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NFL trade deadline updates: Recapping news, analysis of final day before cutoff

michael middlehurst-schwartz, usa today
·11 min read
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The 2024 NFL trade deadline has passed, and the last window for teams to make a major exterior personnel shake-up yielded no shortage of action.

There were eight deals on Tuesday before the 4 p.m. ET cutoff, putting the total at 18 since the season began. Almost all of the teams in the playoff picture were active in one way or another. And though the widespread activity didn't have an immediate fallout on our NFL Week 10 power rankings, the swaps could spark a significant shift in the coming weeks.

Here's a look back at all the notable developments from the final day of movement:

NFL trade deadline tracker: Recapping all the moves

Who said there's no movement at the NFL trade deadline?

This year saw several teams making big transactions for a second-half push, with many others shifting their focus to next year and beyond. All but seven franchises made some kind of in-season swap.

Here's a recap of all the deals that went down, in reverse chronological order.

49ers add defensive line help with trade for DT Khalil Davis

One last trade in before the deadline!

The Houston Texans are sending defensive tackle Khalil Davis to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.

Davis, 28, has nine tackles and one sack this season. He provides depth for a 49ers front that was hit hard by the loss of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to a torn triceps.

Rams send CB Tre'Davious White to Ravens

Tre'Davious White is getting another fresh start.

The Los Angeles Rams are trading the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback to the Baltimore Ravens, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade was not yet official.

The Rams will receive a 2026 seventh-round pick while sending back a 2027 seventh-round pick.

White, 29, has played in four games this season but been a healthy scratch since his last appearance in late September. The Rams gave him permission to seek a trade in October.

"He's been such a pro about the way he's handled obviously a not-ideal situation for him," Rams coach Sean McVay said after White's request. "If you guys saw the way he's practiced, the way that he's been a pro in every sense of the word, and approaches some things where, he hasn't been active the last three weeks. Guy wants an opportunity to be able to compete, and we love him here. We'd like to be able to keep him here, but if that is something that he and his agent want to be able to explore, we're obviously respectfully understanding of that. And so the answer is yes, we've allowed them to be able to talk to some teams to see if that's a possibility."

White was a longtime standout for the Buffalo Bills but suffered a torn Achilles last October.

In Baltimore, he will join a secondary surrendering a league-worst 280.9 passing yards per game.

Steelers swing another trade deadline deal, secure edge rusher Preston Smith from Packers

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't finished at the NFL trade deadline.

After securing wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets, Pittsburgh agreed to a deal to acquire edge rusher Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers.

Smith, who turns 32 later this month, has 2 1/2 sacks this season but has played in just 54% of the Packers' defensive snaps as part of a pass rusher rotation. He is signed through 2026, with a base salary of $12 million in each of the next two years. His departure could place a bigger burden on 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness and Kingsley Enagbare.

In Pittsburgh, he'll provide depth behind one of the league's best pass-rushing tandems in T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. Second-year backup Nick Herbig has missed the last three games due to a hamstring injury.

Steelers get their WR in Mike Williams

The Pittsburgh Steelers have made their long-awaited move for another wide receiver.

The Steelers on Tuesday agreed to a deal to acquire Mike Williams from the New York Jets in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.

Williams, 30, struggled to establish a connection with Aaron Rodgers after signing with the Jets this offseason, with the veteran quarterback calling out the pass catcher for running the wrong route on a play that would seal a loss to the Buffalo Bills with an interception. He had just 12 catches for 166 yards this season, his first back from a torn ACL suffered last September.

Still, the 6-4, 218-pounder could be a valuable addition for the downfield passing attack now helmed by Russell Wilson. George Pickens leads the Steelers with 35 catches for 548 yards, but no other wideout has more than 14 receptions on the season.

Commanders make big splash with trade for CB Marshon Lattimore

The Washington Commanders were among the few teams at the top of the standings that have yet to make a significant move at the trade deadline.

That changed Tuesday, as the team swung a deal to acquire New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The Kansas City Chiefs had also been in the picture, according to multiple reports.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury and missed 19 games since 2022, shores up one of Washington's biggest positional weaknesses. Opposing passers have a 103.9 rating against the Commanders defense so far this season, which ranks 28th in the NFL.

Lattimore, 28, has been sidelined by a hamstring injury.

DK Metcalf not being traded by Seahawks

Amid a rash of other big-name wide receivers being traded, DK Metcalf is staying put.

The Seattle Seahawks will not trade the two-time Pro Bowl selection, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday.

Metcalf has 35 catches for 568 yards and three touchdowns so far this season for the 4-5 Seahawks, who are only one game back of first place in the NFC West.

Cowboys trade for WR Jonathan Mingo in deal with Panthers

Jerry Jones had a move up his sleeve after all.

The Dallas Cowboys agreed to acquire wide receiver Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers, sending a fourth-round pick while also receiving a seventh-round pick back, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade was not yet official.

NFL Network was first to report the move.

Prior to the agreement, Jones said Tuesday during an interview with 105.3 The Fan that the team was bringing in a receiver the team really liked during the draft process.

