The 2025 NFL trade deadline came and went on Tuesday with a handful of trades. Some were expected, while others were not. It seemed to be a seller’s market with the New York Jets capitalizing on it and restocking their draft-pick cupboard for the next few years.
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from Tuesday’s action.
Winner: Teams looking to sell
With so many teams in the playoff race and thinking they have at least something of a chance to make a run in the postseason, there weren’t many teams looking to unload players. That meant options for contending teams were limited, and the teams that were looking to sell were going to be able to cash in.
The New York Jets stockpiled future first- and second-round picks.
The Las Vegas Raiders received two draft picks for a rental in Jakobi Meyers, including a fourth-rounder.
The New Orleans Saints received multiple picks, including a fourth-rounder, for Rashid Shaheed.
On the surface, adding Quinnen Williams to the defensive line should be a major win. Williams is a good player, fits a major need and adds an impact player to a defense that badly needs more of them. But also … what’s the point? The Cowboys are 3-5-1 this season, haven’t been a serious contender in more than two years and just traded away a significant part of their future.
Is Williams going to put them over the top anytime soon?
The bigger issue, setting aside the picks or players involved in any of their moves, is that it just continues to look like an organization without a plan and is just haphazardly piecing together a roster through blockbuster moves and big names whether any of it actually works together.
Speaking of that…
Winner: Jerry Jones’ ego
Jones talks a big game about wanting to win a Super Bowl, but everything he does when it comes to running the team indicates that his bigger priority is just simply keeping the Cowboys in the news. It doesn’t matter if he makes the right move, or overpays a player he could have signed for a cheaper price earlier or if he has to trade away a homegrown superstar (Micah Parsons). All that matters to Jerry is people talking about Jerry and the Cowboys. He got people talking on Monday when he teased a trade being made, and then went all-in on a season where his team is likely to miss the playoffs.
The Bills’ Super Bowl window is as wide open as it is every going to be. Quarterback Josh Allen is in the prime of his career and playing at an elite level, and the one team that has consistently stood in their way — the Kansas City Chiefs — might have to scratch and claw just to get into the playoffs.
This is a perfect time for the Bills to go all-in. Especially when they still have major needs at wide receiver and in some areas on defense.
They addressed none of them leading up to the deadline and seem content to ride with what they have.
While it would be hard to blame most teams for not wanting to pay some of the prices that were out there, a team like the Bills that is desperate for a championship and in a Super Bowl-or-bust mindset should have been willing to pay up a little extra. Banners fly forever, and Buffalo is still looking for its first.
Winner: Sauce Gardner
The most shocking trade of the day was easily the Jets’ decision to trade Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell. You can debate whether or not that was a smart move for the Colts or if it is enough to get them a championship. The Jets still have to do something with those picks, but going from one of the NFL’s best teams to an AFC contender is a definite win for Gardner. Especially when nobody predicted it.
Loser: Breece Hall
While Hall’s teammates, Gardner and Williams, were being moved, the Jets running back was going through some emotions on X with a series of since-deleted posts. There was reported interest in Hall, but not enough to meet the Jets’ asking price. Now he remains on a one-win team that is set to enter an extended rebuild.