2025 NFL Commerce Deadline: Grading Jets, Cowboys and Different High Strikes on Deadline Day

[ad_1] The 2025 NFL commerce deadline was rather more energetic than any of us anticipated, with the New York Jets offering us with a pair of peculiar trades.

New York shipped out star cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive sort out Quinnen Williams in separate strikes on Tuesday to present the Jets main draft capital. The Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys had been the beneficiaries of the Jets' sudden fireplace sale, however did they offer up an excessive amount of for the defensive standouts?

Let's dish out grades for every group concerned in Tuesday's most notable trades on deadline day.

Colts commerce for Sauce Gardner from Jets Colts obtain: CB Sauce GardnerJets obtain: 2026 first-round choose, 2027 first-round choose, vast receiver Adonai Mitchell

This can be a a lot greater commerce than most anticipated on Tuesday, and it is an all-in transfer for the Colts, though their first-rounders are prone to be within the backside 10 every of the following two years. Coming off a six-turnover loss, it feels just a little panicky for Indianapolis, however this can be a strong longterm addition that may have main weight within the playoffs because it tries to make an prolonged postseason push.

Jets commerce Sauce Gardner to the Colts, Is that this commerce? Tuesday's offers ought to seal the No. 1 total choose for the Jets, they usually now have two first-round picks and two second-picks in 2026 and to associate with three first-round picks in 2027. Can Aaron Glenn survive lengthy sufficient to see all these picks flip into stars on the sphere?

Jets: B+Colts: B

Cowboys commerce for Quinnen Williams from Jets Cowboys obtain: DT Quinnen WilliamsJets obtain: 2026 second-round choose, 2027 first-round choose, defensive sort out Mazi Smith

Why are the Cowboys shopping for? They're 3-5-1 and have a 4% probability to make the playoffs, per The Athletic's playoff simulator. The online of this and the Micah Parsons commerce is so as to add two older, costly defensive tackles to keep away from paying a youthful, elite edge rusher, and to maneuver up one spherical in 2026. Their protection will nonetheless be a limiting issue with Williams up entrance, they usually're setting themselves as much as be 7-9-1, however nonetheless not a playoff group with fewer draft belongings to indicate for it than they did earlier than Tuesday.

It is exhausting to see the Jets promote what was not way back a top-10 protection for elements like this, however they've a substantial battle chest of draft belongings within the subsequent two years.

Jets: A-Cowboys: C-

Seahawks obtain: WR Rashid ShaheedSaints obtain: 2026 fourth-round choose, 2026 fifth-round choose

The worth feels just a little excessive, however I like this for Seattle. Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was in New Orleans in 2024 and Shaheed averaged 17.5 yards per catch in his offense. He is right down to 11.3 yards per reception this 12 months, and the Saints cannot afford to re-sign him.

Rashid Shaheed will reunite with former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who helped him have a robust 2024 season, and can be catching passes from Sam Darnold, who has suddely turn into one of many league's greatest passers. (Photograph by Sean Gardner/Getty Photos)

Seattle is now overloaded at receiver, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Shaheed and rookie Tory Horton, who has 5 touchdowns hastily. To see what they received for Shaheed, it is foolish to assume the Saints gave up a fourth and seventh to the Broncos earlier than the season to get Devaughn Vele, who has 5 catches for 39 yards in a half-season in New Orleans.

Seahawks: BSaints: B-

Jaguars obtain: WR Jakobi MeyersRaiders obtain: 2026 fourth-round choose, 2026 sixth-round choose

Jacksonville's offense wants a spark. Travis Hunter is injured, and Brian Thomas Jr. has not been the playmaker he was as a rookie, so that is simply getting Trevor Lawrence a dependable, high-volume receiver. If the Jaguars can get the Meyers that had eight touchdowns in 2023 or the one who topped 1,000 yards in 2024, it will be a lot better than in the event that they get the man who has 352 yards and no scores in a foul Raiders offense proper now. Jacksonville had 13 draft picks in April, so it helped itself to do away with some early.

Las Vegas ought to be making extra offers to get draft belongings so it could attempt to be aggressive in Pete Carroll's second season. He turns 75 subsequent September, so there ought to be some urgency to make this roster his, and higher.

Jaguars: C+Raiders: B-

Cowboys commerce for Bengals' Logan Wilson Cowboys obtain: LB Logan WilsonBengals obtain: 2026 seventh-round choose

The return is so small that it is a pretty innocent commerce. The Cowboys might need the second-worst protection within the NFL, they usually're giving one thing as much as get a participant benched by the one protection worse than their very own. They're seemingly getting DeMarvion Overshown again quickly, so this is not going to be a game-changer both method.

Jets commerce Quinnen Williams to Cowboys for a 1st-round choose It is a misplaced season for the Bengals, so good on them getting one thing for a participant who wasn't a part of their plans transferring ahead.

Bengals: B+Cowboys: C-

Chargers obtain: OL Trevor PenningSaints obtain: 2027 sixth-round choose

Los Angeles has misplaced each beginning tackles to season-ending accidents, so this simply helps to make that be much less of a vulnerability because it makes a playoff push. It is short-term assist for the Chargers at a really low value.

As for Penning, the Saints have used two first-round picks on tackles since drafting him, which tells you numerous. New Orleans will get a small asset, and congrats to Tyler Shough, who misplaced his No. 2 receiver and a beginning lineman whereas attempting to persuade the Saints to not use an excellent greater choose on a quarterback in April.

Chargers: BSaints: C+

Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand spent a decade protecting the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Occasions and The Athletic. You'll be able to observe him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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