Winners, losers in NFL’s trades
Eat your heart out, NHL. The NFL on Monday and Tuesday provided what, for it, was rare excitement and surprise brought about by blockbuster trades in the final hours approaching the league’s trade deadline, which came Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Who were the big winners? Well, as in all leagues, when a proven player is traded for a future draft pick( s), the short- term winner always is the team acquiring said player. So no need to debate who won the NFL’s five just- in- time swaps. We can, though, take a deeper look:
1. GAROPPOLO TO NINERS
San Francisco 49ers get: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, a fouryear backup who sparkled in two career starts for New England in 2016. New England Patriots get: 2018 second- round draft pick.
San Fran impact: The Niners have their QB of the future. Why Garoppolo? The Niners had been on course to land a Top 3 draft pick, as they’re 0- 8 and just promoted a middle- round rookie QB ( C. J. Beathard) to starter over s t ruggling ve t eran Brian Hoyer. Clearly, firstyear GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan preferred the proven commodity in Garoppolo over the dice roll of even a Top 3 QB draft pick next April. New England impact: GM/coach Bill Belichick said Tuesday the Pats had gone as long as they could — 2 ½ years — with what he called the best QB situation: Tom Brady backed up by Garoppolo. Who will back up Brady now? Look for the Pats to sign Hoyer, whom the Niners cut Monday. Hoyer backed up Brady from 2009-11.
2. BROWN TO SEAHAWKS
Seattle Seahawks get: LT Duane Brown, a 10th- year veteran who’s now 32. His three Pro Bowl invitations and first- team all- pro selection came early this decade, but he’s still one of the NFL’s better left tackles.
Houston Texans get: 2019 second- round draft pick, 2018 fifth- round draft pick, backup CB Jeremy Lane.
Seattle i mpact: The Seahawks have a screaming need for better offensive linemen. Finally, they have obtained a top talent to better protect QB Russell Wilson and to open more and better holes in the run game.
Houston impact: Brown held out all spring and summer and just reported to the Texans a week ago. On Friday, Brown slammed owner Bob McNair for his comment about protesting NFL players: “We can’t have the inmates running the prison.” Brown had to go.
3. AJAYI TO EAGLES
Philadelphia Eagles get: RB Jay Ajayi, who out of nowhere became a star last season with three 200- yard games, 1,272 yards overall and eight TDs. Dolphins get: 2018 fourthround draft pick.
Philadelphia i mpact: The league’s best team by record ( 7-1) now has a deep, dangerous backfield again, after multi- purpose man Darren Sproles was lost for the season in September. This is a steal of a trade for Philly.
Miami impact: The league’s worst offence just lost its starting running back, no matter much of a distracting or negative presence Ajayi might have been; he kept whining for more carries. Maybe it was because gallows humour seemed more appropriate than usual on Halloween, but Dolphins head coach Adam Gase quipped: “We’re trying to become the first team in NFL history to score less than zero points a game.” Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake are left to carry the ground load for Miami.
4. BENJAMIN TO BILLS
Buffalo Bills get: WR Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina’s top receiver since drafting him 28th overall in 2014. Carolina Panthers get: 2018 third and seventh- round draft picks.
Buffalo impact: Finally, the Bills have tried the addition-by- addition approach, after three months of addition-by- subtraction. That is, of dumping talented players and being the better for it, by virtue of a better lockerroom atmosphere and culture. Benjamin immediately becomes Buffalo’s most talented receiver. The 26- yearold is huge ( 6- foot- 5, 245 pounds), has great hands and makes plays. This season he has 32 catches for 475 yards and two TDs.
Carolina impact: It’s a strange trade from the Panthers’ perspective. Who’s their No. 1 receiver now? Third-year goliath Devin Funchess? Rookie Curtis Samuel? Or fifth-year Russell Shepard? Good question. Players there can’t be happy about it.
5. ROBINSON TO JETS
New Yo r k Jets get: CB Rashard Robinson, a fourthround draft pick from a year ago. San Francisco 49ers get: 2018 fifth-round draft pick.
New York i mpact: Robinson struggled a year ago as a rookie but was seen as improving in Year 2. He’s reportedly better suited for the Jets’ press-man coverage.
San Francisco i mpact: At 0- 8, it’s all about the future for the Niners. Clearly they felt Robinson wasn’t a fit for their short- or long- term plans, and if they could get almost what they spent to draft him, then why not.