Christian McCaffrey already played his first game with the San Francisco 49ers. Robert Quinn and James Robinson joined their new teams this week. More players will be on the move by Tuesday.
The NFL trade deadline is far more exciting than it used to be.
“I think really it depends on the team’s philosophical approach and I think there’s teams that have done it a certain way that have had an incredible amount of success for a really long period of time,” Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said. “Then there’s some different approaches where you want to take advantage of being in those windows if you will call it that way.”
The Rams are known for being aggressive. General manager Les Snead’s “Bleep them picks” philosophy helped Los Angeles win the Super Bowl last season. The Rams acquired star pass rusher Von Miller from Denver one day before the trade deadline after dealing a slew of draft picks in trades for quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Sony Michel before the season.
“It takes a great owner that gives you the willingness to not only be able to make some of those decisions, but also giving you the freedom to fail because not every single decision we’ve made has been perfect,” McVay said. “I don’t think we’re afraid to admit that either, but you try to learn from it and then you continue to shoot your shot and that’s what we’re going to do, that’s what we’ll always do, and it’s how we like to live.”
Aiming to compete with the Rams (3-3) in the NFC West, the 49ers (3-4) traded picks in the 2023 second, third and fourth rounds and a 2024 fifth-rounder to Carolina for McCaffrey.
The undefeated Philadelphia Eagles (6-0) sent a fourth-round pick to Chicago for Quinn, the three-time Pro Bowl defensive end. Quinn has one sack this season after breaking Hall of Famer Richard Dent’s franchise record with 18 1/2 sacks last year.
The New York Jets (5-2) quickly moved to get Robinson from Jacksonville after losing rookie running back Breece Hall to a season-ending knee injury. The Jets gave the Jaguars a conditional late-round draft pick for Robinson.
Browns running back Kareem Hunt, Rams running back Cam Akers, Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool, Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks and Broncos edge rusher Bradley Chubb are among the players who might end up on new teams before Tuesday’s deadline at 4 p.m. EDT.
Denver is 2-5 so a loss to Jacksonville in London on Sunday could impact general manager George Paton’s approach.
“We’re going to do what’s best for the team,” Paton said when asked about being sellers.
A couple weeks before Miller was traded last October, the Eagles sent three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz to Arizona for a rookie cornerback and a fifth-round pick. The Patriots traded five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore to the Panthers for a 2023 sixth-round pick.
In 2020, defensive ends Carlos Dunlap and Yannick Ngakoue, defensive back Desmond King and linebackers Kwon Alexander and Avery Williamson were among the notable players traded ahead of the deadline.
Star cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Marcus Peters and wideouts Emmanuel Sanders and Mohamed Sanu were dealt before the 2019 deadline.
A flurry of trades before the deadline wasn’t always common in the NFL. There were occasional blockbuster moves such as Herschel Walker and Eric Dickerson getting traded, but it was mostly boring.
Now, there’s more parity and the playoffs have been expanded to 14 teams so more teams are still in playoff contention and looking to bolster their chances.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
Ed Zurga
1. Buffalo Bills (5-1, No. 1 last week)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0, No. 2)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, No. 3)
If there were any lingering doubts about the Chiefs’ offense after the Tyreek Hill trade, they were put to rest Sunday. Kansas City averaged 9.1 yards per play in a 44-23 win over the 49ers, as Patrick Mahomes threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns against one of the league’s best defenses. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling combined for 235 receiving yards, tight end Travis Kelce caught six passes for 98 yards and Mecole Hardman became the first wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to have at least two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in the same game. The defense also flexed its muscle, sacking Jimmy Garoppolo five times and pressuring him into two interceptions, including one in the end zone near the end of the first half. Mahomes is still one of the toughest quarterbacks to defend in the league, and his new weapons have held up their end of the bargain.
