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This was a WILD trade deadline. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of one that was more thrilling than this. There were blockbuster deals with Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams getting shipped out of the Big Apple, but there were quite a few other deals that will have a big impact on this year and beyond. There were a ton of deals made on Monday and Tuesday, so today, we’re going to go through each and every one, give our thoughts on both sides of the trade, and give our official grades for each team. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Colts Trade For Sauce Gardner Colts Receive: Sauce Gardner ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Jets Receive: 2026 1st-rounder, 2027 1st-rounder, AD Mitchell Luke Hubbard, Senior NFL Writer: I wrote a whole story about why I think the Indianapolis Colts may have made a mistake by trading for Sauce Gardner, but I’ll give you the rundown here as well. I think the Colts are a very, very good football team. They have one of the best offenses in football, but they have a very glaring weakness. If their opponent can stop the run, their entire offensive scheme falls apart. Daniel Jones is good at playing within the system, but when he has to put the team on his back like he had to last week, he cannot handle it. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports When we get to January and the Colts have to travel to Buffalo or host Kansas City, Jones is going to have to shoulder a lot of the load, and I just don’t see him going toe-to-toe with Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes. Yes, they’ll have a chance in those games, but I put a lot of stock into who your quarterback is in the playoffs, and Jones is not on the same level as either of those guys. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad But what does this have to do with this trade? Well, I think the Colts have a good roster. Great in fact. But they need an elite quarterback to hang with these AFC powerhouses in the playoffs. You’re not going to find one of those just laying around in free agency, so what do you have to do? Draft one. Well that becomes extremely difficult without a first rounder in each of the next two drafts. I don’t think this trade pushes the Colts over the edge. No matter what they do defensively, I just don’t think they have the quarterback to beat Mahomes, Allen and/or Lamar in the playoffs. When the lights are the brightest and the weather gets cold, elite quarterback play wins you games, and the Colts don’t have a guy that can elevate an offense in the fourth quarter when you really need to pick up a 3rd-and-long. Now, I will give the Colts credit. If they truly believe they can make the Super Bowl with Jones under center – and it seems like they do – then they made the right move. You could argue that, outside of an elite quarterback, there isn’t a single player in the league that they could’ve added that will make a bigger impact on this team than Gardner. Their biggest weakness on defense was their secondary, and now they add arguably the best corner in football. I give the Colts props for making a big move. Super Bowl windows don’t open often, so you have to take advantage of them when they do, and they’re trying their best to take full advantage of it this year. As for the Jets, they’ve given up on the season and are in complete rebuild mode. Nobody expected them to trade Gardner, who they just signed to a long-term deal this offseason, but they got a HAUL in return. I think the Jets will end up winning this trade, but I won’t knock the Colts too hard for making a move when they feel their Super Bowl window is open. Grades: Colts B-, Jets A Tim Wood, NFL Editorial Chief: It is bonkers to think how the world has turned upside down in Indianapolis. I have plenty of Colts fan friends. They started September wondering if Jonathan Taylor was washed up and baffled how Anthony Richardson could lose the starter gig to then-lowly Daniel Jones. Ten weeks later, the ESPN FPI has the Colts as the second-best team in the NFL with an 11 percent chance to go to the Super Bowl. Jones is on the fringe of the MVP discussion with the seventh-best QBR, Taylor is leading the league-best rushing attack and the defense is top 10 in all categories. You got the shot, you take the shot. I applaud Indy for that and they got a difference maker in Gardner. It’s the haul that’s at issue here. It is just so bizarre to see the Colts pushing their entire stack to the center of the table. Sure, you want to sign Jones long-term, but until it’s done, this is still a very fluid team. And you’ve just given up your best chances to build solidly around Jones over the next couple years. This was the glaring need. I can’t argue that. But you gave up on Mitchell as well? I can’t find a scenario where this isn’t a drastic overpay. And for the