, and I’d argue that Milton has shown more in his brief appearances as a rookie than Lance has total. That’s why I’m perplexed at the Patriots trading him. Drafting a second rookie quarterback along with Drake Maye while Jacoby Brissett was already on the roster was iffy to begin with, but maybe New England thought his developmental potential was too good to pass up. I can live with that part, but if it’s true, then why trade him so soon for just a day-3 pick swap? For context, Milton was selected with a 6th-round pick, so New England is barely improving their pick while receiving it a year later. Milton has 3 years remaining on his cheap rookie contract, so Dallas will be able to evaluate and develop him far longer than they could with Lance. He’s also likely better than anyone the Cowboys could’ve gotten with this same capital during the draft. Still, with Dak Prescott entrenched as QB one for the entirety of Milton’s deal and veterans like Joe Flacco available, I didn’t see a need to use any draft picks on the backup QB position. Rush himself did the job well as a former UDFA. Unless the Patriots soured on Milton that soon after last season, which feels unlikely, Dallas won the trade.
Grades: Patriots: D+; Cowboys: B+

March 15, 2025

49ers Trade RB Jordan Mason and 2025 6th-Round Pick to Vikings for 2025 5th-Round Pick and 2026 6th-Round Pick:
San Francisco placed a 2nd-round tender on Mason, who was a restricted free agent. The $5.3M salary that came with seemed steep for a team shedding talent left and right, and I suppose they ended up thinking that too. They’ve traded Mason for a pick swap (27 spots on day 3) and a 6th-rounder next year, and Minnesota is signing Mason to a two-year contract in the process (I’ll grade that shortly). I find this one pretty odd. With Elijah Mitchell gone, 2nd-year player Isaac Guerendo, who wasn’t super durable last year, is the main insurance for another potential Christian McCaffrey injury. For most teams, I’d call this trade foolish. However, this is Kyle Shanahan, the one man other than his father for whom RBs really do grow on trees. Mason himself was a UDFA, so I’ll believe in Shanahan’s ability to unearth another gem. For Minnesota, this is a decent amount to invest in an RB after paying $10M per year to Aaron Jones. Mason is definitely worth this draft compensation; he has good vision and a hard-charging running style that coaches adore. Supporting new starting QB JJ McCarthy isn’t a bad idea either. With a rookie QB contract, the Vikings can afford Mason, and hopefully he’ll keep Jones fresh. Maybe this swap isn’t so odd after all.
Grades: 49ers: B+; Vikings: B+

March 13, 2025

Vikings Trade G Ed Ingram to Texans for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
These Texas teams really love trading. This time, Houston is ADDING a guard, though he’s as much of a bust as Kenyon Green was. Ingram, a former second-rounder, got benched by Minnesota last year and has since been replaced by numerous offensive line signings. Unlike Green though, at least Ingram has shown potential at some point during his NFL career. As a rookie, he was actually pretty solid, but he hasn’t looked quite as good in the two years since. This is a low-cost trade for a potential option at guard who’s entering the final year of his rookie contract. It’s reasonable but not particularly exciting. The Vikings had a surplus at guard after signing Will Fries in free agency. Ingram was unlikely to make the roster, so a 6th-rounder is a pretty good get for someone they were going to cut. Personally, I like having depth on the line, but if they’ve soured on Ingram, moving on is correct.
Grades: Vikings: B+; Texans: B-

March 12, 2025

Titans Trade LB Kenneth Murray, 2025 7th-Round Pick to Cowboys for 2025 6th-Round Pick:
No wonder Dallas still hasn’t signed many free agents. They’re acquiring all their players via trade! In another reclamation project involving a former first-round pick, the Cowboys want to salvage the career of Murray, who was already on his second team after the Chargers let him walk following the conclusion of his rookie deal. Murray produced good stats last year, including 95 tackles and 3.5 sacks. However, his tape shows an LB who is poor in coverage but too small to hold up in run support. If he can’t make it with a talent-poor squad like Tennessee, what hope does he have in Dallas? This is an even smaller swap for the Cowboys than their move for Elam, but it also comes with a smaller reward. As a 5-year vet, Murray is a known quantity, and he’s due $5.99M in 2025. The Titans seem to have tricked Dallas into taking on that contract and swapping picks in the process.
Grades: Titans: A; Cowboys: C-

