2026 NFL Trade Grades

I’ll be keeping track of the various NFL trades that occur throughout 2026 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.

August 31, 2026

Chargers Trade CB Avery Smith to Seahawks for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
How is Chargers GM Joe Hortiz extracting 6th-round picks for players who’ve never appeared in a regular-season game? This one is even earlier, as it comes in the very next draft. Normally, I’d trust Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald on his CB evaluations given his defensive acumen, but this is a tough sell. Smith is a smaller corner who went undrafted just this year. It’s not like he was even good in the preseason. Seattle has been adding CBs at a breakneck pace, but they cut Trevon Diggs (who had a preseason INT) to spend a draft pick on an inferior option. The Seahawks could very well prove me wrong, but in real time, this is a big whiff. I graded both of LA’s trades today as A+ deals, but this one is actually even better than their last swap.
Grades: Chargers: A+; Seahawks: F

Chargers Trade DL TeRah Edwards to Panthers for 2028 6th-Round Pick:
I have to be honest: Carolina must see something I don’t. Edwards was a 2025 UDFA who spent his rookie year on the Bolts’ practice squad. He was decent in the preseason against other backups, but I didn’t expect him to garner a pick in a trade. LA planned to cut Edwards before this trade came about, and I figured they got a 7th-rounder or a pick swap in return. They actually got a meaningful draft choice! Needless to say, this was great work by the Chargers. Caroline requires more defensive help, but this wasn’t a way to do it. I’d bet on that draft pick being more meaningful than Edwards over the long term.
Grades: Chargers: A+; Panthers: D

Vikings Trade OT Walter Rouse, 2027 7th-Round Pick to Patriots for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
At least this time the acquiring team is poaching from a solid line. They just happen to be obtaining a tackle with no starting experience and just 8 games played in 2 years. Rouse has been a fine and reasonably versatile backup in Minnesota, but even when the Vikings dealt with injuries, he didn’t play much. New England probably made this move to avoid having to compete with other teams for Rouse on waivers, but was there any competition? I’m grading this as a minor victory for Minnesota.
Grades: Vikings: B+; Patriots: C+

Texans Trade OL Jarrett Patterson to 49ers for 2027 7th-Round Pick:
Once again, we’ve got a trade where a team is poaching from a very poor offensive line. As with Dallas, Houston made this move after acquiring a different, better lineman. That made Patterson expendable, and I’m sure CJ Stroud isn’t too upset to see him go. San Francisco needed line depth, and Patterson has experience at several spots. I don’t see this trade moving the needle much for either team, but San Francisco regularly has so many injuries that they probably need the extra reserve.
Grades: Texans: B-; 49ers: B

Rams Trade TE Mark Redman to Packers for 2028 7th-Round Pick:
Unlike the Hunter Long trade below, this is a much better acquisition of a blocking TE. Redman has never appeared in a regular-season game (he’s a 2025 UDFA), but he caught my eye in week 1 of the preseason. The 6’6″, 263-lb TE is built to block, and Green Bay doesn’t really have anyone in that role. His receiving skills were supposed to be mediocre due to a poor 40 time, but he looked fine these past few weeks. I get this trade from both sides. Green Bay is giving up almost nothing for a useful contributor. The Rams simply couldn’t keep Redman because they’re overloaded at the TE position, so they got an asset instead of nothing.
Grades: Rams: B+; Packers: A-

Cowboys Trade OT Nathan Thomas to Texans for 2027 7th-Round Pick:
I assume this is the collateral damage from Dallas’ acquisition of Broderick Jones. Dallas suddenly had a glut at RT, and Thomas was the odd man out. Houston won’t complain, as the Texans are far weaker along the offensive line. Thomas was a 7th-round pick in 2024 but only played last season, and he was a pretty good backup. There’s a possibility that he only played well because he was next to good linemen, but maybe he’s a diamond in the rough. The Texans are paying a very small price to find out, and they need to unearth linemen anywhere they can find them. Dallas gets their 7th-rounder back, so that’s nice I guess.
Grades: Cowboys: B; Texans: B+

Raiders Trade C Jordan Meredith, 2029 7th-Round Pick to Jets for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
I can’t explain it, but somehow the Jets saw Las Vegas’ abomination of an offensive line in 2025 and decided they had to get a piece. Geno Smith, who NYJ also got from Vegas via trade, would be crying if Meredith were expected to start. Fortunately, he isn’t, but the trade is still baffling. The Raiders thought so highly of Meredith that they paid Tyler Linderbaum 50% more than the next-highest-paid center to replace him. Meridith isn’t particularly good at run blocking or pass protection, so even though this is a small amount of compensation, the Raiders fleeced New York here, and it’s not close.
Grades: Raiders: A+; Jets: D-

Steelers Trade RB Kaleb Johnson to Packers for 2028 6th-Round Pick:
Man, one special teams blunder and there’s no getting out of the dog pound huh? Even a new coach in Pittsburgh couldn’t save Johnson’s job. Instead of being cut though, Johnson is headed to the Packers. The Packers didn’t need a bruiser back before, but Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioners’ Exempt List and is likely to be suspended. Johnson’s fit in Green Bay is better than it was in Pittsburgh. He seems exclusively tailored to a zone scheme, which the Packers will probably utilize. The talent was good enough for him to be taken in the third round last year, so he has ability. However, it’s telling that Pittsburgh was willing to move on so quickly. Based on his play thus far, getting a 6th-rounder is probably petty theft. Simply put, he’s worth more to another team than he is to the Steelers. Therefore, this wasn’t a major overpay by GB, but Pittsburgh made out well.
Grades: Steelers: B+; Packers: C+

