AnalysisTrading is a part of life, whether it’s trading food (especially at lunch here at TBS), trading cards, or trading stocks. Professional athletes even get traded, which is one aspect that makes sports so exciting. Now that the NFL trade deadline has come and gone The Neersyde takes a look at some of the biggest trades across the league, and which teams ultimately made their cases as contenders or pretenders as we head into the second half of the season.  

One of the most surprising trades this year was the Oakland Raiders sending Khalil Mack, one of the best defensive players of his time, to the Chicago Bears. Mack has recorded at least ten sacks in each of the the last four years, and he was also the first ever player to be selected as an All-Pro at two positions. In return, the Raiders received two first-round picks in 2019 and 2020, a third rounder in 2020, and a sixth rounder in 2019. This was a very good trade for both teams because both are getting something they need. And Mack is not the only one.

Another blockbuster deal orchestrated by the Raiders was the trade of star wideout Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys. Starting Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said that Cooper will not be the magic pill, but will be helpful to the team’s offense, and aid Dallas in taking the next step to get to the playoffs. The Raiders, in return, received a first-round draft pick for 2019.  

The Cleveland Browns traded running back Carlos Hyde to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a fifth-round pick. This is a questionable trade for the Browns because Hyde was their best offensive player. The thing that makes this trade worse for the Browns is that their offense has struggled at times this year. On the other hand, the Jaguars got very lucky. They have been lacking a run game ever since star running back Leonard Fournette injured his hamstring at the beginning of the season. The Jaguars offense has not been the same since he went down, and Hyde should breathe some new life into the team.

Speaking of the Browns, Josh Gordon, the Browns’ troubled wide receiver was also traded to The New England Patriots for a 2019 fifth-round pick. Gordon was a top-five receiver before all of his suspensions for drug-related offenses. This is a really good trade for the Pats because Gordon is a fantastic player. Many people are saying he reminds them of past star Randy Moss. This makes sense for the Browns, too, because Gordon’s abuses have made him cancer to that franchise. So far in New England, though, he’s playing by the rules and has 26 receptions for 477 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Another great trade for both sides was the New York Giants trading cornerback Eli Apple to the Saints for a fourth-round pick. Apple was a sideline and locker room menace for the New York Giants. The team is trying to rebuild, and they need to get as many picks as possible. The Saints, currently the NFC’s #1 seed, need help in their secondary (the cornerback and safeties). Eli Apple is a solid corner that should pair up well with cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

In addition to the Eli Apple trade, the Saints also traded a third round pick to the New York Jets for QB Teddy Bridgewater. The Jets have made it clear by this trade that their quarterback of the future is Sam Darnold. This trade was great for the Jets because they don’t need a high-profile QB like Bridgwater as a back-up, and a third round pick is valuable. The Saints wanted Bridgewater because they need a replacement for future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. Bridgewater is coming off a torn ACL, but he has proved he can win.

Another NFC team fighting for a playoff spot is the Detroit Lions. They traded a fourth-round pick to the Giants trade for defensive tackle Damon Harrison Although the Lions are playoff contenders, they rank twenty-fifth in run defense. Harrison has always been a top tier run stopper, and should bolster the Lions’ front seven. With this trade, the Giants now have three fourth-round picks in the 2019 draft. This gives the Giants the ability to pick up some quality players and kickstart their rebuilding process.

The Lions also traded one of their top wide receivers, 2014 pro-bowl wide receiver, Golden Tate, to the Philadelphia Eagles. Tate was traded for a third-round pick in next year’s draft. Tate has performed well for the Lions after many years of playing for the Seattle Seahawks. Throughout his career, he has amassed almost 7,000 receiving yards. Golden Tate will be an asset to the Eagles who have been lacking a very good YAC (yards after catch) receiver.

One of the most surprising trades was that of 2016 Pro Bowl safety Ha’sean Clinton Dix (otherwise known as Ha Ha Clinton Dix) who was sent to the Washington Redskins by the Green Bay Packers. IN return, the Packers will receive a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft. Clinton Dix  has done well with the Packers, recording 14 career interceptions. He will strengthen the Redskins defense supporting strong safety DJ Swearinger. They are now a dream duo on this improved Redskins’ defense.

One of the largest and latest trades before the deadline was for wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. A high ranked wide receiver with over 9,000 career yards, Thomas was traded by the Denver Broncos to the Houston Texans for a 2019 fourth and seventh-round draft pick. He will take the load off of Texans’ five Pro Bowl receiver Deandre Hopkins who is feeling the heat since they recently lost fellow wideout Will Fuller V to an ACL tear. Trading Thomas means the Broncos are putting up the white flag,  meaning they are trying to rebuild and cultivate a new team culture.

The Baltimore Ravens tried to shore up their offense as well as they made a grab for Green Bay’s Ty Montgomery since they needed running back depth. The Packers picked up a seventh-round pick in 2020 for him. Montgomery is an excellent all-around player, both in terms of rushing and catching the ball out of the backfield, who can bring a lot to the Ravens’ offense. This was a very good trade for the Ravens.

The Rams, also contending for a Super Bowl this year as their record is an impressive 9-1,  traded for outside linebacker Dante Fowler, Jr. from the Jaguars in exchange for a third and fifth-round pick. This is a great trade for both teams. Fowler has not been as good as he could have been in Jacksonville because his playing time was taken by other players. The Rams have three Pro Bowl defensive tackles but needed help in the linebacker position, so this was a sensible trade.  

It seems the teams that won the trade deadline were the Raiders, Saints, and Patriots. The Raiders got the three first rounders in 2019 and two in 2020 in what is clearly a rebuilding phase for the franchise. The Saints also came out on top because they set themselves up for January football by strengthening their defense and getting a backup quarterback. Lastly, the Patriots added a deep threat receiver to an already loaded offensive set and should also be in this year’s Super Bowl conversation (what else is new?).