NFL trade grades: Jets tear it down with Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams blockbusters

The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and it didn’t disappoint. The New York Jets stole all the headlines (including ours) by trading away two of their best players in cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, in exchange for a haul of draft capital and a couple of former top picks.

It’s all about the future now for the Jets. The same, however, cannot be said for the Indianapolis Colts, who sent a pair of first-rounders to New York for Gardner. The Colts clearly believe the AFC is up for grabs, and they pushed their chips to the center. Of course, the Gardner and Williams deals weren’t the only ones of significance made in the past 24 hours. There have been plenty of moves that could change the course of the season, and we’ve broken them all down here, providing some brief thoughts, analysis and, of course, trade grades for every deal made ahead of the deadline.

Chargers acquire OL Trevor Penning

The New Orleans Saints traded offensive lineman Trevor Penning to the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2027 sixth-round pick, league sources told The Athletic.

Why they made the move

The Chargers have one of the best young tackle tandems in the NFL with Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. Problematically, however, both are done for the season with injuries.

Penning, a first-round pick in 2022, is set to become a free agent after the season because the Saints declined to exercise his fifth-year option. Considering how desperately teams have sought offensive line solutions, that’s a fairly damning indication of how Penning’s time with the Saints has gone. He’s got good strength and physical ability, but it hasn’t materialized consistently enough on the field.

The Saints were sellers at the deadline, having already moved wideout Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks. And though they weren’t as active as the New York Jets, the Penning trade was a continuation of their decision to move spare parts.

Chargers trade grade: OK

Penning didn’t pan out at either tackle spot or guard for the Saints. Perhaps things will go better with Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. At minimum, Penning should be better than anyone the Chargers would be signing off another team’s practice squad at this point.

Saints trade grade: Fine

The draft pick was a whiff. The trade compensation for a player on the outs was just fine, even if it’ll take some patience before they can attempt to capitalize on the return.

Cowboys acquire DT Quinnen Williams

The New York Jets traded defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The first-rounder will be the better of the Cowboys’ two picks, as they also own the rights to the Green Bay Packers’ top selection (Micah Parsons trade).

Why they made the move

The Jets are tearing it down to the studs. Ironically, they moved their two biggest defensive studs to do so — already shipping out cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for a pair of first-rounders and wideout AD Mitchell.

Williams, who turns 28 next month, has been one of the league’s best defensive tackles since becoming the No. 3 pick in 2019. But even with Williams and Gardner, the Jets had allowed the sixth-most points in the league. Defensive-minded head coach Aaron Glenn recognized the need to rip it apart and start over.

The Cowboys have desperately worked to retool a defense that has allowed the second-most points in the NFL, already acquiring linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals. Should the blame for the defense’s performance be put on team owner Jerry Jones for trading Parsons just before the regular season or on first-year coordinator Matt Eberflus? Maybe that’ll be more definitively answered in the offseason.

Remember, the Cowboys wanted defensive tackle Kenny Clark in the Parsons trade as a way to shore up the run defense. With Clark in the fold, they’ve allowed the fourth-most rushing yards in the league, so they’ve summoned Williams as their latest reinforcement.

Cowboys trade grade: B-minus

This is a tough one. Williams has enough time remaining in his prime to be a cornerstone piece for at least another couple of years. And if the Cowboys put their two first-rounders in 2026 to good use, they could retool quicker than anticipated.

But right now they’re 3-5-1 and need dramatic improvements to become a factor in the playoff race. They’re the No. 11 seed in the NFC and likely can’t afford more than one more loss if they’re going to make a charge for the postseason.

And since virtually everything this season will be compared to Parsons, it’s jolting to see the Cowboys got two first-rounders for him, then sent a first- and second-rounder a couple months later for Williams. It’s not a perfect comparison because of the financial aspect, and expectations change over the course of time. But this is a journey that will be mightily scrutinized in Dallas for years to come.

Jets trade grade: A

Teams deserve credit for identifying who they are and where they’re going. More often than not in recent decades, the Jets have appeared to be heading in one of those directions while acting as though they were moving in the other — conflicting ideologies that tend to yield extensive playoff droughts.

The Jets cleaned house last offseason and started a new regime with Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. That was a start. Now with a 1-7 record, that regime understood just how far away from winning the Jets really were, so they’re clearing the books and setting up to control the next two drafts.

The Jets have two first-rounders in 2026 and three in 2027, when Texas quarterback Arch Manning is expected to be eligible. Whomever the Jets target, this draft or next, they have the assets to make it work.

The next step — the nonnegotiable one — is nailing those picks.

Bears acquire DL Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

The Cleveland Browns traded defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and a seventh-round pick to the Chicago Bears for a sixth-rounder, according to league sources.

Why they made the move

The Bears (5-3) are in contention for their first playoff berth in five years, but they’re among nine NFC teams with winning records. The Bears have only 17 sacks this season, tied for the ninth-fewest in the league, and they just lost defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (Achilles) for the season, so they needed to make a move to bolster their depth. Enter Tryon-Shoyinka.

