NFL Trade Deadline Analysis and Predictions

• Our NFL Trade Deadline analysis and predictions look at the immediate aftermath of an active day for buyers
• The Colts, Eagles, Seahawks, and Cowboys were most aggressive in adding players
• How do the moves impact the present and future for the most aggressive teams?

Day After NFL Trade Deadline Super Bowl Odds

NFL Trade Deadline Buyers

Dallas Cowboys

If you’re trying to make sense of what Jerry Jones and the Cowboys do…STOP!!!!

In separate trades, Dallas acquired linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals for a 7th-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from the Jets for defensive tackle Mazi Smith, a 2nd-round pick in the 2026 draft, and a 1st-round pick in the 2027 draft.

Wilson, 29, is a 6-year veteran who plays solid pass defense when sent into coverage. He has 11 career interceptions, making him something of a ballhawk for a linebacker. He is signed through 2027.

Williams was the 3rd overall pick out of Alabama in the 2019 draft. He is a 3X Pro Bowler and a 1X All-Pro. He can rush the QB, which Dallas desperately needs. His leadership and work ethic are well-regarded. He too is signed through 2027.

The Cowboys’ defense will be better with these moves, but that may partially be due to the objective reality that it cannot be worse. Could these moves spur the Cowboys to make the playoffs as a Wild Card?

🤷‍♂️

Do not expect a dramatic turnaround. But the trades make them better in 2026 and beyond.

The question is whether Dallas should have surrendered the draft capital they amassed in the Micah Parsons trade. The 1st rounder they’re giving up will be the higher of the picks between theirs and Green Bay’s. But they will retain a 1st rounder in 2027.

Critics will label this as Jerry being Jerry again and not having a plan. Perhaps so.

It’s starting to look like Brian Schottenheimer will be a one-and-done as head coach. He doesn’t have the star power the Cowboys seem to prefer, nor do the players appear sufficiently intimidated by him to give the extra effort. Their play is, at times, indifferent. And their tackling is haphazard at best.

As insane as this might sound, Jones would not care about the baggage Bill Belichick has collected over the past three years. And it’s a win now team if they have a competent defense, which is something Belichick can build.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts acquired 25-year-old All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the Jets for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and the Colts’ 1st round picks in 2026 and 2027.

Despite the loss to the Steelers in Week 9, Indianapolis at 7-2 and tied for the best record in the AFC, decided to address its biggest need by shoring up its pass defense.

There has been ongoing debate as to whether the Colts are “for real” or not. Their schedule has had several punching bags like the Dolphins, the Titans (twice), the Raiders, and the Cardinals. They won all those games and have also beaten the Broncos and the Chargers. They played the Rams and Steelers tight, losing both games 27-20.

Indianapolis has everything a team needs to make a Super Bowl run with QB Daniel Jones limiting his mistakes, a superstar running back in Jonathan Taylor, a reliable wide receiver corps, and a strong pass rush/run defense.

Their main area of vulnerability was in the secondary.

They paid a hefty price for Sauce, but the Jets selected him 4th overall in the 2022 draft out of Cincinnati and he lived up to the lofty status. He’s a 2X All-Pro and a 2X Pro Bowler who shuts down a chunk of the field.

Indianapolis is currently ranked 26th in the league in passing yards allowed per game. Sauce improves that by his mere presence. He’s signed through 2030.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are 6-2 and tied for the best record in the NFC. The NFC West is perhaps the toughest division in the league. Their one area of need was a big-time receiving target for Sam Darnold to go along with Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They got it by acquiring Rashid Shaheed from the Saints for a relatively light return of a 2026 4th and 5th round picks. Part of that is clearly due to Shaheed set to be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Cooper Kupp is dealing with heel and hamstring woes and is no longer a top threat at age 32.

With its punishing defense, Seattle is now a viable threat to emerge from the NFC.

Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles GM Howie Roseman wants that second straight Super Bowl.

Toward that end, they acquired:

• LB Jaelan Phillips from the Dolphins for a 2026 3rd round pick
• CB Jaire Alexander and a 2027 7th round pick from the Ravens for a 2026 6th round pick
• CB Michael Carter II and a 2027 7th round pick from the Jets for WR John Metchie III and a 2027 6th round pick

Despite their 6-2 record, Philly has not looked particularly imposing this season. Their rushing attack has been generally weak and they suffered an egregious loss to the woeful Giants.

They barely squeaked by the Cowboys in Week 1, should have lost to the Rams in Week 3, and in Week 5 gave up 18 4th quarter points to the Broncos at home to lose 21-17.

Phillips was a Dolphins 1st round pick in 2021. He has 26 career sacks with Miami and will improve the Eagles’ pass rush.

Alexander is a 2X Pro Bowler with the Packers who has been dealing with lingering knee issues for the Ravens. He’s barely played this season.

Carter is a functional defensive back.

Many Potential Trade Targets Stayed Put

Without Jones’ questionable aggression, it would have been a quiet deadline. The biggest rumored names — Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson, Jaylen Waddle, Myles Garrett, Jeffery Simmons, and Alvin Kamara — stayed put.

Still, the Cowboys are better today than they were yesterday; the Colts acquired a superstar who changes other teams’ game plans; the Seahawks got their coveted receiver 1A; and the Eagles shored up their defense.

Of all the teams, the one that boosted their Super Bowl chances the most was the Seahawks.

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