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NFL trade deadline fallout: Can Williams fix the Cowboys’ D? Can Sauce help the Colts win the Super Bowl?
The NFL trade deadline passed yesterday with a whirlwind of activity, sparking a league-wide scramble as teams loaded up for a playoff push or began rebuilding for the future.
I tracked every major move from the past week and any last-minute deals made before the deadline, then broke down what each player brings to their new team.
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Cowboys add former All-Pro DT Quinnen Williams
While Williams was reportedly on the trade block, this move sent shockwaves through the NFL, as much for the reputation of the player involved as for the fact that it was the second defensive star exiting the Jets on the same day.
What does Williams bring to the Cowboys?
Dallas’ defense has been rough this year, ranking near the bottom of the pack and getting picked apart by just about every quarterback they’ve faced. The secondary’s been especially leaky, and it’s cost them games.
That’s why adding Williams matters. He’s one of the best run-stoppers inside, and when he's on his game, he can rush the passer with the best of them.
His sack numbers have dipped this year, but his body of work - 40 career sacks in 99 games - speaks for itself.
Even the offensive coaches couldn’t help but get fired up.
"It's exciting," said offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, talking about the arrivals of Williams and linebacker Logan Wilson, who signed earlier in the day.
"It gets you excited as a coach, and I think it's two terrific players, but also terrific young men."
Seahawks trade for speedy WR Rashid Shaheed
Seattle added a playmaker yesterday, acquiring Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints for 2026 fourth and fifth-round picks.
What does Shaheed bring to the Seahawks?
Shaheed's addition makes an already great aerial attack even more potent. It also helps them through a period where several other WRs, such as Cooper Kupp and Jake Bobo, are sidelined with injuries.
It's a unit that already boasts Offensive Player of the Year frontrunner Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and now, they've thrown a player like Shaheed into the mix who can take the top off a defense.
With this move, Seattle has set up quarterback Sam Darnold, who was already playing at a high level, with everything he needs for even greater success.
All-Pro Sauce Gardner joins Colts in blockbuster move
One of the headline trades of the day saw two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner traded from the struggling Jets to the Indianapolis Colts - the surprise team of 2025.
What does Gardner bring to the Colts?
The Colts (7-2) paid a hefty price to get this deal done, and critics will say they’ve mortgaged part of their future for 2025.
But when you’re a genuine Super Bowl contender, moves like this can make the difference. Adding a talent like Sauce to a defense that already sits inside the league’s top 10 against the pass might be exactly what pushes them over the line.
Colts GM Chris Ballard could barely contain his excitement.
"His skill and competitive nature will elevate everyone's play on the defensive unit," he said in a statement. "We're thrilled he's a Colt."
Jaguars trade for sure-handed WR Jakobi Meyers
What does Meyers bring to the Jaguars?
Meyers, who’d been on the trade block for months, finally got his move. And his new team desperately needed his services because Travis Hunter’s on IR, Brian Thomas can’t shake the drops, and Dyami Brown’s in the concussion protocol.
Enter Meyers: a steady, reliable target with the sure hands that the Jaguars' offense needs and the fans crave.
Meyers recorded his first 1,000-yard season in 2024. He may be hard-pressed to replicate those numbers with so many mouths to feed in Jacksonville, but his impact should be no less important.
Cowboys trade with Bengals to add LB Logan Wilson
After hinting yesterday that a deal was in the works, Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones followed through, announcing the acquisition of veteran linebacker Wilson from the Bengals.
What does Wilson bring to the Cowboys?
Wilson had been a mainstay in the middle of Cincinnati’s defense for more than five years, but he lost his job to rookie Barrett Carter earlier this season.
At 29, his play had been slipping for a while, and with Joe Burrow sidelined, the Bengals began looking ahead. Wilson's benching and eventual departure felt inevitable.
Dallas, meanwhile, badly needed help at linebacker. Kenneth Murray has continued to struggle, Shemar James has cooled off after a hot start, and injuries to Jack Sanborn and DeMarvion Overshown left the unit thin.
It’s an intriguing move given Overshown’s imminent return, but a Wilson-Overshown tandem would almost certainly be the best linebacker duo the Cowboys have had in a while.
Ravens acquire Dre'Mont Jones from Titans
On Tuesday, the Ravens traded a conditional fifth-round pick for the veteran edge rusher. Jones thanked the Titans before sharing his excitement at joining Baltimore.
What does Jones bring to the Ravens?
Jones fills a void for a defensive unit tied 31st in the league in sacks.
Baltimore traded Odafe Oweh to the Chargers last month before losing Tavius Robinson to a foot injury. Jones will pair with Mike Green and Kyle Van Noy, likely assuming most of David Ojabo's snaps.
While he has never been considered among the top tier of edge rushers, Jones has 4.5 sacks in his last four games and is undoubtedly an upgrade on Ojabo.
The 28-year-old also offers inside-out versatility, which could be a real asset for a unit that lost Justin Madubuike for the season with a neck injury.
Eagles trade with Dolphins for Jaelan Phillips
Phillips, one of several players heavily rumoured to be on the trade block in recent weeks, has swapped the 2-7 Miami Dolphins for the 6-2 reigning Super Bowl champions.
