2025 Nfl Trade Deadline Grades Jets Cowboys And Other Top Moves On

Bonisiwe Shabane
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2025 nfl trade deadline grades jets cowboys and other top moves on

The 2025 NFL trade deadline was much more active than any of us anticipated, with the New York Jets providing us with a pair of surprising trades. New York shipped out star cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in separate moves on Tuesday to give the Jets major draft capital. The Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys were the beneficiaries of the Jets' sudden fire sale, but did they give up too much for the defensive standouts? Let's dish out grades for each team involved in Tuesday's most notable trades on deadline day. Colts receive: CB Sauce GardnerJets receive: 2026 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell This is a much bigger trade than most expected on Tuesday, and it's an all-in move for the Colts, even though their first-rounders are likely to be in the bottom 10 each of the...

Coming off a six-turnover loss, it feels a little panicky for Indianapolis, but this is a solid longterm addition that will have major weight in the playoffs as it tries to make an extended... With the 2025 NFL trade deadline firmly in the rearview, it's time to take a closer look at how the sides fared in 20 deals made between the start of the season and Nov. 4. With Charvarius Ward on IR, Indy's CBs needed help. So the Colts pushed all their chips into the middle, and now in comes Sauce to play savior. Gardner opened his career with smashing success, using his length and physicality to compile 31 passes defended and two INTs in his first two seasons, earning All-Pro honors in each campaign.

The corner position being fickle, the past two years haven't been as kind; he's struggled some in coverage and dealt with a concussion earlier this year. When he's on, though, Gardner remains an upper-echelon cover man. Per Next Gen Stats, he faced No. 1 receivers on 45.5% of his coverage matchups, the NFL's highest rate (min. 125 matchups). When targeted, he has forced tight windows (allowing less than 1 yard of separation) at a rate of 53.8%, also leading the league (min.

20 targets). The Colts are betting big that their Lou Anarumo-led defense will present Sauce with a better situation than he played under the past two seasons in New York. Still, considering that the cost is similar to what Green Bay gave up for pass rusher Micah Parsons (two first-round picks and a player), it's a hefty price to pay for a corner. Even one as good as Sauce can be. On the Jets' end, it's a stunner of a move. They just handed Gardner -- drafted fourth overall in 2022 -- a sizable contract this offseason to be one of their building blocks, and four months later, said building block is headed for Indianapolis.

Once we pick our jaws off the floor, it's not hard to see the logic for New York. The windfall was simply too good to pass up. What good is a star corner when the rest of the operation is crumbling? The 2025 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, with arguably more fireworks than any before it. Quinnen Williams is a Dallas Cowboy. Sauce Gardner is an Indianapolis Colt.

Rashid Shaheed is a Seattle Seahawk. Jakobi Meyers is a Jacksonville Jaguar. All those deals went down Tuesday. How did your team grade out overall, taking all of its moves since the season began in context? Find out below. NFC East: Cowboys | Giants | Eagles | Commanders

NFC North: Bears | Lions | Bay Packers | Vikings Did the Cowboys give up too much for Quinnen Williams? Were the Jets smart to trade Sauce Gardner? We graded the top deals from the NFL's trade deadline day. Articles and images are copyright of blog/website indicated. Team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated.

The 2025 NFL trade deadline produced more activity and shock value than many expected. From the New York Jets’ surprise moves to impactful additions across the league, deadline day reshaped rosters and playoff narratives. Here’s a close look at the top transactions and our assessment of how teams fared. The most talked-about development came when the New York Jets shipped out star cornerback Sauce Gardner. That move — one of a pair of surprising trades by the Jets on deadline day — immediately altered the AFC East landscape and raised questions about the franchise’s longer-term plans. The decision to move a cornerstone defensive player signaled a willingness to pivot midseason and extract value while teams are willing to buy.

New York’s other deadline transaction also drew attention, though reactions were mixed among analysts and fans. Collectively, the deals represented a substantial shift for a team that had entered the season with high expectations. The Dallas Cowboys were among the teams that made notable moves, adding personnel intended to bolster depth and push for a postseason run. While no single trade dominated headlines like the Gardner deal, Dallas’s deadline activity reflected a strategic approach: targeting specific roster weaknesses while trying to maintain salary-cap flexibility. Beyond the Jets and Cowboys, several franchises completed deadline deals meant to address immediate needs — whether that was pass rush, secondary help, or offensive weapons. Deadline-day trading often separates contenders from pretenders, and this year’s flurry of transactions emphasized the urgency teams feel as they chase playoff positioning.

