Aug 21, 2020; Englewood, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller (58) during training camp at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The 2021 NFL trade deadline passed on Tuesday afternoon with the biggest trades having already been announced by the start of the day. Dating back to early October, we saw Von Miller, Zach Ertz, Stephon Gilmore, and Melvin Ingram traded. These veterans will bolster their new teams’ playoff push significantly but some of the moves that weren’t made will be as impactful.
We have accumulated a list of winners and losers from the trade deadline. Some teams will be rewarded for their aggressiveness, while others missed the chance to significantly upgrade their roster or take advantage of valuable assets. Several buyers refused to maximize their window to win and as many sellers are destined to lose with playmakers who could help elsewhere.
We’ll break it all down in the wake of the 2021 NFL trade deadline. Super Bowl-altering moves may have been made within the last month, and the ones that weren’t may lead to regime changes in the future. Let’s dig in.
Winner: The Rams Going All-In
The ground-breaking move of the deadline may completely swing the power structure of the NFL in full favor of the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams, trading two 2022 Day 2 NFL draft picks, acquired one of the most feared pass rushers in the league, Von Miller. Miller is in the final year of his contract but has bounced back in a big way from an ankle injury that cost him his 2020 season.
The Rams had a clear need for another athletic edge player who could create opportunities for turnovers and drive-ending plays to pair with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. Miller, even at 32 years old, is exactly that thanks to his premier pass-rush skill and ability to drop into coverage. Miller has totaled 4.5 sacks already in 2021 and will have the benefit of playing with a defender better than him for the first time in his career.
There’s not another franchise operating in the same vein as the Rams as far as leveraging draft picks for veteran talent. This team is all-in on winning after trading their first four picks in the 2022 draft and countless picks over the last five years. This regime should be lauded for their efforts to build one of the best teams in the NFL and throwing fear to the side.
Loser: Franchise-Tagged Players
Despite rumors we could see a trade including one of the handful of franchise-tagged playmakers, none of the looming free agents traded zip codes on Tuesday. That included Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson, Jets safety Marcus Maye, and Jaguars tackle Cam Robinson. Each could have swung a playoff game and received a long-term extension if they would have landed in the right situation.
Chicago and New York could receive third-round compensatory picks eventually if their respective stars depart this coming offseason, while it seems more likely Cam Robinson re-signs in Jacksonville. While that eases the pain of losing a key asset, there’s a clear price for interested parties to offer in a trade. And no one bit despite the league wide need for help at safety and receiver.
Instead, Maye and Cam Robinson will play out the year for a terrible Jets and Jaguars team instead of contributing elsewhere. Allen Robinson at least has some upside potential with Justin Fields playing, but the team has passed several times on extending his deal beyond 2021.
Winner: Melvin Ingram and Chiefs
Four months after signing veteran pass-rusher Melvin Ingram to a one-year deal, the Pittsburgh Steelers traded Ingram to the Kansas City Chiefs for a mere sixth-round pick. Ingram wanted out after losing playing time to second-year defender Alex Highsmith, and the Steelers honored his request by trading him to an AFC competitor. The Chiefs and Ingram will flourish together after Ingram haunted the franchise as a member of the Chargers for nine years.
The Chiefs have undoubtedly been a mess to watch this season. But they’re also not far from being the force many expected them to be. Self-inflicted mistakes cost them games against Baltimore and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Ingram will step into the end position and allow dominant tackle Chris Jones to reclaim his natural position inside. Jones had been operating on the edge due to the limited talent on the roster but his play had clearly dipped. The hope here is the entire unit will benefit from a fully effective Jones inside of Ingram and Frank Clark.
That hope is absolutely worth a sixth-round pick.
Loser: Miami Dolphins
After churning through front office members, head coaches, and quarterbacks over the course of years, the Miami Dolphins continue to be inept due to owner Stephen Ross. Ross famously flirted with hiring John Harbaugh while still employing Tony Sparano as head coach. One decade later, Ross just did the same thing to Tua Tagovailoa with Deshaun Watson available.
Miami was messy with their business, with head coach Brian Flores somewhat committing to Tagovailoa in press conferences but constant leaks about Miami’s desire to trade the farm for Watson continued. Now, Miami sits at an embarrassing 1-7 mark and is without Watson despite the owner talking to the star the night before the deadline.
Miami has zero leverage when it comes to trying to acquire Watson in the future outside of Watson’s ability to use his no trade clause, or if they move on from Tagovailoa. The team also passed on their ability to trade veterans like Xavien Howard and DeVante Parker for needed picks and financial flexibility. They’re the biggest loser of the deadline without question.
Winner: New Orleans Saints, Potentially
Maybe the biggest news that wasn’t related to Von Miller wasn’t an official transaction but it could swing the NFC Wild Card race. The New Orleans Saints lost quarterback Jameis Winston for the season this past week to a torn ACL, and are in line to play Taysom Hill next. But future Hall of Fame quarterback Philip Rivers stated he would be open to hearing from the Saints if they were to call him.
Rivers was efficient and a net positive for the Indianapolis Colts last year despite the team’s offensive line bottoming out and their playmaker unit getting ravaged by injuries. Now 39 years old, Rivers would be walking into a strong surrounding cast and elite coaching staff if he were to return. The Saints have one of the best offensive lines in the league, plus Alvin Kamara, and soon Michael Thomas to give Rivers a shot at making a playoff run.
Saints head coach Sean Payton would maximize Rivers’ accuracy and pre-snap intelligence and mitigate his weakened arm and lack of mobility just like he did with Drew Brees the last two years. With the Saints opting out of the Cam Newton market, they might as well go for the upside signing with Rivers.
Loser: Odell Beckham Jr.
Embattled star Cleveland Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has his own moment in the spotlight on Tuesday. Beckham has struggled to find the same production he established in New York prior to joining Cleveland and was pinned as a potentially available talent on the deadline. There’s been numerous factors for this including his own issues with drops.
Beckham’s father stirred the pot as he posted a YouTube video with every clip of Beckham running open without being targeted on the season. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield certainly bears some of the blame as to why the duo has struggled. But Odell Beckham Sr.’s compelling effort to back his son fell flat with the fan base and the trade market.
Zero star offensive playmakers we’re moved, and Beckham was a tough sell thanks to injuries and a bloated salary. He’ll have to continue working to excel in a system that caused Stefon Diggs to want out of Minnesota and does not prioritize a No. 1 receiver.