As the NFL trade deadline approached on Tuesday, several teams competing for postseason positions made decisive moves to enhance their rosters. The top three teams in the AFC North engaged in trades to bolster their squads ahead of a highly competitive division race. In the NFC, one team that has been ahead of schedule in their rebuilding efforts addressed a major need on their roster, while another team in the same division faced criticism for failing to resolve a significant ongoing issue.

Among the noteworthy winners during the trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Steelers fortified their roster on both sides of the ball by acquiring edge-rusher Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers and wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets. Both players are expected to make immediate contributions. Previously, the Steelers had explored trade opportunities with the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who subsequently signed an extension with San Francisco. Reports indicated that the Steelers made a substantial offer to the Las Vegas Raiders for wide receiver Davante Adams before his eventual trade to the Jets. Additionally, Pittsburgh expressed interest in New York Giants receiver Darius Slayton, highlighting their need for more offensive firepower. According to reports, Williams was acquired for a 2025 fifth-round pick, and he should expect a notable increase in targets now that he is no longer behind Adams, Garrett Wilson, and Allen Lazard on the depth chart. On the defensive side, despite star edge-rusher T.J. Watt leading the unit, the Steelers have experienced a decline in pass-rushing effectiveness. With Nick Herbig unavailable, the addition of Smith provides the Steelers with experienced depth at a position where they typically excel. Pittsburgh secured Smith for a 2025 seventh-round pick, allowing them to strengthen their edge-rushing rotation consisting of Watt, Herbig, and Alex Highsmith.

In the early stages of the season, both the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts opted to bench their young quarterbacks, Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson, respectively. Two weeks ago, the Panthers reinstated Young into the starting role following an injury to Andy Dalton, and he has shown signs of progress compared to his earlier performances. Meanwhile, the Colts have named veteran Joe Flacco as the starter for their Week 10 game against the Buffalo Bills, leaving Richardson to sit out for consecutive weeks. Despite interest from other teams that were looking to develop talent at the quarterback position, the Panthers and Colts decided to retain their first-round quarterbacks past the trade deadline. With the 2025 draft class potentially less robust than the upcoming 2024 group, it is likely that offers were made for both Young and Richardson during discussions. However, the two teams seem committed to allowing their young quarterbacks the opportunity to develop further before making decisions about their futures.

The Washington Commanders successfully acquired New Orleans Saints star cornerback Marshon Lattimore, fending off competition from other interested teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. Reports suggest that the Commanders traded away their 2025 third-, fourth-, and sixth-round picks in exchange for Lattimore and a 2025 fifth-rounder. While this may appear to be a steep cost for a cornerback who has missed 19 games over the last three seasons, the Commanders possessed additional draft capital, affording them the flexibility to acquire the four-time Pro Bowler. Although Washington's defensive unit has shown improvement in recent weeks, it still ranks 21st in the league in net passing yards allowed per attempt. Sitting atop the NFC East, the Commanders are preparing for a strong end to the season as they aim for a playoff berth in the midst of a rebuilding effort under head coach Dan Quinn and with Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Jayden Daniels at the helm.

The Dallas Cowboys added wide receiver Jonathan Mingo to their roster, yet they seemingly overlooked their pressing need for depth in the running back position. Star receiver CeeDee Lamb suffered a shoulder injury in the Cowboys' recent loss to the Atlanta Falcons and may still participate in the upcoming contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. This situation may have prompted Dallas to pursue Mingo. However, with quarterback Dak Prescott likely headed for injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, the Cowboys should have refocused their efforts on strengthening their rushing attack, especially since they currently rank 31st in this category. With Cooper Rush anticipated to take over quarterback responsibilities, enhancing an offensive line that includes several first-round picks and seven-time All-Pro guard Zack Martin would be crucial for Dallas. Acquiring Mingo may result in him being the fourth best pass-catcher in the offense behind Lamb (if healthy), Jalen Tolbert, and Jake Ferguson, limiting the impact of the acquisition. The Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick for Mingo when they could have allocated that resource toward bolstering their backfield, potentially securing a player like Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears, who was recently traded to the Cincinnati Bengals for a 2025 seventh-round pick.

The New Orleans Saints have grappled with cap-space issues in recent years, yet they have maintained playoff contention despite these limitations. However, as the season progresses, the Saints find themselves closer to securing a top-five pick in the 2025 draft than making a playoff appearance. Star cornerback Marshon Lattimore is now on his way to the Washington Commanders, who are poised for a playoff run and have the financial flexibility to support their roster. Lattimore's contract does not include guaranteed money beyond the 2024 season, and with strong performances in the coming months, he could position himself for a lucrative deal in the 2025 offseason. Transitioning from a struggling 2-7 team to the high-performing 7-2 Commanders represents a significant opportunity for Lattimore to enhance his career prospects.

In contrast to some teams that traded or released players in anticipation of future rebuilding efforts, the Las Vegas Raiders remained inactive leading up to the trade deadline. Head coach Antonio Pierce is in a challenging position as he attempts to fix the team's offensive struggles, with Raiders owner Mark Davis stating that edge-rusher Maxx Crosby is off-limits for trade discussions. The organization chose not to trade any other players who may have attracted interest, such as wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who might have garnered a middle-round pick. Instead of making trades, the Raiders opted to hire Norv Turner as a senior advisor, working alongside his son Scott, who will serve as the interim offensive coordinator. Success for Pierce could lead to job security, but continued dysfunction may result in the team falling out of contention for a top quarterback in the 2025 draft. If the current season indicates any pattern, Pierce may not achieve success with stopgap quarterbacks like Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell. However, if the season deteriorates while quality players remain on the roster, there could be an offseason coaching change in the cards for the Raiders, as their reluctance to develop young players might put Pierce's job at greater risk than other first-year head coaches.

Furthermore, ESPN has reported that Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is expected to be sidelined until potentially the Super Bowl. Hutchinson, despite missing the last three games, still leads the Lions in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (seven), and pressures (27), highlighting his importance to the defensive line. Since Hutchinson's injury, Detroit has struggled with run defense, allowing an average of 145 rushing yards over the past three weeks. The Lions acquired Za'Darius Smith, known for his disruptive pass-rush capabilities as well as his ability to defend against the run. Smith has registered six tackles for loss and five sacks during the current season. At 32 years old, Smith may not reach the same performance levels as Hutchinson, but he is viewed as a reliable stopgap who can enhance the Lions' run defense while also applying consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Reports indicate that the Lions traded away a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick for Smith, which is a modest price for a player of his caliber.

Several teams, including the New York Giants, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Las Vegas Raiders, find themselves categorized as losers in this trade deadline scenario. The Carolina Panthers, having recently traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson, escape criticism. However, teams like the Giants, Patriots, Jaguars, and Raiders had opportunities to acquire draft capital as they prepare for a potential rebuilding phase. Each team has performed poorly, sitting at the bottom of their respective divisions with a 2-7 record. For instance, despite fielding trade offers for oft-injured edge-rusher Azeez Ojulari, the Giants declined to move him before the deadline. Additionally, reports indicate that multiple teams showed interest in Patriots’ K.J. Osborn, who has been largely underutilized. The Jaguars traded left tackle Cam Robinson last week but may have missed a chance to trade guard Brandon Scherff for a significant return. While the Raiders were steadfast in their decision not to trade star edge rusher Maxx Crosby, they could have explored deals for players like Jakobi Meyers or veteran defensive tackle John Jenkins, who has contributed to a defense currently ranked 13th in total yards. These teams are considered losers because they failed to capitalize on opportunities to exchange veteran talent for draft resources that could assist in remodeling their rosters for the future.