Nov 04, 2025
3 min read
We've analyzed and ranked the biggest trades made in the NFL trade period.
The NFL trade deadline passed and it did not disappoint.The New York Jays stole all the headlines (including ours) by trading away two of their players for cornerback Sauce Gardner.
Now it's all about the future of the Jets.However, the same cannot be said for the Indianapolis Colts, who sent a pair of first-round picks to New York for Gardner.The Colts clearly believe the AFC is ready and have placed their chips under center.Of course, the Gardner and Williams deals weren't the only big deals made in the last 24 hours.There were a lot of moves that could have changed the course of the season.And we've broken it all down here, bringing you some quick thoughts, analysis, and of course, trade evaluations for each trade that took place before the deadline.
Grinders get Trevor's Pennies if found
The New Orleans Saints traded defensive lineman Trevor Penning to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2027 sixth-round pick, league sources tell The Athletic.
Why did they make this move?
The Chargers have one of the best young teams in the NFL with Rishon Slater and Joe Alt.But it's embarrassing that both are coming off the season with injuries.
Ci, the first available in 2022, will be a free agent this time because Christians refuse to accept the year of selection.So how the group compares how easily, which is interesting to show that it has gone with the Saints.He has great talent and physical strength, but he doesn't do it on the field.
The Saints were sellers at the deadline, having traded Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks.And while they weren't as active as the New York Jets, the Penning trade was a continuation of their decision to move parts.
Charger Business Class: Ok
Penning missed the point of the tackle and the Saints halfback.Maybe things will improve under Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh.Penning should be at least better than anyone the Chargers would sign from another team's practice squad right now.
Trade class Studies: Saé
The choice of project is quite a lot.A player needs to be traded, which is fine at this point, even if he is patient, before they try to pull back.
Cowboys get DT Quinnen Williams
The New York Jets traded defensive end Quinen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for 2027 first-round pick Puck, 2026 second-round pick Mazzee Smith.The former will be the best of the two cattle outfits, since they also have the right to trade green).
Why they made a decision
The plane tore it back.You are an individual, a personal person, a personal person, a personal person, a personal person, a personal person, a personal person, a personal person, a personal person, a personal person.
Williams, who turns 28 next month, has been one of the best point guards in the league since signing in 2019 as the third option.But even with Williams and Gardner, the Jets rank sixth in the league in scoring.Defensively, head coach Aaron Glenn acknowledged the need to overthrow him and start over.
The Cowboys have worked desperately to retool a defense that has allowed the second-most points in the NFL, already acquiring linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals.Should the blame for the defense's performance go to team owner Jerry Jones for trading Parsons just before the regular season, or to first-year coordinator Matt Eberflus?Perhaps that will have a more definitive answer in the offseason.
Remember, the Cowboys wanted defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the Parsons trade as a way to bolster their run defense.With Clark in the lineup, they've allowed the fourth-most yards in the league, so they've called up Williams as their latest addition.
Cowboys Business Grade: B-minus
That's powerful.Williams has time to stay in his prime as a cornerback for at least a few more years.And if the Bulls use their first draftees properly in 2026, they may recover faster than expected.
But they are now 3-5-1 and need drastic improvements to become a factor in the playoff race.They are the number 11 seed at the NFC and they are likely to afford after loss if they want money in the post-season.
And virtually this entire season has been compared to Parsons, which is shocking to see the Cowboys get two first-rounders for him, then send a first- and second-rounder for Williams a few months later.It's not a perfect comparison because of the financial aspect, and expectations change over time.But it's a journey that will come under much scrutiny in Dallas for years to come.
Jet Trade Class: A
Teams deserve credit for knowing who they are and where they are going.More often than not in recent decades, teams have appeared to go in one direction while acting as if they were moving in the other — conflicting ideologies that usually yield big droughts.
The Jets cleaned house last offseason and started a new regime with Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey.That was the beginning.Now with a 1-7 record, that regime has realized how far from winning the Jets really are, so they clean up the books and take control of the next two drafts.
The Jets have two first-round picks in 2026 and three in 2027, with Texerterback Arching expected.Anyone who is old, whether it is this plan to do so or the next plan, they have the equipment to make it happen.
The next step - the unspoken one - is pulling what it takes.
Bears acquire DL Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
The Cleveland Browns have traded defensive end Jee Tryon-Sloyda and a seventh-round pick for a sixth-round pick, according to sources.
Because they took the step
The Bears (5-3) are vying for their first playoff berth in five years, but are among nine NFC teams with a winning record.The Bears have just 17 sacks this season, tied for ninth in the league and only lost defensive end Dayo Odayingbo (Achilles) for the season, so they need to make a move to add to their depth.Enter Tryon-Shoyinka.
