The NFL Playoffs are in their second week of play, and 3 of the remaining 8 (now 6) teams playing this weekend were effected by blockbuster trades in the past 3 years. These trades were impactful at the time, with teams swapping QB’s, teams trading away their QB, and various picks throughout the years. Of the 14 teams in the playoffs, 5 of the teams will be talked about in these trades, which is crazy to think that almost half of the Super Bowl contenders made trades that shaped their franchise for the positive. While the other teams involved may not have made the playoffs this season, is the future looking bright for them?
These breakdowns will include all of the players that were drafted with the picks included in the trade, along with players drafted from teams trading said picks in other deals. For example if teams A and B swapped 1st round picks, and then team A turned around and traded Team B’s 1st round pick for team Cs 1st and 2nd round pick, team C’s picks – now team A’s, will be included. If that doesn’t make sense, it will down below.
2021 – Lions and Rams
Breakdown:
Rams receive: QB-Matthew Stafford
Lions received: QB-Jared Goff, two 1st-round Picks, one 3rd-round pick
Picks Used On/Traded For: CB-Ifeatu Melifonwu, WR-Jameson Williams, DE-Josh Paschal, RB-Jahmyr Gibbs, TE-Sam LaPorta and DL-Brodric Martin.
By far the trade that has had the largest impact over the short amount of time between now and the deal. The Lions are currently in the first playoff run since 2017, not having won a playoff game since 1991. While the Rams on the other hand have already completed a Super Bowl run, winning in 2021, missing the playoffs in 2022, and then losing to…none other than… the Lions in 2023. The Rams have achieved what every franchise tries to – making a trade to get you to (and win) a Super Bowl, while the Lions are in the midst of it, having found what looks to be their future RB in Gibs and TE in LaPorta out of the deal, along with other difference makers on either side of the ball. The Rams gave up their future in their win now mode, and it paid off – the Lions gained the future and in a quick time have turned that future into the present, and it looks like a bright one.
2022 – Broncos and Seahawks
Breakdown:
Broncos receive: 1 player and 1 pick: QB Russell Wilson, one 4th-round pick
Pick Used on: DL-Eyioma Uwazurike
Seahawks receive: 3 players and 5 picks: QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, DL Shelby Harris, two 1st-round picks, two 2nd-round picks, one 5th-round pick
Picks Used On: LT-Charles Cross, DE-Boye Mafe, LB-Tyreke Smith, CB-Devon Witherspoon, DE-Derick Hall
This trade has been the most up and down deal of 4, as neither team has had much success with the players involved in the swap. While the Seahawks made the playoffs last season, Drew Lock never touched the field for the team as Geno Smith played every offensive down. Noah Fant has had 400+ yards in both of his seasons in Seattle, not much of a difference maker having 4 TDs in 2022, and 0 in 2023. Shelby Harris was cut following his only season with the team, Tyreke Smith never played a down for the team after being drafted, while Derick Smith has played sparingly. The first round pick selections, Charles Cross and Devon Witherspoon have been difference makers, with Cross holding down the blind side, and Witherspoon making the pro-bowl this year in his rookie season.
The Broncos on the other hand, are having the true up and down ride of the trade. Sean Payton and Russ’s relationship have been questioned since day one of the pairs time in Denver. This season there was reports of Russ being traded, cut, and benched – with him eventually riding the bench at the end of the season (with some scandal behind it). Denver is now at the point of the deal where Russell played well enough down the stretch to not be benched, but does Sean Payton and the rest of the front office believe paying him his mega deal is worth it in the end? We will see where this offseason takes us.
2022 – Browns and Texans
Breakdown:
Browns receive: 1 player and 1 pick: QB-Deshaun Watson, one 5th-round pick
PENDING 2024 5th-round pick
Texans receive: 6 picks: three 1st-round picks, one 3rd-pick, two 4th-round picks
Picks Used On/Traded for: Kenyon Green, John Metchie III, Christian Harris, Dameon Pierce, Thomas Booker, Will Anderson, Tank Dell, Brandon Hill, Xavier Hutchinson, PENDING 2024 1st- and 3rd-round picks
The Browns traded for Deshaun Watson and immediately made him the highest paid player in NFL history. The guy shouldn’t even be in the league, yet the Browns decided to make him the face of their franchise and pay him more than anyone in history…which has since backfired. Watson has played 6 games in both of the last seasons, missing the second half of this year in which Joe Flacco stepped in and led his team to the playoffs. The Browns gave up their future to get Watson, who has yet to be the difference maker they thought they were getting.
The Houston Texans on the other hand have made the most of the deal and it’s showing quickly. The Texans went from being the second worst team in the league last season, to winning a playoff game this year. An insane turn around for a rookie head coach and quarterback. The Texans would use their own 2nd overall pick on CJ Stroud, but would then use the Browns first round pick amongst others to trade up and draft Will Anderson with the 3rd overall pick. Both Stroud and Anderson are the two betting favorites for Offensive and Defensive rookies of the year, with both serving as Team Captains in their rookie season. Houston has also made the most of their picks to this point in picks like Tank Dell, John Metchie, Dameon Pierce (who fell on hard times down the stretch this season), Christian Harris, and Kenyon Green all impacting the team quickly in their young careers.
2023 – Packers and Jets
Breakdown:
Jets receive: 1 player and 2 picks: QB-Aaron Rodgers, one 1st-round pick, one 5th-round pick
Picks Used On: DE-Will McDonald IV, LB-Zaire Barnes, TE-Zack Kuntz
Packers receive: 4 picks: one 1st-round, two 2nd-round, one 6th-round
Picks Used On: DE-Lukas Van Ness, TE-Luke Musgrave, K-Anders Carlson, 2024 2nd-round pick
The deal that has the most/biggest questionmarks still remaining. The pending draft pick in 2024 Draft for the Packers would have been a 1st-round pick if Rodgers’ season would have gone differently, however it is now a 2nd-round pick.
The Jets gave up picks to bring in what they thought was their missing piece to winning a Super Bowl. With a stacked defense, offensive weapons, and a half decent OL, the Jets thought Aaron Rodgers was the savior they so badly needed. And that savior lasted a whole 4 plays on the field. When Rodgers tore his achilles on the 4th play of his Jets tenure, all hope was lost. However, it meant that Rodgers would not play the 65% of the Jets offensive plays this season, making the 2024 1st-round pick in the trade, turn into a 2nd-round pick. Which is good in the long run for the Jets, as they get to keep the 10th overall pick and could possibly draft an offensive lineman to block for Rodgers upon his comeback. Along with Rodgers coming to New York, the team used their first round swap to take edge rusher Will McDonald IV, who didn’t play much but when he did, he was half-decent. Decent enough to take the sting off of taking him in the first round, but not enough to not question whether or not it was the right pick.
The Packers on the other hand, didn’t miss a beat without Rodgers behind center. With Jordan Love taking the reigns, the Packers just completed a playoff run in which should have been a rebuilding season. Lukas Van Ness who they used the Jets’ first round pick on played minimally, while Luke Musgrave averaged about 4 targets and 3 catches in games which he appeared this season. The biggest impact player for the Packers in this deal is Anders Carlson, the kicker. Carlson was 27-33 on attempts this year on field goals, and 34-39 on extra points. Missing a field goal in yesterdays playoff game would be detrimental to the Packers, as it was the difference maker in the final score of 24-21. Although Packers fans have a sour taste in their mouth from that miss yesterday, Carlson was good enough this season to continue to be the Packers kicker for next season.
What will the next NFL blockbuster look like? I’m excited to see.
Till Next Time,
Trevor
Comments are closed