Recapping the NFL Trade Deadline

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertNovember 01, 2023
© USA TODAY Sports

The 2023 NFL Trade Deadline didn't quite meet the "rumored" expectations, but when has an NFL Trade Deadline ever? With that said, plenty of notable names were on the move this past week. Spotrac details every player that has been traded during the 2023 season, including financial ramifications and future thoughts for each.

Rasul Douglas (CB, 29)

Buffalo Acquires: Douglas & a 2024 5th round pick
Green Bay Acquires: 2024 3rd round pick

Douglas joins a DB needy Bills organization, due in large part to a season-ending Achilles injury to Tre'Davious White. He’ll account for just $838,235 of cap/cash this year, with a $9M veritable “option” in place for 2024. There’s a $2M roster bonus due March 15th, so Buffalo will need to make an early decision on his future. Green Bay clears $6.5M of 2024 cap space per this move.

Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR, 24)

Detroit Acquires: Peoples-Jones
Cleveland Acquires: 2025 6th round pick

DPJ caught 59 passes for nearly 800 yards in 2022, and seemed to be a clear #2 option for Cleveland going forward. Instead, he was written almost entirely out of the offense this season, making the change of scenery to an explosive Detroit unit exciting for all parties. The Browns get out of more than $1.5M from his expiring contract, while the Lions now carry 5 very capable receivers at a combined $11M. Peoples-Jones is a $4M per year WR in our system right now.

Chase Young (DE, 24)

San Francisco Acquires: Young
Washington Acquires: 2024 3rd Round Pick (compensatory)

The Commanders declined Young’s $17.4M 5th-year option last May, putting him on an expiring contract in 2023. San Francisco snags him with $2.95M left the rest of the way, giving up a late 3rd round pick. A franchise tag for Young next March is likely to come in at over $22M, putting him in position to hit the open market. If he signs elsewhere, the Niners should recoup a 3rd round pick in the compensatory program, making this a veritable cash trade. Missed time and a lack of consistent production holds his current valuation at around the $13M per year mark.

Ezra Cleveland (G, 25)

Jacksonville Acquires: Cleveland
Minnesota Acquires: 2024 6th round pick

The Vikings weren’t expected to re-sign Cleveland next March, so grabbing a little draft capital now made some sense. He started 6 games for the VIkings this year (47 in 3 ½ seasons), so this is more than just a “depth” addition for the Jags, who are looking to make a serious push in the AFC. Jacksonville picks up Cleveland at $1.6M for the rest of 2023, who, as a versatile lineman, could be seeking a deal around $10M per year in free agency.

Joshua Dobbs (QB, 28)

Minnesota Acquires: Dobbs, 2024 7th round pick
Arizona Acquires: 2024 6th round pick

Dobbs played the good soldier role in Arizona for 8 weeks, and now is being asked to do so for some of the remaining 10 in Minnesota. The Vikings pick up a competent QB1 at just $833,333 to finish out the season. Can the pending UFA now turn this type of attention into a Taylor Heinicke type deal?

Montez Sweat (DE, 27)

Chicago Acquires: Sweat
Washington Acquires: 2024 2nd round pick

Sweat leaves a crowded Commanders D-Line to join Chicago as a much needed presence on theirs. It remains to be seen if an extension has been discussed as part of this deal, as a 2nd round pick for a rental player is a steep price to pay (even for the Bears). Sweat brings $6.3M of his 5th-year option salary along with him to Chicago, who can tag the 27 year old at around $22M next year to keep him in the fold. He projects to a 4 year, $102M extension in our system right now.

Leonard Williams (DE, 29)

Seattle Acquires: Williams
New York Acquires: 2024 2nd round pick, 2025 5th round pick

Williams was a trade candidate for much of last offseason, so it comes as little surprise that the D-Lineman was shipped out of NY as their season spiraled. He brings an expiring contract, on a prorated minimum salary ($647,222), as the Giants agreed to pay down the remainder of his $18M base salary for 2023. Williams will account for $10.6M on the Giants’ salary cap next season, and he projects to a 3 year, $45M contract in our system.

