Now that the NFL trade deadline is over, it’s time to recap all the trades that went down. We saw it all; from Amari Cooper being a first round pick to Ha Ha Clinton Dix being traded a fourth round pick.

Jaguars acquire RB Carlos Hyde from Browns

The first trade to go down was on October 19th, the Jaguars acquired running back Carlos Hyde from the Browns in exchange for a 5th round pick. With Cleveland, Hyde rushed for 114 yards and 5 touchdowns while averaging 3.4 yards per carry. In his first game with the Jaguars, Hyde rushed 6 times for just 11 yards, which is good for 1.8 yards per carry. The main purpose of this deal is to have an insurance policy for Leonard Fournette, who remains sideline with a hamstring injury. TJ Yeldon has been serviceable for them with 680 total scrimmage yards and 5 combined touchdowns, but he’s more of a change of pace running back than a workhorse. The two will now likely split the carries until Fournette comes back. The only rough part about this deal is that Hyde is on a multi-year contract making around $5 million, so it’s likely Jacksonville will cut him loose this offseason. He’s a solid acquisition for them in the mean time as they try to stay in contention in the AFC South, while Cleveland is able to shed that contract and get more touches for rookie running back Nick Chubb, who has impressed thus far and looks like their long-term option. JAX Grade: B CLE Grade: B-   

Cowboys acquire WR Amari Cooper from Raiders

The biggest trade to go down was easily the trade involving the Cowboys acquiring Amari Cooper from the Raiders. Not only did the Cowboys acquire a former Pro Bowl receiver in Cooper, but they also gave up a substantial price: a 2019 first round pick. Cooper, 24, had 1000 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons, but he had just 680 yards last season. This season, he has just 280 yards (46 yards per game), and one touchdown. The one positive is that he is actually catching a career high percentage of the passes thrown to him, at 68.8%. It’s no secret that the Cowboys were in desperate need of a reciever, as their current leading reciever is Cole Beasley and they have one of the worst passing attacks in the league. Cooper gives Dak Prescott the deep threat that he needed, and defenses may not be able to stack the box in anticipation of the run like they used to be able. Cooper is also just 24 years old, so he’s just hitting his prime. He is making close to nothing next year, and will make $13 million on his fifth year option. Think about it this way; Dallas essential just drafted Cooper with their first round pick. They were likely going to have to draft a reciever with that pick anyway, so even though it is a hefty price for an inconsistent reciever, I understand why they did it. As for Oakland, they were ready to move on from Cooper, and got solid compensation on a first round pick. Considering what other receivers at this trade deadline have been traded for, the Raiders got a great return in this trade. DAL Grade: B OAK Grade: B+

Saints acquire CB Eli Apple from the Giants

In attempt to boost their weak secondary, the Saints acquired corner Eli Apple from the Giants in exchange for a 2019 fourth round pick and 2020 seventh round pick. Apple, 23, has had an interesting career up to this point after being select with the tenth pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. He had a solid rookie year, then caused trouble on and off the field his sophomore year, and was even called a “cancer” by teammate Landon Collins. He’s rebounded this year. Although he hasn’t made many big plays, he’s been serviceable with a 61 grade by Pro Football Focus, which ranks him as an above average corner. He also is still on his rookie contract, and will be under that contract through 2019. New Orleans had less that $2 million in cap space and are without a first or third round pick, so this was the best they could do. Apple struggled in his first game with the Saints on Sunday Night Football against the Vikings this past weekend, but he should turn into a solid #2 corner opposite of Marshon Lattimore for the Saints. For the Giants, it was time for both sides to move on, and this was the best return they could get considering all the trouble he caused last season. NO Grade: B+ NYG Grade: B

Lions acquire DT Damon Harrison from Giants

After trading away Apple, the Giants continued their mini fire sale by trading away defensive tackle Damon Harrison to the Lions the next day in exchange for a fifth round pick. Harrison, 29, has the reputation as one of the league’s best run stuffers and is having another strong season. He is ranked as the 4th best defensive interior lineman with a 90.9 grade from Pro Football Focus, which is considered “elite”. He should help boost the league’s second worst rush defense; Detroit’s only weakness. The Giants should have definitely gotten better value for one of the league’s best defensive tackles, but Harrison currently in the middle of a hefty contract that will pay him $16 million for the next two seasons. Run stuffing defensive lineman aren’t as valued as they used to be, so I’m not sure how much better they could have done in a deal for Harrison.                    DET Grade: A- NYG Grade: B-

 

