NFL Analysis
11/5/24
16 min read
NFL Trade Deadline 2024: Grading Every Move
This year's NFL trade deadline has featured plenty of movement, even if most of it happened weeks in advance.
Star wide receivers like Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins found new homes, while other key role players were sold off by struggling teams to playoff contenders.
Unlike previous seasons, teams didn't seem interested in waiting right up until the deadline to make major moves. In fact, most of these trades happened weeks in advance of the deadline once teams realized what moves they needed to make.
With the deadline quickly approaching, we'll provide grades and reactions to every trade made before Tuesday's deadline.
NFL Trade Deadline Grades
Khalil Davis to the 49ers
49ers receive: DL Khalil Davis
Texans receive: 2026 seventh-round pick
San Francisco 49ers: C+
San Francisco 49ers: C+The San Francisco 49ers added a depth piece right at the buzzer, trading a 2026 seventh for a rotational defensive lineman in Khalil Davis.
Davis isn't going to take the league by storm, but he does provide some pass-rushing juice up front. He generated 23 pressures for the Houston Texans last season, along with another eight in a limited role this year.
The 49ers don't have any dominant players at defensive tackle, so adding another rotational piece makes some sense as they try to fight back to the top of the NFC West.
Houston Texans: C
Houston Texans: CA future seventh-round pick isn't an exciting move, and it's a throwaway pick for a player that wasn't in the long-term plans for the Texans.
Davis will enter free agency after this season, and played just 172 total snaps for Houston before being traded. The Texans have the No. 2 defense by DVOA this season, so it's not like Davis will be sorely missed given the amount of talent on that side of the ball.
It's a last-second move for both sides, and not one that should drastically alter the season for either team.
Tre'Davious White to the Ravens
Ravens receive: CB Tre'Davious White, 2027 seventh-round pick
Rams receive: 2026 seventh-round pick
Baltimore Ravens: B
Baltimore Ravens: BFor a team that looks so dominant at times, the Baltimore Ravens still had some questions that needed answering at defensive back.
Tre'Davious White has played some of the most disappointing football of his career in 2024, allowing a passer rating of 147.8 after not allowing a rating higher than 96.2 in any other season, per PFF. Injuries through the years have slowed him down, but White is still a former first-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler.
A change of scenery could be what helps White turn his season around. Even if it doesn't, the Ravens just swapped seventh-round picks in future years to take a chance on upgrading their secondary in time for a potential Super Bowl run.
Los Angeles Rams: C
Los Angeles Rams: CThere's not much to say from the perspective of the Los Angeles Rams.
White was going to hit free agency after the 2024 season, and his struggles suggested that the Rams wouldn't be interested in bringing the former star cornerback back in 2025.
Instead of trying to keep letting White turn his season around in Los Angeles, the Rams parted ways and moved up a year for a seventh-round pick, which is unlikely to produce any kind of meaningful player.
Preston Smith to the Steelers
Steelers receive: EDGE Preston Smith
Packers receive: 2025 seventh-round pick
Pittsburgh Steelers: A-
Pittsburgh Steelers: A-You can never have too many pass rushers, according to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Steelers have the highest-graded pass-rushing defense in the NFL by a wide margin. The defense boasts five different players with at least 10 pressures, led by stars in T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Alex Highsmith.
However, the Steelers felt that adding a veteran pass rusher could be a worthwhile depth piece on their roster. Preston Smith has been a productive pass rusher through the years, with four seasons with at least 40 pressures dating back to 2019.
Two of the cleanest wins you'll see both from Preston Smith. Different stance, side and moves. Forklift into a rip followed by a sweet double swipe-swim pic.twitter.com/xdw1TUIYEp
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 23, 2024
Smith also brings some run-stopping ability, and although he's getting older — at nearly 32 — he should be a productive rotational piece on Pittsburgh's defense.
Getting that kind of player for a seventh-round pick is a big win for the Steelers.
Green Bay Packers: A-
Green Bay Packers: A-A seventh-round pick isn't exciting, but it's the value in getting Smith's contract off the books that makes this a good move for the Green Bay Packers.
Smith's cap hits will be $13.4 million and $14.1 million in 2025 and 2026. The veteran pass rusher wasn't an ideal fit for new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's 4-3 scheme, so instead of keeping Smith around, the Packers decided to get his contract off the books and let him play elsewhere.
