NFL trade deadline 2023: The most important moves of the last day of the market

The NFL trade deadline has come and gone, marking the final opportunity for teams to make moves and improve their rosters for the remainder of the season. The deadline, which passed yesterday (Tuesday) at 4:00 p.m. ET, saw a flurry of activity as teams rushed to make deals before the window closed.

Contending teams were looking for the final pieces of the puzzle that would help them make a deep playoff run, while struggling teams were willing to trade star players for draft picks to build for the future. The deadline saw some big names on the move as teams shuffled their rosters in anticipation of the second half of the season.

Overall, the NFL trade deadline is a time of high stakes and big decisions. The moves made today could have a significant impact on the playoff race and the future of each franchise.

The most important moves

Several NFL teams have made notable trades recently. The Washington Commanders have traded their young defensive stars, Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Meanwhile, the Vikings have added a quarterback after Kirk Cousins was ruled out for the rest of the season because of an injury. The Jaguars have traded for an offensive lineman, while the Lions have added another wide receiver to their offense. These are just a few examples of the recent moves made by NFL teams.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the more notable deals that occurred:

Chase Young

In a trade with the Washington Football Team, the San Francisco 49ers have bolstered their defense by acquiring former No. 2 overall pick Chase Young. Young is a highly talented player known for his skills as a defensive end, and he is expected to make a significant impact on the 49ers’ defense. With his addition, the 49ers now have even stronger protection, which should help them in their upcoming games and seasons.

Montez Sweat

The Washington Commanders have agreed to trade their defensive end, Montez Sweat, to the Chicago Bears. In exchange, the Commanders will receive a 2024 second-round pick from the Bears. Sweat, currently in the fifth year of his rookie contract, has been in great form this season. The former first-round pick has recorded 6.5 sacks and 32 tackles (including 10 tackles for loss) in eight games.

Rasul Douglas

The Buffalo Bills have made a necessary move to strengthen their secondary during the 2023 NFL trade deadline. General Manager Brandon Beane traded a third-round pick to the Green Bay Packers, receiving cornerback Rasul Douglas and a fifth-round pick in return. The trade was reported by NFL Media and confirmed by CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones.

During the past week, the Bills made several inquiries about cornerbacks and defensive backs. Ultimately, they landed the veteran Douglas, who will provide much-needed experience and depth to their secondary.

Josh Dobbs in/Ezra Cleveland out

The Minnesota Vikings traded a sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft to acquire Dobbs. In exchange, the Cardinals sent a seventh-round pick in the same draft to Minnesota. Additionally, Minnesota traded former second-round offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a sixth-round pick in the 2024 draft. At the NFL trade deadline, the 6-2 Jacksonville Jaguars sought to bolster their offensive line and acquired Cleveland. Interestingly, Cleveland will be reunited with his former offensive line coach, Phil Rauscher, who had coached him for two seasons in Minnesota.