The Browns are sellers once again. Tryon-Shoyinka, a 2021 first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is on a one-year deal. He’s played only 31 defensive snaps this season, so the Browns were likely happy to move on to jump up a round in the draft.

Bears trade grade: Eh

It’s a move for depth and special teams. Tryon-Shoyinka averaged four defensive snaps per game with the Browns and had zero sacks, zero tackles for loss, one QB hit and nine tackles this season.

Browns trade grade: Might as well

Suffice to say, this trade will not define their season.

Seahawks acquire WR Rashid Shaheed

The New Orleans Saints traded wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks for a fourth- and fifth-round pick.

Why they made the move

The Seahawks look ready to contend in the NFC, and they needed security behind budding star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who leads the league with 948 receiving yards. While Smith-Njigba has proven his ability to drive the passing attack (mostly) on his own, that’s a dangerous strategy in the playoffs.

Cooper Kupp is second on the team with 24 catches and 293 yards, but that’s marginal production for a No. 2 wide receiver with his career track record. Rookie Troy Horton is third among receivers with 13 catches and 161 yards. The Seahawks haven’t gotten a ton of production out of their young tight ends.

Shaheed, who will be a free agent after the season, was a likely candidate to leave. The Saints (1-8) are tied for the worst record in the NFL, so they’re wise to start stockpiling picks and building for the future.

Seahawks trade grade: B

Shaheed, 27, reunites with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who is off to a fantastic start in his first season with the Seahawks. Shaheed was mostly injured when the pair were together last season, but the system familiarity will help the midseason transition.

The Seahawks’ offensive identity will still be through their rushing attack, but they’re really building their aerial attack with quarterback and MVP candidate Sam Darnold. A deeper crop of receivers will help their cause.

Saints trade grade: B

The Saints aren’t going anywhere this season and have ongoing cap concerns. While they’re unapologetically themselves with their management of the books, it’s an odd look when they’re struggling so mightily to win games year after year. They haven’t been to the playoffs since 2020.

There’s some risk to this move, of course. Rookie Tyler Shough just started his first game and would probably love throwing to more than just Chris Olave on the outside, but the Saints need to think long term with these deadline moves, and that’s what they’re doing.

Colts acquire CB Sauce Gardner

The New York Jets traded cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for two first-round picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell.

Why they made the move

The Colts, who are currently the AFC’s No. 1 seed, have smashed expectations this season, and they’re trying to put years of mediocrity in the rearview mirror with a shocking blockbuster that caught people by surprise around the league.

While the Colts have been much improved defensively under coordinator Lou Anarumo — jumping from 24th in points allowed to seventh — they’ve been 26th against the pass, partly due to volume but also because of personnel. Gardner is a clear upgrade.

Gardner has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league since the Jets selected him in the first round of the 2022 draft, and he won’t be easy to replace. But for a franchise under yet another new regime and in dire need of a large-scale rebuild, it’s impossible to turn away a couple first-rounders.

Colts trade grade: A-minus

As always, reward the bold, and the Colts were just that.

Gardner is still just 25 years old and under contract through 2030, so he should be a franchise staple for years. And with a coordinator like Anarumo, Gardner should be in terrific hands.

The Colts’ start looks legit, and they’re in position to make some teams uncomfortable in the postseason. The perception is they’ve still got quite a bit of ground to make up on perennial powers like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. But someone like Gardner could be good for a difference-making player in a higher-stakes atmosphere.

Mitchell, a 2024 second-rounder, will go down as a draft whiff. He also had an embarrassing moment this season, inexplicably dropping the ball before crossing the end zone in a play that directly correlated to the Colts’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Jets trade grade: A

The Jets now have two first-round picks in the 2026 and 2027 drafts, so they’ll be in terrific position to target a quarterback when they’re ready. Of course, drafting the right guy and developing him into a franchise savior have proven to be two entirely different challenges, but they’ve got to cross one hurdle before they can navigate the other.

If the Jets do climb out of this perpetual rebuild, Gardner could have been part of the solution, so he’ll be missed. But they’re far enough away that the two first-rounders should have made for an easy decision. Anything Mitchell provides will be a bonus.

Jaguars acquire WR Jakobi Meyers

The Las Vegas Raiders traded wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars for fourth- and sixth-round picks in the 2026 draft. The fourth-rounder will be the earlier of either Jacksonville’s or Minnesota’s picks in that round.

Why they made the move

The Jaguars placed rookie Travis Hunter on injured reserve with a knee injury, and he’ll miss at least another three games while they continue to determine his recovery timeline.

And every bit as important, the Jaguars needed to address their glaring issues with drops. They led the league with 26 drops through eight weeks, according to Pro Football Reference, which updates its advanced analytics on Wednesdays. That’s five more than the second-place Denver Broncos and 10 more than all but two teams in the NFL. Brian Thomas Jr. has a league-high nine drops, which is more than 11 teams.

