NFL trade deadline: what you need to know

11/1/22 by Nick Antonakas

BOSTON – The NFL trade deadline has come and gone. The dust has settled and there were a few big moves before 4 p.m. EST on Tuesday. Let’s take a look at some of the big moves that shook the league.

Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins made the biggest splash on trade deadline day, trading for Denver Broncos star pass rusher Bradley Chubb. The package heading back to Denver included multiple draft picks, including a 2023 first-round pick, and running back Chase Edmonds. This move makes the Dolphins an even more dangerous threat in the AFC, with Chubb adding insane value to the Fins front seven. While Miami’s offense has been scary enough this year, adding a juggernaut in Chubb to their defense could be the piece Miami needs to get over the hump. On the other hand, Denver makes out pretty well considering this year may be a wash despite making a blockbuster trade in the off-season to acquire Russel Wilson. While giving up Chubb hurts their defense, the picks coming in could help fill some of the holes created by the price paid for Wilson.

Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears

While the Bears looked to be sellers going into the deadline – trading away Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn before Tuesday rolled around – they were able to acquire Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool in exchange for a second-round pick in 2023. There’s a lot of confusion surrounding why the Bears would make this deal. If they wanted to compete, why would they trade away some of their most talented defensive players? While Claypool adds another target for QB Justin Fields to throw to, a second-round pick for a pending free agent is a risk the Bears shouldn’t have taken unless they were confident in making a deep playoff push. Clearly, they must not be too confident considering the trades they’ve made the past few days, but we’ll just have to wait and see. Pittsburgh makes out nicely considering they were relatively far out of the playoff race and were able to grab a second-rounder for a guy who may have not even been back with the team next year.

Calvin Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars 

While this move doesn’t make any sort of impact right now, the Jaguars may have been able to get a steal here for Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Ridley was suspended for the entirety of the 2022 season for betting on NFL games last year, but when he was playing, he tallied over 3,300 yards and 28 touchdowns in 49 games with the Falcons. Because of the suspension, the Jags got Ridley at a cheap price; a 2023 fifth-rounder and a conditional 2024 fourth-round pick that could become at most a second-rounder if Ridley was signed to an extension. Jacksonville benefits immensely as long as things don’t go sour and Ridley’s suspension is extended by some slim chance, as Ridley serves as a true number one wide receiver Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence needs. While the Falcons get an average return considering the conditional pick becomes a second-rounder, it’s still a cheap offer to accept for a receiver like Ridley. 

TJ Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings looked to legitimize their chances at making a run in the playoffs by adding Lions star tight end T.J. Hockenson to their roster. Minnesota traded a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-round pick for Hockenson and two fourth-round picks. This trade gives Minnesota an elite tight end they’ve searched for. Not only that, but the price they paid wasn’t terribly high. Hockenson isn’t only talented, but he’s young and someone the Vikings could build around in the future. For the Lions, it’s definitely tough to watch such a talented player go, but Detroit’s record of 1-6 on the year isn’t exactly a sign that they should continue to push for the playoffs. If there were to be a winner to this trade, it would be the Vikings, but both teams walked out of this deal in relatively good shape.

What about the Patriots?

Now looking at the hometown team, New England did absolutely nothing on trade deadline day. While no one really expected them to make a big move, Belichick and crew were able to one-up analysts by not doing anything Tuesday afternoon. Despite rumors swirling about a potential move of offensive lineman Issiah Wynn or wide receiver Nelson Agholor, nothing materialized and both players will remain with the Pats for the rest of the year. While New England’s future regarding playoffs is up in the air, they must continue on with the roster they currently have.