Bills Trade CB Kaiir Elam and 2025 6th-Round Pick to Cowboys for 2025 5th-Round Pick and 2026 7th-Round Pick:
Buffalo has finally thrown in the towel on Elam. The former Gator was a first-round pick who struggled mightily at the start of his career. He was so bad that the Bills banished him to the bench, only for him to return for some games this year because of injuries to other players. Predictably, he was torched by opposing QBs. Likely to cut Elam, Buffalo opted to trade him for a pick swap this year and a 7th-rounder next year. Dallas, as they once did with Noah Igbinoghene, are taking on a reclamation project who has first-round pedigree. They think this is a low enough cost to try and salvage something, but I fear there might not be much there. Sean McDermott and his staff in Buffalo are defensive-minded coaches. I trust them to get the most out of a player like this, and they couldn’t. I suspect that the Cowboys won’t fare any better. While this deal is cheap, it’s probably still a waste of draft capital. As usual, I look highly upon a team acquiring assets for a player they wanted to dump.
Grades: Bills: A; Cowboys: C+

March 11, 2025

Texans Trade G Kenyon Green and 2026 5th-Round Pick to Eagles for S CJ Gardner-Johnson and 2026 6th-Round Pick:
After a disastrous trade yesterday, Houston made a much better one today. Kenyon Green is a former 1st-round pick, and though I said I didn’t want the Texans shipping out good linemen, that doesn’t apply here. Green has been among the worst guards in the league, looking like a complete bust. I’d have been surprised to see Houston get a 7th-rounder for him, much less a really good safety. The 1-round pick swap on day 3 of next year’s draft is mostly insignificant, so let’s focus on the two players. Philadelphia is doing this because they’re likely to lose Mekhi Becton in free agency. Two years ago, the Eagles let Gardner-Johnson walk and suffered greatly the following year. They’re better-equipped to handle his departure this time due to the emergence of several young players, but they’re still giving up 6 INTs, 12 PBUs, and 59 tackles from a season ago. Gardner-Johnson is one of the league’s best ball hawks, and he’ll fit fantastically in Houston. Green is likely not an adequate replacement for Becton, a former bust himself, but if anyone can make him work out, it’s the Eagles. Regardless, this is a clear win for Houston.
Grades: Texans: A+; Eagles: D-

March 10, 2025

Eagles Trade QB Kenny Pickett to Browns for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and 2025 5th-Round Pick:
With all the QB moves we were expecting, I didn’t see this one coming. Cleveland needed to obtain a QB but had limited cap space to do it. Meanwhile, Tanner McKee has arguably been the better backup for Philadelphia, making Pickett expendable. Hence, we found a match. This compensation is more or less what the Eagles gave up for Pickett last year, and if they like McKee better, this was a sensible move to make. The DTR component is meaningless as he is not a functional NFL QB, backup or otherwise. I find this weirder for Cleveland. They saw Pickett twice a year while he was a Steeler and couldn’t have been too impressed. He’s cheap, and he’s now the only healthy QB on the roster, so I suppose he’ll have a chance to start depending on what they do with the #2 overall draft pick. I don’t know why they gave up a pick instead of reuniting with Joe Flacco or signing another younger but more promising option such as Daniel Jones. Actually I do know why: they’re the Browns. At least the consequences of this move are minimal.
Grades: Eagles: B+; Browns: C-

Texans Trade LT Laremy Tunsil, 2025 4th-Round Pick to Commanders for 2025 3rd- and 7th-Round Picks and 2026 2nd- and 4th-Round Picks:
What? That was my initial reaction to this deal. Apparently, the Texans saw how bad QB CJ Stroud’s protection was and traded AWAY their best lineman by far. Conversely, Washington opted to protect their young QB by bringing Tunsil aboard. Beyond the fact that Houston should’ve kept Tunsil, they didn’t even get a good return for him. There are 4 picks going to the Texans, but the only premium one comes next year. Tunsil, a franchise LT, should’ve fetched a first-round pick and more. I can’t even say that this return sums to the equivalent of a first-rounder. The Texans created another hole on their already porous line, and they’re earning our first special grade of 2025. Washington played Houston for a fool, which is a funny change given the franchise’s history.
Grades: Texans: JAMARCUS RUSSELL; Commanders: A