The departure of Smith opens the way up for Kingsley Enagbare and second-year defensive end Lukas Van Ness, who is more of a natural fit in a 4-3 defense. The former first-round pick hasn't had much of an impact in Year 2, but more playing time could help him acclimate to Hafley's defense.
It might have been nice to get an earlier draft pick, but the bigger win is that the Packers will have far more financial flexibility during the next couple of offseasons as they continue to load up with a wide-open Super Bowl window.
Mike Williams to the Steelers
Steelers receive: WR Mike Williams
Jets receive: 2025 fifth-round pick
Pittsburgh Steelers: C+
The Pittsburgh Steelers are quietly sitting at the top of the AFC North with a 6-2 record, and now they're hoping another veteran receiver can keep the offense moving.
Mike Williams didn't move the needle much for the New York Jets this year. He's averaged just 0.77 yards per route run on the year, and drawn criticism for Aaron Rodgers for running an incorrect route on an interception a few weeks ago.
However, the upside is that Williams is still getting back to full form from a torn ACL last season. The Steelers are banking on continued improvement from the former Chargers and Jets wideout, giving up a Day 3 pick to do so.
New York Jets: B-
New York Jets: B-Williams was going to be expendable once the Jets traded for Davante Adams.
The combination of Adams and Garrett Wilson, along with an emerging rookie in Malachi Corley, has given the Jets an exciting group of wide receivers. Williams was quickly becoming the odd man out on the roster, leading to Joe Douglas fielding trade offers ahead of the deadline.
Given the minimal impact he had in New York, getting a fifth-round pick in return for Williams feels like a solid move.
Marson Lattimore to the Commanders
Commanders receive: CB Marshon Lattimore, 2025 fifth-round pick
Saints receive: 2025 third-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick, 2025 sixth-round pick
Washington Commanders: A
Washington Commanders: AThe Washington Commanders are all in on contending in 2024.
That's a miraculous turnaround for a team that went just 4-13 last season. Head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels have completely revived the Commanders franchise, with general manager Adam Peters being aggressive at the deadline to make a blockbuster move for Marshon Lattimore.
The Commanders' defense sorely needed a No. 1 cornerback, which is exactly what Lattimore brings to the table. He's allowed just one touchdown in coverage during the last three seasons and is allowing a passer rating of just 74.4 when targeted in 2024, according to PFF.
Multiple draft picks, including a third, is a lot to give up for any player, but the Commanders had two of them in 2025, and they get a player who can help them potentially win the NFC East in Daniels' first year as an NFL quarterback.
New Orleans Saints: A-
New Orleans Saints: A-After losing eight straight games and firing head coach Dennis Allen, the New Orleans Saints seem to be embracing the rebuild.
It's not like the Saints have a choice, however. The long-term outlook for this team is bleak due to the lack of cap space and young building blocks. Trading away Lattimore gives the Saints a nice couple of draft picks for players who will be on cheap rookie deals for the coming years as they work themselves out of salary cap hell.
That said, this move does make things even harder financially for the Saints going forward. Trading Lattimore means a dead cap hit of over $31 million in 2025, which will worsen their situation as they try to get under the cap next offseason.
Jonathan Mingo to the Cowboys
Cowboys receive: WR Jonathan Mingo, 2025 seventh-round pick
Panthers receive: 2025 fourth-round pick
Dallas Cowboys: C
Dallas Cowboys: CLeave it to Jerry Jones to wait until after Dak Prescott is injured to go after another receiver.
To be fair, the Dallas Cowboys have a real need for the position. CeeDee Lamb is a superstar, but Jalen Tolbert and Brandin Cooks haven't been the needle movers that the Cowboys were hoping for. Making a trade for a receiver wasn't a bad move, but the player that the Cowboys gave up three rounds of value to acquire is questionable.
Jonathan Mingo checked a lot of physical and athletic boxes as the 40th-overall pick in 2023. Unfortunately, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound wideout has struggled to be a productive receiver at the NFL level. Some of that has to do with playing for the Carolina Panthers, but Mingo has seriously lacked efficiency at the position.