Texans acquire WR Demaryius Thomas from Broncos

The first trade to happen on the actual “trade deadline day” came forth with the Texans acquiring four time Pro Bowl reciever Demaryius Thomas from the Broncos in exchange for a 4th round pick. The teams will also swap 7th round picks. Thomas, 30, has 36 catches for 402 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. He’ll immediately fill in for reciever Will Fuller, who tore his ACL in last week’s matchup against the Dolphins. Not only will he fill in, but he’ll be an upgrade. Where as Fuller’s main talent is his speed and big play ability, Thomas is more of a complete reciever and an even better Red Zone threat. He’ll be making $14 million next year and is still owed $4.5 million this year, but now is not the time not be cheap with Deshaun Watson on a rookie contract and the Texans two games ahead in the division. Denver also is a winner in this trade, as they are able to shed Thomas’ contract, give more playing time to emerging star reciever Courtland Sutton, and get a 4th round pick out of this deal. This is one of the very rare win-win trades. HOU Grade: A- DEN Grade: A-

Eagles acquire WR Golden Tate from Lions

At around the same time of the Thomas trade, the Eagles made a splash for a reciever of their own, acquiring Golden Tate from the Lions in exchange for 3rd round pick. Tate, 30, has 44 catches for 517 yards and three touchdowns. He works best when working in the slot and his run after the catch ability is arguably the league’s best. This move will let Nelson Agholor move back to outside, where can go back to being the big play threat he’s meant to be. With a very deep recieving corps with Tate, Agholor, Alshon Jeffrey, and even tight end Zach Ertz, the Eagles now have one of the prolific passing attacks in the league. This will also likely bring back the aggresiveness that this offense had last year (just watch every play from last year’s Super Bowl) and that they currently lack this year. It’s a little strange to see the Lions trade off one of their best players after seeming to be gearing for a playoff run after acquiring Harrison, but the traded away from a position of strgth. They’ll be fine with Marvin jones and Kenny Golladay as the two big recieveing threats, and it’s clear that they didn’t want to re sing Tate this offseason. They probably still shouldn’t have traded him, but I totally understand the rationale in getting something for him instead of letting him walk. PHI Grade: A- DET Grade: B

Ravens acquire RB Ty Montgomery from Packers

In what was more of a dump off than anything, the Packers traded running back Ty Montgomery to the Ravens in exchange for a 2020 7th round pick. Montgomery, 25, ignored his coaches’ instructions and tried to return a kick off last week, and prompted to fumble it. The main issue? It came with two minutes to do, down by two, with AARON RODGERS ready to lead a game winning drive. This trade seems to be more of a punsihment than anything. The Ravens, on the other hand, may be getting an absolute steal. Montgomery is very versatile out of the back field, and is averaging 4 yards per carry this season. Baltimore hasn’t gotten much production from their running backs this season, so Montgomery makes their offense much more exciting and unpredictable with his ability to do it all. BAL Grade: A+ GB Grade: C-

Rams acquire DE Dante Fowler Jr. from Jaguars

To boost their pass rush, the Rams acquired defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. in exchange for a 2019 3rd round pick and a 2020 5th round pick. Fowler, 24, is coming off of an impressive 8 sack season last season as a rotational player, and has just two sacks this season in very limited playoff time. His lack of playing time isn’t a knack of him, as he has all the talent in the world, but rather an inditement of how impressive Jacksonville’s defensive line is. The Rams are top ten in sacks, but almost all of that production is going from the interior with Aaron Donald accounting for almost half of their sacks. Fowler gives the Rams an elite edge rusher, and makes them a very complete team. It’s almost a given that the Jags weren’t going to resign him in free agency, so this is also really good composition for someone who wasn’t starting for them. LAR Grade: A- JAX Grade: A

Redskins acquire S Ha Ha Clinton Dix from Packers

Right before the 4:00 pm ET deadline, the Redskins and Packers made a very surprising trade, as star safety Ha Ha Clinton Dix was sent to Washington in exchange for a 4th round pick. Clinton Dix, 25, will be a free agent at the end of the year. He’s been spectacular so far this season, with three interceptions and an 83.5 grade that ranks him as the 5th best safety in the NFL. The Redskins already had a solid secondary that was able to force a good chunk of turnovers, and now they have a lethal safety combo with Clinton Dix and DJ Swearinger. This may be a wave of the white flag by the Packers, as they just traded away their best defensive player. It was hard to see them contending with Clinton Dix, and it’s even harder to see without him. Washington gets a Pro Bowl level player at a cheap price, and could even resign him if it’s a good fit. Green Bay, on the other hand, just threw away any chance of contending this season in the super competitive NFC. WSH Grade: A+ GB Grade: D