NFL trade grades tracker: Every deal, grade and fan reaction in real time

We began NFL trade deadline day thinking that the likes of Jaylen Waddle, Breece Hall, Trey Hendrickson, Kirk Cousins, Calvin Ridley and more stars would discover their fate. As it turned out, literally none of the above players had changed teams by 4 p.m. ET — and yet this will still go down as one of the most momentous deadlines in recent league history.

The action got started a few days ago, as contenders like the Steelers and Eagles both made moves to add talent to their defenses. But that was mere prelude to the madness of Tuesday morning and afternoon, in which a whopping seven different deals went down (the third-most since 1990, behind only 2024 and 2022). The New York Jets shocked the entire football world not once but twice, shipping out All-Pro defenders in Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, and they were hardly alone. Here's everything you need to know about a frantic few hours across the NFL, from trade grades to fan reactions.

Cowboys trade for Jets DT Quinnen Williams

It's a fire! sale. The New York Jets traded Sauce Gardner to the Colts just minutes before dealing three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. As talented as Williams is, this is an underwhelming fit for several reasons. First and foremost, the trade comes just months after Dallas sent its All-World pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. It should come as no surprise that the Cowboys have one of the worst defenses in football as a result.

Dallas received a first-round pick and Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark for Parsons. While Clark has been fine, he's no Parsons, and adding Williams to the defensive front won't save the Cowboys defense, either. Per Ian Rapoport, the Cowboys are sending a first-round pick and more to the Jets for Williams.

Dallas is 3-5-1 on the season. Frankly, they need all the draft capital they can get to build around Dak Prescott next April. That's what makes this move all the more confounding. It's not that Williams won't thrive in Dallas – he very well might – but this team is going nowhere fast.

NFL trade grade: Jets get a B, Cowboys get a C

Fan takeaway:

Colts trade for Jets CB Sauce Gardner

How's this for a deadline day stunner? Just months after signing a four-year, $120 million contract extension that seemed to position him as a building block for the new Aaron Glenn regime, Sauce Gardner has become trade bait instead. The two-time All-Pro is headed to the AFC-leading Indianapolis Colts, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, and the return is a doozy: not just two first-round picks but also second-year receiver AD Mitchell.

On the one hand, that's a staggering amount to give up, a haul that hardly ever see these days — especially in the middle of a season. You can understand why the Jets felt like they couldn't say no here, given just how far away they are from contention and how desperate they are to finally find the answer at quarterback after Justin Fields' implosion. Now they have the ammunition to do just that, either in the 2026 or 2027 drafts, plus an intriguing and toolsy young weapon in Mitchell.

But while it's undoubtedly an overpay, I also can't bring myself to fully hate this for Indy. They've been the class of the conference so far this year, Sunday's loss at Pittsburgh notwithstanding, and corner stood as the most obvious weakness Charvarius Ward still on the mend from a concussion. Gardner's production has dipped of late, but that feels like as much a product of his surroundings as anything else. He was the best player available at a position of need, and the Colts got him. You can't blame Indy for trying to strike in the midst of a dream start, especially considering that Daniel Jones will only be this cheap for one season before he needs a new deal of his own.

NFL trade grade: Colts get a C+, Jets get a A-

Fan takeaway

Seahawks trade for Saints WR Rashid Shaheed

Less than 48 hours after ethering the Commanders in Washington, Seattle has gotten Sam Darnold another weapon to play with, sending a fourth- and fifth-round pick to New Orleans to acquire the speedster Shaheed.

A move like this had seemed inevitable for a while: The Saints are in desperate need of a reset, and Shaheed is set to hit free agency next spring, making him a valuable trade chip. Sending him to Seattle is sure to raise some eyebrows, though, considering how dangerous Darnold and this passing game already looked without him. It's not hard at all to see how Shaheed might fit in, adding a vertical threat to complement WR1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba and possession man Cooper Kupp. Darnold also just so happens to be one of the best deep-ball throwers in the league right now; Seahawks fans undoubtedly woke up this morning dreaming of a splashier name like Jaylen Waddle, but this is a great fit at a reasonable price.

NFL trade grade: Seahawks get a B+, Saints get a B

Fan takeaway

Jaguars trade for Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers

Jakobi Meyers has been one of the better wide receivers available on the trade market for what feels like years now. Meyers spent the last three seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders, and had one of the best statistical campaigns of his career in 2024, catching 87 passes for over 1,000 yards. However, he's also on the final year of his contract, and was likely to leave in free agency this offseason.

The Steelers, Bills and Jaguars were all finalists for Meyers, but Jacksonville ultimately won out. The Jags desperation only grew after placing Travis Hunter on injured reserve. A fourth-round pick alongside a sixth rounder may seem like a steep price tag for a veteran wide receiver on the outs, but the Jaguars believe Meyers will pair well with Brian Thomas Jr., and perhaps put them in a better position to contend for an AFC Wild Card spot.

NFL trade grade: Raiders get a B+, win this deal running away

Fan takeaway

Dallas Cowboys trade for Bengals LB Logan Wilson

Jerry Jones hinted a trade was looming on Monday, and he wasn't lying. The Cowboys have arguably the worst defense in the NFL, as Dak Prescott has single-handedly carried his team to three wins. If Dallas is going to reach their goal of making the playoffs without Micah Parsons, they'll need to replace some of his production. On Tuesday, the Cowboys acquired a linebacker who looks the part in exchange for just a seventh-round pick.

Logan Wilson was the Bengals' leading tackler from 2021-23, but missed the final six games of the 2024 season. His nickname is literally 'Cowboy'. Wilson excels in coverage, as he has 11 interceptions over the past 5.5 seasons — good for the most in the NFL among linebackers. He's exactly what Dallas needs, though the Cowboys shouldn't be done adding to their defense just yet.

NFL trade grade: Cowboys get a B, win this deal

Fan takeaway

Titans send Dre'Mont Jones to the Ravens

As far as deadline sellers go, the Titans were the best bet heading into Tuesday, alongside the Miami Dolphins. Tennessee is still a few years away, but they believe they found their quarterback in Cam Ward. Everyone but Ward and Jeffrey Simmons on Tennessee's roster is said to be available, which included pass rusher Dre'Mont Jones.

Jones is coming on at the right time, as he's recorded a sack in each of his last four games and had 1.5 sacks in a 27-20 loss to the Chargers just this past Sunday. The Ravens pass rush is lacking, and as a result, they had to give up a fifth-round pick (which could become a fourth rounder) for an immediate need. Jones is on the final year of his current contract and makes under $1 million in 2025.

NFL trade grade: Titans win with a B-

Fan reaction

Notable deals before NFL trade deadline day

While the NFL trade deadline is in a matter of hours, teams have been preparing for this day for weeks. In the last few days in particular, the action has heated up. On Monday, the Eagles traded for former Ravens safety Jaire Alexander, and Dolphins pass-rusher Jaelen Phillips. Howie Roseman is wide awake.

The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots late last week in exchange for a Day 3 pick. Pittsburgh lost safety DeShon Elliott for the foreseeable future and needed a replacement. We initially graded that trade a loss for the Steelers, which goes to show how much we know. Dugger performed well in his debut for Pittsburgh, finishing with the team's highest PFF grade in coverage while playing almost the entire game. Reminder: He arrived just a few days prior.

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