NFL Trade Reckoning: Hindsight Grades for 2025 Moves

The 2025 NFL trade deadline stands as the busiest in a quarter-century, with 27 players changing teams in a single season. As the 2026 deadline approaches on November 10, a new evaluation of last year's transactions reveals a mixed bag of outcomes. The review assigns grades to both sides of each deal, separating clear winners from costly missteps based on performance and roster impact over the past year.

The cornerbacks market produced the most divergent results. The New York Jets sent Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for Adonai Mitchell, a 2026 first-round pick used on Kenyon Sadiq, and a 2027 first-round selection. The Jets received an A for the move, while the Colts earned an F. Gardner recorded the worst statistical performance of his career in 17 games with Indianapolis. The trade served as a primary factor in the Colts firing general manager Chris Ballard during the season. With Indianapolis trending downward, the 2027 pick the Jets retained is expected to move higher in the draft order.

Defensive line moves yielded more balanced results. The Dallas Cowboys acquired Quinnen Williams from the Jets, earning a B, while the Jets received a C. Williams has recorded six tackles for loss in six games, the most by a Cowboys defensive lineman since 2013. He also signed a three-year, $105.9 million contract extension. However, the Jets released Mazi Smith and have limited the playing time of D'Angelo Ponds, who was selected in the second round. The Jets' remaining 2027 first-round pick now carries significant value due to the trade.

Smaller transactions often produced better returns for both clubs. Pittsburgh earned an A for adding safety Kyle Dugger from New England for a seventh-round pick. The Patriots received a C after buying out the remainder of Dugger's four-year extension for $5.4 million in cash and roster bonuses. Dugger has contributed two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, a sack, and a safety in nine games, filling the void left by DeShon Elliott's injury.

The Philadelphia Eagles received an A for trading a third-round pick to Miami for pass rusher Jaelan Phillips, while the Dolphins earned an A-. Phillips played at a high level and helped the Eagles reach the playoffs. He subsequently signed a four-year, $120 million deal with the Panthers. This move should generate a third-round compensatory pick for Philadelphia in 2027, effectively offsetting their original loss.

Quarterback and offensive line trades showed moderate success. The Cincinnati Bengals received a B- and the Cleveland Browns a B for the Joe Flacco trade. Flacco threw for 470 yards in one game and helped the team score at least 33 points in three consecutive outings, but went 1-5 as the starter due to defensive struggles. The Los Angeles Chargers earned a C- and the New Orleans Saints a C+ for the Trevor Penning trade. Penning currently holds the worst pass-blocking grade among 74 qualified guards.

The Seattle Seahawks received a B+ for acquiring Rashid Shaheed, who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including one during a playoff run that ended in a Super Bowl victory. Shaheed signed a three-year, $51 million extension. Coach Mike Macdonald stated on Monday that early indications regarding Shaheed's knee injury from Sunday's win over the Chiefs are positive. The Saints received a B for the fourth- and fifth-round picks they acquired. Other deals included Roger McCreary moving to the Rams for a B on both sides, Jakobi Meyers joining Jacksonville for a B+ and B, and Keion White going to San Francisco for a B+ and B. White is on pace for a career-best season with 3.5 sacks through seven weeks.