After an unpredictable and chaotic trade deadline, the NFL was flipped on its head. Let us look at my personal favorite moves and what it means for each team involved in the trade deadline.
1. **Trevor Penning to the Chargers**
Minutes before the deadline was closed, a deal was finalized in which the Saints sent former first round pick Trevor Penning to the Chargers in exchange for a 2027 sixth round pick. Although this trade may have not been as flashy in comparison to other trades, this can still be valuable for both teams.
Chargers Grade: B
Although this trade isn’t a game changer for either team, the Chargers need any help they can get on the offensive line. The team has seen five offensive lineman injured this season, with the biggest names being star tackle duo Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. Guard Mekhi Becton has also been dealing with injuries this season as well. That’s where Penning comes in. The Saints former 2022 first rounder didn’t shine much in Louisiana, but has had a decent season for them so far, only allowing three sacks with four penalties on 358 snaps. With how deteriorated the Chargers line is it makes sense to get any help possible, and when you can get a 6’7 325 26 year old for as cheap as a future sixth rounder, it is hard to harp on them for this decision.
Saints Grade: B
There’s nothing much to say about this trade for the Saints when looking at its impact on the team. Although this hurts, because it seems to be a first round bust three years down the road. When looking at Penning’s production for New Oreleans, the dump off was probably beneficial for the team. Penning was clearly not thriving under the Saints regime and it was time for a mutual parting of ways for both parties. Getting a sixth round pick in return is just a bonus, more than it is an exchange for a player that meant little to this franchise. Overall, this trade wasn’t especially bad or especially good for the Saints, but it made perfect sense for both sides\_ which is why I grade the Saints a B.
1. **Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks**
One of the most complete teams in the NFL in the Seattle Seahawks made a move on the final day of the deadline, trading for the heavily shopped Saints wide out Rashid Shaheed for a 2026 conditional fourth round and a 2026 fifth round pick. This is another trade that may not shake the league up, but still has great potential to be a great trade for both sides
Seahawks Grade: B+
Let’s start with Seattle. Seattle has been one of the best teams in football so far this season, and the wide out room has stood out especially. Third year receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba has looked like the best receiver in football, and the Hawks 2025 fifth round draft pick Tory Horton has been balling out too, proving to be a really solid receiver two in his rookie year. So why trade for Shaheed? Even with all the ways that Smith-Njigba and Horton light up secondaries, there is one thing they lack that Shaheed brings to the table,which is true speed. Shaheed is known as one of the fastest receivers in the NFL, and was the Saints consistent deep threat throughout the past few seasons, racking up 12 touchdowns and 2,055 yards on 138 receptions over his four years with the Saints. Every season in New Orleans his longest touchdown passes were all above 50 yards, proving that he is a true deep threat. Now adding Shaheed to the Seattle offense, this receiver room will be open at just about any part of the field, making it a challenge for any NFL defense to stop this team. Rasheed’s ability to take the top off the defense so well is worth a few late round picks, and is why the Hawks get a B+ on this trade.
Saints Grade: B-
At least the Saints are self aware and know that they aren’t going anywhere this season as they have decided to sell off their second best receiver and maybe offensive player. Yet, I still think that as this team looks to rebuild and get back to the same success they saw in the Drew Brees era, it would have been nice to have Shaheed make an impact through that process. Although I do understand trading him over Olave, which is why the Saints decision to sell him off makes a lot of sense, and the compensation of late round picks isn’t a bad return. Overall there isn’t much to say for the Saints on this trade. All they can hope is those picks pay off as well as Shaheed did, or else they’ll continue to be in the same trouble they are now, which is why the Saints get a B- in this trade.
1. **Jakobie Myers to the Jaguars**
Jakobie Myers finally got what he wanted after a long standing trade request and was shipped off to the Jaguars in exchange for a 2026 fourth and sixth round pick. Jacksonville is in desperate need of a solid wide out and Las Vegas is in desperate need of everything besides tight end, giving this trade potential for both sides.
