2023 NFL Trade Deadline: Earth-Shattering Deals, Not Really
As Usual, NFL Trade Deadline is A Snoozefest
Don’t Expect Much Line Movement on the NFL Odds
The NBA Trade Deadline, the 2023 NFL Trade Deadline was not. Big names like stud running back Derrick Henry and superstar receiver Davante Adams were thrown around. In the end, the “event” turned out to be much like the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL playoffs: all sizzle, no steak. A quarterback and several notable defensive players were dealt. But don’t expect these to make a dent in the outright NFL odds.
Minnesota Swaps a Quarterback
No, it’s not Kirk Cousins. The four-time Pro Bowler was a leading candidate to be traded in the 2023 NFL Trade Deadline. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles. So Minnesota went from being a potential seller to a buyer: it traded for Joshua Dobbs. The journeyman comes over from Arizona in what has been a pleasantly surprising campaign.
Dobbs is completing 62.8% of his passes for 1,569 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions. More importantly, he’s led Arizona to overachieve on the point spreads. Arizona is 4-4-0 against the spread (ATS) and even owns a win over the Cowboys.
Given his status, Dobbs can’t hope to replicate Cousins’ NFL player stats. But Minnesota is hoping he can be decent enough to keep this team in the playoff race. At 4-4, the Vikings still have a shot at one of the wild card seeds.
Dobbs was the only quarterback traded. However, he is far from the best player that was moved.
NFC Teams Add To Defense
The overall Super Bowl odds may not have changed much due to the 2023 NFL Trade Deadline. But the NFC playoff race gets interesting given the additions several contenders made. San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago all acquired high-profile names on defense.
The Bears traded for edge rusher Montez Sweat from Washington. Chicago is 2-6 with the 28th-ranked scoring defense (27.3 points allowed per game). Sweat is a much-needed pass rusher that can give Chicago a boost on ‘D’ though we’re not running to bet on this team’s playoff odds.
Sweat’s teammate, Chase Young, was also dealt. Washington sent the former second-overall pick to San Francisco to give what is already a stacked defense another weapon. And this move uncoincidentally comes after their division rival, the Seahawks, added Leonard Williams from the Giants. The former Pro Bowler should bolster their defensive line.
Another contender that made a move is Philadelphia. The Eagles already upgraded at safety by swapping Terrell Edmunds for Tennessee’s Kevin Byard, the two-time All-Pro selection. Before deadline day, the Eagles sent defensive lineman Kentavius Street to Atlanta.
Minor Moves From Major Teams
Other NFL teams that got involved in some deadline-day action include Buffalo, Detroit, and Jacksonville. The Bills traded for the Packers’ veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas. Buffalo’s secondary has been hit hard by injuries so this move is unsurprising even if it may not move any needles.
Jacksonville, which leads the AFC South comfortably, beefed up its offensive line by buying Ezra Cleveland from Minnesota. Trevor Lawrence may still be distant on the NFL MVP odds. But this move further insulates him as the Jaguars look to make another playoff push.
Last but not least, its feline counterparts in Detroit acquired a wide receiver in Donovan Peoples-Jones from Cleveland. The Lions already have one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses (second in total yards) and this is more of a depth move than anything.
The Moves That Did Not Happen
That’s a rather ho-hum summary of the 2023 Trade Deadline. The NFL news and rumors that floated around were far more interesting. Teams like the Cowboys, Bills, and Ravens were linked to the Titans’ Derrick Henry. But the former 2000-yard rusher will stay put in Tennessee, which is still in the playoff race.
Meanwhile, Adams was not moved by the Raiders. Many thought the disgruntled wide receiver would be dealt given his team’s current NFL standings. But it’s the Raiders.
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