Patriots Trade DT Davon Godchaux to Saints for 2026 7th-Round Pick:
I can’t believe the Patriots got out of Godchaux’s $16.5M in guaranteed money. That contract looked poor from the moment it was signed, and the team is finally moving on. In truth, New England let him seek a trade a month ago, and their patience paid off. New Orleans, who is always in cap trouble, somehow found room to fit Godchaux. He is an average run defender who does not push the pocket. I don’t understand why you’d devote financial or draft resources to such a player. The pick is sort of irrelevant here, though I always like when a team gets something for a player they wanted to dump. My main takeaway is that Godchaux does very little for the Saints except make their cap situation worse, and NE flat-out fleeced them.
Grades: Patriots: A+; Saints: F

March 9, 2025

Seahawks Trade WR DK Metcalf, 2025 7th-Round Pick to Steelers for 2025 2nd- and 6th-Round Picks:
I guess Metcalf’s wish for warmer weather didn’t matter to the Seahawks. They’ve traded him to a cold-weather city in Pittsburgh and a division with 4 northern teams that possess outdoor stadiums. The Steelers tried to trade for Brandon Aiyuk last year but struck out. This time, their pursuit of an NFC West wideout demanding a new contract came to fruition. Metcalf is signing a 4-year, $132M extension as part of the trade, and I’ll grade that separately on my free agent signing page once the guaranteed money is reported. Seattle acquiesced to Metcalf’s trade request rather quickly, moving the athletic freak to Pittsburgh in less than a week. The Steelers are getting an extremely talented player who is just 27, though he’s a bit mercurial. With Metcalf and George Pickens joining forces, the Steelers now possess two WRs who could throw a temper tantrum at any moment. However, Metcalf is a more consistent player than Pickens, earning 900+ yards in every year of his career. You can’t call the Steelers’ receiving corps weak anymore, though they still need someone to throw them the ball. For Seattle, I don’t know how this trade helps them. A second-rounder was likely the best anyone would offer given that they had to pay Metcalf as well, but who is Geno Smith’s replacement supposed to throw to now? It’s basically Jaxon Smith-Njigba and nothing else. Given that they’re re-signing veteran defenders as we speak, I don’t know what they’re trying to do. They seem like a franchise without a direction, and that’s not where you want to be.
Grades: Seahawks: C-; Steelers: B+

March 7, 2025

Seahawks Trade QB Geno Smith to Raiders for 2025 3rd-Round Pick:
With all the talk about the Raiders drafting a QB or signing someone like Sam Darnold, the team opted for…none of those options. Instead, they’re reuniting new coach Pete Carroll with Geno Smith in exchange for a 3rd-round pick. The idea of Smith being worth this sort of pick would’ve been laughable 5 years ago, but he reinvented himself in Seattle and made 2 Pro Bowls. My only issue for the Raiders is that at 34, Smith may be on Carroll’s timeline but nobody else’s. LV isn’t ready to compete in a tough division, and given that Smith wants an extension (the Raiders are taking on his $31M salary this year) in the $40-45M/year range, I’d have just signed the much younger Darnold. Perhaps they didn’t think they had a chance at Darnold; in that case, this deal makes more sense, as I don’t think they were in range for a QB with the 6th pick in the draft. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are tearing their team apart. They cut WR Tyler Lockett, they’re obliging fellow receiver DK Metcalf’s trade request (I expect to grade a Metcalf trade in the near future), and now they’ve dumped their QB. Picking 18th, I’m not sure the rookie route is really in play for them to replace Smith unless they’re quietly stoked about an unheralded prospect. It’s hard to really grade this from Seattle’s side without knowing their plan. Are they entering a complete rebuild? That might actually be advisable given that the team may have peaked. The middling grade here reflects my uncertainty about where they’re headed while also trusting in GM John Schneider.
Grades: Seahawks: C+; Raiders: B-