Ed Zurga
1. Buffalo Bills (5-1, No. 1 last week)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0, No. 2)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2, No. 3)
If there were any lingering doubts about the Chiefs’ offense after the Tyreek Hill trade, they were put to rest Sunday. Kansas City averaged 9.1 yards per play in a 44-23 win over the 49ers, as Patrick Mahomes threw for 423 yards and three touchdowns against one of the league’s best defenses. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling combined for 235 receiving yards, tight end Travis Kelce caught six passes for 98 yards and Mecole Hardman became the first wide receiver in the Super Bowl era to have at least two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in the same game. The defense also flexed its muscle, sacking Jimmy Garoppolo five times and pressuring him into two interceptions, including one in the end zone near the end of the first half. Mahomes is still one of the toughest quarterbacks to defend in the league, and his new weapons have held up their end of the bargain.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
Tony Gutierrez
4. New York Giants (6-1, No. 5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (5-1, No. 4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-3, No. 7)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3, No. 10)
8. Dallas Cowboys (5-2, No. 8)
This felt like the week the Giants were going to come back down to earth. The Jaguars entered Sunday as the betting favorites, but New York once again found a way to win, this time stopping wide receiver Christian Kirk at the 1-yard line as time expired to secure a 23-17 victory. Daniel Jones has become one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the league (yes, really), passing for 202 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 107 yards and a score as Jacksonville focused on limiting star running back Saquon Barkley, who finally got going in the fourth quarter. Rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has made an immediate impact with his consistent pressure on the quarterback, and unheralded contributors like veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau are making big plays. Injuries to rookie right tackle Evan Neal (knee), tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye) and left guard Ben Bredeson (knee) will test the Giants’ depth, but there’s no question coach Brian Daboll has built a tough team that’s proving even tougher to beat.
In the AFC North, the race between the Ravens and Bengals is heating up. While Baltimore exorcised some demons by finally holding on to a fourth-quarter lead in a 23-20 win over Cleveland, Cincinnati showed off the offensive firepower that led it to a surprising Super Bowl berth in a 35-17 win over Atlanta. Joe Burrow threw for 481 yards and three touchdowns, including his NFL-best 12th passing touchdown of 50 or more yards since 2021. The Bengals nearly had three 100-yard receivers in Tyler Boyd (155), Ja’Marr Chase (130) and Tee Higgins (93), reminding everyone that this remains one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Tony Gutierrez
4. New York Giants (6-1, No. 5)
5. Minnesota Vikings (5-1, No. 4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-3, No. 7)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3, No. 10)
8. Dallas Cowboys (5-2, No. 8)
This felt like the week the Giants were going to come back down to earth. The Jaguars entered Sunday as the betting favorites, but New York once again found a way to win, this time stopping wide receiver Christian Kirk at the 1-yard line as time expired to secure a 23-17 victory. Daniel Jones has become one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the league (yes, really), passing for 202 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 107 yards and a score as Jacksonville focused on limiting star running back Saquon Barkley, who finally got going in the fourth quarter. Rookie edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has made an immediate impact with his consistent pressure on the quarterback, and unheralded contributors like veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau are making big plays. Injuries to rookie right tackle Evan Neal (knee), tight end Daniel Bellinger (eye) and left guard Ben Bredeson (knee) will test the Giants’ depth, but there’s no question coach Brian Daboll has built a tough team that’s proving even tougher to beat.
In the AFC North, the race between the Ravens and Bengals is heating up. While Baltimore exorcised some demons by finally holding on to a fourth-quarter lead in a 23-20 win over Cleveland, Cincinnati showed off the offensive firepower that led it to a surprising Super Bowl berth in a 35-17 win over Atlanta. Joe Burrow threw for 481 yards and three touchdowns, including his NFL-best 12th passing touchdown of 50 or more yards since 2021. The Bengals nearly had three 100-yard receivers in Tyler Boyd (155), Ja’Marr Chase (130) and Tee Higgins (93), reminding everyone that this remains one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
David Zalubowski
9. Miami Dolphins (4-3, No. 17)
10. New York Jets (5-2, No. 11)
11. Los Angeles Rams (3-3, No. 12)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4, No. 9)
13. Tennessee Titans (4-2, No. 16)
From top to bottom, the AFC East has a pretty strong case to be the best division in football. The return of Tua Tagovailoa from a concussion helped the Dolphins secure a 16-10 win over the Steelers on Sunday night, but the third-year quarterback looked rusty, throwing four near-interceptions that Pittsburgh defenders dropped. It took three picks from the Miami secondary against rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett to salt this one away, as the Dolphins’ offense produced just 127 yards in the second half. A healthy Tagovailoa with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill remains a legitimate threat, but outside of an incredible fourth quarter against the Ravens way back in Week 2, it has been disappointing.
The Jets haven’t been dominant, but they’ve avoided turnovers and played sound defense on the way to four straight wins, the latest 16-9 over the Broncos and backup quarterback Brett Rypien. Sunday’s victory came at a cost, however, as star rookie running back Breece Hall (torn ACL) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (triceps) were both lost to season-ending injuries. Hall had been the engine of the Jets’ turnaround, averaging 5.8 yards per carry while being a reliable receiver. Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson has put up modest numbers since his return from a knee injury, but he’ll have to carry more of the load to keep the offense ahead of schedule. There’s more pressure on Wilson and a young defense led by rookie cornerback Sauce Garnder to keep the Jets in the playoff race.
