Finally, we get an exciting NFL trade deadline. After years of boring, uneventful trade deadlines, the 32 NFL teams decided to splash headfirst into the market with the Ravens, Dolphins, and Vikings all scoring big with huge additions to their rosters.
First off, let me just thank the 32 NFL owners and GMs for at long last making the NFL trade deadline a worthwhile event.
For years the NFL trade deadline has been a running joke as the NFL teams would treat it like any other random day. Unlike every other North American sports league, I’m convinced the NFL teams would actively try to make the trade deadline as boring as possible as they would either do all of their business in the offseason or, even worse, not make any deals at all.
Yet, the Ravens, Dolphins, and Vikings took that trend and flipped it on its head as they went out and made some massive deals that will be sure to push those teams into Super Bowl contention.
Starting with the Dolphins, they have instantly become Super Bowl contenders as far as I’m concerned.
Not only did they acquire one of the best pass rushers in the NFL in Bradley Chubb from the Broncos in exchange for a late 2023 1st-round pick, a 2024 4th round pick, and underperforming RB Chase Edmonds, while also addressing their running back situation by acquiring disgruntled RB Jeff Wilson Jr. from the 49ers in exchange for 5th round pick.
I don’t think you need me to tell you that giving up a late 1st-round pick (it’s the 49ers from the Trey Lance deal), a 4th-round pick, and a 5th-round pick for an All-Pro caliber pass rusher and a starting running back is a steal, especially when the Dolphins already had a fantastic passing game and a solid all-round defense without said players.
Honestly, I think the Dolphins might actually be able to contend with the Bills for the AFC East division title as they are only two games behind Buffalo and still have another matchup to play. Plus, with the Dolphins already having the tiebreaker (for their Week 3 win over Buffalo) against the Bills, all they need is the Bills to lose one more game before they play them again (and win that game) in order to leapfrog them.
Of course, the Dolphins’ Super Bowl aspirations hinges on the health of Tua Tagovailoa and his ability to stay in the lineup, though the Dolphins must have learned their lesson about allowing players with concussions to play now. Hopefully.
As for the Ravens, they instantly made their defense one of the league’s fiercest again by acquiring 2nd Team All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2023 2nd-round pick, a 2023 5th-round pick, and linebacker A.J. Klein. Smith already leads the league in tackles (81), has 2.5 sacks this season, 2 interceptions, and has over 600 tackles in his short five-year career already, proving that he’s a huge upgrade to the Ravens’ linebacker core.
Sure, he may not be the greatest pass rusher or a monster turnover machine, but he’s the best tackler in the league by far. When he has a running back or a receiver in his sights, that player is going down. No question.
So, in other words, it’ll be almost impossible to rush against this Ravens defense now that they have Roquan Smith, Jason-Pierre Paul, Justin Houston, Patrick Queen Calais Campbell, Justin Madubuike making up their defensive frontline.
Finally, the Vikings pulled off the biggest robbery of the day as they not only convinced their own division rival, the Detroit Lions, to trade with them, but they also snatched Pro-Bowl caliber TE T.J. Hockenson right out from under their noses for only a meager 2023 2nd-round pick and a 2023 4th-round pick.
Yeah, you read that right: the Lions traded their Top-10, Pro-Bowl caliber tight end, who’s having a career year with 26 receptions, 395 yards, and 3 TDs on a 1-6 team, for only a 2nd and a 4th.
The Lions really can’t get out of their own way.
The Vikings, on the other hand, really have gotten their act together as they have added yet another weapon for Kirk Cousins and his 6-1 offense. With the Green Bay Packers failing to acquire anyone at the deadline, there’s no way the Vikings don’t win the NFC North now after this Hockenson trade. An offense with Justin Jefferson, Adam Theilen, Dalvin Cook, Kirk Cousins, and now T.J. Hockenson is just too good for the Packers to overcome.
Now, there was a few other notable trades today, such as the Bears strangely acquiring WR Chase Claypool from the Steelers, WR Calvin Ridely being sent from the Falcons to the Jaguars, the Bills acquiring RB Nyheim Hines from the Colts, and the Broncos picking up DE Jacob Martin from the Jets, but these were not nearly as noteworthy as the four I mentioned.
We’ll have to wait and see if the Vikings, Dolphins, and Ravens can use their new acquisitions in their hunt for the Super Bowl, but we don’t have to wait to know that this was the best NFL trade deadline ever!
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