The 2023 NFL Trade Deadline Winners and Losers

Former Tennessee Titans Safety Kevin Byard who was recently traded to the Philadelphia Eagles before the trade deadline.

The NFL trade deadline of 2023 came with its share of winners and losers as teams made crucial decisions to either bolster their rosters or accumulate assets for the future. Here's a breakdown of how various teams fared:

Winners:

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles made a prudent move by acquiring safety Kevin Byard, whose prowess against the run and impact plays on the ball could significantly bolster their defense. Byard is a very formidable safety on a defense full of other solid players, therefore his job should only get easier. This was a great move for an Eagles team looking to make a return to the Super Bowl.

San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers, facing a diminished pass rush, took a significant step to improve by acquiring edge rusher Chase Young from the Washington Commanders. This move reunited Young with his former college teammate Nick Bosa, creating a formidable pass-rushing duo that will uplift the 49ers' defensive line performance. Although Young will be looking for a hefty contract at the end of this season this move gives the 49ers a chance at having one of the best defensive lines in recent history and bolsters their chances at making a push towards the Super Bowl.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings faced a tragedy on Sunday with the injury of Kirk Cousins. It's hard to call this a win given the situation but Minnesota found a temporary solution in Josh Dobbs, who has been performing well. Dobbs likely isn't going to take this team far or even to the playoffs but it does give him a chance to prove his worth as a quarterback with some weapons around him. This move alleviates the immediate quarterback concerns for the Vikings, providing them with a capable facilitator of the passing game, hopefully keeping them afloat and not killing the team's morale.

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars made one of the quietest yet best trades of the deadline. Adding an offensive guard isn't as glamorous of a move as last year's addition of Calvin Ridley but it may just have as great of an effect. The trade of a 2024 6th-round pick for guard Ezra Cleveland is a steal, to say the least. Cleveland totes a better PFF grade (73.8) than Colts guard Quenton Nelson (67.4), a player who is widely considered one of the League's best offensive guards. Cleveland is an instant upgrade at guard for the Jags and this solidifies their offensive line, greatly increasing the chances of making a run in the playoffs.

Losers:

New York Jets: Jets GM Joe Douglas decided to sleep in this Tuesday as the trade deadline came to a close. The Jets still remain in the playoff picture despite having an offensive line with more holes than Swiss cheese. The Previously mentioned Jaguars were able to make a fantastic addition of guard Ezra Cleveland who has proved to be a viable starter for a mere 6th-round pick. The Jets on the other hand didn’t make a peep, holding onto useless players such as Davin Cook, Carl Lawson, and making zero offensive line additions.

Las Vegas Raiders and Davante Adams: Adams found himself in an unfavorable situation with the Raiders, who have been struggling to establish a stable quarterback connection. This scenario has significantly hindered Adams' ability to perform at his peak, impacting the Raiders' offensive productivity. Davante wants out and I’m not sure if the front office of the Raiders realizes yet, but they are a bad football team. There is no reason to hold on to a Star receiver when they could easily get a large compensation and focus on the rebuild as Garoppolo’s awful contract plays out.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers' inability to secure additional offensive firepower or defensive reinforcement at the trade deadline leaves them in a precarious position in a highly competitive NFC. The lack of movement may signal they are content with losing games but regardless this is an offense that needs help, and if Jordan Love is their guy, they need to provide him with some weapons as soon as possible.

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks made a noteworthy addition to their defense by adding Leonard Williams. It was hard to put the Seahawks in the loser column because I do like this addition to help their immediate team. Even with that in mind, the Seahawks gave up a 2024 2nd-round pick and a 2025 5th-round selection. That is a lot of compensation for a 29-year-old defensive tackle on a contract year. This proves that Seattle thinks they can make a run in this year's playoffs and they seem to be confident they can retain Leonard Williams in free agency this summer. The acquisition further solidifies their defense, positioning them as strong contenders in the NFC West, but I’m not quite sure it’s enough to help them make a deep playoff run. Then again they wrote Geno off before and we all know how that ended (he didn't write back).