NFL trade deadline recap

The 2025 NFL trade deadline brought fireworks we didn’t expect, and a firesale that could decide the future of a franchise.

With the deadline passed, here’s a recap of the major deals that went down.

Note: This recap does not include recently acquired CB of the Philadelphia Eagles, Jaire Alexander, who announced he is stepping away from the NFL to focus on recovery from injuries, both mentally and physically.

Jets trade CB Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner to Colts

The trade: Gardner to Indianapolis for a 2026 and 2027 1st-round pick and WR Adonai Mitchell.

This trade shocked me completely. I thought the Jets would trade some pieces, but I never imagined Gardner being one of them.

Sauce is one of the most feared corners in the game, and the Colts aren’t just getting him, but they’re getting him under contract, as New York signed him to a four-year, $120.4 million extension just last summer.

This trade shows that the Colts, who are currently 8-2, are going all in and believe they can contend for a Super Bowl.

I also like the Mitchell pickup for New York.

Jets trade DT Quinnen Williams to Cowboys

The trade: Williams to Dallas for a 2026 2nd-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick and DT Mazi Smith.

Don’t get me wrong, this was still shocking, but it didn’t feel as significant after the Sauce trade happened.

Jerry Jones promised Cowboys fans a trade for a defensive player would happen, and that was actually about Logan Wilson (who we’ll get to in a little bit), but the trade Jerry’s getting all the recognition for is this one.

With how bad the Cowboys’ defense has been, this was a much-needed upgrade. However, you can’t look past the haul of draft picks and young talent the Jets accumulated from their selloff.

Dolphins trade EDGE Jaelan Phillips to Eagles

The trade: Phillips to Philadelphia in exchange for a 2026 3rd-round pick.

They really let Howie Roseman do it again, didn’t they?

Phillips was one of the best players on Miami’s defense, and even though he’s taken a step back from the first three years of his career, the Eagles have a reputation for getting the best out of players.

With 19 solo tackles and three sacks this season, Phillips is the latest good player to join a stacked Eagles roster.

Saints trade WR Rashid Shaheed to Seahawks

The trade: Shaheed to Seattle for a 2026 4th and 5th-round pick.

Reunion!

Shaheed is back with his former OC, Klint Kubiak, whom he worked with in New Orleans.

The former Weber State WR is already over the 500-yard mark on the year and is on track for his best season yet.

The Seahawks offense is loaded – Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker III, Cooper Kupp and now Shaheed, who makes it even better.

Raiders trade WR Jakobi Meyers to Jaguars

The trade: Meyers to Jacksonville for a 2026 4th and 6th-round pick.

Meyers had requested a trade out of Las Vegas before the season, so his trade was a matter of when and not if.

In the end, it’s the Jacksonville Jaguars who acquired him on deadline day.

With Jacksonville currently in a playoff position, they’re in desperate need of receiving help with Brian Thomas Jr. injured and Travis Hunter out for the season.

In his first game with the Jaguars on Sunday, Meyers hauled in three receptions for 41 yards. While he wasn’t too involved, I expect that to change rather quickly.

Patriots trade S Kyle Dugger to Steelers

The trade: Dugger and a 2026 7th-round pick to Pittsburgh for a 2026 6th-round pick

Dugger signed a four-year, $58 million contract extension with New England in April of 2024, but he found himself in trade rumors over the last couple of seasons.

The Pats chose to send him to a fellow AFC foe, the Pittsburgh Steelers, where Pittsburgh restructured the final two years of his contract, allowing Dugger to hit free agency after 2025.

The Steelers’ defense was the most expensive in the NFL coming into the season with big names like T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey and Cam Heyward, but the unit has underperformed and is looking for sparks. Enter, Dugger.

Bengals trade MLB Logan Wilson to Cowboys

The trade: Wilson to Dallas for a 2026 7th-round pick

We finish the recap with the defensive anchor Jerry Jones promised his fans before swinging a blockbuster deal for Quinnen Williams.

Wilson, in year six of his career, is now headed to Dallas after a nice tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals that included a trip to the Super Bowl.

While he hasn’t thrown up the sack numbers in his career, he’s accumulated 11 total interceptions, with the most in a season being four in 2023.

As I mentioned earlier, the Cowboys need all the help they can get on defense, and they’ll look to the veteran and former third-round pick from Wyoming to provide some.

Adam Pietrzak is a fifth-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email app5940@psu.edu.