NFL Trade Tracker 2022

The NFL Trade tracker is already off to a busy start with Russell Wilson packing up his bags and heading to Denver to add another strong quarterback into the AFC playoff picture. With the free agency and the NFL Draft upcoming, teams will begin to start moving around players. Keep track of all NFL trades with the details and analysis.

Philadelphia Eagles & New Orleans Saints (April 4th, 2022)

Eagles Receive: 2022 1st Round Pick (#18), 2022 3rd Round Pick (#101), 2022 7th Round Pick (#237), 2023 1st Round Pick, 2024 2nd Round Pick
Saints Receive: 2022 1st Round Pick (#16), 2022 1st Round Pick (#19), 2022 6th Round Pick (#194)

This trade doesn’t include any players, but it’s still a blockbuster deal. Rumors had been swirling about the Saints being aggressive in this year’s draft and I believe they aren’t done making moves. New Orleans needs a left tackle to replace Terron Armstead, and they could make a play for Evan Neal or Ikem Ekwonu in the top ten. Alternatively, they could be looking to trade up for a quarterback if there’s one they love, likely Malik Willis, and that would likely necessitate them trading ahead of the Panthers at #6. The Eagles, meanwhile, continue to maintain excellent draft flexibility as they still have two first-round picks this year and plenty of ammunition in the next two drafts. Philadelphia will likely enter this season with Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback, but if they decide he isn’t the long-term franchise starter, they will have plenty of capital to make a play for Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud in the next year’s much stronger quarterback class.

New England Patriots & Miami Dolphins (April 2nd, 2022)

Patriots Receive: WR DeVante Parker, 2022 5th Round Pick
Dolphins Receive: 2023 3rd Round Pick

It’s rare to see an in-division trade, but this trade makes a lot of sense for both teams. Even after adding Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, and Jonnu Smith last offseason, the Patriots still needed to bolster their pass-catching room. New England had been often mocked to take a wide receiver in the first round this year, but they don’t need to feel pressured into that position if the board doesn’t break the right way. Parker provides a big-play element to the Patriots’ offense that they were previously lacking, and he will lock down a starting spot on the perimeter. In 2019, Parker had 72 catches for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns, and nobody on the Patriots roster currently is capable of that type of season. After the Dolphins traded for Tyreek Hill and drafted Jaylen Waddle last year, Parker became expendable and this trade was always likely. Miami recouped some solid draft capital to help restock after trading away tons of capital for Hill.

Miami Dolphins & Kansas City Chiefs (March 22nd, 2022)

Dolphins Receive: WR Tyreek Hill
Chiefs Receive: 2022 1st Round Pick, 2022 2nd Round Pick, 2022 4th round Pick, 2023 4th Round Pick, 2023 6th Round Pick

This wild NFL offseason is not over yet as major news broke Wednesday morning about Tyreek Hill seeking trade elsewhere. It didn’t take long for the Miami Dolphins to jump on this opportunity. Hill will be playing under Mike McDaniel, who is loading up on weapons for what should be a totally revamped offense. With Terron Armstead shoring up the offensive line and Tyreek Hill representing a massive pass-catching upgrade, Tua Tagovailoa is set for a make-or-break season. McDaniel should have plenty of exciting ways to feature Hill along with Jaylen Waddle, Mike Gesikci, and the recently signed Chase Edmonds. If things don’t work out for Tagovailoa, the Dolphins still have two first-round picks in 2023 to get in on that talented draft class of quarterbacks. As for the Chiefs, adding JuJu Smith-Schuster helps make the depth chart look a little less sad at this position, but taking a step back while everybody else in the division loaded up is an odd choice. Wide receiver becomes a massive need for this team in this year’s draft, and now they have plenty of ammo to attack the position. We will see what moves the Chiefs make over the next few weeks, as surely they saw some of those 40 times in this year’s draft and figured they could pass on paying Hill.

Indianapolis Colts & Atlanta Falcons (March 21st, 2022)

Colts Receive: QB Matt Ryan
Falcons Receive: 2022 3rd Round Pick

After the Falcons lost out on the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, it was unclear whether or not they would roll into next season with Matt Ryan as the starter. Now, with a roster that’s devoid of talent on both sides of the ball, it’s clear they have entered a full rebuild. Ryan will arguably be the Colts’ best quarterback since Andrew Luck after the team suffered through mediocre play from Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, and Carson Wentz. Ryan will also be playing behind perhaps the best offensive line of his career. The Colts still need to add more receiving talent, and the loss of former defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus could make a huge impact on the defense. I’d lean towards the Colts still being on the outside looking in on the playoffs especially as they take on the loaded AFC West this year, but the acquisition of Ryan gives them a better chance of unseating the Titans atop the AFC South. As time goes on, Washington’s trade for Carson Wentz looks more and more like a fleecing by the Colts as they added draft capital while improving their QB position.

