2024 NFL Trade Deadline – Winners & Losers

This year’s NFL trade deadline was Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. ET, and we saw a flurry of activity. During the 2024 in-season trade window, 19 players switched teams, one year after 15 deals were completed before the deadline in 2023. This season’s moves were mostly a case of the rich getting richer. Edge rushers and wide receivers were in great demand as you’ll see momentarily. Here’s a look at the winners and losers at this year’s trade deadline.

Super Bowl Champs Get Richer

The reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs watched as their wide receiver room fell apart. Rashee Rice, Skyy Moore, and Hollywood Brown are all on injured reserve. JuJu Smith-Schuster is out. Patrick Mahomes has the worst passing stats of his career, but the Chiefs do keep winning. They are the only remaining unbeaten in the NFL at 8-0.

With the wide receiver unit so depleted, GM Brett Veach went out and grabbed DeAndre Hopkins before the trade deadline. It appears it was a great move. Hopkins played in the Monday night overtime win over Tampa Bay. He had eight catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns. That looks like a sure win.

Losers – AFC Challengers 

With the Chiefs banged up, it was the perfect opportunity for teams like Buffalo, Baltimore, and Cincinnati to make some moves. While Baltimore did make one move that made the Ravens better (more on that later), the rest of the AFC’s challengers didn’t make a splash. Kansas City now has a path to a third straight Super Bowl and an historic three-peat. The rest of the AFC? Not so much.

Lions Renew Their Roar

In the three weeks since they lost their best pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson, to a tibia and fibula injury, the Lions defense has continued to be effective. However, the Lions’ desire for pass rushers to help cover the huge void was well known. In the end, Detroit acquired Za’Darius Smith, one of the top players on the trade block, on Tuesday. 

Smith had 23 tackles, seven quarterback hits, and five sacks for Cleveland this season. Smith can also be considered a winner. Smith comes over from the Browns who continue to rack up the losses. Cleveland could be a double-digit loser this season. Smith now has a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl ring with the Lions. That’s a win.

Losers: The Rest of the NFC North

Without a top-tier replacement for Hutchinson, the Lions still beat NFC North rivals Minnesota and Green Bay. Detroit is now 7-1 while Minnesota (6-2) and Green Bay (6-3) will have to fight for a wild card spot if they can’t overtake the Lions.

Neither the Vikings or Packers made any significant moves at the trade deadline. The Lions are now much better equipped to get after QBs Sam Darnold and Jordan Love. Add Caleb Williams of the 4-4 Bears to that mix. The Lions went 4-2 in the division last year and they are already 2-0 this season.

Winners: Top-Tier Receivers

Three top level wide receivers went from disasters to teams that will contend to win a Super Bowl. We already mentioned Hopkins who went from the train wreck in Tennessee to two-time, back-to-back Lombardi Trophy-winning Kansas City. 

The Raiders offense was awful and Davante Adams was going nowhere. It might not be much better in New York, but at least Adams is reunited with QB Aaron Rodgers. Adams played in the Jets 21-13 win over Houston on Thursday night last week. He led the Jets with seven catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Mike Williams, now expendable with the acquisition of Adams in New York, was subsequently dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers who can definitely use a receiver of Williams’ size (6-foot-4). Diontae Johnson, who was drafted by Pittsburgh, heads back to the AFC North. He played in this Thursday’s 35-34 Baltimore win over Cincinnati. Johnson had one catch for six yards. Playing for the 7-2 Ravens is definitely a step up for Johnson who was with Carolina.

AFC North Wins Big

Speaking of the AFC North, the Ravens scored in a number of ways. First, the Panthers were so desperate that they were prepared to trade Johnson for almost nothing. Baltimore also got a late-round draft pick in the deal. Baltimore also strengthened its defense by acquiring CB Tre’Davious White from the Rams. White has struggled with injuries, but he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2020. If he can maintain his health, White could add depth to Baltimore’s secondary and the Ravens only spent a seventh-round draft pick for him.

The Steelers also won. They acquired veteran Williams from the Jets, and then they got Preston Smith from Green Bay. This gives the Steelers another reliable pass rusher to start opposite T.J. Watt. Pittsburgh is 6-2 and hasn’t played a division game yet. Washington is up next before four straight games against AFC North opponents.

New York Is a Lost Cause

Azeez Ojulari, a pass rusher, was a target for other teams, but the Giants were not convinced by any of the offers to finalize a deal. Ojulari could have been used to acquire some draft capital for the Giants. He is playing behind Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns, but he has six sacks. A number of teams wanted him, but the Giants didn’t make a move. 

The Jets are really no better off after the deadline than before it. Rodgers does have a familiar target in Adams, but the Jets really should have unloaded some veterans in an effort to build up their draft picks for the future. The Jets are just 3-6 and while the schedule doesn’t look too bad, reaching the postseason is a stretch.

Commanders Get Better on Defense

One of the big surprises this season has been the play of the Commanders. They lead the NFC East with a 7-2 record. The offense is outstanding and leads the NFL in scoring. The defense isn’t bad and it got much better with Washington’s acquisition of Marshon Lattimore. Yes, Lattimore hasn’t played a full season since 2021, but if he stays healthy, the Commanders are that much better on defense. 

The deal cost Washington a third-, fourth-, and sixth-round pick. The sixth-round pick actually came from the Saints in a previous trade. If the Commanders lose out on this one, the price isn’t too steep. Remember though, Lattimore is still only 28 years old, was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017, and he’s made four Pro Bowls.