Packers Trade QB Kyle McCord to Dolphins for 2028 6th-Round Pick:
Why not just bring all the Packers to Miami? The new Green Bay-derived regime is definitely doing that at QB, where they already brought Malik Willis in to be the starter. After trading one QB and cutting two more, Willis was the only signal caller on the roster. Enter McCord, who just had a fantastic preseason finale against the Cardinals’ backups. Is McCord worth a 6th-round pick in a vacuum? Maybe. That’s irrelevant for the Dolphins though. Miami is in the middle of a teardown, making them early in their rebuild. Teams like that should not be in the business of sending away draft capital at all. A cut player like Josh Johnson would’ve been just as good as a backup. For Green Bay, keeping McCord was probably the better option as well. Tyrod Taylor won’t be there too long, and McCord is a good developmental QB. This likely won’t matter in the long term, but neither team did great here.
Grades: Packers: B-; Dolphins: D-

Bills Trade C Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, 2027 7th-Round Pick to Colts for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
Here, need and opportunity collide. Van Pran-Granger is a very solid reserve center. Indianapolis tried to find one this offseason but failed. Buffalo already has an elite backup in Lloyd Cushenberry, so Van Pran-Granger became expendable. Rather than lose him for nothing, they sent him to the Colts for a pick swap. Both teams benefit from this agreement. Indy gains the backup they needed at a pretty low price. Buffalo picks up slight draft capital for a player they planned to cut. Everybody wins!
Grades: Bills: A-; Colts: A-

Bears Trade DT Gervon Dexter to Falcons for CB Clark Phillips III, 2027 5th-Round Pick:
This was arguably the most impactful trade on a day full of them. Dexter, who’s entering the final year of his rookie deal, has steadily improved each year. In 2025, he had 6 sacks and 44 tackles, both of which are good numbers for a DT. Atlanta has suffered several line injuries, and their new GM (Ian Cunningham) was previously with the Bears, so this is a great fit. Phillips is an undersized slot CB, who helps Chicago because their injuries are concentrated in the secondary. I’m higher on this trade for the Falcons. A good year from Dexter would net them a compensatory pick should he leave, and he’s the better player in this deal anyway. Phillips missed almost all of 2025 with an injury, while Dexter is pretty durable. Chicago couldn’t afford to lose any pass rushing either, but they did exactly that. This isn’t a terrible trade, but Atlanta got the better end of the deal.
Grades: Bears: C-; Falcons: B+

Jaguars Trade TE Hunter Long, 2028 7th-Round Pick to Cardinals for 2028 6th-Round Pick:
An average blocking TE with just 153 yards since 2021, Long has impressively carved out a 6-year career. Why a team feels the need to trade for him is beyond me though. Arizona could use a blocking TE to pair with the receiving threat that is Trey McBride, but those players are easy to find. The Cardinals also aren’t competing in 2026, so sending draft capital out for a veteran rental makes no sense. This price is minimal, so I won’t knock them too much, but it’s not smart business. The inverse is true for Jacksonville. They acquired a minor asset for an easily replaceable player. That is smart business.
Grades: Jaguars: A; Cardinals: C

August 30, 2026

Ravens Trade OT Diego Pounds to Chiefs for Conditional 2028 6th-Round Pick:
Avid readers of this site will know that I marked Pounds as a UDFA to watch. Kansas City clearly watched him, as they’re trading a conditional pick for his services. As I wrote then, he’s a big man who uses power rather than movement. His blocking plan worked out well in the preseason, as he did great in both the run and pass games. Pass protection is of particular note for KC, who are likely to convey only a 7th-round pick because they don’t actually possess a 6th-rounder in 2028 at the moment (and why would they obtain one now?). Baltimore is assuredly happen to turn a UDFA into a pick in just a few months, but I have to wonder if a pick this far away and so late in the draft is actually worth more than Pounds. I’d buy on Pounds’ stock too if I were the Chiefs.
Grades: Ravens: B-; Chiefs: A-

Steelers Trade OT Broderick Jones, 2027 4th-Round Pick to Cowboys for 2027 3rd- and 6th-Round Picks:
Sometimes you just have to admit a sunk cost. Jones, Pittsburgh’s first-round selection in 2023, is such a case. Highly promising out of Georgia, the athletic and large man never found his way in the Steel City. He alternated between injured and ineffective. To their credit, the Steelers tried to make this work. They tested Jones at both tackle spots and even at guard. Nothing helped, as Jones continually gave up pressures and sacks. Rather than keep him for the final year of his contract, the team sent him out for a decent return. Dallas is the correct type of team to acquire him. The Cowboys are good at developing linemen, so if anyone can extract Jones’ talent, it’s them. Plus, their last trade for a Steeler in a contract year (George Pickens) worked out right? I think they gave up a bit too much though, but if Jones solves their LT quandary, they won’t care at all.
Grades: Steelers: B; Cowboys: B-

Dolphins Trade QB Quinn Ewers to Jaguars for 2028 6th-Round Pick:
Most people in the media agree that Ewers slid too far in last year’s draft, becoming a 7th-round pick. His developmental upside gave him some promise, and he didn’t show anything too bad in limited action with the Dolphins last year. However, his 2026 preseason was abysmal, with a 1/8 showing before a groin injury sidelined him the past two days. Miami’s new regime had enough, and they are now sending him to the Jaguars. The Jags released Nick Mullens, whose contract was half guaranteed, in a corresponding move. That’s incredibly dumb. Ewers could be better in a year or two, but Mullens is better right now. This matters for a reigning division champion. Miami did well because they turned a 7th-round throwaway investment into a 6th-rounder, albeit with a delay. They didn’t have a viable backup on their roster, and following this trade, they still don’t.
Grades: Dolphins: A; Jaguars: D

Cardinals Trade RB Corey Kiner to Patriots for 2028 7th-Round Pick:
I really don’t get this one for the Pats. The top of their RB depth chart is set, so Kiner is presumably coming in to be RB3. I wouldn’t give up draft capital for that role, especially when a perfectly fine RB3 was already in place: Hassan Haskins. Kiner has a bit more juice, but Haskins is better on special teams, which would seem to make the latter a better fit. I don’t dislike Kiner as a player. He’s just not someone I thought NE needed to trade a pick for. Arizona’s side of this is easy: they got an asset for a player they planned to cut. Though the Cardinals lacked talent, they’re overloaded at RB, so this move just got them a pick for free.
Grades: Cardinals: A+; Patriots: C-

