Regrading eight NFL trades from last year's deadline: Hindsight on Adams to the Jets, Cooper to the Bills

"I'm a big believer in evaluating decision-making instantaneously -- but looking back at past choices can also be a valuable exercise. At the 2024 NFL trade deadline, I graded the deals that were made based on expectations for the players involved, cap implications and how the moves affected the outlooks of the trading teams. A year later, we have a lot more information. So let's update our grades based on all we've learned. It's a useful calibration exercise for future grades, too."

"When I'm doing grades at the time of a deal, I focus on process and the range of outcomes for each team. These grades will be focused on results and consider how players have performed since the trade (and expectations for them going forward if they're still with the team that traded for them). So before the 2025 trade deadline hits on Nov. 4, let's take one more look at eight of the biggest 2024 trades -- what we thought then and what we know now."

"At the time of the trade, the Jets were 2-4 and had fired head coach Robert Saleh. The hope was that a coaching change and the addition of Adams, who already had chemistry with Aaron Rodgers from their eight seasons together in Green Bay, would salvage a season that started with Super Bowl aspirations. In my original grade I wrote: "By far the most likely result of all of this is we end up looking back on this deal as a burned third-round pick by the Jets. But that's not what this trade is about for them: They are playing for the upside, the less likely scenario where a few breaks go their way." A year later the Jets ha"

Updated grades evaluate eight major 2024 NFL trades using results, player performance since the deals, cap implications, and team outlooks. Initial grades prioritized process and the range of possible outcomes; updated grades emphasize realized results and expectations going forward for players who remain with acquiring teams. The exercise serves as calibration for future trade evaluations ahead of the 2025 trade deadline on Nov. 4. The Jets acquired Davante Adams after a 2-4 start and a coaching change, banking on existing Adams–Aaron Rodgers chemistry to salvage Super Bowl aspirations while accepting the risk of burning a third-round pick.

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