There wasn’t a more shocking result on Sunday, and maybe this entire season, than the Buccaneers’ 21-3 loss to the Panthers. Carolina had just fired coach Matt Rhule and traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers, yet third-string quarterback P.J. Walker outplayed Tom Brady in an improbable win. Brady now has a losing record through his first seven games of a season for the first time since 2002 — his first full season as an NFL starter and the only healthy season of his career in which he did not make the playoffs. His decision to come back from a brief retirement looks more bewildering by the week. There’s still plenty of talent on this team, but it hasn’t been enough to prevent four losses in five games. Now safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is out with a concussion, further depleting a banged-up secondary. A quick turnaround to play the Ravens on Thursday night couldn’t come at a worse time.
David Zalubowski
9. Miami Dolphins (4-3, No. 17)
10. New York Jets (5-2, No. 11)
11. Los Angeles Rams (3-3, No. 12)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4, No. 9)
13. Tennessee Titans (4-2, No. 16)
From top to bottom, the AFC East has a pretty strong case to be the best division in football. The return of Tua Tagovailoa from a concussion helped the Dolphins secure a 16-10 win over the Steelers on Sunday night, but the third-year quarterback looked rusty, throwing four near-interceptions that Pittsburgh defenders dropped. It took three picks from the Miami secondary against rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett to salt this one away, as the Dolphins’ offense produced just 127 yards in the second half. A healthy Tagovailoa with Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill remains a legitimate threat, but outside of an incredible fourth quarter against the Ravens way back in Week 2, it has been disappointing.
The Jets haven’t been dominant, but they’ve avoided turnovers and played sound defense on the way to four straight wins, the latest 16-9 over the Broncos and backup quarterback Brett Rypien. Sunday’s victory came at a cost, however, as star rookie running back Breece Hall (torn ACL) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (triceps) were both lost to season-ending injuries. Hall had been the engine of the Jets’ turnaround, averaging 5.8 yards per carry while being a reliable receiver. Second-year quarterback Zach Wilson has put up modest numbers since his return from a knee injury, but he’ll have to carry more of the load to keep the offense ahead of schedule. There’s more pressure on Wilson and a young defense led by rookie cornerback Sauce Garnder to keep the Jets in the playoff race.
There wasn’t a more shocking result on Sunday, and maybe this entire season, than the Buccaneers’ 21-3 loss to the Panthers. Carolina had just fired coach Matt Rhule and traded star running back Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers, yet third-string quarterback P.J. Walker outplayed Tom Brady in an improbable win. Brady now has a losing record through his first seven games of a season for the first time since 2002 — his first full season as an NFL starter and the only healthy season of his career in which he did not make the playoffs. His decision to come back from a brief retirement looks more bewildering by the week. There’s still plenty of talent on this team, but it hasn’t been enough to prevent four losses in five games. Now safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is out with a concussion, further depleting a banged-up secondary. A quick turnaround to play the Ravens on Thursday night couldn’t come at a worse time.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
Kyusung Gong
14. Seattle Seahawks (4-3, No. 19)
15. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3, No. 6)
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-4, No. 23)
17. San Francisco 49ers (3-4, No. 14)
18. Green Bay Packers (3-4, No. 13)
19. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4, No. 24)
20. Washington Commanders (3-4, No. 29)
21. Chicago Bears (3-4, No. 30)
22. New England Patriots (3-4, No. 15)
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5, No. 21)
Through the first seven weeks, the best rookie class in the league belongs to Seattle. Running back Kenneth Walker broke out with 168 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 37-23 win over the Chargers, just the latest standout performance from a 2022 draft pick on this roster. Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas have been rock-solid offensive tackles. Cornerback Tariq Woolen is tied for the league lead with four interceptions. Cornerback Coby Bryant and edge rusher Boye Mafe have been valuable contributors. Journeyman quarterback Geno Smith has been a revelation, perhaps earning himself a long-term deal with the franchise. Seattle is in first place in the vaunted NFC West, and it doesn’t feel like a fluke.
Is it time to panic in Green Bay? With a 23-21 defeat to Washington, the Packers have lost three straight for the first time since 2018, and the offense looks completely broken. Running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who were meant to be the engine of this offense as a group of young receivers got up to speed, combined for just 38 yards on 12 carries against one of the league’s worst run defenses. Aaron Rodgers looks more like a 38-year-old quarterback on his last legs than a two-time reigning Most Valuable Player; he didn’t attempt a pass more than 10 yards in the air until the final two minutes of the first half Sunday. The defense isn’t living up to high expectations either, allowing backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke to throw two touchdown passes and giving up 166 rushing yards. There’s still plenty of time for coach Matt LaFleur and Rodgers to turn this season around, but it’s going to take some heavy lifting.