Ravens Trade DL CJ Okoye to Giants for 2028 7th-Round Pick:
I guess this is an alternate path for a player to go on the Ravens-to-Giants pipeline. Okoye spent the past few years with the Harbaughs, first Jim and then John. He barely played, but that’s not because he’s bad. Okoye is a Nigerian native who never played organized football before 2023. The man is very raw but also very athletic, and he’s a lottery pick at this point for NYG. He profiles best as an interior edge rusher, which is always valuable. I take this trade as a great sign regarding the health of Nnamdi Madubuike, meaning that Baltimore could afford to make this move. There’s little risk for the Giants, and as the team’s new regime starts to build their team, these are the types of swings that are worth taking.
Grades: Ravens: B+; Giants: A-

August 27, 2026

Dolphins Trade WR Tutu Atwell to Rams for RB Jarquez Hunter:
The third week of the preseason is about the time when you see player-for-player swaps. Teams have guys at the bottoms of their rosters who they’d rather trade than cut for nothing, and sometimes two teams have their needs align. Miami liked Atwell, but they have rookie WRs that they want to play, leaving him without a role. They also need RB help with Ollie Gordon II injured and Jaylen Wright looking terrible. LA lacks significant depth at WR but is spoiled at RB, so even though Hunter was a 4th-round pick just last year, they could afford to trade him. In return they’re getting a guy who spent his entire career with the Rams, so he’ll be up to speed very quickly as their new (old) deep threat. I have to ask though: why not just pay Atwell the minimum contract that Miami gave him and then have both him AND Hunter? For that reason, and because they get a young player for their rebuild, Miami wins the trade. Not that the Rams seem to care about how others view their decisions anyway.
Grades: Dolphins: B+; Rams: B-

August 26, 2026

Giants Trade G Joshua Ezeudu to Chiefs for 2028 7th-Round Pick:
Are the Giants trying to dump ALL of their guard depth? First they traded Daniel Faalele, and now they’re shipping Ezeudu out. He didn’t play a snap last year and likely wasn’t making the team, but for a team with offensive line struggles, this is odd. Ezeudu showed some promise at guard in his rookie season, but a switch to tackle went very poorly. Reportedly, he had been doing better at his natural guard position this training camp, but obviously not well enough to make the team. Kansas City needs a stout line if they’re going to run the ball and protect Patrick Mahomes, so I like this move. They’re giving up the bare minimum in draft capital for a player on a low-risk minimum deal. It’s all upside for KC, while NYG likely won’t feel the impact.
Grades: Giants: B-; Chiefs: A

August 24, 2026

Patriots Trade WR Kayshon Boutte to Texans for S Jaylen Reed, 2028 7th-Round Pick:
Once the Pats traded for AJ Brown and signed Romeo Doubs in free agency, the writing was on the wall for Boutte. His role has long been in flux, but he found his groove last year, and now he’s on the move. Houston badly needed a WR with Jayden Higgins done for the year and Tank Dell still on the mend. Instead of a mutually pointless trade like the last one, this is mutually beneficial. Boutte isn’t quite what Higgins was, particularly in terms of size, but they’re similar deep threats. He can be a valuable WR2 or WR3 for Houston until their guys get back. New England needed more defensive playmakers, and Reed might have more playing time if Houston weren’t so loaded on defense. He’s a worthwhile flier to go along with a bit of draft capital
Grades: Patriots: A-; Texans: B+

49ers Trade RB Zamir White to Saints for LB Deion Jones:
New Orleans stumbled into a desperate RB situation this week. Nearly their entire depth chart got injured to varying degrees, leaving very little behind starter Travis Etienne. In the wake of this trade, the Saints still have very little behind Etienne. White averaged just 2 YPC over the past two years for the Raiders, performing so poorly that the team spent a top-10 pick on an RB (Ashton Jeanty). Jones at least has several 100-tackle seasons on his resume, though none since 2021 with his original team (the Falcons). In essence, this is an irrelevant depth swap where both teams might cut the players they’re acquiring by next week. I’m not entirely sure what the point is here, unless the goal was to waste my time with grading the move.
Grades: 49ers: C; Saints: C

August 20, 2026

Giants Trade G Daniel Faalele to Jaguars for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
I’m not actually sure why the Giants are trading Faalele. He was a multi-year starter with John Harbaugh in Baltimore, and he was a pretty good guard there. The first-round selection of Francis Mauigoa possibly cost him a starting role, but he was cheap enough to retain as a backup. Jacksonville won’t complain because they’re really hurting along the line. I mean that literally: several players are currently injured, so the Jags had to do something to bring in reinforcements. Faalele is better than anyone who was likely to be cut after the preseason, so this makes total sense for Jacksonville. For the Giants, acquiring an asset for a player they didn’t want is fine, but they should’ve wanted Faalele.
Grades: Giants: C+; Jaguars: A

August 11, 2026

Patriots Trade OT Caedan Wallace, 2029 7th-Round Pick to Dolphins for 2028 6th-Round Pick:
Intradivisional linemen trades aren’t common. These guys are scarce, so for one to get swapped, especially to a rival, it can’t be a real needle-moving deal. This is purely a depth move for Miami, but I don’t get why they made the deal. Sure, the cost is low, but New England was set to release Wallace, and I doubt teams were rushing to claim him on waivers. The former Penn State tackle was a third-year guard for the Pats who had barely played. New England certainly did well to shed an unwanted (if cheap) contract for capital, while the Dolphins aren’t a team who should be trading that capital as they embark on a rebuild.
Grades: Patriots: A; Dolphins: C-

June 12, 2026

Chiefs Trade OT Wanya Morris, 2027 7th-Round Pick to Falcons for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
Atlanta has been really since the surprise retirement of RT Kaleb McGary. They signed former Chiefs tackle Jawaan Taylor, and now they’re raiding KC’s line again. It should be noted that the RT position is especially critical for the Falcons because they have two lefty QBs, making the right side their blind side. Morris was an on-and-off starter for Kansas City, and he wasn’t particularly good. It says a lot that a team with a shallow line like KC was willing to part with him for this compensation. At the very least, Morris will provide some depth for Atlanta. If he starts a bunch of games though, the Falcons are in trouble. KC probably took the best offer they could get, but it’s not much. I’d probably rather have the depth than a one-round boost on day 3.
Grades: Chiefs: C+; Falcons: B-

