The Trade Deadline

How about that NFL Trade Deadline? I would've tackled this topic sooner but it took so long to shuffle through all those trade deadline deals. 

The 2020 NFL Trade Deadline was supposed to bring a trading frenzy. It was supposed to be more like the in-season dealings that we see in baseball, basketball, and hockey. Selling teams were going to be selling in advance of a expected salary cap dip. Buying teams were going to be strong teams buying to get stronger. Unlike most NFL Trade Deadlines, this one was going to be crazy. At least that was what the media talking heads were honking. So, what did we get? Here's what we got. 

Oct. 18

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: acquire DT Steve McLendon, 2023 7th-round pick

New York Jets: 2021 sixth-round selection

Oct. 21

San Francisco 49ers: acquire LB Jordan Willis, 2021 7th-round pick

New York Jets: 2021 6th-round pick

Oct. 22 

Baltimore Ravens: acquire DE Yannick Ngakoue

Minnesota Vikings: 2021 3rd-round pick, conditional 2022 5th-round pick

Oct. 23

Arizona Cardinals: acquire DE Markus Golden

New York Giants: 2021 6th-round pick

Oct. 27

Detroit Lions: acquire DE Everson Griffen

Dallas Cowboys: conditional 6th-round pick

Oct. 28

Seattle Seahawks: acquire DE Carlos Dunlap

Cincinnati Bengals: OL B.J. Finney, 7th-round pick

Nov. 1

Pittsburgh Steelers: acquire Avery Williamson, 2022 7th-round pick

New York Jets: 2022 6th-round pick

Nov. 2

Dallas Cowboys: acquire DT Eli Ankou

Houston Texans: 2022 7th-round pick

New Orleans Saints: acquire LB Kwon Alexander

San Francisco 49ers: LB Kiko Alonso, conditional 5th-round pick

Tennessee Titans: acquire CB Desmond King

Los Angeles Chargers: 6th-round pick

Nov. 3

New England Patriots: acquire WR Isaiah Ford

Miami Dolphins: 2022 7th-round pick

Miami Dolphins: acquire RB DeAndre Washington, 2021 7th-round pick

Kansas City Chiefs: 2021 6th-round pick

***

That's it. I suppose that 12 deals over the last couple weeks is somewhat robust but it's hardly a frenzy. None of the 12 trades included a Day 1 draft pick. The highest draft pick spent was a 3rd-round pick (for Ngakoue). The player for player trades were fun. With three trades, Monday was the most active day. Tuesday, Deadline Day, was a snoozer. The 2020 NFL Trade Deadline was definitely nothing like we were led to believe it would be. This year was no different. It's always that way. The media builds up the NFL Trade Deadline. The fans buy into it. Then poof. Nothing. Well, that's not entirely accurate. We got 12 deals. When are people going to learn that football simply isn't a spot conducive to in-season trades? Now, it's back to the season.