What does Phillips bring to the Eagles?
The Eagles’ defense has managed just 16 sacks in 2025, tied for 24th in the league, a steep drop for a unit that thrived on relentless pressure last season.
Offseason turnover and injuries have gutted the group. Josh Sweat moved on, Brandon Graham and Za'Darius Smith retired, and Nolan Smith’s triceps injury sent him to IR.
Parting with a third-round pick for Phillips might raise eyebrows among the box-score crowd because his three sacks in 2025 don’t suggest he can make a major impact.
However, the 27-year-old is tied for 14th among all edges in total pressures despite limited pass-rush snaps. If he continues being as disruptive in Philly, the sacks will come.
Eagles trade for EDGE Jaire Alexander
Philadelphia stayed busy ahead of the deadline, bringing in the second cornerback in the last few days, exchanging late-round picks with the Baltimore Ravens to further bolster their secondary.
What does Alexander bring to the Eagles?
Once viewed as one of the league’s elite corners, Alexander has battled injuries and inconsistency in recent years.
The Ravens clearly aren’t banking on a full return to that old form, and if their read is right, the Eagles have at least protected themselves against the downside.
Eagles trade WR Metchie to Jets for CB Carter
Carter, a fifth-year cornerback, and Metchie, a 2022 second-round wide receiver, swapped teams along with a couple of late-round picks late Wednesday.
What does Carter bring to the Eagles?
This move fills a void for the Eagles, who have struggled to find a capable complement to Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell at corner.
Adoree Jackson was supposed to be that guy, but he played extremely poorly before suffering a concussion. Kelee Ringo has been a little better, but he's no world-beater.
The addition of Carter, who has been almost exclusively a slot corner, will likely bump DeJean to the outside.
According to Rapoport, Carter wanted to join the Eagles so desperately that he "agreed to delete the $5M guaranteed for injury in his 2026 contract year to complete the trade."
What does Metchie bring to the Jets?
After a standout career at Alabama, hopes were high for Metchie when the Houston Texans drafted him 44th overall. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with leukemia and missed his entire rookie year.
The 25-year-old has struggled to get his career going since. Landing with the Jets, however, gives him a chance to work into what has been a mediocre group of wideouts behind Garrett Wilson.
Chicago Bears sign FA DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
The Bears brought defensive back Gardner-Johnson in for a visit on Tuesday and signed him just after midday on Wednesday.
As Schefter pointed out, this move reunites the 27-year-old with a familiar face: Dennis Allen, who served as his defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints from 2019 to 2021.
What does Gardner-Johnson bring to the Bears?
Gardner-Johnson isn’t just another depth signing. He’s got the potential to be a tone-setter, as demonstrated with a sack in his debut last weekend.
The ball-hawk snagged interceptions last season and helped power the Eagles to the Super Bowl LIX title in 2024.
He has stepped in for Kyler Gordon, who’s sidelined for at least four games with a groin and calf issue.
Adding a proven playmaker to a defense that already leads the league with 11 picks is a shrewd move. The Bears may have just turned what was already a strength into a weapon.
Pittsburgh Steelers trade for safety Kyle Dugger
Dugger fell out of favour with New England Patriots' head coach Mike Vrabel from the off, relegated to backup duties only a year after signing a massive extension.
New England wanted him gone so badly that they agreed to pay most of the $5.4 million remaining from Dugger's $9.75 million base salary for 2025.
What does Dugger bring to the Steelers?
Dugger is a classic box safety, spending most of his time operating close to the line of scrimmage and occasionally in the slot.
That's precisely the role Pittsburgh's DeShon Elliott occupied before landing on IR with a knee injury. In that sense, it's a like-for-like replacement.
San Francisco 49ers trade for DL Keion White
As the second former Patriots player on this list, White also didn't do enough to convince Vrabel he was worth keeping around.
The 49ers sent a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for White and a 2026 seventh.
Impressive work from this Ninersnation.com's Kyle Posey predicting this one.
What does White bring to the 49ers?
San Fran may be hoping they have acquired a talented player capable of helping fill the massive void vacated by Nick Bosa, but truthfully, White has a long way to go.
The former second-round pick flashed talent at the very start of last season, but was a non-factor the rest of the way and hasn't impressed this year.
With that said, the 49ers didn't give up much to get him, and he's still young. If he somehow lives up to his potential, his strength and versatility will be an asset.
Rams trade with Titans for CB Roger McCreary
After four years in Tennessee, McCreary swapped the AFC South for the NFC West.
What does McCreary bring to the Rams?
McCreary peaked in 2023 and has been a below-average slot cornerback since. He's willing in run defense but misses too many tackles and has allowed a quarterback rating of above 100 in covering in three of his four seasons.
He has had some standout moments amid the mediocrity.
The Rams already have a capable slot cornerback in Quentin Lake. When discussing the addition of McCreary, head coach Sean McVay stressed the importance of adding "depth" in the DB room.
Either McVay was being careful not to upset any of his existing starters, or McCreary might be destined to ride the bench as he did last weekend.
