The 2024 NFL trade deadline is officially over after 4 p.m. ET on November 5th. Busy day, huh? While some teams were sellers at the deadline, others attempted to add strengthening pieces for their playoff pushes. Let’s grade each trade and their impact on the organization moving forward.
Bears RB Khalil Herbert to the Bengals:
TRADE GRADE: B-
Cincinnati acquired Chicago’s running back Khalil Herbert in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick—a move coming right after RB1 Zack Moss was placed on the injured reserve due to a recent neck injury. Moss is expected to miss the rest of the season, so snatching Herbert was one of necessity.
The Bengals are in a tough spot. While Joe Burrow continues to play amazing football with 2,200 passing yards (5th), 20 touchdowns (T-2nd), a 76.3 quarterback rating (T-2nd), and an insane 70.2% completion percentage, the jungle cats have found themselves in trouble at 4-5.
While defensive struggles have been apparent (CIN allowing the 8th-most points per game), the Bengals haven’t been able to establish a clear running game. Currently, Cinncy sits 27th in the league in rush yards per game (94.2) and 29th in rushing first down percentage (25.4%). So, you bring in Herbert, who provides a similar athletic build and pass protection-skills as Moss. However, Herbert has struggled so far this season, only having eight carriers and 16 yards. Herbert can provide a physical aspect to goal-line touches, but Chase Brown will move into the RB1 role and take the majority of work out of the backfield.
The Bengals are currently +100 on the DraftKings Sportsbook to make the playoffs.
Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo to the Cowboys:
TRADE GRADE: C
The Cowboys are receiving wideout Jonathan Mingo and a seventh-round pick from Carolina in exchange for a fourth-round pick. If I’m being honest, this trade doesn’t move the needle at all. For one, the Cowboys will be without starting quarterback Dak Prescott for multiple weeks after he was placed on the IR today due to a hamstring injury. Toss Mingo into an offense that revolves around its passing game with another backup quarterback (no shade, Andy Dalton), and expect him to perform better than with the Panthers? Let’s see. Mingo has yet to show much promise in Carolina, racking up just 43 receptions, 418 yards and zero touchdowns in his rookie season, coupled with 12 receptions for 121 yards through nine games this year. Mingo has been the clear WR3 behind Xavier Legette and Adam Thielen, the former being able to at least hit paydirt and pick up yards after the catch in a measly Carolina offense.
While I’m not 100% out on Mingo, his history doesn’t prove he provides more value than KaVontae Turpin. Prove me wrong!
The Cowboys are +1100 to make the playoffs, and I don’t believe this trade helps that push.
Saints CB Marshon Lattimore to the Commanders:
TRADE GRADE: A
The Saints traded cornerback Marshon Lattimore and a fifth-round pick to the Commanders for a three picks in the 2025 draft: a third, fourth, and sixth round pick. This move commences the needed demolition of New Orleans’ roster, which has been in cap-purgatory for too long. Lattimore is a 28-year-old 4x pro bowler and former defensive rookie of the year, but is currently dealing with a hamstring injury.
This is a great move for the Commanders whose Super Bowl window is, dare I say, open? Washington has had an exploitable secondary since Week 1, allowing the 21st most yards per pass attempt in the league, but only the 5th most passing yards per game. Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste has been targeted 25% of the time and is allowing 1.9 yards per coverage snap (2nd-most), per NFL Next Gen Stats, and hasn’t been able to tackle effectively. Lattimore, on the other hand, has 68 pass breakups since his rookie season in 2017, which is the third most in the NFL over that span. Adding Lattimore solidifies this team wants to round out their roster, while also holding onto a fair amount of draft picks to continue building in the next few years.
The Commanders currently sit on top of the NFC East at 7-2 and are +115 to win the division.
Browns DE Za’Darius Smith to the Lions:
TRADE GRADE: B+
The Lions are strengthening the trenches by acquiring defensive tackle Za’Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. After the devastating loss to phenom Aiden Hutchinson—who was the league’s sack leader before suffering a season-ending leg injury—there was plenty of speculation Dan Campbell was going to get a guy to help out on the edge.
Smith has totaled five sacks on the season so far, a 2.7% sack rate that is near his career high. However, his pass-rush win rate is down 10%. That being said, Smith will bring needed pass rush production to a Lion’s defense whose top-three current pressure leaders are all defensive tackles. Per Next Gen Stats, Smith has generated 26 pressures this season, which is 17 more than the next closest active edge rusher for Detroit.
The Lions are rolling at 7-1 and are favorites to win the NFC North at -285 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
The following trades happened later in the trade deadline timeframe today:
Jets WR Mike Williams to the Steelers:
TRADE GRADE: C
The Steelers have acquired wide receiver Mike Williams from the Jets in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Packers DE Preston Smith to the Steelers:
TRADE GRADE: B-
The Packers are sending defensive end Preston Smith to Pittsburgh for 2025 seventh-round pick.
Rams CB Tre’Davious White to the Ravens
TRADE GRADE: C
The Ravens are acquiring cornerback Tre’Davious White and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Lost Angeles Rams in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Texans DT Khalil Davis to the 49ers:
TRADE GRADE: B
The 49ers are sending a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Texans for DT Khalil Davis.
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
