2025 NFL Trade Audit: Hindsight Reveals Winners and Losers

Twenty-seven players changed teams during the 2025 NFL regular season, a volume not seen in a single year for 25 years. The 2026 trade deadline arrives on Nov. 10, but teams and analysts are currently focused on the outcomes of last year's transactions. Hindsight has clarified which deals benefited the receiving clubs and which ones failed to deliver value.

The most notable failure involved the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts. The Jets sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis in exchange for Adonai Mitchell, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2027 first-round pick. The Colts selected Kenyon Sadiq with the 2026 pick. Gardner played in 17 games for the Colts and produced the lowest statistical output of his career. The deal was a factor in the midseason firing of general manager Chris Ballard. The Jets earned an A for the transaction, while the Colts received an F. The 2027 first-round pick held by New York may now be a high selection due to Indianapolis' recent performance.

The Dallas Cowboys acquired defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets and received a B for the move. Williams recorded six tackles for loss in six games, the most by a Dallas defensive lineman since 2013. He signed a three-year extension worth $105.9 million. The Jets received a C for their portion of the trade. They released Mazi Smith and used the traded-down second-round pick to select cornerback D'Angelo Ponds, who has played only 59 snaps this season.

Smaller transactions generally produced better results for both clubs. Pittsburgh earned an A for acquiring safety Kyle Dugger from New England for a seventh-round pick. The Patriots received a C after buying out the remainder of Dugger's contract for $5.4 million in cash and roster bonuses. Dugger started nine games for Pittsburgh, recording two interceptions, one sack, and a safety. One interception was returned for a touchdown.

Philadelphia received an A for trading a third-round pick to Miami for pass rusher Jaelan Phillips. The Dolphins received an A- for the same deal. Phillips helped the Eagles reach the playoffs before signing a four-year, $120 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. The Eagles are expected to receive a third-round compensatory pick in 2027, effectively offsetting their original loss. Cincinnati graded a B- for acquiring quarterback Joe Flacco from Cleveland, which received a B. Flacco started five games and went 1-5 while Joe Burrow recovered from turf toe. He threw for 470 yards in one game and helped the Bengals score at least 33 points in three consecutive outings.

Other notable deals included the Los Angeles Rams' acquisition of cornerback Roger McCreary and the Tennessee Titans' return, both graded a B. The Jacksonville Jaguars received a B+ for adding Jakobi Meyers from the Raiders, who earned a B. Meyers signed a three-year, $60 million extension. San Francisco earned a B+ for selecting Keion White from New England, which also received a B. White is on pace for a career-high 3.5 sacks through seven weeks. The Seattle Seahawks received a B+ for acquiring Rashid Shaheed, who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including one in the playoffs. Shaheed signed a three-year, $51 million extension. Coach Mike Macdonald stated on Monday that early reports on Shaheed's knee injury from Sunday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs are positive. The New Orleans Saints received a B for that trade.

The Los Angeles Chargers earned a C- for acquiring tackle Trevor Penning from the Saints, which received a C+. Penning currently holds the worst pass-blocking grade among 74 qualified guards this season.