NFL Trade Deadline Winners
Dolphins Land LB Bradley Chubb
Vikings Deal for TE TJ Hockenson
Ravens Trade for Bears LB Roquan Smith for Picks
49ers Deal High Picks for RB Christian McCaffrey
NFL Trading Deadline closed – Nov. 1, 2022
NFL Trading Period – Opens March 15, 2023
Frank Coyle
The NFL trading deadline this year became a very active player market with clubs trying to land selected players to help for the playoff stretch run. Each clubs’ salary cap is a huge determining factor on which teams were able to be active, in addition to what players were pursued due to their high salary cap costs.
Defensive players commanded high picks with LB Bradley Chubb moving to Miami for a #1 pick plus later draft picks exchanged. Chubb is having another Pro bowl season and the type who can provide immediate impact for their solid defense. The Ravens dealt for LB Roquan Smith for a #2 and #5 picks. Both defenders are difference makers for a front seven and cornerstone playmakers who take a unit up a level.
Offensive players were the most additions with wide receiver and running back the majority of players who exchanged teams. The 49ers initiated the final week of movement with a blockbuster deal for runner Christian McCaffrey for #2, #3 and #4 picks plus a #5 selection in the NFL Draft 2024. McCaffrey has already paid dividends for the 49ers, scoring a running and receiving TD plus throwing a TD pass.
Wideout Brandin Cooks stayed in Houston due to his high$18 million salary cap cost. The receiving position commanded the most interest with Chase Claypool, Kadarius Toney, Robbie Anderson and Calvin Ridley all changing uniforms. Claypool brought a #2 pick that set the standard to young starters like Jerry Jeudy, DJ Moore and Elijah Moore. They all stayed with their current clubs with too high of demands in the trade market and no bidders.
Claypool gives the Bears’ QB Justin Fields a high quality starter with big play ability for their vanilla offense. Coupled with young vets, WR Darnell Moody and TE Cole Kmet gives Fields a high-quality trio. The Chiefs traded for Kadarius Toney for a #3 compensatory selection plus a #6 pick. He has big play ability and a good fit here for QB Patrick Mahomes to get impact from in this passing game. Reportedly, he is over his mysterious hamstring injury. The Falcons traded big play receiver Calvin Ridley who is currently suspended for the season. The deal was for a few conditional future picks based on meeting conditions including a #2 selection. Ridley was a top 5-8 receiver prior to his problems.
Maybe the most surprising trade was when the Lions sent TE K.J. Hockenson to in division rival the Vikings for a #2 and #3, in additional later swapped selections. Hockenson is playing at a Pro Bowl level and in only his third season and on his rookie contract. His presence in the Vikings passing game that features wideout Justin Jefferson and back Dalvin Cook gives QB Kurt Cousins a potent trio to keep this high scoring attack among the elite in the game.
Ravens pulled off a blockbuster deal with the Bears to acquire young backer Roquan Smith. He gives them an impact defender with big play ability to blitz, in addition to going sideline to sideline. They surrendered a #2 and #5 picks in the NFL Draft 2023 plus LB AJ Klein.
A final last-minute deal between the Bills and Colts has interesting potential through the 2nd half of the season. The Bills acquired RB Nyheim Hines from the Colts for backup RB Zack Moss and a conditional #5 pick. This could be a major coup for the Bills and prove to be an addition the Bills can ride further toward an elusive Super Bowl title. Hines is a proven playmaker with excellent hands and highly developed receiving skills. He gives the Bills a threat out of the backfield and very elusive as a runner capable of breaking big plays. He can provide impact here and a piece to this explosive offense who wins in space often and very difficult in single coverage. QB Josh Allen should fully utilize him out of the backfield. Veteran wideout Stefon Diggs commands double coverage often while wideout Gabriel Davis and TE Dawson Knox are proven playmakers. Hines gives them an elusive fast dual threat who gives this offense another dangerous playmaker to change games. He was the most underrated addition in the trade period and one who can be the catalyst in critical big postseason games.
