Commanders adds star CB Marshon Lattimore:
Washington Commanders get: CB Marshon Lattimore, 2025 5th-round pick
New Orleans Saints get: 2025 3rd-round pick, 2025 4th-round pick, 2025 6th-round pick
Grade for Commanders: A-
Grade for Saints: A-
The Saints were going to be sellers at the deadline at 2-7. After firing HC Dennis Allen, the Saints get a plethora of picks for someone that wasn’t in their timeline and finally signaling a long overdue rebuild. As for the Commanders, they are 7-2 with Rookie QB Jayden Daniels being the favorite for ROTY. They are a contender for the first time in a while. Adding Lattimore when Secondary is easily their biggest weakness is one of the best moves they could have made. Lattimore not only serves as a very good #1 corner, but also as a potential mentor for some of the Commanders’ younger corners. This serves as not only the biggest trade on deadline day, but also a much needed statement on both sides.
Jonathan Mingo gets a fresh start with America’s Team:
Dallas Cowboys get: WR Jonathan Mingo, 2025 7th round pick
Carolina Panthers get: 2025 4th round pick
Grade for the Cowboys: D+
Grade for the Panthers: A
Jonathan Mingo, a 2nd year wide receiver out of Ole Miss, hasn’t worked in the NFL so far. The Panthers drafted him trying to give 2023 1st overall pick Bryce Young a weapon, it didn’t necessarily pan out that way. Despite being in a fairly poor receiving room, Mingo was a backup in Carolina and rarely got touches in game. Safe to say that the Cowboys overpaid massively for a receiver that hasn’t made any sort of impact for his teams so far. Not to mention, when you look at other trades for different wide receivers, the teams give up much less for receivers that have proven that they are good. Maybe Mingo finds form in Dallas, but there is a very good chance it doesn’t justify what the Cowboys gave up. As for the Panthers, they knew that Mingo wasn’t in their future plans; flipping him for a late day 2 pick is a fleece considering that he hasn’t shown to be worth anything close to that price.
Detroit adds depth at edge:
Detroit Lions get: Defensive end Za’Darius Smith, 2026 seventh-round pick.
Cleveland Browns get: 2025 5th-round pick, 2026 6th-round pick.
Grade for Lions: A-
Grade for Cleveland: B
After star DE Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg against The Cowboys, The Lions knew that they needed reinforcements at the position. Smith adds depth, experience, and leadership in a position Detroit desperately needed. Smith isn’t the permanent solution for The Lions, he is a band-aid. However, all the Lions needed was a band-aid at that position. As for Cleveland, they are waving the white flag on the season and are trying to rebuild now. Trading their veterans is a key part of that. However, they only got two day 3 picks and still owe Smith a majority of his contract.
Bengals add Depth to the RB room:
Cincinnati Bengals get: RB Khalil Herbert
Chicago Bears get: 2025 7th-round pick
Grade for Bengals: B+
Grade for Bears: B
After going from starting in 2023 to 3rd-string this season, Herbert wasn’t needed by The Bears anymore. The Bears free up a roster spot and obtain a pick in the process. The Bengals on the other hand, need depth and quality at the RB position. With RB Zack Moss being out indefinitely with a neck injury, RB Chase Brown was handed 100% of the carries in their latest game. While Brown is a solid back, he isn’t a bell-cow nor should his body have to take the toll for all the touches he may have gotten if the Bengals didn’t do this trade. Herbert provides an extra body in the room and has decent upside.
Steelers add a new WR:
Pittsburgh Steelers get: WR Mike Williams
New York Jets get: 2025 5th-round pick
Grade for Steelers: B-
Grade for Jets: B+
As soon as Jets QB Aaron Rodgers threw Mike Williams under the bus for the MNF loss against the Bills, that pretty much meant the end for Williams in New York. The Jets got a 5th for someone that they didn’t want and only signed for a 1-year deal. Not to mention, the rest of Williams’ contract will be paid by the Steelers. The Steelers get a proven WR that can immediately serve as a WR2 behind George Pickens. However, Williams has not performed up to standard, actually, he’s been bad this season. Williams only has .8 yards per route run this season, and he has looked like he lost a step coming off of an ACL tear last season. However, that doesn’t mean there is upside in this deal. Williams is a good 50-50 ball threat and can produce in the red zone, and with Pickens drawing more attention in the passing game, Williams can offer a physical advantage over pretty much any corner in the league.
Steelers add depth to edge:
Pittsburgh Steelers get: DE Preston Smith
Green Bay Packers get: 2025 7th-round pick (Compensatory)
Grade for Steelers: B+
Grade for Packers: B-
The Steelers get a solid edge in Smith in an attempt to contend in the AFC this season. Preston Smith offers a veteran presence and fresh legs when Edge TJ Watt or Edge Alex Highsmith come out the game. Smith wanted out of Green Bay after they switched to a 4-3 defensive scheme, and his playing time started to decrease week after week. For the Packers, at 6-3, they shouldn’t be sellers at the deadline. However, they get rid of a fairly big contract and continue to get younger by trading Smith. Also, they at least get something for someone they were likely going to cut in the off-season if they weren’t going to trade him.
Ravens take a swing on a veteran CB:
Baltimore Ravens get: CB Tre’Davious White, 2027 7th-round pick
Los Angeles Rams get: 2026 7th-round pick.
Grade for Ravens: B
Grade for Rams: B+
White, a former all-pro corner, has had the second half of his career riddled with injuries. He signed for the Rams last off-season, and he hasn’t been good. The Rams pretty much swap picks with the Ravens, open up a roster spot, and give more reps to young players. The Ravens get a veteran presence that can mentor some of the younger corners and another body in the DB room. Who knows? Maybe he still can be somewhat of that all-pro corner he was in 2019.
49ers add to their DT room:
San Francisco 49ers get: DT Khalil Davis
Houston Texans get: 2026 7th-round pick
Grade for 49ers: B
Grade for Texans: B
At pretty much the last minute, the 49ers and Texans made a trade. The 49ers needed depth at Defensive Tackle as they lost pro bowler Javon Hargrave for the season with a triceps injury early in the season. Davis isn’t a superstar by any means, but he provides depth at DT. Being in the final year of his rookie contract, the Texans didn’t need Davis and probably weren’t going to re-sign him in the off-season. So they might as well get some value for him.
