The NFL trade deadline has passed, and certain teams made moves to improve while others did nothing.
Big names were on the move, including star CB Sauce Gardner and DL Quinnen Williams.
The Jets traded two star defensive players.
WRs Jakobi Meyers and Rashiid Shaheed were on the move.
It was a busy day in the NFL, but certain teams did not improve, despite numerous reports that they were trying to be active.
Certain teams were winners while others were losers in the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
NFL Trade Deadline 2025: Winners & Losers
Certain playoff teams improved during the NFL trade deadline, while others in playoff contention or with playoff aspirations did not.
NFL Trade Deadline 2025: Winners
Playoff teams improved their roster before the NFL trade deadline passed.
Indianapolis Colts: Acquired CB Sauce Gardner
The first-place team in the AFC just got a lot better before the NFL trade deadline. The Indianapolis Colts are 7-2 and acquired one of the best CBs in the NFL.
They did pay a price for Gardner. Indianapolis traded two first-round picks for Gardner.
This Colts team is looking to make noise in the playoffs, and they needed to boost their secondary.
Gardner will help boost the Colts’ defense and make them an even bigger threat in the AFC.
When facing QBs like Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson, the Colts knew they needed to bolster their secondary.
This was a great acquisition by the Colts.
Seattle Seahawks: Acquired WR Rashiid Shaheed
The Seattle Seahawks have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL. Sam Darnold has been excellent for Seattle.
Seattle just got better by acquiring WR Rashiid Shaheed. Shaheed will be a perfect fit with Seattle.
Since 2023, Shaheed has a 94.5 PFF grade on targets of 20+ yards. Sam Darnold has a 97.4 passing grade on 20+ yard passes since 2024.
Sam Darnold + Rashid Shaheed = FIREWORKS 🎆 https://t.co/VfVe4wfSvl pic.twitter.com/d1P6o1PAWS
— PFF (@PFF) November 4, 2025
Shaheed is a perfect fit for Seattle and will complement Jaxson Smith-Njigba well.
Shaheed will take on the WR2 role when he takes the field for the Seahawks in week 10. It could take him a couple of weeks to get accustomed to a new team and playbook, but he will have a major impact on the Seahawks.
Philadelphia Eagles: Acquired Pass Rusher Jaelan Phillips
The rich got richer before the NFL trade deadline. The Eagles are in first place in the NFC and just bolstered their defense by acquiring pass rusher Jaelan Phillips from the Miami Dolphins.
Philly has not been as good on defense this season as they were last year. They needed to make a move, and of course, General Manager Howie Roseman came through.
The NFC is stacked with several good teams that can make noise in the playoffs.
Philadelphia knew it needed a little help on defense and boosted its pass rush.
This was just another great move by one of the best-run organizations in the NFL.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Acquired WR Jakobi Meyers
The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping to maintain their playoff position. They are seventh in the AFC.
WR Travis Hunter is on the IR, and Brian Thomas Jr may not suit up in week 10.
Jacksonville boosted its WR room by acquiring Meyers. They did so by trading a fourth and sixth-round pick. Not a hefty price for a solid wideout.
The Jags hope to make the playoffs and boosted their offense in an attempt to keep their playoff spot.
NFL Trade Deadline 2025: Losers
Certain teams fighting to make the playoffs and needed help did nothing at the trade deadline to improve.
Other teams made questionable moves, while a certain squad seems to be blowing things up.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Did Not Add A WR
For all the talk from reporters and insiders about the Steelers trying to acquire a WR, they did not do so at the NFL trade deadline.
The Jags acquired WR Jakobi Meyers for a fourth and sixth-round pick. The Steelers, for some reason, did not pull the trigger for Meyers.
Pittsburgh desperately needed to bring in a WR2 behind Metcalf, but failed to do so.
This was a massive failure by General Manager Omar Khan.
Mike Tomlin was asked at his Tuesday press conference before the deadline passed if he anticipates buying more and doing some shopping before the 4 PM trade deadline. He responded, “We’ll see what happens. (Smiles) I like shopping.”
Does Mike Tomlin anticipate buying more and doing some shopping before the 4 p.m. trade deadline?
"We'll see what happens. [smiles] I like shopping."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) November 4, 2025
Tomlin apparently meant he likes window shopping, as the Steelers did not do anything on Tuesday. If he meant bringing in WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, then Tomlin must have meant thrift shopping.
Buffalo Bills: Did Not Add A WR
Another team that needed a WR, but failed to acquire one, is the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills have Super Bowl aspirations, but have not been able to defeat the Chiefs in the postseason.
Acquiring a WR would have boosted their offense. Keon Coleman has not proved he is a WR1, and the Bills lack a WR threat.
Josh Allen and James Cook are both dynamic, but Buffalo needed to give Allen a true WR weapon, which the Bills lack.
Dallas Cowboys: Acquired Quinnen Williams, But Let Micah Parsons Go
The Dallas Cowboys decided to trade star pass rusher Micah Parsons before the season began. Their defense has been atrocious this season.
Dallas is currently 3-5-1, and it will be a very uphill battle to make the playoffs. This did not stop them from acquiring pass rusher Quinnen Williams.
If the Cowboys were in a better position to make the playoffs, this would have been a good move.
However, one has to question the move because why let a player like Parsons go if they are going to bring in another pass rusher?
Williams may help improve the defense, but it feels to little too late this season.
Dallas gave up a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick.
Maybe this move will look better next season, but for this season, it is a questionable move.
New York Jets: Blowing Things Up
The Jets seem to be blowing things up. They traded away CB Sauce Gardner and pass rusher Quinnen Williams.
They acquired a ton of picks for both trades, so this may wind up being a good move. However, for now, it looks like the Jets are lost.
If the Jets use these picks on players who become very good, then these moves were good. For now, it looks bad that the Jets traded away two star defensive players.
