The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and there were many impact moves made around the league; whether it was a surging team making a move to try and put them over the top, or a struggling team moving off aging players for draft capital. But on the surface, some teams made out better than others.

Saints trade Marshon Lattimore to Commanders

Marshon Lattimore and a 2025 fifth-round pick got sent to the Commanders for a 2025 third, fourth, and sixth-round pick. The Commanders have been lacking an elite cornerback for multiple years now, and Lattimore gives them a huge upgrade at that position. Lattimore has been a top-tier corner ever since he entered the league, as he is a four-time Pro Bowler. Although he’s been battling injuries for the last couple of years, he is one of the most feared corners in the league when he is healthy. This is an easy A for the Commanders, as they continue to prove they will be a dangerous team come January. On the other hand, the Saints needed to dump a few hefty contracts, but it’s a shame a fan-favorite in Lattimore had to be one of them. However, New Orleans getting three picks back for the 28-year-old can prove to be something valuable, so I will give them a B for this trade. 

Browns trade Za’Darius Smith to Lions

The Cleveland Browns traded Za’Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Detroit Lions for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Cleveland has zero idea how to be a competent organization, and it shows year after year. Za’Darius Smith was one of Cleveland’s most impactful defensive players, and the best asset they got in return was a fifth-rounder. The Lions get a much-needed edge-rusher with the loss of Aidan Hutchinson for the rest of the year. Detroit is showing they want to win, and Cleveland is showing us yet again that the Browns are the Browns. Smith is in the final year of his deal, so the Lions will have to make some choices down the line regarding the 32-year-old, but I will give them an A- for showing they want to win now. The Browns get a D. 

Titans trade DeAndre Hopkins to Chiefs

The Chiefs getting DeAndre Hopkins for a conditional fifth-round pick is simply unfair. The back-to-back Super Bowl champions are adding a five-time Pro Bowler and one of the best contested-catch guys the league has ever seen. The Titans, who are 2-8, have been simply horrible to watch, so it makes sense that they traded Hopkins. The question the whole league is asking is why the Chiefs? Kansas City has been dominating the NFL ever since Patrick Mahomes was drafted in 2017, and they just got way better by adding a solidified No. 1 wide receiver. It shows that even the best teams still try and find ways to get better, they don’t just settle for what they have. The Chiefs get an A for this trade, while the Titans get a D. 

Raiders trade Davante Adams to Jets

The Las Vegas Raiders traded star receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets for a conditional third-round pick. It has been nearly a month since that trade, and the Jets have won just one game in that span. Aaron Rodgers has never looked worse, Adams has had uncharacteristic drops, and the defense has gotten weaker since the firing of Robert Saleh. The Jets are a disaster right now, and Adams has not given Jets fans any hope for their future. Who knows what’ll happen between now and Week 18, but the Jets do not look good at all. The Jets get a D for this trade, and the Raiders get a B.

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