2024 NFL trade deadline winners, losers: Chiefs, Cowboys, more

I have a confession, and I don’t care who hears it: I love the NFL trade deadline.

I love the gossip. I love hearing which teams called which other teams for whom. I like reacting to trades before I know anything about compensation or salary ramifications. I love quote-tweeting Adam Schefter with “Super Bowl,” which I didn’t even get to do this year because nobody did anything that cool Tuesday.

Overall, the biggest trade dominoes fell weeks ago. Davante Adams became a Jet and Amari Cooper became a Bill on Oct. 15; DeAndre Hopkins became a Chief on Oct. 25. Early and active wide receiver movement is the most unique characteristic of this trade deadline, and while I’m always hesitant to react to small samples, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a sign of things to come.

The biggest splash Tuesday was made by the Commanders, who acquired Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore just one deadline after they traded away two quality edge rushers in Montez Sweat and Chase Young. That’s how fast things can change in the NFL: from directionless team unloading players in 2023 to Super Bowl hopefuls in 2024. All thanks to the magic of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

I have eight winners or losers for the 2024 trade deadline as the dust settles from all the deals made:

It’s easy to call the Chiefs winners after their performance Monday night against the Buccaneers. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, whom K.C. acquired two weeks ago for a fifth-rounder (that could become a fourth), lit up the scoreboard with 8 catches, 86 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the go-ahead TD with 4:20 remaining in the fourth quarter.

But perhaps even more significant was another catch Hopkins made. You already saw it, but here it is again: a contested grab between three moving bodies deep downfield. For how many weeks now have we seen Patrick Mahomes’ receivers fail him on his most magical plays? This catch, which NFL Next Gen Stats gave a 12.3% chance to be completed given the difficulty for Hopkins (and Mahomes), is the most difficult catch a Chiefs receiver has snagged from Mahomes since 2018.

While the spectacular catch is a heartwarming reminder of what Hopkins long did for the Texans, it shouldn’t be the expectation every week from the 32-year-old. In most games for this ho-hum, hyperefficient Kansas City offense, he will be a methodical stick mover — just as Travis Kelce has become, as Rashee Rice has been and as JuJu Smith-Schuster was for that one game last month. Sure, a vintage Hopkins catch will likely appear in a key postseason spot, but the Chiefs were looking for functional, reliable wide receiver play at the deadline, and they got it.