Tennessee Titans & Los Angeles Rams (March 20th, 2022)

Titans Receive: WR Robert Woods
Rams Receive: 2023 6th Round Pick

The writing was on the wall for Robert Woods after the Allen Robinson signing, and this trade makes it more likely that the Rams retain Odell Beckham Jr. Trading Woods will save the Rams $7.1 million against the cap this season, and with Woods turning 30 years old next month and coming off a torn ACL, he was deemed expendable. It’s a bit of a surprisingly low return for a receiver who had over 3,200 receiving yards over the past three seasons before his season-ending injury last year, but the Rams also likely had a list of teams they wouldn’t trade him to including the now heavily receiver-needy Packers. For the Titans, Woods will replace Julio Jones as a starter and will theoretically be an excellent complement across from A.J. Brown if both can stay healthy. With Derrick Henry returning from injury as well, the Titans appear to be the team to beat in the AFC South.

Cleveland Browns & Houston Texans (March 18th, 2022)

Browns Receive: QB Deshaun Watson, 2024 5th Round Pick
Texans Receive: 2022 1st Round Pick, 2023 1st Round Pick, 2024 1st Round Pick, 2023 3rd Round Pick, 2024 4th Round Pick

The Browns had been told they were out on the Deshaun Watson race, but Watson has now waived his no-trade clause and expects to be headed to Cleveland. Deshaun Watson will receive a massive five-year, $230 million contract that is fully guaranteed, making it the highest guarantee ever given to an NFL player. Watson will be the best quarterback in Cleveland Browns franchise history, and the team has all of the pieces to immediately compete for a Super Bowl even in a loaded AFC. Baker Mayfield already had one foot out the door in Cleveland, and the Browns will now surely accommodate his trade request as they had previously said they would not do. Watson isn’t out of the woods with the several sexual assault allegations that currently face him, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him suspended for an amount of time this season. However, the Browns are well aware of that possibility and still prioritized acquiring a player who can be a top-five quarterback in the league when on the field.

Las Vegas Raiders & Green Bay Packers (March 17th, 2022)

Raiders Receive: WR Davante Adams
Packers Receive: 2022 1st Round Pick, 2022 2nd Round Pick

Lineups Analysis: Most franchises would have folded when Russell Wilson, Khalil Mack, Randy Gregory, and J.C. Jackson joined their division that already featured Patrick Mahomes in the span of a week. The Raiders are not most franchises. Adams and Derek Carr are college teammates and the idea of Adams playing for the Raiders had always been a conversation since the pair were drafted, and now it’s coming to fruition. The Raiders will resign Adams on a massive five-year, $141.25 million contract to make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, deservedly so. Adams will be far and away the best receiver Carr has ever played with, and we might see four teams from one division make the playoffs for the first time in NFL history. The Packers have shed a lot of talent this offseason as they’ve made room for Aaron Rodgers’s gargantuan contract, and you have to wonder how much of a say Rodgers got in this trade. Packers fans will hope he was privy to this, as trading away his top wideout without his knowledge would leave Rodgers angrier at the franchise than he’s ever been.

Indianapolis Colts & Las Vegas Raiders (March 16th, 2022)

Colts Receive: DE Yannick Ngakoue
Raiders Receive: CB Rock Ya-Sin

Lineups Analysis:This trade was announced immediately after the news of Chandler Jones signing with the Raiders, and Ngakoue was on his way out after the team invested in a long-term deal for Maxx Crosby as well. Rock Ya-Sin, a former 2019 second-round pick, was PFF’s 28th-ranked cornerback last season and is experienced playing on the perimeter and in the slot. Meanwhile, Yannick Ngakoue had ten sacks last season and will be a part of a solid pass-rush rotation along with the recently resigned Tyquan Lewis and 2021 first-round pick Kwity Paye. This trade makes a lot of sense for both teams as they each receive impact players at positions of need.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers & New England Patriots (March 15th, 2022)

Buccaneers Receive: OG Shaq Mason
Patriots Receive: 2022 5th Round Pick

Lineups Analysis:After Ali Marpet retired and Ryan Jensen signed with the Bengals this offseason, the Buccaneers had a significant need in the interior of the offensive line. Shaq Mason only carries a $7.3 million cap hit, which is a bargain for one of the best players at his position in the NFL. The Patriots still hold $3.1 million of that cap hit, so they hardly cleared enough cap room to make this move worth it. A fifth-round pick is chump change in exchange for one of the best offensive guards in the NFL, especially with the implications it could have for the Patriots’ offense which relies on interior running and play-action passing. With Trent Brown also a free agent, Mac Jones may be adjusting to two new starting offensive linemen in addition to the departure of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Continuity is important for a young quarterback, and this trade works against that principle. Ultimately, the Buccaneers win this trade quite clearly, and I’d love to know the reasoning from the Patriots in making this move.