Welcome to The Athletic's 2025 coverage of the 2025 NFL trade deadline. With the trade deadline passed, below you will find the most recent trades and analysis of the biggest deals. Follow the latest updates on our NFL Playoff Simulator after all these changes to your favorite teams. New York is receiving two first-round picks in exchange, league sources tell The Athletic. New York is receiving a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick, league sources tell The Athletic. Las Vegas is receiving fourth and sixth-round picks in exchange, league sources tell The Athletic.

November 5, 2025, 4:30pm EST 109 • By Kevin Nardone The 2025 NFL Trade Deadline has come and gone, and this year’s edition lived up to the hype with blockbuster deals, shocking last-minute moves, and a few head-scratching trades. Contenders like the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs made aggressive pushes to strengthen their playoff rosters, while struggling teams such as the Patriots and Titans opted to sell off key veterans for future... From Quinnen Williams’ stunning trade to the Cowboys to surprising under-the-radar moves that could reshape playoff races, front offices around the league were busy making statements. But which teams truly improved — and which might regret their decisions by season’s end? Here’s a complete breakdown and grade for every major trade made before the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline, evaluating the impact, fit, and long-term implications for each team involved.

This was a curious one for the Ravens at the 2025 NFL trade deadline, though… Considering what a disappointment Jaire Alexander has been, it was no wonder they trimmed a crowded corner room by... FOX Sports provides daily sports news, highlights and analysis including the NFL, College Football, MLB, NASCAR, College Basketball, USFL, FIFA soccer and much more. The 2025 NFL trade deadline was much more active than any of us anticipated, with the New York Jets providing us with a pair of surprising trades. New York shipped out star cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in separate moves on Tuesday to give the Jets major draft capital. The Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys were the beneficiaries of the Jets' sudden fire sale, but did they give up too much for the defensive standouts? Let's dish out grades for each team involved in Tuesday's most notable trades on deadline day.

Colts receive: CB Sauce GardnerJets receive: 2026 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell

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The 2025 NFL Trade Deadline Was Much More Active Than

The 2025 NFL trade deadline was much more active than any of us anticipated, with the New York Jets providing us with a pair of surprising trades. New York shipped out star cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams in separate moves on Tuesday to give the Jets major draft capital. The Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys were the beneficiaries of the Jets' sudden fire sale, b...

Coming Off A Six-turnover Loss, It Feels A Little Panicky

Coming off a six-turnover loss, it feels a little panicky for Indianapolis, but this is a solid longterm addition that will have major weight in the playoffs as it tries to make an extended... With the 2025 NFL trade deadline firmly in the rearview, it's time to take a closer look at how the sides fared in 20 deals made between the start of the season and Nov. 4. With Charvarius Ward on IR, Indy's...

The Corner Position Being Fickle, The Past Two Years Haven't

The corner position being fickle, the past two years haven't been as kind; he's struggled some in coverage and dealt with a concussion earlier this year. When he's on, though, Gardner remains an upper-echelon cover man. Per Next Gen Stats, he faced No. 1 receivers on 45.5% of his coverage matchups, the NFL's highest rate (min. 125 matchups). When targeted, he has forced tight windows (allowing les...

20 Targets). The Colts Are Betting Big That Their Lou

20 targets). The Colts are betting big that their Lou Anarumo-led defense will present Sauce with a better situation than he played under the past two seasons in New York. Still, considering that the cost is similar to what Green Bay gave up for pass rusher Micah Parsons (two first-round picks and a player), it's a hefty price to pay for a corner. Even one as good as Sauce can be. On the Jets' end...

Once We Pick Our Jaws Off The Floor, It's Not

Once we pick our jaws off the floor, it's not hard to see the logic for New York. The windfall was simply too good to pass up. What good is a star corner when the rest of the operation is crumbling? The 2025 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, with arguably more fireworks than any before it. Quinnen Williams is a Dallas Cowboy. Sauce Gardner is an Indianapolis Colt.