The NFL trade deadline for 2022 came and went at Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. ET. There was no shortage of transactions made early and through the final day as teams around the league looked to improve their rosters now or later.
With the flurry of activity, there were clear positive movers and shakers, while those who didn’t make any kind of needed deal were left in the dust.
Here are Sporting News’ winners and losers from the 2022 NFL trade deadline, breaking down what teams fared the best and what teams failed the worst:
MORE: Complete list of trades before 2022 NFL deadline
NFL trade deadline 2022: Winners and losers
Winners: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers went nuts to get running back Christian McCaffrey, knowing he would be a perfect fit in their offense. That was on full display in the rout of the Rams in Week 8 as he was an absolute game-changer. He’s the reality version of a league winner.
Winners: Chicago Bears
The Bears are getting some heat for how they moved Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn, but those guys weren’t thrilled being a part of their rebuilding defense and needed to move them for best possible outside return. They needed to focus on being an offensive-forward team with Justin Fields and getting wide receiver Chase Claypool plays very well to that end.
MORE: Grading the Chase Claypool trade
Losers: Green Bay Packers
The Packers were tied to a lot of different help at wide receiver and tight end, among other positions, to help their ailing offense around Aaron Rodgers. Instead they saw Claypool go to their rivals and tight end T.J. Hockenson moving between their two other rivals. Green Bay needed to change its midseason trading philosophy and simply didn’t.
Losers: New York Giants
The Giants had been tied most to Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy for much needed passing game help. But the 6-2 surprise NFC East wild-card contenders didn’t do anything to improve overall.
MORE: Grading the Calvin Ridley trade
Winners: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars were able to move running back James Robinson to fully unlock the versatile speedy dominance of Travis Etienne Jr. Their offense will hit another gear with Trevor Lawerence with Calvin Ridley waiting for them at wide receiver in 2023.
Losers: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons got fleeced by the Jaguars and decided to do nothing else as a surprise first-place team.
MORE: Grading the Bradley Chubb trade
Winners: Denver Broncos
The Broncos moved the right piece in edge rusher Bradley Chubb and held on wisely to Jeudy and K.J. Hamler. Getting a first-rounder back they lost in the Russell Wilson deal was smart.
Losers: Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins ended up getting a little better with Chubb given how well Melvin Ingram and Jaelen Phillips are playing on the edge in the short term. They simply got insurance for Raheem Mostert in the running game by reuniting him with fellow former 49er Jeff Wilson Jr. The moves were meh overall with a first-rounder lost.
Winners: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers flipped Claypool for an equal second-round pick and took a worthy flyer on former Commanders cornerback William Jackson, also formerly a star with the Bengals.
Winner: Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey left the rebuilding mess in Carolina for the dazzling Super Bowl-contending offense in San Francisco. Boom.
MORE: Grading the Roquan Smith trade
Winner: Roquan Smith
Smith was barking about not wanting to be part of the Bears’ plans. Now he’s with a real AFC title contender in the Ravens and will work nicely playing next to Patrick Queen.
Loser: Kareem Hunt
Hunt gets stuck in Cleveland for the rest of the season before his pending 2023 free agency as a limited backup for Nick Chubb. He also learned he wasn’t worth another team’s fourth-rounder.
MORE: Why didn’t the Browns trade Kareem Hunt?
Loser: Cam Akers
The kid need a change of scenery to try to save his young NFL career. It didn’t happen and he remains stuck in the Rams’ doghouse.
Winners: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens didn’t get a wide receiver as many hoped, but the Smith acquisition was ideal for their defensive scheme.
MORE: Grading the T.J. Hockenson trade
Winners: Minnesota Vikings
T.J. Hockenson was a sneaky and cheap good get from the Lions to help Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and K.J. Osborn.
Losers: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are known for their aggressive dealing, but they lost out on McCaffrey and then didn’t either move for Hunt or move Akers. It’s shocking given the past nature of GM Les Snead.