Mingo has yet to record his first NFL touchdown, catching 55 passes for 539 yards. Per TruMedia, he has just 0.74 yards per route run in his career, which ranks 177th out of 186 receivers with at least 50 targets since the start of the 2023 season.
Even though Mingo fills a need, that's a lot of value to give up for a receiver that's struggled so much at the NFL level. The good news is that he still has a couple more years on his rookie deal, so at least the Cowboys are getting a cheap developmental project to learn from a star like Lamb.
Carolina Panthers: A
Carolina Panthers: AInstead of trying to hold onto Mingo, the Panthers took what they could get, and that turned out to be way more than expected.
Mingo quickly became expendable thanks to the rapid ascension of rookie receiver Xavier Legette. Along with a larger-than-life personality, Legette has hauled in 26 catches for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns have come in the last four games, with Legette becoming more and more of a focal point in Carolina's offense.
For a team that needs to capitalize as much as possible on draft assets, moving up three rounds in the draft to move on from a disappointing draft pick feels like an absolute win.
Khalil Herbert to the Bengals
Bengals receive: RB Khalil Herbert
Bears receive: 2025 seventh-round pick
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Cincinnati Bengals: B+The Cincinnati Bengals have been playing with a thin backfield for the last few weeks. This trade at least gives them another worthwhile depth piece behind Chase Brown.
Zack Moss had been the team's starting running back, but a neck injury will sideline him indefinitely, likely meaning a trip to injured reserve and potentially the end of his season. Brown has been having a solid season, but the Bengals haven't had another running back capable of establishing themselves behind him.
Khalil Herbert could quickly become that reliable RB2 in Cincinnati. He took a backseat this season in Chicago, but he has averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 3.17 yards after contact in his career. He's still 26 years old with less than 400 career carries, so he should have plenty left in the tank.
Getting a solid RB2 for a seventh-round pick feels like a nice win for a team trying to turn their season around and sneak into the playoffs.
Chicago Bears: B-
Chicago Bears: B-It didn't look like the Bears were planning on making Herbert a part of their plans this season, so getting something out of him makes sense.
Herbert was buried on the depth chart behind D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson and is in the final year of his rookie deal. That situation made it unlikely that Herbert would return in free agency next offseason, even if he had found some success playing in Chicago.
A seventh-round pick isn't very exciting, and an injury or two in the backfield could have the Bears wishing they had kept Herbert. Still, offloading a player who likely wanted out for some kind of draft capital is a necessary move.
Za'Darius Smith to the Lions
Lions receive: EDGE Za'Darius Smith, 2026 seventh-round pick
Browns receive: 2025 fifth-round pick, 2026 sixth-round pick
Detroit Lions: A+
Detroit Lions: A+If there's one thing the Detroit Lions were missing, it was another pass rusher.
Although they've continued to win, the Lions have sorely missed Aidan Hutchinson up front after his season-ending leg injury. Despite only playing in five of their eight games, Hutchinson still leads the team with 45 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. The next closest is Alim McNeil with 27 pressures.
Even at 32 years old, Za'Darius Smith continues to be a productive pass rusher. Along with a solid five sacks on the year, Smith has also produced 27 pressures and 20 quarterback hurries.
Za'Darius Smith per @PFF
— Eazy (@SpeakEZsports_) November 5, 2024
5 Sacks (17th)
20 Hurries (19th)
73.6 Overall Grade (31st)
71.1 Pass Rush Grade (33rd)
65.9 Run Defense Grade (59th)
27 Total Pressures (23rd)pic.twitter.com/armTgOh8xZ
Smith is no stranger to the NFC North, having already played for the Packers and Vikings. He should play with some extra motivation when facing his old teams and didn't take too much in draft capital for the Lions to acquire him.
This might be the move to solidify the Lions as the Super Bowl favorite in either conference.
Cleveland Browns: B
Cleveland Browns: BThe Cleveland Browns are embracing being sellers at the trade deadline, which is the right move for a team in such a tough situation like theirs.
Along with a last-place 2-7 record in the AFC North, the Browns will be financially stuck with Deshaun Watson in the coming years. Rather than continuing to try to compete with Jameis Winston, the Browns appear willing to move on from key pieces like Smith to begin rebuilding their roster for the eventual post-Watson era.
