The National Football League (NFL) trade deadline came and went, and as usual, the league’s top contenders have strengthened their ships as they head for the playoffs. Some of the NFL’s top stars found new homes with many trades centered around the wide receiver market, as teams try to keep up with the league’s high-powered offenses.
The biggest deal of deadline day came between the Washington Commanders and New Orleans Saints. The division-leading Commanders added a star to their inept secondary with cornerback Marshon Lattimore now heading to Washington D.C. With young corners Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste struggling to catch on to the pro-level, Lattimore adds a pro bowl level talent on the boundary to lock down opposing receivers. With defensive mastermind in head coach Dan Quinn running the show, this trade could mark a turning point in the season for Washington.
The wide receiver trade market was firing on all cylinders this past month, as multiple star receivers found themselves in new colors. It all kicked off with former Las Vegas Raider Davante Adams packing his bags and heading to New York to join forces with former teammate quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the Jets. In return, the Raiders received a conditional third-rounder, which could become a second-rounder if Adams plays well. The new Jets pairing finally took off against the Houston Texans on Halloween. Sitting at 3-6, there’s a ton of ground to make up, but their statement win against the Texans could spark a beginning to run for a Wild Card spot.
Later that day, the Buffalo Bills made a splash of their own, trading a third-round and seventh-round pick for former Cleveland Browns receiver Amari Cooper. The 30-year-old struggled to get much going in Cleveland, and while his start in Buffalo has been similar, the trio of Cooper, Khalil Shakir, and Keon Coleman should be dangerous come playoff time.
Teams clearly weren’t done trading for wide receivers, as the Kansas City Chiefs struck a deal with the Titans for DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans received a conditional fifth-rounder that could become a fourth. After a quiet first week in red and white, Hopkins had himself a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night, where he went for 71 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches. An already undefeated Chiefs team may have made themselves unbeatable with this trade.
Other notable deals included AFC North foes each making a couple of deals with the Baltimore Ravens acquiring wide receiver Diontae Johnson and cornerback Tre’Davious White, and the Pittsburgh Steelers adding wide receiver Mike Williams and pass rusher Preston Smith. The pass rush market was also active. The Detroit Lions replaced their injured star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson by trading for outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, the Arizona Cardinals look ready to make a run for the division after adding rush-focused linebacker Baron Browning, and the Chiefs made headlines again by adding pass rusher Josh Uche from the Patriots earlier in the week.
While there weren’t as many stars making trade headlines as fans had hoped, the action of this deadline should prove to be beneficial for this year’s contenders, as they look to make a run at the Lombardi Trophy.
