The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and it was an eventful day across the league. As expected, there were a number of trades involving players and draft picks, with some teams making moves to bolster their rosters for a playoff push, while others looked to shed salary and build for the future. Here are some of the winners, losers, and surprises from the day.
Winners:
The Los Angeles Rams: The Rams made arguably the biggest splash of the day, acquiring Von Miller from the Denver Broncos. Miller is a seven-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl MVP, and he should make an already formidable Rams defense even more dangerous.
The Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs addressed their struggling defense by acquiring Melvin Ingram from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ingram is a former Pro Bowler and should provide a much-needed boost to the Chiefs’ pass rush.
The New York Jets: The Jets traded away one of their best players in defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, but they received a massive haul in return. The Jets acquired three draft picks, including two first-rounders, from the Carolina Panthers.
Losers:
The Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins made a number of trades, but none of them were particularly impactful. Miami sent away wide receiver Isaiah Ford and running back Malcolm Brown, but neither player was a major contributor to the team.
The Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks were expected to be buyers at the deadline, but they didn’t make any significant moves. Seattle is currently on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs, and they missed an opportunity to bolster their roster.
The Houston Texans: The Texans were one of the most active teams leading up to the deadline, but they didn’t get much in return for their assets. Houston traded away cornerback Bradley Roby and linebacker Zach Cunningham, but they didn’t receive any high draft picks in return.
Surprises:
Odell Beckham Jr. stays put: There was plenty of speculation leading up to the deadline that Beckham could be on the move, but he ultimately remained with the Cleveland Browns.
The Philadelphia Eagles trade for Gardner Minshew: The Eagles surprised many by acquiring Minshew from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Minshew is a capable quarterback who could provide some insurance behind starter Jalen Hurts.
All in all, it was an exciting day of NFL trades, and we’ll have to wait and see how these moves impact the rest of the season.