June 1, 2026

Eagles Trade WR AJ Brown to Patriots for 2027 5th-Round Pick, 2028 1st-Round Pick:
Two blockbusters in one day, but this one is very date-specific. At 4 PM on June 1, the Eagles became able to lessen the cap hit incurred by trading Brown. The difference is tremendous, so this trade was always destined to happen today. We’ve known about the teams involved for some time though, and the Patriots make sense. They cut Stefon Diggs and need a new WR1, and HC Mike Vrabel was the coach in Tennessee when the Titans drafted Brown. Philly was obviously looking to move Brown after his discontent in the offense grew last year. They made their intentions apparent when they traded up to pick WR Makai Lemon with their first-rounder this year. Brown is better than Lemon, but his time with PHI simply ran its course. The team got a great package in return, even earning back the first-rounder they spent when they traded for Brown from Tennessee. My main issue for that Pats is that they’re not true contenders even with Brown. Last year was a fluke thanks to an easy schedule and incredible luck with regard to injuries suffered by their postseason opponents. I’m still high on the trade though because Brown is very much worth a first-rounder, and he helps Drake Maye continue to develop. Both teams made out really well here.
Grades: Eagles: A; Patriots: A-

Browns Trade DE Myles Garrett to Rams for DE Jared Verse, 2027 1st-Round Pick, 2028 2nd-Round Pick, 2029 3rd-Round Pick:
Holy cow. Garrett wanted a trade a year ago but got an unheard of extension to pipe down. I guess he still wanted one, and the Browns knew they had to relent because they won’t be competitive while Garrett remains in his prime. He wanted to win, and now he’ll have an exceptional chance to do so. LA is giving up a HAUL here: a Pro Bowler at the same position, plus picks in each of the first 3 rounds, one of which comes in each of the next three years. I thought about the picks and realized that with Garrett in the fold, these picks may come at the very ends of their rounds. Unless someone like Matthew Stafford gets hurt, the Rams are championship contenders in each of the next two seasons at the very least. Still, this is a major price to pay. One ring and it’s worth it, but there’s a downside. There’s no question that LA is the favorite to win it all in 2026. While Browns fans may be sad about the departure of one of their best ever players, the future could be bright if any of these picks help them land a QB.
Grades: Browns: A; Rams: B+

May 27, 2026

Jets Trade ST Irv Charles to Seahawks for Conditional 2028 7th-Round Pick:
If you haven’t heard of Charles, don’t worry: I barely have myself. I vaguely recall him being a decent special teamer a couple of years ago, but he tore his ACL and missed the 2025 season. Now 2029, he has no use for a rebuilding Jets team. My issue with this trade is that he might not serve the Seahawks much better. ESPN rated Seattle’s ST unit as the league’s best already, and they didn’t lose anyone this spring. Charles is pointless for them and probably won’t have a roster spot. The condition attached to this pick matters, as it would be dumb if it conveyed. New York got the lowest asset possible, but they got (maybe) something for nothing, so they did well. Seattle can’t be punished for such a small amount of (potential) capital, but this wasn’t smart.
Grades: Jets: A; Seahawks: B-

April 27, 2026

Raiders Trade DE Tyree Wilson, 2026 7th-Round Pick (No. 219) to Saints for 2026 5th-Round Pick (No. 150):
Surprisingly, both teams kept the picks they acquired in this swap. The Saints took CB TJ Hall, while Las Vegas drafted S Dalton Johnson. That’s for informational purposes, as the main item in this deal is the 2023 7th overall pick. Wilson was drafted on a day when some people ranked him ahead of Will Anderson. Fun times! Clearly, the Texans chose right, but the Raiders didn’t come close to having this pick work out. The good: Wilson has been a quality run defender, and his 4 sacks per season aren’t nothing. However, the supposedly hyper-athletic Wilson never panned out for LV. New Orleans is taking a flier on him in what amounts to a day-3 trade down. I get why they of all teams would do this. The Saints seem to have revived Chase Young’s career somewhat, so I’m sure they think they can do it again. I have no problem with that. For the Raiders, this deal is a sad admission of another first-round bust. Just one of many over the last decade.
Grades: Raiders: C; Saints: B

49ers Trade LB Dee Winters to Cowboys for 2026 5th-round Pick (No. 152):
Here again, the pick acquired in the player-based trade was moved again. Winters is a player who’s more meaningful for Dallas than for San Francisco. The Niners will have Fred Warner and Tatum Bethune healthy again, and Dre Greenlaw is back. As much as Winters took snaps for them last season, that wouldn’t have been the case moving forward. He’s entering the last year of his deal, so instead of extending him, SF traded him. This compensation is more than fair. For Dallas, Winters could actually see some snaps given the state of their defense. He’s a good tackler, but most advanced metrics don’t think much of him. I consider him a solid reserve, so basically what you should expect from a 5th-rounder. Dallas is clearly hoping he can be something more.
Grades: 49ers: B+; Cowboys: B-

Vikings Trade OLB Jonathan Greenard, 2026 7th-Round pick (No. 244) to Eagles for 2026 3rd-Round Pick (No. 98), 2027 3rd-Round Pick:
In this batch of trades, we know most of what each team got because the picks have actually been spent. Minnesota took S Jakobe Thomas with the 3rd-rounder, while Philly traded pick 244 again. That won’t really factor into the grading though. The Vikings botched their cap, and that’s what led to this trade. They didn’t WANT to move Greenard, and they’ll miss him greatly. For the Eagles, this is the edge rusher they badly coveted after losing Jaelan Phillips. Howie Roseman caught Minnesota in a bind, forcing them to settle for below-market trade compensation because they couldn’t afford to extend Greenard. Philadelphia agreed to a 4-year extension with the edge rusher, which I’ll grade a bit later. Truthfully, I like Greenard much more than Phillips, even if he’s older. He’s a highly productive pass rusher who might be better than anyone picked in the first round of this draft, let alone round 3. I see this as a clear win for the Eagles, and Minnesota has only their former GM to blame.
Grades: Vikings: C-; Eagles: A