Kyusung Gong
14. Seattle Seahawks (4-3, No. 19)
15. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3, No. 6)
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-4, No. 23)
17. San Francisco 49ers (3-4, No. 14)
18. Green Bay Packers (3-4, No. 13)
19. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4, No. 24)
20. Washington Commanders (3-4, No. 29)
21. Chicago Bears (3-4, No. 30)
22. New England Patriots (3-4, No. 15)
23. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5, No. 21)
Through the first seven weeks, the best rookie class in the league belongs to Seattle. Running back Kenneth Walker broke out with 168 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s 37-23 win over the Chargers, just the latest standout performance from a 2022 draft pick on this roster. Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas have been rock-solid offensive tackles. Cornerback Tariq Woolen is tied for the league lead with four interceptions. Cornerback Coby Bryant and edge rusher Boye Mafe have been valuable contributors. Journeyman quarterback Geno Smith has been a revelation, perhaps earning himself a long-term deal with the franchise. Seattle is in first place in the vaunted NFC West, and it doesn’t feel like a fluke.
Is it time to panic in Green Bay? With a 23-21 defeat to Washington, the Packers have lost three straight for the first time since 2018, and the offense looks completely broken. Running backs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, who were meant to be the engine of this offense as a group of young receivers got up to speed, combined for just 38 yards on 12 carries against one of the league’s worst run defenses. Aaron Rodgers looks more like a 38-year-old quarterback on his last legs than a two-time reigning Most Valuable Player; he didn’t attempt a pass more than 10 yards in the air until the final two minutes of the first half Sunday. The defense isn’t living up to high expectations either, allowing backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke to throw two touchdown passes and giving up 166 rushing yards. There’s still plenty of time for coach Matt LaFleur and Rodgers to turn this season around, but it’s going to take some heavy lifting.
Eagles acquire 3-time Pro Bowl DE Quinn from Bears
Nick Wass
24. Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1, No. 20)
25. Atlanta Falcons (3-4, No. 18)
26. Cleveland Browns (2-5, No. 25)
27. Denver Broncos (2-5, No. 22)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5, No. 26)
29. Carolina Panthers (2-5, No. 32)
30. New Orleans Saints (2-5, No. 27)
31. Detroit Lions (1-5, No. 28)
32. Houston Texans (1-4-1, No. 31)
After a frustrating loss to the Ravens in which an officiating controversy might have cost them a chance to tie the game, the Browns are left to wonder where exactly this season — and maybe this entire franchise — is heading. They traded a boatload of draft picks, including three first-rounders, for quarterback Deshaun Watson and gave him $230 million guaranteed despite the former Texans star being accused of sexual assault and misconduct by more than two dozen women. When he does eventually return to the field after his 11-game suspension, the Browns might be completely out of playoff contention. Team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam made it clear where they stood on the accusations against Watson when they made the deal, choosing to look the other way in favor of Watson’s star power. No contrived statements or charitable donations can wash away the callousness of that move, and now they’re left with a losing team. Things might only get worse from here, both on and off the field.
Nick Wass
24. Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1, No. 20)
25. Atlanta Falcons (3-4, No. 18)
26. Cleveland Browns (2-5, No. 25)
27. Denver Broncos (2-5, No. 22)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5, No. 26)
29. Carolina Panthers (2-5, No. 32)
30. New Orleans Saints (2-5, No. 27)
31. Detroit Lions (1-5, No. 28)
32. Houston Texans (1-4-1, No. 31)
After a frustrating loss to the Ravens in which an officiating controversy might have cost them a chance to tie the game, the Browns are left to wonder where exactly this season — and maybe this entire franchise — is heading. They traded a boatload of draft picks, including three first-rounders, for quarterback Deshaun Watson and gave him $230 million guaranteed despite the former Texans star being accused of sexual assault and misconduct by more than two dozen women. When he does eventually return to the field after his 11-game suspension, the Browns might be completely out of playoff contention. Team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam made it clear where they stood on the accusations against Watson when they made the deal, choosing to look the other way in favor of Watson’s star power. No contrived statements or charitable donations can wash away the callousness of that move, and now they’re left with a losing team. Things might only get worse from here, both on and off the field.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) warms up before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Jed Jacobsohn
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) warms up before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