Jets, well … this is a very Jets-y day. Looks phenomenal in terms of having three first-round draft picks. Mitchell has a lot of upside. It gives them ammo to ensure they get the QB they want in the 2026 Draft. It’s just more of hoping for next year, but the team certainly got more than most would have ever expected in return. Grades: Colts C-, Jets A Cowboys Trade For Quinnen Williams Cowboys Receive: Quinnen Williams Jets Receive: 2027 1st-rounder (best of DAL & GB), 2026 2nd-rounder, Mazi Smith Hubbard: I think the Dallas Cowboys trading for Quinnen Williams was the best move of the day for any team. That may be a bold statement, but let me put it into perspective a little bit. The Cowboys have essentially traded Micah Parsons and a 2026 2nd for Kenny Clark, Quinnen Williams and a 2026 1st. The Cowboys were never a Micah Parsons away from winning the Super Bowl, especially not if they shelled out $40-million a year for his services. Getting rid of him was always the right move, and they’ve essentially flipped him for a 1st and two really, really good defensive tackles. The Cowboys still have a ton of holes on their defense. They need some pass rush help off the edge and could use some more secondary pieces, but all their trades this season were never about winning in 2025. They’re setting themselves up to hopefully patch some holes this offseason with two first round picks and however much cap space they can create. If they can draft a pass rusher and corner, and then sign a big name free agent on defense this offseason, they should be in a pretty good spot heading into next year. We know they have a Super Bowl-caliber offense, it’s all about getting their defense straight for 2026. And after the moves they made today (the other we’ll talk about later), they’re starting off on the right foot. I know the Cowboys gave up a lot of draft capital, but they still have a lot, too. They’ll have three top-100 picks in this year’s draft, including two likely to be in the top 30 (if not higher). Sure, another second in 2026 would be nice, but Williams will fill a bigger hole than any second-round rookie would in year one. As for the Jets, they are in complete rebuild mode. It didn’t work the last time they tried, but they now have five first round picks over the next two years, and they’re hoping they can change their fortunes this time around. They got a haul for their Pro Bowl defensive tackle, which, on top of their haul for Gardner, should help them launch this rebuild. Grades: Cowboys A+, Jets A Wood: My jaw dropped when I saw this flash on my phone. Lesson learned. Never underestimate a billionaire. Jerry Jones said, “Just wait and see” after the Micah Parsons trade and he just made that deal pay off. Or did he? If this deal had been made a week ago and Williams could have played against Arizona, I would likely like this deal much better with the Cowboys sitting at 4-4-1. But as is, Dallas made a deal for a guy with his best years likely behind him. The 28-year-old Williams is still outstanding, but what impact can he truly make on a team that has a seven percent chance of making the playoffs right now? Williams is still stellar, but Father Time is not on his side as 2026 hits and the Cowboys are on the hook for $47.25 million in salary over the next two years. And we’re not even talking about paying out another $8 million-plus this year for Williams to play out the string. I’m glad Jerry wants to be relevant and competitive after the circus on display Monday night. But boy, this is Lloyd Christmas stuff right here. via GIPHY It’s a big swing for a 7 percent chance. How ‘bout them Cowboys! If Jones says they can afford it, am I really supposed to hate on this? It feels irresponsible and sure to backfire, but it’s going to keep our eyes glued on The Star. And for the Jets, see above. When does it become too much for Jets fans to keep kicking this can of hope down the road? They did this reset four years ago. Are fans supposed to wait out the process again? Fireman Ed’s not getting any younger. They get an F for punting on the present again, but if I’m grading on the value they got for the punt, there’s no other grade. Grades: Cowboys B-, Jets A Jaguars Trade For Jakobi Meyers Jaguars Receive: Jakobi Meyers Raiders Receive: 2026 4th-rounder, 2026 6th-rounder Hubbard: The Jacksonville Jaguars have all the makings of a good offense. They have a former No. 1 overall pick at quarterback, two first-round receivers, a first-round running back and some talented pieces on the offensive line, but it just hasn’t fully clicked yet. They’ve been too inconsistent, partly because of all the drops they’ve suffered this year. Adding a sure-handed wide receiver wasn’t a must for the Jags at the deadline, but it certainly felt like it would help. Brian Thomas Jr. can still make big plays. Travis Hunter is hurt, but shouldn’t be out too long, and once he’s back will provide them with an explosive