April 18, 2026

Giants Trade DT Dexter Lawrence to Bengals for 2026 1st-Round Pick (No. 10):
We recently learned that negotiations between Lawrence and the Giants were at an impasse. The situation was expected to be resolved by the draft, and indeed it has. New York got a fantastic pick in return, even if it isn’t as good in this draft as it might be in others. Lawrence is an excellent player and one of the best DTs in the game, but he’ll be 29 soon and isn’t aligned with NYG’s rebuilding timeline. Cincinnati, in clear win-now mode, is a much better fit. The Bengals needed a true difference-maker on the line after losing Trey Hendrickson, and here he is. I didn’t think it would cost pick #10 given Lawrence’s impending big-money deal, and that price made me torn. Is Lawrence more valuable than, say, Mansoor Delane or Caleb Downs on a rookie contract? For some teams, likely. Perhaps not for Cincy, who overpaid a bit but got a badly needed star for their putrid defense.
Grades: Giants: A+; Bengals: B

April 17, 2026

Falcons Trade DT Ruke Orhorhoro to Jaguars for DT Maason Smith:
One DT bust for another. We all knew at the time that Orhorhoro was a 2nd-round reach in the 2024 draft. All of us except former GM Terry Fontenot I guess. New regimes often move on from the old regime’s picks, but Orhorhoro actually started to produce a bit last year with 3.5 sacks. He remains a liability against the run due to his sub-300-lb build, but an interior rusher isn’t devoid of value. Smith was taken in that same 2nd round, and he was a typical Trent Baalke pick: high athletic upside but not great football skills. In two years, Smith has just 3 total sacks and 3 TFLs, all of which came in 2024. He didn’t do nearly anything last season on a reduced snap count (36%). These players are similar in style but trending in opposite directions. I’m not sure either will become a star, but for nearly identical contracts, I much prefer Orhorhoro’s trajectory. This is an easy win for Jacksonville.
Grades: Falcons: C; Jaguars: A

April 10, 2026

Packers Trade WR Dontayvion Wicks to Eagles for 2026 5th-Round Pick, 2027 6th-Round Pick:
Philadelphia is trying to brace themselves for a potential trade of AJ Brown, and Wicks is their latest effort in that regard. Wicks’ numbers aren’t overly impressive, but he was buried on Green Bay’s depth chart and played only about half the snaps. He’s a deep threat who produces in spurts but not consistently. It remains to be seen whether he’d excel in a larger role, but as he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal, the Packers traded him rather than finding out. I think they did the right thing. Wicks is a fine player, but two non-negligible picks for someone who wasn’t playing a ton is a coup. For the Eagles, this isn’t a bad move, but the upside feels limited to me (note: they are extending Wicks as part of the deal, and I’ll grade that in a bit). Wicks’ production has declined each year, so as soon as Philly acquires someone better, his role will decrease. The cost isn’t terrible at least.
Grades: Packers: A; Eagles: C+

April 7, 2026

Patriots Trade LB Marte Mapu, 2027 7th-Round Pick to Texans for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
Turns out that when you select an FCS player that nobody has heard of in the third round of a draft, it doesn’t work. Mapu was part of Bill Belichick’s last draft class, i.e., when his GM ability was at its worst. A classic SS/LB tweener, he hasn’t been terrible, but he has started just 10 of a possible 44 games. Houston GM Nick Caserio, who has plenty of ties to his former Pats team, figured he’d take a flier here, and I can understand it. Mapu is a big hitter who can cover some, so you can imagine him doing better with the elite Texans’ defense. It should be noted though that Mike Vrabel, a good defensive coach, decided to move on. That makes me concerned about Mapu’s actual potential, but the cost wasn’t high for Houston. Meanwhile, at least NE got something for Mapu, who the team reportedly planned to release barring a trade.
Grades: Patriots: B+; Texans: B-

March 20, 2026

Eagles Trade S Sydney Brown, 2026 4th- (No. 122) and 6th-Round (No. 215) Picks to Falcons for 2026 4th- (No. 114) and 6th-Round (No. 197) Picks:
Surprise, surprise: Trader Howie is at it again. Brown started his career with a 99-yard pick 6 but has been pretty quiet since. His primary role has been on special teams, as other players have made him an afterthought. Reed Blankenship’s departure had me wondering if a bigger role was in store for him, but that won’t be the case now. Atlanta is acquiring him strictly for depth with Jessie Bates and Xavier Watts entrenched as starters. All they’re giving up is a few slots in the 4th and 6th rounds, which feels insignificant. Clearly, “insignificant” is how Philly felt about Brown if they’re trading him for this little with a shallow safety room. It makes me feel like Brown was a release candidate, so at least the Eagles got something for him. I think he can play a bit though, and the Falcons aren’t mortgaging much to test him out.
Grades: Eagles: B-; Falcons: B+

March 18, 2026

Panthers Trade QB Andy Dalton to Eagles for 2027 7th-Round Pick:
Carolina said they wanted to get younger at the backup QB spot, and they did that by signing Kenny Pickett. That was a downgrade, but they’re trading Dalton away nonetheless. Dalton isn’t as effective at age 38 as he was even a few years ago, but he remains a solid backup. Tanner McKee looked very shaky for Philly last season, so they probably wanted a stable veteran. I’m not sure why they felt the need to trade for one with guys like Jimmy Garoppolo still unsigned, but this is a very minor bit of draft capital, so it’s fine. The Panthers consider themselves a team that can win now that they won the putrid NFC South at 8-9, so keeping Dalton seemed to be the better idea. I also think he has been a great mentor for Bryce Young, and I’d want to keep that going. For such a minor trade, this one could have real consequences down the road. My edge goes to the Eagles here.
Grades: Panthers: C; Eagles: B