Moving up in the 2026 draft and getting a fifth-round pick seems like solid value for this move. The only slight knock on the move is that the Browns have to eat $16 million in dead cap for 2025, but that might have been inevitable anyway if the Browns wanted to get out of Smith's contract next offseason.
Baron Browning to the Cardinals
Cardinals receive: EDGE Baron Browning
Broncos receive: 2025 sixth-round pick
Arizona Cardinals: C+
Arizona Cardinals: C+The Arizona Cardinals needed some more pass-rushing depth to make a run at the NFC West title. While Baron Browning isn't a massive name, he's a respectable enough depth piece for a late Day 3 pick.
Browning has had a down year but has been a productive pass rusher in the past. Per PFF, he generated 73 pressures during the 2022 and 2023 seasons while generating 30 combined defensive stops.
Only one player on the Cardinals has 20 or more pressures this season, so it's clear how badly this team needed some extra pass rushers. It's a short-term play with Browning hitting free agency, but he can provide some juice to a team on the verge of being a playoff-caliber team.
Denver Broncos: B-
Denver Broncos: B-While the Cardinals needed some pass-rushing help, the Denver Broncos have had plenty of options to choose from this season.
In fact, the Broncos extended one of their ascending stars in conjunction with the Browning trade, giving Jonathon Cooper a four-year, $60 million extension. Cooper has 5.5 sacks and 32 pressures this season, pairing well with Zach Allen, who has four sacks and 44 pressures.
The depth at the position made Browning expendable, so Denver getting something out of him before he hit free agency is a solid win, even if it's a late draft pick.
Cam Robinson to the Vikings
Vikings receive: OT Cam Robinson, 2026 conditional seventh-round pick
Jaguars receive: 2026 conditional fifth-round pick
Minnesota Vikings: A-
Minnesota Vikings: A-The Minnesota Vikings are one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season, and they seem determined to keep that going despite injuries.
Star OT Christian Darrisaw suffered a season-ending knee injury on Thursday Night Football in the loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The move left the Vikings in bad shape on the offensive line, so instead of settling with what they had, they tried to be aggressive by acquiring Cam Robinson.
Robinson started for the Jacksonville Jaguars and has been a respectable veteran for years in Jacksonville. Since being drafted in 2017, he's started in 91 career games. According to Pro Football Focus, he's only allowed more than five sacks in one season, while he's drastically decreased the number of pressures he's allowed through the years.
It's not like Robinson is a star left tackle, but given the Vikings' other options, they didn't have to give up much to acquire a starter to fill in for Darrisaw.
Jacksonville Jaguars: B
Jacksonville Jaguars: BIt seems like the Jacksonville Jaguars were getting ready to move on from Robinson, but they might have wanted to get a bit more value in a trade that ships away such an experienced left tackle.
The situation with Robinson appeared to sour last week after Walker Little earned the start over him. There were even reports that Robinson refused to play against the Green Bay Packers because of that decision, leading to him being traded.
Robinson is in the final year of a three-year extension and was likely to explore options outside of Jacksonville in free agency. Moving up a couple of rounds in 2026 is solid value, but you have to wonder if another team would have been willing to give up a bit more.
Diontae Johnson to the Ravens
Ravens receive: WR Diontae Johnson, 2025 sixth-round pick
Panthers receive: 2025 fifth-round pick
Baltimore Ravens: A+
It doesn't matter how much the Ravens get out of Diontae Johnson. The fact that they got a veteran receiver for almost nothing is a massive win.
A third-round pick in 2019, Johnson has been a productive receiver throughout his career, amassing more than 4,700 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns in his NFL career. While he's never been a superstar at the position, he's at least been a consistent second or third option for an offense.
This is a good example of the kind of route running that Johnson brings to create separation.
Diontae Johnson still playing with his gloves at the snap before proceeding to torch the entire defense.
— JetPack Galileo (@JetPackGalileo) September 25, 2024
This guy rocks. Shook 39 twice.
Watch him widen his stem to get the defender moving outside. Open doors for yourself. pic.twitter.com/kaMOsgkpVi
That's pretty much what the Ravens needed on their offense. They already had a superstar quarterback and running back, too many tight ends to handle, and a versatile weapon in Zay Flowers. Even Rashon Bateman has flashed as a solid No. 2 option in Baltimore's offense.