Cleveland Browns & New England Patriots (March 15th, 2022)

Browns Receive: EDGE Chase Winovich
Patriots Receive: LB Mack Wilson

Lineups Analysis: The Patriots quietly had one of the worst linebacker rooms in the NFL last season with a complete lack of speed and playmaking, and Wilson helps address those needs. A former fifth-round pick in 2019, Wilson played some of the best football of his career last season and is on a clear upward trajectory. Meanwhile, Chase Winovich provides some insurance on the edge for Cleveland with Jadeveon Clowney’s free agency leaving some questions about who will play across from Myles Garrett this year. Winovich is coming off a down season in which he missed a few games and wasn’t on the field as often for New England, but he had a combined 11 sacks and 22 QB hits over his first two seasons in the NFL.

Cleveland Browns & Dallas Cowboys (March 12th, 2022)

Browns Receive: WR Amari Cooper, 2022 6th Round Pick
Cowboys Receive: 2022 5th Round Pick, 2022 6th Round Pick

Lineups Analysis: We knew an Amari Cooper was likely coming with the Cowboys’ salary cap situation in such a bind, but I expected Dallas to get more in return. Cooper is just a year removed from 1,100+ receiving yards in two straight seasons, and he’s still only 27 years old. When the Cowboys traded for him initially, they sent the Raiders a 2019 first-round pick. Cooper is under contract through to 2024, and he instantly becomes Baker Mayfield’s top receiving weapon in the offense. With Jarvis Landry likely on the move and Odell Beckham Jr. being traded last season, Cleveland was in desperate need of more receiving help. This trade doesn’t necessarily take them out of the running of selecting a wideout at #13 overall, but now they can keep their options open and aren’t penciled into one position in the first round. We don’t have confirmation on the contract implications and how much of a cap hit the Cowboys will still have to carry, but the expectation is this move will free them up to take care of some of their top free agents including Michael Gallup, Randy Gregory, Leighton Vander Esch, and Dalton Schultz who recently received the franchise tag.

Los Angeles Chargers & Chicago Bears (March 10th, 2022)

Chargers Receive: EDGE Khalil Mack
Bears Receive: 2022 2nd Round Pick, 2023 6th Round Pick

Lineups Analysis: Wow. The Chargers saw the Broncos make their move for former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson and went all-in on building up their defense to stop him. Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa on the same defensive line is simply outrageous – you can easily argue they’ve both spent time as the best pass-rusher in the NFL in recent years. Mack’s injury-shortened 2021 season may have limited his trade value, but he’s a three-time First-Team All-Pro player who’s still only 31 years old. This feels like a steal for the Chargers. On the Bears’ side, this move offers significant cap relief as they look to get younger and acquire more offensive pieces to help Justin Fields with his development. Mack carried a $30.2 million cap hit this season, by far the highest on the team, and the Chargers will take on $17.5 million of that. They had $42.3 million in cap space to work with, and they may not be done making moves to keep up with the high-powered arms race in the AFC West.

Indianapolis Colts & Washington Commanders (March 9th, 2022)

Colts Receive: 2022 3rd Round Pick, 2023 3rd Round Pick (becomes a 2nd if Wentz plays 70% of plays), 2022 2nd Round Pick
Commanders Receive: QB Carson Wentz, 2022 2nd Round Pick

Lineups Analysis: The Colts did well to recoup some value from their failed one-year Carson Wentz experience, and they’re likely not done trading as they will look to use this acquired capital to bring in another passer. Washington, meanwhile, failed in its pursuit for Russell Wilson and lands Wentz instead. As the team enters its first year rebranded as the Commanders, it’s hard to imagine Wentz is who they imagined would be leading their offense. Wentz isn’t a long-term solution, so I can still see Washington drafting or even trading up to draft a quarterback this year. The Colts, meanwhile, don’t have a clear path to get into the first round this year. Could Marcus Mariota, Mitch Trubisky, Jameis Winston, or Teddy Bridgewater be in play in free agency? The Colts have also been linked to a potential trade for Jordan Love. Whatever the case may be, they enter 2022 prepared to start their seventh different quarterback in Week 1 in as many seasons.

Denver Broncos & Seattle Seahawks (March 8th, 2022)

Broncos Receive: QB Russell Wilson, 2022 4th Round Pick
Seahawks Receive: 2022 & 2023 1st Round Pick, 2022 & 2023 2nd Round Pick, 2022 5th Round Pick, DE Shelby Harris, TE Noah Fant, and QB Drew Lock

Lineups Analysis: The Broncos have pushed their chips into the middle of the table and they’re an immediate Super Bowl contender despite playing in a loaded AFC West. Expect Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, Javonte Williams, and Albert Okwuegbunam to all see their fantasy values boosted. Denver had the third-best defense in points allowed last year, and this trade gives them a high-level offense to match. With Nathaniel Hackett well-regarded as the new head coach and plenty of cap space still to work with, Denver is on the rise. Wilson is still only 33 years old and will likely sign a high-priced extension with Denver in the near future. Seattle, meanwhile, recoups strong value as their roster had been tapped out in terms of usable capital. They now enter a likely multi-year rebuild and could be in play for Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud next season.