March 17, 2026

Dolphins Trade WR Jaylen Waddle, 2026 4th-Round Pick to Broncos for 2026 1st-, 3rd-, and 4th-Round Picks:
I’ve been pretty critical of the Dolphins’ moves this offseason, but I’m on board with this one. Waddle is a really good receiver, and his remaining contract ($68M over 3 years) is very reasonable. However, at 5’10”, he’s not a bona-fide X receiver, and he gets hurt fairly often. He hasn’t produced 1000 yards in a season since 2023, though Denver clearly believes his best football is to come in a more creative offense. The Broncos did indeed need a WR upgrade, as their weapons vanished in the playoffs. Only Courtland Sutton is reliable. Waddle gives them a speed element that they didn’t have before. My main problem for Denver is the cost. Even though the outgoing picks are all at the ends of their rounds, this is more of a haul than the Bears got for DJ Moore, who I consider the better WR. I think Denver could’ve gotten a similar receiver with the 30th pick that they’re trading while saving money and the mid-round selection swaps. Miami is a worse team today, but they got the better end of the deal for sure.
Grades: Dolphins: A; Broncos: C-

March 16, 2026

Jets Trade QB Justin Fields to Chiefs for 2027 6th-Round Pick:
Color me impressed. I didn’t think the Jets would be able to find a taker for Fields, let alone one willing to send a 6th-round pick. I suppose he’s worth a 6th-rounder to play RB, but that’s not the case here. Fields has proven that as well as he runs, he’s not an NFL QB. Chicago, Pittsburgh, and New York all tried that experiment and failed. Kansas City needed a backup, plus Patrick Mahomes may or may not be ready for week one. I’d rather the team sign Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Flacco, or any other superior veteran for that purpose. Fields won’t help them win games, so this was a wasted pick. The Jets are eating $7M of Fields’ $10M guaranteed salary, so they REALLY fleeced KC this time. I thought they’d have to eat the whole thing and release Fields.
Grade: Jets: A+; Chiefs: F

March 11, 2026—–NEW LEAGUE YEAR STARTS AT 4 PM EST

Cowboys Trade DT Solomon Thomas, 2026 7th-Round Pick (No. 225) to Titans for 2026 7th-Round Pick (No. 218):
Or maybe Dallas had 2 odd men out at the DC position. I specified the pick numbers here because I can’t recall a time where a player and a 7th-rounder fetches a slightly higher 7th-round pick in the same draft. Usually a 6th-rounder or another year’s pick is involved. Thomas is purely a backup DT who can generate decent QB pressure while being average against the run. Titans HC Robert Saleh got the best out of Thomas as a Jet, so moving down 7 picks in the 7th round is worth it. That said, a similar player could’ve been acquired for free. This is NEARLY free, so it’s still a good move. Dallas pawned off a low salary for the smallest asset gain I’ve ever seen, so as much as I like this for them, almost nothing happened here.
Grades: Cowboys: B+; Titans: B+

Cowboys Trade DT Osa Odighizuwa to 49ers for 2026 3rd-Round Pick:
I panned the massive extension the Cowboys gave Odighizuwa last year, and that deal only stuck with them for one season. With a new DC in Christian Parker comes a new scheme, and Odighizuwa is the odd man out. Thus, he’s being traded to the DT-hungry Niners. While he’s a good interior rusher, he’s abysmal against the run, so he’s not an every-down player for $20M per season. San Francisco needs a pass rush wherever they can get it, so I understand why they’d want Odighizuwa, and a 3rd-round pick isn’t terrible value. If I’m paying for an upper-echelon salary, I want someone playing more than 63% of the snaps. As contenders, SF can afford to chase niche players like this, but Dallas won the trade by offloading a bad contract and acquiring an asset to do it.
Grades: Cowboys: A+; 49ers: B-

March 10, 2026

Saints Trade P Kai Kroeger, 2028 7th-Round Pick to Texans for 2028 6th-Round Pick:
New Orleans upgraded to Ryan Wright at punter, but they didn’t cut their old one. That’s because they found a trade partner in Houston, who will be replacing Tommy Townsend. Personally, I’d much rather have Townsend. Kroeger wasn’t very good as a rookie, so I wouldn’t have signed him for the middle if I had Townsend on my roster. The Saints are getting the lowest compensation possible, but it’s still something for a soon-to-be-released punter. By definition, they earn a good grade here. I can’t penalize Houston a ton because of the low cost, but I definitely don’t like the decision-making process.
Grades: Saints: A; Texans: C

Raiders Trade QB Geno Smith, 2026 7th-Round Pick to Jets for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
These storylines sometimes just write themselves. Las Vegas held onto Smith in hopes of a trade despite intending to release him. And who came calling? The team that drafted him in one of the most drama-filled scenarios of all time. New York had the worst QB in football last year, and Smith led the league in INTs. However, NYJ has a great line, while the Raiders’ was historically bad. Smith returning to his Seattle self isn’t out of the question. He’s not the team’s answer (though that would be ironic 13 years later), but he’ll be serviceable for a coach in Aaron Glenn that needs to win games. LV is picking up most of the tab, with the Jets paying Smith around $2M (just above the veteran minimum), so the team saves a few hundred thousand dollars while acquiring a pick swap. The deal makes sense for both teams, though the Raiders did a good job extracting something out of nothing.
Grades: Raiders: A-; Jets B

March 9, 2026

Colts Trade WR Michael Pittman Jr, 2026 7th-Round Pick to Steelers for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
The draft picks involved in this trade were tough to determine, but I THINK it’s a typical “6th for player+7th” trade. Regardless of the exact nature of the “late-round pick swap”, this was a salary dump. Indianapolis burnt all their WR money on Alec Pierce, so Pittman and his cap hit had to go. Pittsburgh, in need of a possession receiver to complement DK Metcalf, was a natural trading partner. I think this is pretty terrible for the Colts. The fact that they put themselves in this position by overpaying Pierce and giving too much money to Pittman in the first place is bad. Trading a useful WR to a conference rival for next to nothing is worse. Pittsburgh extended Pittman to lower his salary and cap number (I’ll grade that when the guarantees come in). With that adjustment done, the Steelers are coming away with a great value. Given that the Colts just wanted salary relief, the trade accomplished their aims. That doesn’t make it a good trade for them though. Pittsburgh is happy at least.
Grades: Colts: D+; Steelers: A