Johnson's arrival allows Flowers to focus more on playing in the slot, which fits his size and skill set. It also gives Jackson another established option on the outside and lets offensive coordinator Todd Monken be even more creative with his passing concepts.
Considering the Ravens just moved back a handful of spots on Day 3 of this year's draft, this was a slam dunk of a trade.
Carolina Panthers: C-
It's not a bad move for the Panthers to move on from Johnson. He's going to be a free agent after this season, and rookie wideout Xavier Legette is starting to assert himself as the No. 1 weapon in Carolina.
However, the value that the Panthers got out of the trade makes no sense.
According to the Tankathon, the Panthers would move up 18 spots if the season ended before Week 9. That is roughly the draft value equivalent of the 215th pick in the draft.
There were other receiver-needy teams that could have given the Panthers more for a veteran receiver like Johnson. This whole process feels a bit rushed, and the Panthers were unable to maximize their value on a somewhat valuable trade asset.
Josh Uche to the Chiefs
Chiefs receive: LB Josh Uche
Patriots receive: 2026 sixth-round pick
Kansas City Chiefs: B-
Kansas City Chiefs: B-There was a time when Josh Uche looked like a future star. While he's not much of a needle-mover nowadays, he'll give the Chiefs some pass-rushing depth for the rest of the season.
Back in 2022, Uche was a premiere pass rusher for the New England Patriots, racking up 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. However, that season hasn't been recreated before or since. He hasn't had more than three sacks in any other season.
In addition to struggling to get to the quarterback, Uche has had a missed tackle rate of more than 20 percent in three of his five seasons.
Chiefs fans shouldn't expect Uche to have a significant impact in Kansas City, but for a 2026 late-round pick, it's a worthwhile flier on a player who once took the league by storm just a couple of seasons ago.
New England Patriots: B
New England Patriots: BAs the Patriots try to figure out who is worth keeping around for a rebuild, a move like this one makes a lot of sense.
Uche was on a one-year deal and will become a free agent after this season. It's clear that he wasn't going to be the kind of pass rusher to be a worthy successor to someone like Matthew Judon, so instead of getting nothing for Uche, the Patriots decided to get some kind of asset.
It's not the most exciting draft pick, but a 2026 sixth-round pick is better than nothing.
Ernest Jones to the Seahawks
Seahawks receive: LB Ernest Jones
Titans receive: LB Jerome Baker, 2025 fourth-round pick
Seattle Seahawks: A-
Seattle Seahawks: A-Head coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive-minded coach, and he needed some more firepower at linebacker to put additional pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Along with ranking 17th in pass rush win rate, the Seahawks rank 14th in defensive DVOA. They have multiple promising young pass rushers, including the likes of Derick Hall and Boye Mafe, but lacked a blitzer who can generate pressure from depth.
That's Ernest Jones' specialty. He's had a slow season with Tennessee, but in 2023, he generated 4.5 sacks and 37 pressures for the Los Angeles Rams. He had a quiet stint in Tennessee but still flashed with blitzes like this one against Chicago's center.
Ernest Jones vs. the Center LMAO pic.twitter.com/QA2XhsScz1
— Carter Donnick (@CDonnick1) September 8, 2024
Macdonald is still working to turn Seattle's defense around, but he thrived with aggressive off-ball linebackers during his time as the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator. Look for him to maximize Jones' talent in Seattle.
Tennessee Titans: A
Tennessee Titans: AYou have to give the Titans credit for refusing to sit on an asset just because they recently made a move for him.
The Titans acquired Jones in August for a late-round pick swap. Seeing how the season was going, general manager Ron Carthon decided not to sit on a sunk cost and even obtained a higher draft pick than he had originally given up to acquire the veteran linebacker.
In addition, the Titans get a fill-in veteran linebacker in Jerome Baker. It's a shrewd move for a team in a rebuilding phase and one that helps Tennessee get something out of a player it just traded for a couple of months ago.
DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs
Chiefs receive: WR DeAndre Hopkins
Titans receive: 2025 conditional fifth-round pick
Kansas City Chiefs: B+
For a team with an undefeated record, it's incredible that the Kansas City Chiefs had such a major need at wide receiver. While there are still issues at the position, adding an established veteran like DeAndre Hopkins gives the passing game a much-needed boost.
