The shrewd front offices used the NFL trade deadline to enhance their Super Bowl prospects, and no one should have been happier than Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid as they stalk their historic threepeat, along with Dan Campbell (Lions), Dan Quinn (Commanders) and Josh Allen (Bills).
The Serby Says analysis:
Za’Darius Smith (Edge, from Browns to Lions)
An experienced three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher to fill the massive void left by star Aidan Hutchinson (broken leg). When you are the class of the vaunted NFC North, when you have in your sights the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history, you go for it — and for a 2025 fifth-round pick and 2026 sixth-rounder while getting back from the Browns a 2026 seventh-rounder. Smith, with five sacks this season, has recorded 65 over his 10-year career. Motor City Dan Campbell gets to unleash his new predator twice in division matchups against Caleb Williams and once on Jordan Love and Sam Darnold.
Big win for the Lions.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR, from Titans to Chiefs)
For a fifth-rounder that could become a fourth-rounder. Mahomes welcomed the seven-time 1,000-yard receiver, who still has juice left as a one-on-one threat at 32 with a pair of touchdown catches Monday night against the Buccaneers. The loss of Rashee Rice (PCL) until next season left Mahomes diminished, and mostly targeting TE Travis Kelce and rookie Xavier Worthy. The sure-handed Hopkins was wasting away in Tennessee with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph, and is ecstatic about a new lease on life. Reid’s new toy takes the pressure off Kelce.
Big win for the Chiefs.
Mike Williams (WR, from Jets to Steelers)
For a fifth-rounder. Mike Tomlin was desperate to land a jump-ball, red-zone complement to George Pickens to let Russell Wilson cook with those moon balls. Williams (31 career TDs across eight seasons, but zero as a Jet) was a square peg in a round hole of QB Aaron Rodgers’ offense. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith won’t stop pounding Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, of course. This isn’t a move that will necessarily scare the Ravens or Bengals in the AFC North.
Tiny win for the Steelers.
There was no room at the inn for Williams with Rodgers, with Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson gobbling up most of the targets. Williams — signed to a one-year, $10 million deal though slowed by a torn ACL suffered in Week 3 last season — was expected to open TD up space for Wilson and for Breece Hall as well, but was a big disappointment (12-for-166). With Allen Lazard on IR, Rodgers better get Hall more involved in the passing game and TE Tyler Conklin as well.
Win for the Jets.
Preston Smith (Edge, from Packers to Steelers)
For the bargain-basement cost of a seventh-round pick. You can never have enough edge rushers to help T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig. Smith (2.5 sacks this season) is 32 with 68.5 career sacks across a 10-year career. Smith was obviously expendable, even with two more year left on his contract, but how does this help Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hatley’s beleaguered pass rush?
Win for the Steelers.
Marshon Lattimore (CB, from Saints to Commanders)
For third-, fourth- and sixth-round picks, with a fifth-rounder in return. Quinn and GM Adam Peters are serious about making a run for the NFC East crown and beyond with Jayden Daniels. 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes has struggled, so the new four-time Pro Bowl lockdown corner starts opposite Benjamin St. Juste with Mike Sainristil moving to the slot.
It’s no coincidence that the Commanders play the Eagles (A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith) and the Cowboys (CeeDee Lamb) twice. Lattimore (19 games missed since 2022) has a history of hamstring injuries, but if he can stay on the field, this is a huge upgrade (69.1 passer rating when targeted this season). Bucs rival Mike Evans won’t miss seeing him twice every season. Lattimore won’t miss a disaster of a Saints team that just fired coach Dennis Allen and will be rebuilding.
Big win for the Commanders.
Amari Cooper (WR, from Browns to Bills)
For a 2025 third-rounder and 2026 seventh-rounder, with a 2025 sixth-rounder in return. GM Brandon Beane made that blockbuster move for Stefon Diggs in 2020, so this shouldn’t have surprised anyone. With Diggs in Houston, Allen needed a professional No. 1 WR and elite route-runner, and this one is a five-time Pro Bowler. Cooper takes the pressure off WRs Khalil Shakir and rookie Keon Coleman. A fifth consecutive division title isn’t in danger, and that Super Bowl window always will be open with Allen at quarterback.
Big win for the Bills.
Tre’Davious White (CB, from Rams to Ravens)
For a 2026 seventh-rounder with a 2027 seventh-rounder to the Rams. The former Buffalo first-round pick tore his Achilles last October and figures to be a depth piece for an underachieving secondary. GM Eric DeCosta used a 2024 first-round pick on CB Nate Wiggins and hopes to catch lightning in a bottle on the cheap for a two-time Pro Bowler.
Tiny win for the Ravens.
Diontae Johnson (WR, from Panthers to Ravens): For fifth-rounder, with a sixth-round pick coming back to Ravens. A quality weapon joins Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman for Lamar Jackson from the rebuilding Panthers, and he also can bolster the return game. When he played two years in Pittsburgh with Ben Roethlisberger, he excelled (195-for-2,084, 15 TDs). “I think it makes them even more dangerous,” Big Ben said this week.
Win for the Ravens.
Davante Adams (WR, from the Raiders to the Jets)
For a conditional third-round pick. A no-brainer, win-now move for a win-now team with a win-now quarterback nearing 41. Have you heard that Rodgers craved his telepathic former Packers receiver? No more double teams for Wilson means a better opportunity for him to make Odell Beckham Jr. one-hand catches. Pick your poison. The Jets are taking on the $11.6M prorated portion of his Raiders contract. Turns 32 next month but still has juice.
Win for the Jets, only with playoff win.
Jonathan Mingo (WR, from Panthers to Cowboys
For a fourth-round pick, with a seventh-rounder headed back to Dallas. A 2023 second-round pick, Mingo has 12 catches this season in 26 targets and has yet to catch a TD pass in the NFL. Cooper Rush will love him, right? The 2022 Amari Cooper trade to the Browns netted Jerry Jones a fifth-rounder with a swap of sixth-rounders. Eeesh.
Loss for the Cowboys.
Cam Robinson (LT, from Jaguars to Vikings)
For a conditional 2026 fifth-round selection that can become a fourth-rounder, and a conditional 2026 seventh-rounder headed back to the Vikings. An experienced rental replacement for Christian Darrasaw for Darnold’s blindside who was benched in Jacksonville.
Win for the Vikings.
Khalil Herbert (RB, from Bears to Bengals)
For a seventh-round pick. Herbert is a young veteran rental replacement who was in mothballs in Chicago. Filling in the gap for Zack Moss (IR, neck) to caddy for Chase Brown.
Tiny win for the Bengals.
Baron Browning (Edge, from Broncos to Cardinals)
For a sixth-round pick. A 2021 Broncos third-rounder (9.5 sacks in 2022-23) summoned as a rental to juice a needy pass rush.
Tiny win for the Cardinals.
