NFL Trade Deadline Winners and Losers: Miami Dolphins Go All-In on a Super Bowl, Green Bay Packers Flop Yet Again
We just witnessed one of the busiest trade deadlines in NFL history.
The Miami Dolphins upgraded both sides of the ball by landing Bradley Chubb and Jeff Wilson Jr., the Chicago Bears were surprisingly aggressive by trading away Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn while adding Chase Claypool, and the Green Bay Packers did… well… nothing.
Whew. Let’s all take a breath and hand out some winners and losers of a hectic NFL trade deadline.
Winner: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL as long as Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, but their defense lacks playmakers. Well, not anymore.
Miami landed star pass-rusher Bradley Chubb at the deadline for Chase Edmonds, a first-round pick in 2023, and a fourth-round pick in 2024. Chubb will immediately boost a mediocre pass rush that has managed just 15 sacks on the season. The Dolphins also upgraded their running back room by ditching Edmonds and landing Jeff Wilson Jr. from the San Francisco 49ers.
Don’t sleep on Miami as an AFC contender.
Winner: Chicago Bears
Da Bears!
Chicago was both a buyer and a seller at the trade deadline, as the team flipped Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn for three total 2023 draft picks and sent a second-rounder to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Chase Claypool. So, not only did the Bears load up on draft assets to kickstart their rebuild, but they also gave Justin Fields a young, talented No. 1 wide receiver to help him progress as a passer.
Wait, does this new regime in Chicago actually know what it’s doing?
Loser: Green Bay Packers
Hello? Anyone awake over there?
The Packers are still in desperate need of wide receiver help around Aaron Rodgers. It’s arguably the biggest reason why the Packers are 3-5 through eight games, but there’s clearly no sense of urgency from this front office. Green Bay didn’t make a single move at the deadline, and it might miss the playoffs because of it.
Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars
Well, this one sure came out of nowhere.
No one expected the Jacksonville Jaguars to be buyers at the trade deadline, but they shocked everyone by sending a conditional fourth- and fifth-rounder to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Calvin Ridley.
Ridley is suspended for the rest of the season, but the 27-year-old is still one of the most talented wide receivers in the league. Trevor Lawrence will have a wealth of talent around him next year and moving forward.
Loser: Indianapolis Colts
Remember when the Indianapolis Colts were the preseason favorites to win the AFC South after “upgrading” at quarterback this offseason? Good times, good times.
Fast forward a few months later — the Colts are 3-4-1, Matt Ryan has been benched, offensive coordinator Marcus Brady has been fired, and Indy has turned into a seller. Right before the trade deadline buzzer, the Colts traded Nyheim Hines to the Buffalo Bills for Zack Moss and a conditional sixth-round pick.
So, they gave away their pass-catching running back for a traditional runner in Moss who is now their third-best RB behind Jonathan Taylor and Deon Jackson. What’s going on in Indy?
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