For many years, the NFL trade deadline generated very little buzz compared to that of other sports leagues. Teams tended to swap players in the offseason, especially close to the draft, but not so much once the season began.
That trend started to change in recent years thanks to shorter contract lengths, voidable years and a preference for stockpiling draft picks. Last season, 15 in-season trades occurred.
Impact wide receivers have been on the move this year ahead of the Nov. 5 deadline. Davante Adams was traded from the Raiders to the Jets, Amari Cooper from the Browns to the Bills, DeAndre Hopkins from the Titans to the Chiefs and Diontae Johnson from the Panthers to the Ravens. New England also sent edge rusher Josh Uche to Kansas City.
All the acquiring teams hope these moves translate into impactful contributions that will help position them for Super Bowl glory, but how many will actually deliver the desired results?
If history is an indicator, not many. Of the 15 trades made during the 2023 season, only a handful helped truly elevate the teams that brought in the talent. Other squads experienced minimal impacts, and others wound up wasting those draft picks they parted with in exchange for veteran talent.
Here’s a look back at last year’s in-season trades from first to last, and how things played out for the teams involved. The first deal was completed Sept. 20, 2023, and the last six were done on deadline day, Oct. 31, with others falling between those dates.
The trade: Vikings get RB Cam Akers and conditional 2026 seventh-round pick from Rams for 2026 conditional sixth-round pick
The verdict: Solid. The Vikings needed depth in their backfield and Akers chipped in with an average of 23 rushing yards and 11.7 receiving yards per game. He signed with the Texans in the offseason, but the Vikings re-acquired him in mid-October to help improve depth once again.
GO FURTHER
Revisiting 15 NFL trades at last year’s deadline. Which ones paid off? Which ones didn’t?