Packers Trade DE Rashan Gary to Cowboys for 2027 4th-Round Pick:
Green Bay didn’t send Micah Parsons back, but they did ship a different edge rusher to Dallas. Gary was a former first-round pick that did not impress during his first two years. Since then though, he has been a solid QB hunter, and he earned 7.5 sacks in each of the past two seasons. Gary has two backloaded years remaining on his Packers extension, so the team likely wanted salary relief for a player they weren’t planning to re-sign a second time. Dallas couldn’t sack anyone last year, so while I didn’t dislike the Parsons trade, the void he left needed to be filled. Gary helps, though I must note that he played much better WITH Parsons than as the #1 guy, and he has never topped 70% of his team’s snap count. The Cowboys swung higher and tried to land Maxx Crosby, but this isn’t a terrible consolation prize, and it comes at a much lower cost. Green Bay’s end of this deal is pretty good in a vacuum, but it doesn’t help their Super Bowl pursuit. I’ll be curious to see if there’s another move in the pipeline.
Grades: Packers: B; Cowboys: B-

Dolphins Trade S Minkah Fitzpatrick to Jets for 2026 7th-Round Pick:
The teardown continues. After stupidly releasing QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami sent their best defensive player to a division rival. This is partially a salary dump, but it also appears to be a tanking effort, which is wild to undergo before a season even starts. All of this was done for a mere 7th-round pick, which is nothing for a premier safety on a reasonable contract. The Jets, who had 0 INTs last year in a historically poor defensive performance and traded CB Sauce Gardner, now have a ball hawk who has picked off at least 1 pass in every year of his career except one. He came cheap and directly shifted talent to them from an AFC East foe. This is about as lopsided a trade as you can get. Miami fans can’t be thrilled with their new regime thus far.
Grades: Dolphins: JAMARCUS RUSSELL; Jets: A+

March 8, 2026

Bills Trade CB Taron Johnson, 2027 7th-Round Pick to Raiders for 2026 6th-Round Pick:
Johnson was reportedly released on Friday, but I guess Buffalo never submitted the paperwork while holding out for a trade. They got their wish, as the Raiders have sent a low-level pick swap for him. Buffalo is reshaping their defense in new DC Jim Leonhard’s image, and certain players are no longer deemed to fit. Johnson, a good cover man with a willingness to tackle, is a bit undersized, but that won’t stop him from being a clear upgrade in Vegas. The Raiders have one of the league’s worst defenses, and it got worse after the Maxx Crosby trade. I don’t at all mind moving down 1 round on day 3 (across 2 drafts) to take a shot on a productive 29-year-old corner. For the Bills, receiving any asset is good when you’re planning to cut a player, especially once that cut has already been announced. It’s a minor upgrade in draft capital, but every little bit helps. I consider this a fair trade.
Grades: Bills: B+; Raiders: B+

March 7, 2026

Colts Trade LB Zaire Franklin to Packers for DT Colby Wooden:
I’d call this trade a salary dump by the Colts, but they didn’t actually have to make a trade to do it. Franklin has 2 years and about $15M remaining on his deal, but none of it is guaranteed, so the team could’ve cut him penalty-free. However, Franklin is also a 2024 Pro Bowler and a tackling machine, so you can see why another team would want him. Green Bay, facing the prospect of losing LB Quay Walker to free agency, hedged their bets with a player who’s a bit more limited but also more proven, and he comes at half the projected cost. In exchange, they’ve sent Wooden, a run-stopping DT on the final year of his 4th-round rookie deal, back to Indy. I should note that Franklin wasn’t a great fit for Colts DC Lou Anarumo’s scheme, so he may play better for new Packers DC Jonathan Gannon. Getting a useful contributor back instead of nothing is a plus though, so both teams did alright.
Grades: Colts: B; Packers: B+

March 6, 2026

Raiders Trade DE Maxx Crosby to Ravens for 2026 and 2027 1st-Round Picks:
It finally happened. Crosby really didn’t want to go, but events over the past year left him with no choice. The Raiders’ tank job at the end of the 2025 season really hurt his opinion of the franchise, and I can’t blame him. Rather than rebuild anew, he’s on his way to Baltimore, who acquires the best available pass rusher. This is almost the package LV got for Khalil Mack years ago, as Baltimore had to outbid Dallas (who offered a 1st and a 2nd) to complete the deal. The Ravens are exactly the correct type of team to obtain Crosby (though that 2027 pick may sting). At 28 years old and mostly durable, Crosby has several good seasons left in him. We’re about to welcome a nice edge rusher class, but nobody projects to be a Crosby. Baltimore wants to retool and contend immediately, so a veteran DE with proven greatness is worth the cost. It must be noted though that Trey Hendrickson was available for no draft compensation whatsoever. For Las Vegas, this makes sense too. Crosby is the fans’ favorite player, but by the time this team is contending again, he’ll be aged out. Their timelines simply don’t match up anymore. Getting the most they could for a guy who was becoming increasingly unhappy was the right move, even if it won’t be popular with the fanbase.
Grades: Raiders: A; Ravens: B+
Update: The Ravens have “backed out” of the trade due to medical concerns.