Hopkins was held to a quiet two-catch, 29-yard performance in his Chiefs' debut, but there's still hope for the 32-year-old star. The Chiefs don't have another established star receiver right now due to all of the injuries at the position, and Hopkins should continue seeing an increased workload going forward.
In fact, Hopkins only played 14 passing snaps against the Las Vegas Raiders, so his 2.07 yards per route run is actually fairly efficient. Expect an expanded role going forward, and he should end up playing a key role in their playoff run this season, making a Day 2 draft pick a worthwhile investment to keep the Super Bowl streak going.
Tennessee Titans: A-
The Titans are embracing a tank, and they deserve some credit for that.
As bad as things were, the Titans decided not to waste any more time and started selling off assets that wouldn't have been around anyway by the time they were relevant again.
Hopkins had been struggling mightily this season before being traded, and this trade allows him to get a fresh start with a superstar quarterback while the Titans get draft capital to kickstart their rebuild.
Davante Adams to The Jets
Jets receive: WR Davante Adams
Raiders receive: 2025 conditional third-round pick
New York Jets: C+
If this was fantasy football or Madden, the Adams trade would be such an exciting move. However, in real life, this move doesn't make much sense for a team with more glaring issues.
Adams will have a legitimate impact on the passing game; there's no denying that. However, the bigger issue of poor offensive line play remains unaddressed. According to TruMedia, the Jets rank 31st with just 0.84 yards generated before contact per rushing attempt. That's a glaring indictment on the offensive line, which has also allowed Rodgers to be sacked 16 times through six games.
Tyron Smith looks unrecognizable after an All-Pro career, but instead of addressing the offensive line, the Jets took a big swing on Rodgers' favorite weapon from his time with the Green Bay Packers.
It will be an exciting move, but it may not be enough to turn the Jets' season around and put them in real contention in the AFC East.
Even if things go well enough for the Jets to make the playoffs, what does an Adams trade mean for the team in 2025 and beyond? This team is so over-leveraged for the 2024 season that things could get really bleak in the near future.
Las Vegas Raiders: D+
Las Vegas Raiders: D+Why did the Las Vegas Raiders wait so long to make an Adams trade, only to rush the process and come away with a mid-round draft pick?
The Raiders likely could have received a much more lucrative deal had they traded Adams this offseason. Instead, they waited for the situation to reach a boiling point, with Adams' hamstring injury forcing him to sit out. That led to him formally requesting a trade halfway through the year.
Once Adams requested a trade, the Raiders leaked that they wanted a second-round pick plus some additional assets for the superstar receiver. They also had plenty of time to field calls from other teams while Adams sat out, with the trade deadline still a few weeks away on Nov. 5.
Instead, the trade felt rushed, and the Raiders settled on a third-round pick that could become a second. However, according to ESPN, that would require Adams to have an All-Pro season or for the Jets to make the AFC Championship.
Neither of those seems like a likely outcome at this moment. It was time for the Raiders and Adams to move on, but to get so little for their top outgoing asset is a tough look for a team that needs to rebuild their roster.
Amari Cooper to The Bills
Bills receive: WR Amari Cooper, 2025 sixth-round pick
Browns receive: 2025 third-round pick, 2026 seventh-round pick
Buffalo Bills: A+
Buffalo Bills: A+If there was a team that lacked an impact player as an outside receiver, it was the Buffalo Bills.
Earlier this week, we talked about Cooper's fit in Buffalo following the trade. In addition to giving him a fresh start with a playoff contender, the trade also gives Josh Allen a weapon on the outside capable of winning with route running and separation.
Meanwhile, Cooper's arrival allows players like Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and even Dalton Kincaid to be more versatile chess pieces. Being able to move around the field, kick into the slot, or even have Kincaid play more as an in-line tight end will open up things for Buffalo's offense.
The Bills already had the third-best offense by DVOA, but this move answers a lot of questions about the sustainability of this passing game.
As long as he's healthy, Cooper's presence should vault Allen into the MVP conversation and make the Bills a legitimate Super Bowl contender out of the AFC.