Kentavius Street (DE, 27)

Atlanta Acquires: Street, 2025 7th round pick
Philadelphia Acquires: 2024 6th round pick

A depth player for the Eagles, Street should have an opportunity to start on the Falcons’ defensive line from here out. The former 4th round pick brings a prorated minimum salary ($600,000) to Atlanta, so it’s low risk for everyone here.

Kevin Byard (S, 30)

Philadelphia Acquires: Byard
Tennessee Acquires: Terrell Edmunds (S), 2024 5th round pick, 2024 6th round pick

The Eagles wasted no time bolstering their Super Bowl contending roster, adding Byard to upgrade their secondary. Tennessee paid down his $11M to $2.4M for the Eagles to deal with, and Philly converted $888k of it into signing bonus to further help their salary cap table this season. None of Byard’s $14.1M in 2024 is guaranteed right now, though a $4M roster bonus is due in March. If he’s a fit for the Eagles, a restructured contract will most certainly be on the books before that bonus hits.

Mecole Hardman (WR/KR, 25)

Kansas City Acquires: Hardman, 2025 7th round pick
New York Acquires: 2025 6th round pick

Hardman returns home, hoping to add a spark to the Chiefs offense and return game for the final 10 weeks of the season. He brings a $1.4M cap hit the rest of the way that includes a $500,000 likely to be earned incentive (that is likely to be credited back in 2024).

Van Jefferson (WR, 27)

Atlanta Acquires: Jefferson, 2025 7th round pick
Los Angeles Acquires: 2025 6th round pick

The Rams couldn’t figure out a way to get Jefferson going in 3+ seasons, so Atlanta takes a later round swap flier on attempting to do just that down the stretch. At $993,174 the rest of the way, this is a small risk move on a player that has the ceiling to become Drake London’s WR2 with the right QB1. He’s a Parris Campbell (1 year, $4M) contract candidate next March for now.

Randy Gregory (LB, 30)

San Francisco Acquires: Gregory, 2024 7th round pick
Denver Acquires: 2024 6th round pick

Gregory forced his way out of Denver after 6 2022 games, & 7 2023 games. The Broncos wind up paying him out $26.3M for those efforts, sending him to San Francisco at just $840,000 for the remainder of the season. The remaining 3 years, $42M of this contract are pay-as-you-go, so the Niners will have the ability to move on next March at no cap cost to them.

Chase Claypool (WR, 25)

Miami Acquires: Claypool, 2025 7th round pick
Chicago Acquires: 2025 6th round pick

To say that acquiring Claypool for the #32 overall pick last year didn’t work out for Chicago is one of the bigger understatements of the year. In fact, getting any kind of return for him this past month seems like a small win for the Bears (who need any they can get right now). Miami acquires the former #49 overall pick at $2.3M remaining in the final year of his rookie contract. He’s a minimum contract player from here out right now.

J.C. Jackson (CB, 27)

New England Acquires: Jackson, 2025 7th round pick
Los Angeles Acquires: 2025 6th round pick

Jackson was the free agent breadwinner 18 months ago, signing a 5 year, $82.5M contract with the Chargers that included $40M guaranteed. LA agreed to pay off the remainder of Jackson’s 2023 salary per this trade, meaning a total of $38.4M shelled out for 7 games of action. The Patriots essentially take on a 1 year, $1.55M contract now, as the remaining 3 years, $42.5M is pay-as-you-go, and New England can walk away next March at no cap charge.

Cam Akers (RB, 24)

Minnesota Acquires: Akers, 2026 7th round pick
Los Angeles Acquires: 2026 6th round pick

The Vikings were hoping Alexander Mattison would run away with the leading role in 2023, but early returns said otherwise. Akers isn’t consistent, but he’s proven he can lead an offense at times when the situation fits. The former 2nd round pick is on an expiring contract, accounting for $1.3M of salary in Minnesota the rest of this season. Furthermore, Akers is scheduled for restricted free agency next March, as he was unable to accrue the necessary 6 games back in 2021 to accrue a full season. He’ll be cost-controlled for Minnesota for a full 18 months if they choose to keep him in the fold.


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