The NFL trade deadline is normally an enormously hyped entry on the calendar that leads to nothing. However, in 2024 things are very different. We’ve never had a season where so many teams had such an array of issues, and that’s created a perfect storm where anyone, and everyone who thinks they can compete for a Super Bowl is trying to patch their rosters.
This has been caused by two huge factors: Injuries, and changing trends around the league. Naturally players getting hurt happens every year, but that second factor is the big one. Defense is reigning supreme and that’s led to teams needing to make adjustments to the offenses on the fly — while teams with holes on defense need to patch them ASAP to keep up with the rest of the league.
So let’s dive in to every deal at the deadline as it happens and see who won these trades.
Za’Darius Smith traded to Detroit Lions
Lions receive: DE Za’Darius Smith, 7th round pick (2026)
Browns receive: 5th round pick (2025), 6th round pick (2026)
Once Aidan Hutchinson went down with a broken tibia and fibula, many believed that Lions general manager Brad Holmes would swing a deadline deal for a pass rusher. Names such as Maxx Crosby and even Smith’s Cleveland teammate Myles Garrett.
Instead, Holmes zeroed in on Smith, acquiring the Browns pass rusher as part of a deal involving multiple Day Three picks.
For Detroit, this fills a glaring need while the Lions make a late-season playoff push, and hope that somehow Hutchinson can make it back if Detroit is still playing deep into January. As for the Browns, they not only acquire some draft capital, but the Lions are paying off the rest of Smith’s 2024 salary. Given Cleveland’s precarious financial state, every bit helps.
Detroit Lions: B+
Cleveland Browns: B
Khalil Herbert traded to Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals receive: RB Khalil Herbert
Bears receive: 7th round pick (2025)
The Bengals were in dire need of depth at running back following Zack Moss’ neck injury, and Cincinnati is desperate to try and fight they way back from 4-5 to find a way into the playoffs.
Herbert became completely expendable in Chicago. A 6th round pick in 2021, he showed flashes over his first three seasons in the league — but in a common refrain he was sacrificed at the altar of Luke Getsy’s ineptitude. Herbert never managed to find solid carries as new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron focused on other players.
It’s a win, win, win. Cincinnati gets the depth they need, the Bears get something for a player in the final year of his deal anyway, and Herbert has a chance to showcase his skills ahead of free agency. The only knock on Chicago is that it’s wild they gave up on him after showing flashes of being a solid rotational RB.
Cincinnati Bengals: B+
Chicago Bears: B
Khalil Herbert: A+
The following deals happened before the Tuesday trade deadline, but we are including their grades here as well.
Davante Adams traded to the Jets
Shedding the salary is really great for Las Vegas, and might allow them to actually, properly rebuild. However, not even managing to get a 2nd round pick for Adams is ridiculous. The Jets managed to put such tight constraints on the deal that it’s highly unlikely the Raiders see a second rounder in the trade — meaning they got fleeced from a talent perspective.
New York Jets: A-
Las Vegas Raiders: B-
Amari Cooper traded to the Bills
Nobody in the NFL is getting a bigger glow up than Amari Cooper, who leaves behind the absolutely abhorrent Deshaun Watson and lands on a team with real Super Bowl potential, led by one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Buffalo Bills: B+
Cleveland Browns: B+
The Titans are clearly in rebuild mode. After loading up a roster in the offseason with veteran skill position talent, but none of it at quarterback and offensive line, the team has fallen apart and has played multiple QBs at this point. The Titans also had to eat some of Hopkins’ salary in the deal, which also means that they’re rebuilding at this point. After this trade, they now have seven draft picks and that’s without calculating the Ernest Jones IV trade.
Kansas City Chiefs: A
Tennessee Titans: B-
Diontae Johnson traded to Ravens
The Ravens still needed to add some more pop to their offense, and Johnson can create separation in bunches. His 62 Open Score is 34th among all qualifying receivers, per ESPN, and while his Catch Score might not be as potent, those numbers will go up with a real QB under center in Baltimore. The Ravens play a lot of 21 and 22 personnel, so adding Johnson would mean potentially taking off either Zay Flowers or Rashod Bateman, but when the Ravens want to spread out and go 11 personnel, this makes them even more dangerous.
Baltimore Ravens: A+
Carolina Panthers: C-
