NFL Trade Deadline Grades: Ranking winners and losers after wild deals on Nov. 4 ft. Sauce Gardner

The 2025 trade deadline has come and gone, and one name stood above most: Sauce Gardner.

On Tuesday, the multiple-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl cornerback went to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and two first-round picks. He was joined out of Gang Green by defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who went to the Dallas Cowboys.

But he was not the only big mover on a big week marked by shifts among rosters. So who enjoyed the best aftereffects, and who suffered the worst?

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Grading every team after 2025 NFL trade deadline

Arizona Cardinals: F

After a seeming glimmer of hope in 2024, the Cardinals are collapsing yet again. If they wanted to salvage their playoff hopes, they had to make a massive move. Instead, they may have just ensured the end of the Jonathan Gannon-Monti Ossenfort era.

Atlanta Falcons: D

The Falcons are in the dead zone in the middle - somewhat not good enough to unseat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but also somewhat too good to fail to snag a wild card spot. Their lack of meaningful transactions reflects this.

Baltimore Ravens: D

No one expected the Ravens to be this bad, but their moves seem more primed for the future. The secondary liability that is Jaire Alexander has finally been ditched after opposing passer-receiver duos destroyed him. Second-best pass rusher Odafe Oweh is gone, which could mean more snaps for rookie Mike Green beside Kyle Van Noy.

Buffalo Bills: D

The Bills are still title contenders, so they largely stay put here.

Carolina Panthers: D

For the first time in a while, the Panthers are above .500, but a lack of significant moves may doom their scant playoff hopes.

Chicago Bears: C-

Losing Dayo Odeyingbo to an Achilles tear is a sizable blow, but Joe Tryon-Shoyinka should hopefully ease the pain.

Cincinnati Bengals: F

The Bengals are slowly becoming a one-trick pony that has Joe Burrow's offense and not much else. Logan Wilson has joined Germaine Pratt out of town; is Trey Hendrickson next? What about McKinnley Jackson, who has wanted out and yet is still there?

Cleveland Browns: D

The Browns' transactions are nothing special as they continue vacillating between contending and rebuilding.

Dallas Cowboys: B

The Cowboys finally get the defensive upgrades that they need, but they seem to have chosen the wrong ex-Jet. Quinnen Williams may be a stud inside, but Jermaine Johnson could have been an instant contributor at the edges - something that Jerry Jones badly needed after foolishly losing Micah Parsons.

Denver Broncos: A

Why mess with something that is perfect? This is the Broncos, and they are doing very well.

Detroit Lions: A

The same thinking above can be applied to the Lions, who are still confident in chasing the Super Bowl.

Green Bay Packers: B+

The Packers have just lost leading receiver Tucker Kraft to an ACL tear, but they do have other weapons. So they do not have to do much.

Houston Texans: D

Even as the line before CJ Stroud vanishes, Nick Caserio refuses to make an impact move in the area.

Indianapolis Colts: A+

The AFC leaders get richer, as they add an emergent shutdown cornerback to their already monstrous secondary. And all they had to lose was a wide receiver who had not been that important to the offense.

Jacksonville Jaguars: A

Trevor Lawrence gets another weapon in Jakobi Meyers, which could allow Travis Hunter to focus more on defense.

Kansas City Chiefs: C

No offseason moves means either the Chiefs are regressing, or they are still confident in their current roster.

Las Vegas Raiders: F

Geno Smith has shockingly proven to be a bust, and now he has lost a weapon. Pete Carroll may be forced to retire after this season.

Los Angeles Chargers: B

Trevoir Penning is a quality insurance in the trenches after the losses of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but Odafe Oweh is the real winning move. He and Tuli Tuipulotu may be the new dominant pass rushers in the post-Khalil Mack era.

Los Angeles Rams: B

No changes for the Rams, who are confident in their current core.

Miami Dolphins: D

Champ Kelly has surprisingly not initiated a firesale yet, even as the Dolphins collapse around him.

Minnesota Vikings: C

The Vikings are still confident intheir roster, so they make no changes.

New England Patriots: B

The biggest headline for the Patriots is ditching veteran safety Kyle Dugger. But with the team doing well under Mike Vrabel, it is not much of a loss, and neither is the loss of edge rusher Keion White.

New Orleans Saints: F

The Saints foolishly ditched Rashid Shaheed, their second option behind Chris Olave. The offense continues to rot despite the best efforts of Kellen Moore.

New York Giants: F

The Giants badly needed a wideout after losing Malik Nabers to an ACL tear, but did nothing. They could have ditched Kayvon Thibodeaux, who might have become redundant with Brian Burns and Abdul Carter around.

New York Jets: F

Multiple defensive pieces are gone, and all the Jets got were some no-name wideouts and picks. This franchise will continue languishing until Woody Johnson either sells or dies.

Philadelphia Eagles: A+

Jaelan Phillips is a starting-caliber edge rusher who will increase the Eagles' chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions.

Pittsburgh Steelers: C

Kyle Dugger is a polarizing addition to an already loaded secondary. Overall, however, the Steelers are still in a good place.

San Francisco 49ers: A-

With Joey Bosa out, the 49ers needed a top pass rusher. And they got ine in Keion White.

Seattle Seahawks: A+

Another aerial weapon for Sam Darnold=domination time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B

The Buccaneers seem confident in the current makeup of their roster, so no changes.

Tennessee Titans: C-

While the offense struggles, the defense loses a contributor in starting edge rusher Dre'Mont Jones.

Washington Commanders: D

Losing Jayden Daniels to a potentially season-ending arm break is already bad for Dan Quinn and Adam Peters. A lack of significant moves seems to indicate that they will "punt away" this year for a better performance in 2026, when their franchise quarterback is healthy again.

Edited by Andre Castillo