Patriots Trade C Garrett Bradbury to Bears for 2027 5th-Round Pick:
Drew Dalman’s retirement immediately opened a void at the heart of the Bears’ offensive line. As a result, they have acquired Bradbury, who handles athletic defensive linemen really well but struggles a bit against power players. They’ll take on the last year of his deal (worth $3.7M). This was a nice pivot (no pun intended) for the Bears. New England came to the realization that Minnesota (his original team) did a few years ago: Bradbury is a solid center but not a top-tier one. They’ll now try and see if former Georgia center Jared Wilson can shift over from guard, likely expecting an upgrade with him playing his natural position. This isn’t much of a return for Bradbury though, and on his current deal, he was cheap enough to retain is a backup if the team wanted to. Since they clearly wished to move on, an asset is better than nothing.
Grades: Patriots: C+; Bears: B+

March 5, 2026

Bears Trade WR DJ Moore, 2026 5th-Round Pick to Bills for 2026 2nd-Round Pick:
Sometimes I don’t know why teams do what they do. Moore has been a QB-proof WR for both Carolina and Chicago over his career, and he has been instrumental for QB Caleb Williams’ development. His role diminished a bit last year, but that was more about having so many mouths to feed. After 2 unimpressive years, I’m not sure if Rome Odunze is ready to be a WR1, and Luther Burden is a slot man. Moore is a premium outside receiver who helped Chicago win the NFC North. Maybe this draft capital is decent for a 29-year-old receiver on an above-average salary, but the Bears just got a lot worse. For Buffalo, this is EXACTLY what they needed. Aside from slot WR Khalil Shakir, Josh Allen hasn’t possessed a truly reliable receiver since Stefon Diggs left. That changes now, though they still need more. At approximately a high 3rd-round pick in value, they’re getting a really good receiver on a reasonable contract (about $24.5M/year) with team control through 2029. Nobody in the 2026 draft class was going to be as good as Moore in round 1, let alone in round 3. I’d consider this a moderate heist on Buffalo’s part.
Grades: Bears: D; Bills: A+

March 4, 2026

Chiefs Trade CB Trent McDuffie to Rams for 2026 1st-, 5th-, and 6th-Round Picks, 2027 3rd-Round Pick:
For clarity, the first-rounder is #29, not the #13 pick that they got from the Falcons. This is pretty much what the Chiefs do. When a good CB reaches free agency, they let him walk or trade him. It happened with Charvarius Ward and L’Jarius Sneed, and now it’s happening with McDuffie. As a young, healthy, shutdown corner, the latter is drawing the best return. Given KC’s cap troubles and their knack for turning late-round picks into quality secondary players, I get why they would make this move. This is a very good return, though losing McDuffie hurts their 2026 chances significantly. For LA, are we back to the “f*** them picks” era? Not quite, as they still have a better first-rounder in their possession, but this is similar to what they did when trading for Jalen Ramsey several years ago. Ramsey was better, but McDuffie is younger, and the need is more acute this time around. A better secondary could’ve led the Rams to a Super Bowl. Aside from special teams, which is much easier to fix, their pass defense was their only true weakness. I still think they need more, but McDuffie is a huge get. QB Matthew Stafford puts LA in extreme “win now” mode, and this move reflects that status. It came at a very high cost (and likely an economical one since McDuffie will need to be extended), but he’s a great fit that fills a big hole. Seattle may scoff, but the Rams could be Super Bowl favorites now.
Grades: Chiefs: B; Rams: A-

March 2, 2026

Lions Trade RB David Montgomery to Texans for OL Juice Scruggs, 2026 4th-Round Pick, 2027 7th-Round Pick:
We’ve got some busy Texans! In their latest trade, they’ve bolstered their RB room, acquiring Montgomery from Detroit. Joe Mixon was supposed to be the bell cow last year, but a mysterious foot injury wiped out his season and has his playing career in question. That left rookie Woody Marks, a receiving back, and a decrepit Nick Chubb to carry the load. Montgomery is much better as a bruiser back, and he’s eager for more touches. Detroit couldn’t keep him any longer. Jahmyr Gibbs is now the feature back, so Montgomery is too expensive to retain as a mere insurance policy. Due to the $15M still on his contract, this is a pretty nice haul (even if Scruggs is irrelevant). Both teams made out well here, but Houston slightly overspent with draft capital.
Grades: Lions: A- ; Texans: B+

Texans Trade RT/G Tytus Howard to Browns for 2026 5th-Round Pick:
For the second year in a row, the Texans have traded a starting tackle in March. This one is part tackle, part guard, but still, it’s a lineman gone from an already putrid unit. Houston can’t protect QB CJ Stroud, and Howard was probably their best lineman at doing so. He’s not a good run blocker, but he pass protects reasonably well, particularly when moved inside to guard. Given what he provides and his impending contract extension (the Browns gave him a new deal as part of the trade, and that will be graded separately), a 5th-round pick is reasonable value. However, it makes an already bad line worse. For Cleveland, their line was just as awful, so Howard is an instant upgrade. The team needs a tackle unless Joel Bitonio departs, and using Howard at guard would improve my opinion of this move. He’s probably better than what they could’ve gotten with that 5th-rounder, albeit much more costly. Further manpower along the line is still necessary, as this trade doesn’t change the situation a whole lot.
Grades: Texans: C-; Browns: B

February 26, 2026

Titans Trade DT T’Vondre Sweat to Jets for DE Jermaine Johnson:
This year’s first trade comes even earlier than last year’s! And it’s a rare player-for-player trade. Making this deal even more unique, it involves two players who weren’t cut candidates at the end of the preseason; both teams genuinely liked their linemen but had differing needs. Sweat was a favorite of mine as an elite run-stuffing nose tackle, while Johnson is the exact opposite: a pure edge rusher with length and speed. New York traded Quinnen Williams away and thus needed a new DT. Sweat isn’t the same style in the passing game, but he’s a definite upgrade over what they have now. Tennessee never replaced Harold Landry when he departed in free agency, and with the excellent Jeffery Simmons inside, an edge rusher was a more pressing need. Johnson fills that hole, but he’s still finding his way back from an ACL injury that limited him last year, and he has only 1 more year left on his contract. I think the Jets won this despite giving up the player at a more premium position. That’s because NYJ is almost certain to select an edge rusher with the #2 draft pick, creating a glut at the position. Tennessee got a bit more upside, but their risk is greater as well. It’s close, and both teams are better overall, which is what you like to see.
Grades: Titans: B+; Jets: A-