Cleveland Browns: A-
It's time for the Cleveland Browns to start planning for the future, even if it means sacrificing the present.
Deshaun Watson remains the starting quarterback despite his poor play. His dead cap hit numbers during the next few seasons make parting ways with him incredibly difficult, but at some point, the Browns need to cut the cord and start embracing a full-on rebuild.
Trading Cooper away is the start of that rebuild. He's a veteran receiver who is nearing the end of his prime, so the fact that the Browns got a third-round pick should be seen as a major win.
The only issue with the trade is that the offense will be even more unwatchable in the short term, with players like Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore having to take on the bulk of the workload while the Browns try to figure out a path back to relevance in the coming years.
Cam Akers to The Vikings
Vikings receive: RB Cam Akers, 2026 conditional seventh-round pick
Texans receive: 2026 conditional sixth-round pick
Minnesota Vikings: C+
It's not often that you see a team trade for the same player twice in their career. It's even more rare to see that team trade for the same player twice in the span of 12 months.
The Minnesota Vikings swapped conditional late-round picks in a draft 1.5 years away to acquire a backup running back. It's not something that will move the needle, but it might have been a necessary move given the health of Aaron Jones.
Jones appeared to have suffered a hip injury during the team's win in London a couple of weeks ago, but the injury has since been reclassified as a hamstring issue. The Vikings running back hopes to return to practice on Thursday as he continues to heal after the bye week.
Despite Jones' hopes to practice, the fact that the Vikings traded for a running back suggests that this might be a more long-term issue than the team lets on. If Jones misses time, Ty Chandler will likely assume starting duties while Akers is sprinkled into the RB rotation.
It's not an exciting move, but it might be a necessary one depending on Jones' health.
Houston Texans: C+
Getting any kind of asset for Akers must feel like a win for the Houston Texans.
It's been a rough year for Akers, who has had to take on a larger role at times while Joe Mixon dealt with an ankle injury. Despite that increased workload, Akers averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, one of the league's worst rates.
The advanced metrics aren't much better. According to Next Gen Stats, Akers had the fourth-worst rushing yards over expectation per attempt, averaging -0.93 RYOE per carry.
With Mixon and Dameon Pierce healthy, Akers wasn't going to see much of the field anyway. Getting some kind of asset, however negligible, was a worthwhile move for the Texans.
Roy Robertson-Harris to The Seahawks
Seahawks receive: DL Roy Robertson-Harris
Jaguars receive: 2026 sixth-round pick
Seattle Seahawks: B
It's not the flashiest move, but the Seattle Seahawks acquiring another veteran up front should help out their defense.
Despite hiring a defensive-minded head coach in Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks have struggled with consistency on that side of the ball. They're just 18th in defensive DVOA, and they've produced just four takeaways through six games.
A lack of depth up front has been an issue, particularly with first-round rookie Byron Murphy II dealing with a hamstring injury. The good news is that Murphy is back at practice, and Roy Robertson-Harris is coming in to give the front some much-needed depth.
On top of being a decent run defender, Robertson-Harris still has some real pass-rushing juice at 31 years old. According to Pro Football Focus, he's already generated 11 pressures this season.
The clip below is an example of what Robertson-Harris (#95) can bring as a run defender.
This was an impressive stop in the run game by newly acquired Seahawk Roy Robertson-Harris pic.twitter.com/Z74AIktNOK
— Parker (@ParkerLewes) October 14, 2024
Robertson-Harris won't be a breakout star on Seattle's defense, but he's enough of a needle-mover to be worth trading a future sixth-round pick.
Jacksonville Jaguars: B+
The Jacksonville Jaguars don't get a B+ grade for getting rid of a solid player. They get the grade because it seems like they're finally starting to embrace the tank.
Jacksonville is a disaster right now. They have the worst defensive DVOA against the run and pass despite having one of the league's top pass rushers in Josh Hines-Allen. On top of that, the offense is a mess with Trevor Lawrence under center, and head coach Doug Pederson is firmly on the hot seat with the potential to be fired before the season even ends.
At 1-5, the Jaguars are facing another one-win team in the New England Patriots for their second of back-to-back games in London. If they can't pull off a win, then there's a good chance that it's Pederson's last game as their head coach.