Scouts are also buyers.Tryton-Shoyinka, a 2021 first pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is one year old.He only has 31 blocks this season, so the Browns will be happy to jump on the list.
Bringing out a trade scene: eh
It's depth and special teams moves.Trion-Shojinka averaged four defensive tackles per game with the Browns and had zero sacks, zero tackles for loss, one QB hit and nine sacks on the season.
Browns trade class: Maybe, too
Suffice it to say that this trade will not define their season.
Seahawks acquire WR Rashid Shaheed
The New Orleans Saints traded wide receiver Rasheed Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks for a fourth and fifth round pick.
Why did they move?
The Seahawks appear poised to compete in the NFC and need security behind rookie star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the league with 948 receiving yards.While Smith-Njigba has proven his ability to run the passing attack (mostly) on his own, this is a dangerous strategy in the playoffs.
Cooper Kupp is second on the team with 24 catches and 293 yards, but that's a poor performance for a No. 2 wide receiver with his track record.Rookie Troy Horton is third among receivers with 13 catches and 161 yards.The Seahawks haven't gotten much production from their young tight ends.
Shaheed, who will become a free agent after the season, is a great candidate.The Saints (1-8) are tied for the worst record in the NFL, so they are wise to start getting their wheels back on track and building for the future.
Navy Business Class: b
The 27-year-old Martian is reunited with offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak, who is off to a great start in his first season with the Seahawks.When the two were together last season, Martyr was injured for most of the season, but familiarity with the system will make the transition easier in midseason.
Seasickness still plagues the offense, but they've built an air attack with a quarterback and MVP candidate Sam Darnold.A deeper crop of receivers will help their cause.
St. Trade Grade: B
The Saints aren't going anywhere this season and have ongoing salary cap issues. While they are blameless in managing the ledger, it seems strange when they struggle to win games year after year. They haven't made the playoffs since 2020.
Of course, this move comes with risk.Rookie Tyler Shawer will only start his first game and may want to throw more outside Chris Olave, but the Saints have to think about long-term moves, and that's what they did.
Colts get cb sass Gardner
Several tours from New York engineering have chosen speaking locations in Wisconsin.
Why did they make such a move?
The Colts, currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC, have defied expectations this season and are trying to put the normal years behind them with a surprising blockbuster that caught people off guard in the league.
While the Colts improved dramatically defensively under coordinator Lou Anarumo — jumping from 24th in points allowed to seventh — they ranked 26th against the pass, partly due to size but also due to personnel.Gardner is a definite upgrade.
Gardner is one of the best defenders in the league.Given that the Jets selected him in the 2022 draft, he wouldn't be an easy pick to replace.
Colts trade grade: A-
As always, reward the brave and so do the Colts.
Gardner is only 25 years old and has a contract until 2030, so he will be indispensable for the team in the coming years.And with a coordinator like Anarumo, Gardner should be in good hands.
The Colts are off to a good start, and they are in the process of making some teams that aren't good in the post.The opinion is that the country is still capable of creating biological forces like the owner of Kansas City and the pig bills.
Mitchell, a 2024 second-round pick, will go down as a draft pick.He also had an embarrassing moment this season when he inexplicably dropped the ball before crossing the end zone on a play that was directly related to the Colts' loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
.@iamSauceGardner joins the Colts secondary 😤 pic.twitter.com/JcjJ2aQL4C
– NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2025
Trade Jet Grade: A
The Jets now have two first-round picks in the 2026 and 2027 drafts, so they'll be in prime position to target a quarterback when they're ready.Of course, drafting the right man and developing him into a freedom saver have proven to be two completely different challenges, but they have to overcome one obstacle before they can conquer the other.
If the Jets emerge from this perpetual rebuild, Gardner could be part of the solution, so he will be missed.However, they are far enough away that the decision on the two first-rounders should be easy.Anything Mitchell provides will be a bonus.
jaguar wr jakobi meyers
The Las Vegas Raiders traded wide receiver Jacoby Myers to the Jacksonville Jaguars for picks in the fourth and sixth rounds of the 2026 draft. The fourth round will be earlier than Jacksonville or Minnesota in that round.
Why did they take this job?
The Jaguars have placed rookie Travis Hunter on injured reserve with a knee injury and he will miss at least three more games as he continues to work out his recovery schedule.
Just as importantly, the Jaguars needed to fix their obvious problems with drops.They lead the league with 26 touchdowns through eight weeks, according to Pro Football Reference, which updates its advanced analytics on Wednesday.That's five more than the second-place Denver Broncos and 10 more than two teams in the NFL.Brian Thomas Jr. has a league-high nine drops, which is the most of 11 teams.
At the time, the raiders were 2-6 and looking to build a long-term reconstruction.Meyers has previously offered to trade and receive a strong transfer fee for players who will be released in the free agency.