March 6, 2025

Jaguars Trade WR Christian Kirk to Texans for 2026 7th-Round Pick:
How do we know that the Jaguars hated Kirk’s contract? They traded him within the division. His deal, which pays him $18M per season, was an egregious overpay at the time. It looked better once the receiver market exploded, but injuries in 2023 and 2024 reverted his contract to an albatross. Houston badly needed a WR. Stefon Diggs is a free agent, while Tank Dell’s knee might keep him out for most of the 2025 season. Kirk’s 2022 season, with 84 catches for 1108 yards and 8 TDs, showed his potential. However, he was miscast as a #1 WR and received too many targets (133) that year. He’ll be more efficient as the 2nd option for CJ Stroud, so it makes sense for the Texans to take this type of shot on him. For Jacksonville, this is just fine; they received draft capital for a player they were about to release and saddled a rival with a bad contract. I’m honestly surprised they found a taker.
Grades: Jaguars: B+; Texans: B-

March 5, 2025

Chiefs Trade LG Joe Thuney to Bears for 2026 4th-Round Pick:
Now THIS is a great guard acquisition by Chicago. I have zero clue what the Chiefs are doing. Thuney is an All-Pro guard who even filled in pretty well at left tackle when nobody else could handle it. We’re talking about a top-3 guard in football, and at 32, he has more good years in him. What appears to have happened is that KC prioritized the younger Trey Smith, but as good as Smith is, he still isn’t close to Thuney. While Chicago made a suspect move yesterday, they nailed this one. Thuney instantly becomes their best lineman, and he alone could result in 10 less sacks for QB Caleb Williams. For a 4th-rounder next year, this is dirt cheap. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes can’t be happy. He ran for his life during the Super Bowl and that was WITH Thuney. No guard they draft will be as good as he is. Perhaps KC will repeat at not being Super Bowl champions in 2025 as a result.
Grades: Chiefs: F; Bears: A+

March 4, 2025

Rams Trade G Jonah Jackson to Bears for 2025 6th-Round Pick:
The Rams signed Jackson just last year to a 3-year, $51M contract, and I wasn’t very fond of the move then. Since that time, Jackson played in just 4 games for the Rams, as injuries derailed his season. I won’t say that Jackson isn’t a good player. He was a well-above-average guard for the Lions prior to signing with LA. They simply misread the market and overpaid for a lineman who struggles to stay healthy. For Chicago, that’s not really part of the equation. They have one of the league’s worst offensive lines, and they had to upgrade QB Caleb Williams’ protection no matter what. The upside with Jackson is really good, so a 6th-round pick is a fine value. One thing really swings this the Rams’ way though: Chicago reportedly agreed to take on Jackson’s entire contract. LA escaping from that whole deal is a minor miracle, and yet they still got a draft asset. This is an easy win for them. I’m not as high on the value for Chicago now that we know the salary details, but I think they still had to make the move for Williams.
Grades: Rams: A+; Bears: B-

March 1, 2025

49ers Trade WR Deebo Samuel to Commanders for 2025 5th-Round Pick:
Our first trade of 2025 could have monster ramifications. Washington, one of the teams with the most cap space right now, had a need for a WR to complement Terry McLaurin. Conversely, San Francisco is facing a cap crunch due to their need to extend QB Brock Purdy. WR Brandon Aiyuk could be available as well, but today, it’s Samuel on the move. Samuel had a down year, mostly due to injuries. However, he is only 28 and had 1000 scrimmage yards in 2023. I think the main reasons for this move are Samuel’s own trade request and his $21.7M salary next year. The Commanders can absorb the contract, and GM Adam Peters knows Samuel well since he came from SF. This is an excellent buy-low opportunity that should make the NFC runners-up more potent. For the Niners, was this really the best deal available? Trading Samuel makes the team worse, and a 5th-round pick isn’t likely to move the needle back in the other direction. I get that the team needed financial flexibility, but trading Samuel within the NFC, at a discount no less, is not a particularly wise decision.
Grades: 49ers: D+; Commanders: A+