playmaker. And now they add Jakobi Meyers, a guy who has two drops in his last 174 targets. I still think the Jags need some help on defense to be a real playoff threat, but based on their investment, this doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a one-year rental. His contract is up after this year, but the Jags should look to re-sign him (especially with Thomas and Hunter on rookie deals). I like this move for this year, and the future. I do think they may have overpaid a tad, but nothing too crazy. And for the Raiders, they get two picks for a guy who’s wanted out since the offseason. Good deal all around. Grades: Jaguars B-, Raiders B Wood: I still miss Meyers on my Pats. He’s just a dependable ball catcher and route tree perfectionist. This isn’t sexy, it won’t “win the day.” But it gives Trevor Lawrence a reliable slot option and will allow Hunter to play less slot (and have less painful routes) when he returns. The Jags have to re-sign him to warrant giving up the draft picks. And good on the Raiders for waiting out the process to get a respectable return. Grades: Jaguars B, Raiders B Seahawks Trade For Rashid Shaheed Seahawks Receive: Rashid Shaheed Saints Receive: 2026 4th-rounder, 2026 5th-rounder Hubbard: I think this was one of the more even trades of the deadline. Both teams got exactly what they needed out of this trade, so it was great for both sides. For the Seahawks, they get a compliment to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. Rashid Shaheed is a speedster and provides a whole new element to this offense. He’s elite at getting behind opposing defenses, but he also brings his return skills with him. Shaheed one of the best punt returners in football, so he gives them a new option there. He also has familiarity with Klint Kubiak, who was the Saints’ offensive coordinator last year. I do think they paid a somewhat steep price, but nothing too extraordinary. For the Saints, they were never going to pay Shaheed and Chris Olave after this year. It was always going to be one or the other, and as the deadline grew nearer, it was clear that Olave was going to be their guy. As a Saints fan, I was hoping for a third in return, but I’ll gladly take a fourth and a fifth. The Saints had five draft picks coming into today, and now they add two more to their total by dealing Shaheed, who’s on an expiring deal. Grades: Seahawks B+, Saints B+ Wood: We have been on the Seahawks in our power rankings. Y’all saw what they did in a national spotlight. And now, a filthy nasty offense just got another weapon. It’s a good day to be Sam Darnold. He looked like he was playing Madden in the pocket Sunday and now he gets THIS? Yikes. Find me someone who’s stopping this Super Bowl march now. For the Saints, I hate that they are letting Shaheed go, but they got a legit return. Grades: Seahawks A, Saints B+ Cowboys Trade For Logan Wilson Cowboys Receive: Logan Wilson Bengals Receive: 2026 7th-rounder Hubbard: I absolutely love this move for the Cowboys. I think they were one of the biggest winners of the deadline. Quinnen Williams is their blockbuster deal, but Logan Wilson is a very solid pickup, especially for a 7th. Wilson was a captain for the Bengals, so he was a leader, and he fills a massive need at linebacker. Plus, it’s not just a one-year rental, he’s under contract through next season as well. The Cowboys really needed a linebacker who can defend the run, but also drop into coverage, and that’s exactly what Wilson provides. I do fear it’s too little too late for the Cowboys this year, but these moves were more about setting them up for next year, and I believe they did a great job of that. On the Bengals side, I know that Wilson asked out, so they really had no choice but to trade him, but this is still a big loss. Losing someone of Wilson’s caliber, who still has multiple years on his contract for a 7th is a big blow to a team with a ton of holes. Grades: Cowboys A, Bengals D Wood: It’s funny. Early this morning, I saw all the pundits shocked the Cowboys were buyers after another national debacle. But getting Wilson for a Mr. Irrelevant pick? Sure, he’ll plug some holes in the dam. The full picture, the sum of the day for Dallas is baffling, but this deal on its own was brilliant. How are you feeling if you’re Joe Burrow right now? A horrific defense on paper just got more depleted. The Bengals are incapable of building a competitive defense, so get what you can get, I guess. Grades: Cowboys A, Bengals F Eagles Trade For Jaelan Phillips Eagles Receive: Jaelan Phillips Dolphins Receive: 2026 3rd-rounder Hubbard: At this point, every GM in the league needs to block every single phone number with a Philadelphia area code. How teams continue to allow the Eagles to get these players is beyond me. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad deal for Miami. They’re in rebuild mode, and getting a quality pick for a player on an expiring deal is a great move. I just don’t get why they keep letting Philly be the ones to pull these moves off. I know they have the luxury of having an elite roster and not needing their draft picks as much as other teams, but at some point, somebody else has to start making these moves. This was a great move for both sides. I’m just tired of Philly pulling off all these deals. Grades: Eagles A-, Dolphins A Wood: This reminds me of a fantasy football GM stealing a player off the waiver wire while everyone else was sleeping. I haven’t seen a GM in any sport in a long time as good at providing the goods as Howie Roseman. Does he hypnotize these other GMs over the phone? Is he just so nice that everyone wants to be his friend and do nice things for him? What is this spell he has over the other deal makers? He is a generational talent in the front office. Period. He is like Ohtani and James and Mahomes all in one. It’s a win-win deal for the losing Dolphins. Not much else to say. Grades: Eagles B+, Dolphins B- Chargers Trade For Trevor Penning Chargers Receive: Trevor Penning Saints Receive: 2027 6th-rounder Hubbard: The Trevor Penning experiment was a complete and utter failure in New Orleans. He never developed into the franchise tackle (or even guard) that they hoped he’d become, and it’s been a rocky relationship for the past two years. The Saints needed to get rid of him, but this just felt like a team desperate to get a deal done before the deadline. Still, they got something in return for his services. He was almost certainly going to walk this offseason anyway, but the compensation was still disappointing. On the Chargers’ side, they get a former first-rounder who has experience at both tackle and guard. They’ve lost both of their starting tackles for the season, so Penning can step in (preferably on the right side) and play right away, and all it cost was a future 6th. If he’s even a slight upgrade over what they have, it’s a good move for LA. The Saints’ grade here isn’t necessarily because of the trade – I think they were lucky to get anything for him – it’s more a reflection of how poor his time in New Orleans went. Knowing the Saints, he’s going to turn into an All-Pro tackle in LA, just like Trey Hendrickson and Zack Baun did the moment they left the Big Easy. Grades: Chargers B, Saints D+ Wood: Luke is Mr. Saint, so I’m going to defer to his analysis. But I love it for the Chargers, who see the window as now for Justin Herbert and are doing everything they can to protect him, despite the devastating blows to the line. Grades: Chargers B-, Saints C- Eagles Trade For Jaire Alexander Eagles Receive: Jaire Alexander, 2027 7th-rounder Ravens Receive: 2026 6th-rounder Hubbard: This is another example of the Eagles getting a very talented player for very cheap. I know Jaire Alexander isn’t what he used to be, but he’s still a veteran cornerback with a lot of experience, which is what pretty much every team in the league, especially the contenders, could use right now. I’m surprised nobody offered more than a 6th. This is another high-upside, low-risk trade for the Eagles that could pay off down the line. Yet again, the Eagles get away with murder. Grades: Eagles B+, Ravens C+ Wood: It’s a great outlet shopping deal for the Eagles and a saving-face salvage for the Ravens. I don’t really love it for either side, but if Alexander can find another gear down the stretch to give the Eagles depth and veteran leadership, it’s a steal of a deal. Grades: Eagles Incomplete, Ravens C Ravens Trade For Dre’Mont Jones Ravens Receive: Dre’Mont Jones Titans Receive: 2026 5th-rounder Hubbard: Dre’Mont Jones joined the Tennessee Titans on a one-year deal this offseason, and after a slow start to the season, he’s really come along. Over his last four games, Jones has racked up 4.5 sacks and has been pretty much the only one on Tennessee’s defense putting much pressure on the opposing quarterback. The Titans are obviously in rebuild mode, and the Baltimore Ravens want to get back in the AFC playoff picture. Their pass rush has been their biggest weak spot, so adding someone of Jones’ caliber for a 5th seems like a good deal, even if it’s a one-year rental. Grades: Ravens B+, Titans C Wood: This gives Ravens fans (and Vegas) even more reason to believe the impossible is possible in this hoped season turnaround. And it makes a salary mistake go away for Tennessee. Grades: Ravens B, Titans C- Bears Trade For Joe Tryon-Shoyinka Bears Receive: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, 2026 7th Browns Receive: 2026 6th-rounder Hubbard: The Chicago Bears needed to add a pass rusher after Dayo Odeyingbo suffered a season-ending injury last week. Joe Tyron-Shoyinka isn’t a homerun trade, but he adds some solid depth to the Bears’ pass rusher room for a pretty cheap cost. Grades: Bears B-, Browns C Wood: This is a plugging-holes deal, stealing meat from a team once again with their eyes on the draft.