Mingo, 23, was a second-round pick out of Mississippi in 2023. He has struggled to make his mark amid the Panthers' wider offensive struggles, catching just 43 of 85 targets in his rookie campaign. He has just 12 catches for 121 yards in nine games this year.

The Cowboys' acquisition comes amid major injuries on offense for the 3-5 team. Quarterback Dak Prescott is likely to be placed on injured reserve and miss at least four games with his hamstring injury, Jones said Tuesday. Top wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is also dealing with a shoulder injury.

How did the Cowboys fare in our trade grades? Look away, Dallas fans.

Bengals trade for RB, grabbing Khalil Herbert

The Cincinnati Bengals have added depth in the backfield as they prepare for a potential late-season run.

The Bengals are acquiring running back Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, the Bears announced.

The Bengals had faced an uncertain outlook at running back behind Chase Brown after Zack Moss was sidelined indefinitely by a neck injury that kept him out of Sunday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Moss 74 carries for 242 yards and two touchdowns so far this season.

Herbert, 26, was a healthy scratch for the last two games for the Bears. He has just eight carries for 16 yards this season, as starter D'Andre Swift and backup Roschon Johnson have taken the bulk of the work. Last season, however, he rushed for 611 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Lions make their move, land DE Za'Darius Smith from Browns

The Detroit Lions finally have their fill-in pass rusher.

On Tuesday, the team acquired Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns, according to multiple reports. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick will got to the Lions, who in turn will receive a 2025 fifth-round draft pick and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.

Lions coach Dan Campbell had acknowledged for weeks that the team was looking into the market at defensive end for a replacement for Pro Bowl selection Aidan Hutchinson, who suffered a broken tibia and fibula against the Dallas Cowboys.

"I don’t think it’s entirely up to us," Campbell said Monday. "I can tell you we’re trying, (Lions general manager) Brad (Holmes is) trying, and we’ve looked at everything, we really have. Made a ton of calls and he’s been rolling on it, so we’ll see. We still got a little bit of time here. We’ve got till tomorrow evening, so we’ll see what happens."

Smith has five sacks in nine games so far this season.

Who are best players still available at NFL trade deadline?

While the talent pool has thinned considerably in recent weeks, there are still several intriguing players left atop our rankings:

  • 1. Azeez Ojulari, OLB, New York Giants

  • 2. Za'Darius Smith, DE, Cleveland Browns

  • 3. Jonathan Jones, CB, New England Patriots

  • 4. Arden Key, OLB, Tennessee Titans

  • 5. Chase Young, DE, New Orleans Saints

Here's our full look at the best players still on the market.

NFL trade deadline tracker: All the completed deals

Here's a look at every deal that's been completed since the start of the season.

Broncos trade OLB Baron Browning to Cardinals (Nov. 4)

Cardinals receive: OLB Baron Browning

Broncos receive: 2025 sixth-round draft pick

Grades: How did Cardinals, Broncos fare in deal?

Jaguars trade OT Cam Robinson to Vikings (Oct. 30)

Vikings receive: OT Cam Robinson, 2026 conditional seventh-round draft pick

Jaguars receive: 2026 conditional fifth-round draft pick

Grades:How did Vikings, Jaguars fare in deal?

Panthers trade WR Diontae Johnson to Ravens (Oct. 29)

Ravens receive: WR Diontae Johnson, 2025 sixth-round draft pick

Panthers receive: 2025 fifth-round draft pick

Grades:How did Ravens, Panthers fare in deal?

Patriots trade LB Joshua Uche to Chiefs (Oct. 28)

Chiefs receive: LB Joshua Uche

Patriots receive: 2026 sixth-round draft pick

Titans trade WR DeAndre Hopkins to Chiefs (Oct. 24)

Chiefs receive: WR DeAndre Hopkins

Titans receive: 2025 conditional fifth-round draft pick

Grades: How did Chiefs, Titans fare in deal?

Titans trade LB Ernest Jones IV to Seahawks (Oct. 23)

Seahawks receive: LB Ernest Jones IV

Titans receive: LB Jerome Baker, 2025 fourth-round draft pick

Texans trade RB Cam Akers to Vikings (Oct. 15)

Vikings receive: RB Cam Akers, 2026 conditional seventh-round draft pick

Texans receive: 2026 conditional sixth-round draft pick

Browns trade WR Amari Cooper to Bills (Oct. 15)

Bills receive: WR Amari Cooper, 2025 sixth-round draft pick

Browns receive: 2025 third-round draft pick, 2026 seventh-round draft pick

Grades:How did Bills, Browns fare in deal?

Raiders trade WR Davante Adams to Jets (Oct. 15)

Jets receive: WR Davante Adams

Raiders receive: 2025 conditional third-round draft pick

Jaguars trade DT Roy Robertson-Harris to Seahawks

Seahawks receive: DT Roy Robertson-Harris

Jaguars receive: 2026 sixth-round draft pick

When is the NFL trade deadline?

The 2024 NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The cutoff comes at the midseason point, as NFL owners voted in March to move it back one week from its traditional spot on the league calendar. After Tuesday, teams will not be able to make official trades until the start of the new league year in March, though they can unofficially agree to deals with one another after the season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL trade deadline updates: Recapping final day of moves