Jaguars Trade Grade: A-Minus
Meyers is a true professional who will bring quality leadership to a locker room that learns to win on the fly.According to our NFL Playoff Simulator, the Jaguars have exceeded expectations in their first season under the new regime and have a fair 56 percent chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
Meyers set career highs with 87 receptions and 1,027 yards in 2024;This is even more impressive considering the Raiders have been starting quarterbacks Gardner Minshew, Aidan O'Connell and Desmond Ridder all season.Meyers, who turns 29 next week, could be very productive in coach Liam Cohen's offense with a more consistent QB in Trevor Lawrence.
Meyers from 2023had just four sacks and only 2.7 career sacks.That's a huge improvement over the Jaguars' ugly 9.1 drop rate this season.
Meyers can also control the middle of the field, which will help as the Jaguars await the return of tight end Brenton Strange from injured reserve.
The only concern is the lack of accurate jaguars due to the hunter draft trade.But if they want people enough to give him in the offseason, that won't be a problem.
The Jaguars are trading for Jakobi Mimers in their system.If it goes well, they will negotiate more at the end of the season.They are trying to win now, and therefore, the worshipers may not be like Thomas "(If not killed with his offer).
-Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) November 4, 2025
Business Raider Class: B-Plus
However, it would be ideal to work on a long-term solution with mysers.But it is not understandable that they do not pay him the market quarter in this jacket to rebuild, and it is equally understandable if it builds happiness.
Payment transactions are pretty good in these situations.
Cowboys Amapeza LB Logan Wilson
The Cincinnati Bengals traded linebacker Logan Wilson to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Why did they decide that?
Both defenses are confusing. Why not mix up a few chairs and see if your deck looks better?
The Bengals recently traded Wilson, Demetrius and Demetrius for more playing time.The 29-year-old Wilson was traded.
The Cowboys, who allowed the second-most points in the league, are much worse than their trading partners.Their offseason addition of a linebacker never panned out, or it may be more of a defensive issue than anything else, as the Cowboys took a big step back in their transition from coach Mike McCarthy and their summer trade for Micah Parsons.
Cowboy trade class: c plus
Wilson has been a productive player, compiling four consecutive 100-hit seasons, so it's not a stretch to think a change in position could help the transition.The cows see it in a kind of Verch-type work.If the change of location is only to help Wilson, this will take to increase the value because the possibility exists.
Bengals Business Point: F
Voting has more to do with the process than with the execution of the operation.
Wilson isn't halfway through his four-year contract, and they've reached a point where no one is looking to make a serious offer.The Bengals were retooled for Lousarumo's setup last season, and they've gotten worse under Alvin's offensive lineman since then.
As the Bengals lost 47-42 against Chicago on Sunday, it was clear that there was a big divide between the offense and the defense.That's a big problem for a team trying to tread water until Wilson's role in Cincinnati is disrupted.
Ravens acquire LB Dre'mont Jones
The Tennessee Titans traded Dre'Mont Jones to the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional fifth-round draft pick.The pick could become a fourth-round pick if unspecified conditions are met.
why did they do this
Jones, who signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Titans in the offseason, is off to a solid start with 4.5 sacks in nine games. But the Titans are back in contention for the No. 1 pick in the draft and the extra mid-rounder is more than worth the rebuild.
The Ravens (3-5) have won two in a row and are just two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.They'll theoretically stay healthy on the road as they try to improve a defense that ranks 24th in points and 27th in yards allowed.Jones helps those efforts.
Ravens Trade Grade: B
The Ravens have just 11 sacks, second-fewest in the league.This is a huge drop from last season, when they had the second-most with 54 sacks.Only Jones has more sacks than the Ravens' leading pair of Tavious Robinson and Nnamdi Madubuike, who are on injured reserve with two sacks each.
Jones, now in his seventh season, has spent his entire career with the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Titans.He has 35 sacks, although he has never recorded more than 6.5 sacks in a season.Jones could easily be higher if the Ravens figure it out.
But it is good for the people of the land, who do not live in the evil of their ways and want to do what has happened.
Jones is playing his most exciting game of the season.On Sunday against the Chargers, Jones had 1½ sacks, four sacks, four sacks and eight pressures https://t.co/os8pagfkx
- Jeff Zrebiec (@jffzrebiec) Nowemapa 4, 2025
Titons Trade Class: B-Misus
The Titans knew they were facing a long rebuild going into that season, but Jones was the kind of pro he made sense to be in the locker room.However, with coach Brian Callahan already fired and the organization now focused directly on the development of Warune Quartebuck Cam, it made sense to move Jones.
He can join a team with a better chance of getting into the playoffs, and the Titans can shift their focus toward the future and building the next core through the draft.
A recent marketing degree
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