Jaguars Grade: B+
Despite what you would expect, the biggest struggle for the Jaguars this season has been wide receiver chemistry. Second year wide out Brian Thomas Jr. has had negative chemistry with QB Trevor Lawrance, dropping multiple of his passes and failing to connect with him overall after a crazy impressive rookie year. Myers is a great fit for Lawrence and this teams struggles. More specifically, Myers is a great all around veteran that knows the game and will do the most important thing a receiver can do, catch the ball and get upfield. Despite this team’s already stacked star studded receiver room, as they figure out these chemistry issues, Myers will be serviceable and get the job done for a Jags unit that is hoping to make a playoff push. Which is why this trade gets a B+ from me.
Raiders Grade: C-
Although there was a lot of pressure on Las Vegas to trade Myers ahead of the deadline, due to his trade request, it doesn’t make the trade sting any less for how serviceable he was during his time in Vegas. In his two and a half years stint on the Raiders, Myers put up twelve touchdowns and one thousand yard receiving yard season in 2024. Jacoby was the clear wide receiver on a struggling Raiders unit and losing him is a harsh hit on the team, even with a fourth and sixth round pick in return. The return just didn’t seem to redeem the loss that hit them losing their wide receiver one, making this a C- for the Raiders.
1. **Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys**
Now to the true blockbuster trades, Jets star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams was shipped to Dallas for a 2027 first round pick, 2026 second round pick and former Cowboys defensive tackle Mazi Smith. Although this may look like a very lopsided trade, the Cowboys locked down their defensive line with this superstar, and the Jets are getting back more than enough in return, adding to their load of picks as the teams look to rebuild for the future.
Cowboys Grade: A-
Despite the criticism for overcompensating for a single player, I think Williams will be a force to be reckoned on this Cowboys defensive line for years to come. In his six years with the Jets, Williams had a total of 322 tackles and 40 sacks along with eight forced fumbles. The Cowboys have struggled on almost every defensive front, especially in the front seven. One of those biggest issues is their trade candidate Mazi Smith, who has been rather abysmal for the Cowboys since being drafted in the first round. Overall, the worst defense in the league has been holding back one of the most explosive offenses in the league in Dallas, and adding Quinnen Williams is just one huge step in turning the Cowboys into contenders again.
Jets Grade: A
The Jets are in full blown tank mode and I’m here for it. Yes, it hurts to lose one of your best defensive players, but when you get back a first and second rounder, as well as a temporary Williams replacement in Mazi Smith, it is hard to give this team anything but an A as they look to the future. The Jets are loading up on first round picks for the loaded 2026 and 2027 class, and have embraced the tank the right way, making this trade an A for New York.
1. **Sauce Gardner to the Colts**
The trade of the season went down early in the morning as the Colts traded for Jets star corner Sauce Gardner. In exchange for Gardner, the Jets received a 2026 and 2027 first round pick and second year receiver A.D. Mitchell. This trade was by far the most explosive trade of the season, yet it is definitely one sided.
Colts Grade: B
Even though Sauce is clearly still an elite corner despite all the washed talk, and yes the Colts were in need of the corner, what they gave up in return will make or break their future. One thing is for sure – with this trade the Colts are in win now mode, going all in on what they have. Which is not a bad idea at all, the Colts are the best offense in the league and one of the best teams in football, and the one thing they have been needing more than ever is an elite corner, and Sauce Gardner is the perfect cornerstone player to push them over the edge of being a super bowl contender. The issue is losing two firsts. Losing your firsts for the next two years is franchise breaking if you don’t win with what you have, making this trade one of the most high risk high reward trades in NFL history.
Jets Grade: A+
Despite losing their best defensive player, this is the peak value for just about any player in the NFL, and when you are as down bad as the Jets are at the moment, New York would have been stupid to turn down this trade. The Jets are already in full blown tank mode and are one of the worst teams in Football, and Sauce Gardner would not have done remotely what the two firsts are going to do for the Jets future, making this trade an A+ for New York as it enters a full rebuild at the deadline.