The Raiders, meanwhile, are 2-6 and staring at a longer rebuild. Meyers had previously requested a trade, and they got solid value in return for a player who was going to leave in free agency.

Jaguars trade grade: A-minus

Meyers is a true professional who will bring quality leadership to a locker room that is learning to win on the fly. The Jaguars have exceeded expectations in their new regime’s first season, and they have a legitimate opportunity to qualify for the playoffs — 56 percent, according to our NFL Playoff Simulator.

Meyers tallied career highs in 2024 with 87 receptions and 1,027 yards, which is even more impressive with the Raiders starting quarterbacks Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder all season. Meyers, who turns 29 next week, should be very productive in coach Liam Coen’s offense with a steadier QB in Trevor Lawrence.

Meyers has only four drops since 2023 and has just a 2.7 drop rate throughout his career. That’s a monumental improvement from the Jaguars’ ugly 9.1 drop percentage this season.

Meyers can also control the middle of the field, which will help as the Jaguars await tight end Brenton Strange’s return from injured reserve.

The only concern is the Jaguars’ shortage of future picks due to the trade up to draft Hunter. But if they like Meyers enough to extend him in the offseason, that shouldn’t be a bother.

Raiders trade grade: B-plus

All things being equal, it would have been more ideal to work out a long-term solution with Meyers. But it’s understandable that they wouldn’t have paid him market rate at this juncture of the rebuild, and it’s equally understandable if money didn’t buy happiness during another extended rebuild.

The trade compensation is pretty good under the circumstances.

Cowboys acquire LB Logan Wilson

The Cincinnati Bengals traded linebacker Logan Wilson to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2026 seventh-round pick.

Why they made the move

Both defenses are in disarray, so why not shuffle a few chairs around to see if the deck looks any better?

The Bengals recently benched Wilson to give more playing time to rookies Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr., though neither has played well for a defense that’s allowed the most points in the NFL. Wilson, 29, requested a trade.

The Cowboys, who have allowed the second-most points in the league, are barely faring any better than their trade partners. Their offseason linebacker additions haven’t panned out, though that might be more of a defensive-wide issue than anything, as the Cowboys have taken a considerable step back in their transition from coach Mike McCarthy and their summer trade of Micah Parsons.

Cowboys trade grade: C-plus

Wilson has been a productive player, amassing four consecutive seasons with at least 100 tackles, so it’s hardly a stretch to think a change of scenery could help. The Cowboys seem to view him in a Leighton Vander Esch-type of role. If the change of scenery does indeed benefit Wilson, this would generate a boost in the grade because the potential does exist.

Bengals trade grade: F

The grade is more about the process than the execution of the trade.

Wilson isn’t even halfway through his four-year, $36 million extension, and they reached a point of no return with a player who had been a solid contributor. The Bengals scapegoated defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo last season, and they’ve since gotten worse defensively under coordinator Al Golden. (Anarumo, by the way, has improved the Colts defense from No. 24 in scoring to No. 7.)

It was clear Sunday following the Bengals’ 47-42 loss to the Chicago that there’s a major divide between the offense and defense. And for a team that’s desperately trying to tread water until quarterback Joe Burrow returns, the mixed messages with Wilson’s role seem to signify a larger issue in Cincinnati.

Ravens acquire LB Dre’Mont Jones

The Tennessee Titans traded edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones to the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional fifth-round draft pick. The pick could convert to a fourth-rounder if unspecified conditions are met.

Why they made the move

Jones, who signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Titans in the offseason, is off to a nice start with 4.5 sacks in nine games. But the Titans are back in contention for the No. 1 selection in the draft, and the additional mid-rounder is more valuable to the rebuild.

The Ravens (3-5) have won two in a row and are just two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. They will also, theoretically, get healthier down the stretch, as they attempt to improve a defense that ranks 24th in points and 27th in yards allowed. Jones will help those efforts.

Ravens trade grade: B

The Ravens have just 11 sacks, tied for the second fewest in the league. That’s a steep fall from a season ago when they had the second most with 54. Jones alone has more sacks than the Ravens’ top pair of Tavius Robinson and Nnamdi Madubuike, who are on injured reserve with two sacks each.

Jones, now in his seventh season, has been a steady pass rusher throughout his career with the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Titans. He has 35 sacks, though he’s never registered more than 6.5 in a season. Jones could easily eclipse his career high if the Ravens figure it out defensively.

But good for the Ravens, who will not sit idly by and are actually trying to make something happen.

Titans trade grade: B-minus

The Titans knew they were facing a long rebuild before the season, but Jones was the type of pro whom it made sense to have in the locker room. However, with coach Brian Callahan already fired and the focus of the organization now squarely on the development of rookie quarterback Cam Ward, it made sense to move Jones.

He can join a team with a better chance of getting into the playoffs, and the Titans can shift their focus toward the future and building the next core through the draft.

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