Once overlooked part of the calendar, the league’s rolling deadline became one of the craziest and most important times of the NFL season. This year’s trade deadline did not disappoint, 12 players were traded by the deadlinethe largest number in the past 30 years.
Which team beat their odds of winning Super Bowl LVII? Conversely, what teams might have come out of the title race? We have these answers below with our winners and losers at the deadline.
Miami sent Denver in the first round in 2023, selection in the fourth round in 2024 and back to back Chase Edmonds. The Bronco It was added in a fifth round of 2025 as part of the deal that sent Chubb to South Beach. With the acquisition of Chubb, Dolphins has a player who already has 5.5 sacks and two forced fouls this season. Chubb’s addition of an already talented defense – versus an attack that has made big strides – should be enough to end Miami’s six-year playoff drought.
With Edmunds gone, Dolphins acquired 49 players running back Jeff Wilson in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick before the deadline. The move brings Wilson together with his former teammates 49 players to succeed Raheem Mostert, who is on track to have his best season to date, as well as coach Mike McDaniel, who was the offensive coordinator for Wilson and Mostert in San Francisco. The dolphins were aggressive, and they had a good chance of paying off.
Loser: Green Bay Packers
The packers were clearly missing a wide receiver for effect, and as the trade deadline passed, that hasn’t changed. As CBS Sports NFL Insider Josina Anderson mentioned, the Packers would have likely offered Chase Claypool the best deal, giving Aaron Rodgers much-needed help at the receiver. Instead, the Bears pounced and got Claypool, as the Packers failed to get him or any other receiver said to have been in the trading block. Rodgers would continue to be content with a receiving legion that struggled to fill Davante Adams’ boots.
The Vikings were able to get a talented tight end – TJ Hockenson – from a rival in the band. Previously chosen number 8, no less. And they did so without breaking the bank, sending future second and third-round picks to Detroit with receiving future fourth-round picks (including the 2024 conditional pick) as part of the deal.
By acquiring Hockenson, the Vikings cemented their position as one of the top-tier teams in NFC and a legitimate contender to represent the Conference in the Super Bowl. Hockenson brings another element to the Vikings offense that also includes Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook and Kirk Cousins.
The Giants made several calls but eventually stood up to the deadline. New York’s lack of movement must have been a disappointment for Giants fans given the team’s surprising 6-2 start. Giants fans may not be in the blue for long, as general manager Joe Schoen said after the deadline that he would consider bringing back Odell Beckham Jr.
Just watch the 49ers win over rams Last Sunday, if you wanted to rank the team’s commercial acquisition of Christian McCaffrey. Previous leopards The All-Pro running back became the fourth player since the 1970 merger to throw, catch and run for touchdowns in the same game.
McCaffrey’s addition – which actually happened over a week ago but technically came on a deadline – puts the 49ers in a position to win the NFC West over rivals Los Angeles, Arizona and Seattle. The fact that the 49ers didn’t need to give up McCaffrey’s first-round pick is another feather in the GM John Lynch cover.
Despite Jerry Jones’ position, the Cowboys didn’t make a great deal before the deadline. The receiver was a position the Cowboys would likely cement, but the Cowboys didn’t make a deal and will continue to move forward with CeeDee Lamb and Noah Brown leading the receiving wire. There was a report that the team was Close to adding brandy chefsBut money was the problem.
The fact that the Cowboys didn’t make a deal by the deadline indicates that Jones & Co. believe Michael Gallup will have a better second half of the season as he continues to work his way back from ACL surgery.
I hope the Bears got value for the players – Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn – that everyone knew was no longer a part of the Bears’ future. But the fact that it comes down to that isn’t a good thing for the Bears, who parted ways with one of the NFL’s best in-house players and a passing booster who was getting out of a season 18.5 sacks in a matter of days.
The Bears used the second-round pick they received in the Smith trade to get Chase Claypool, a talented but underperforming player in his two years with the team Steelers. The fact that the bears kept their rival Packers Whoever gets Claypool makes Chicago the winner by deadline.
Loser: Los Angeles Rams
The 49ers beat the Rams in the relegation race over Christian McCaffrey. Los Angeles ultimately didn’t do anything on the deadline, which means the Rams will have to rely on their current roster to get themselves out of the hole they’re in. Los Angeles, 3-4 after last Sunday’s loss, in need of several positional upgrades, including on the offensive line, the receiver and backhand.
Speaking of backtracking, the Rams couldn’t deal with Cam Akers before the deadline – a missed opportunity, as Akers’ working relationship with the team appears to have come to an end.
Baltimore is using this moment to pull back in North Asia as it gains ground in the powerful conference halls of Buffalo and Kansas City. The Ravens got a prolific player at Roquan Smith while making the Bears continue to pay most of his $5.408 million salary (Baltimore is in trouble for just $575,000 of Smith’s 2022 salary).
The Ravens are getting a 25-year-old quarterback who’s got a punch in the middle of his prime. Smith already has 83 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions this season.
Chidubi Ozzi’s injury suffered on Monday night should have forced the Bengals to try to swap the cornerback at the deadline. Not only did Cincinnati not only address its new need, but it also failed to meet two other needs that were tapped during Monday night’s loss in Cleveland.
With Ja’Marr Chase out for at least the next several games, the Bengals were supposed to try to get another playmaker on attack, whether it’s a veteran receiver or a versatile racer. Cincinnati could also have used an upgrade up front after Joe Burrow had been sacked five times before. Brown‘Defense.
The Eagles’ recent acquisition of Robert Quinn has cemented the fact that Philadelphia will go all in after their 7-0 start. While he didn’t get a sack on his Eagles debut, Quinn was part of a defense that tormented Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett while holding Pittsburgh by just 13 points. Besides his tangible skills, Quinn adds leadership to the young and talented Eagles’ defense.
Denver was unable to swing deals in favor of Jerry Judy or KJ Humler despite the stated interest in both players. The Broncos also missed an opportunity to add depth in the middle behind Russell Wilson. Pittsburgh quarterbacks, Mitch Trubesky and Mason Rudolph, made sense for the Broncos.
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