2023 NFL Trade Deadline Review and Impact

NFL Trade Deadline Recap

Football content contributor Ron Marmalefsky offers his NFL trade deadline review and recap before NFL Week 9 kicks off on Thursday! What are his takeaways and look aheads from a betting perspective? Read below now!

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NFL Betting Recap For Week 8

The NFL trade deadline has now passed. Today’s column will focus solely on nine trades made prior to the end of the trading deadline, and what I see as the short- and long-term implications of each trade.

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NFL Trade Deadline Analysis by Team

Lions acquire WR Donovan Peoples-Jones from Cleveland for a 2024 6th round draft pick

From Detroit’s perspective: The Lions get a competent WR who can help stretch the field. It’s a good pick-up, as Jamison Williams has been somewhat disappointing, and needs to improve his catch vs. dropped ball rate.
From Cleveland’s perspective: Peoples-Jones had just eight catches all season. He was not part of their game plan.

San Francisco acquires DE Chase Young from Washington for a 2024 3rd round draft pick

From San Fran’s perspective: SF has always believed that the DL is the most important part of their defensive unit. Young is yet another former 1st round pick in the rotation. This is a massive get on the cheap, which should pay immediate dividends, IF he can stay on the field. Young is a free agent after the season, so it will be interesting to see what SF will do for the long term.

From Washington’s perspective: Washington is rebuilding, adding draft capital to the mix. My advice: Drop their seasonal Power Number immediately. Ron Rivera looks like a lame duck Head Coach, and team morale is low.

Jacksonville acquires OL Ezra Cleveland from Minnesota for a 2024 6th round draft pick

From Jacksonville’s perspective: The Jags needed OL depth and got it in Ezra Cleveland, who has started 45 games.
From Minnesota’s perspective: Dalton Risner starts in Cleveland’s place, and Risner is fully capable of replacing him.

Chicago acquires DE Montez Sweat from Washington in exchange for a 2024 2nd round draft pick

From Chicago’s perspective: Sweat is a productive pass rusher, and the Bears have just ten sacks on the season so this is a great addition on paper.

Here’s the issue: Sweat is in the last year of his rookie contract and needs to get paid. Chicago is in rebuilding mode and needs to pay him. Considering their record, giving up perhaps the 35th pick in the 2024 draft is a steep price to pay. For the rest of 2023, expect Chicago to be more competitive defensively.

From Washington’s perspective: Along with Chase Young, Washington has now parted with two quality DL. They’re all set for the 2024 draft, but look for decreased pass pressure the rest of 2023. My advice: Consider going OVER the team totals for opponents of the Commanders.

Atlanta acquires DE Kentavious Street from Philadelphia in a deal including an exchange of late round draft picks

From Atlanta’s perspective: Atlanta has been devoid of pass rushers for about a decade, but is Street the answer? Luckily, the price they paid was virtually nothing.

From Philly’s perspective: The Eagles won’t miss Street, who was not long for any playing time with the young players they’ve already drafted in 2022 and 2023.

Minnesota acquires QB Joshua Dobbs from Arizona in exchange for a 2024 6th round draft pick

From Minnesota’s perspective: Dobbs gives the Vikings a veteran presence, but he has a very low ceiling. In my opinion his best asset is his ability to escape the pocket and win with his legs. He completes a decent amount of his passes, but is turnover-prone.

From Arizona’s perspective: Dobbs was never the long-range answer. Any draft pick should be considered a win.

Seattle acquires DL Leonard Williams from the New York Giants in exchange for a 2024 2nd round pick and a 2025 5th round pick

From Seattle’s perspective: I like this move, although Williams will be eligible for a new contract in 2024, so there’s no guarantee he remains a Seahawk. Williams is ultra-reliable and a real hard worker. The Seahawks are easy playoff contenders right now and hope to make noise in the Division race as well.

From New York’s perspective: You hate to see New York part with such a strong presence along their DL, but the Giants weren’t going anywhere in 2023 and want to start anew rebuilding their DL.

The pick they obtained might be about pick #50, so that’s not great value, but it is good value if he was not going to be resigned. Bottom line: Look for the NYG to have even more defensive issues moving forward in 2023.

Buffalo acquires DB Rasul Douglas and a 2024 5th round draft pick from Green Bay in exchange for a 2024 3rd round pick

From Buffalo’s perspective: This is a massive acquisition. Buffalo has been reeling defensively ever since losing CB White and LB Milano. Douglas won’t fix all of their issues but the every-game starter has much to offer and is an upgrade from what they have.

From Green Bay’s perspective: Sitting at 2-6, the Packers are now in sell mode. It might have been different with a win vs. Minnesota, but playoff hopes are very low right now. The roster is young at WR and TE, and QB Love’s long-term effectiveness is clearly in question.

Obtaining a 3rd round pick, but also giving up a 5th round pick is NOT a good deal, considering that Buffalo’s pick will be late in the 3rd, while Green Bay’s pick will be quite early if the season doesn’t turn around.

Bottom line: Green Bay will now start a raw rookie at CB, and that means the back end of the defense may regress.

Philadelphia acquires DB Kevin Byard from Tennessee in exchange for DB Terrell Edmunds and 2024 5th and 6th round draft picks

From Philly’s perspective: This move happened a week ago but is clearly just as relevant. Philly’s pass defense has regressed from 2022. Byard was a stalwart in an otherwise dismal Tennessee secondary and his experience and leadership will be an asset to the Eagles.

Good teams (and good GM’s) are proactive in addressing team needs, and once again Howie Roseman made a smart deal, especially with the price being only a pair of third-day draft picks.

From Tennessee’s perspective: In retrospect it wasn’t quite the start of the fire sale many felt Tennessee was going to have, but the loss of Byard still weakens the secondary.

Byard was classy in his departure from the Titans, sending a long note of appreciation to the team and city. Byard never missed a game in eight seasons with Tennessee.

Bottom line: The Titans are just one game out of the playoff race even though it may seem worse than that. If rookie QB Will Levis surprises all of us and plays at a high level right out of the gate then the Titan’s may regret making this move when they did.

Follow me on twitter @ronacesports to be alerted of future articles, and my weekly podcasts with @lasvegascris

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