Re-Grading The Biggest Trades Of The 2025 NFL Season…Which Ones Flopped & Which Ones Worked Out?
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
From the start of the offseason to the trade deadline, 2025 NFL Trade was undoubtedly a memorable year as far as jaw-dropping blockbuster moves go in Football. It could legitimately be a while until we see as many “wow” trades in one full year.
With the regular season quickly winding down, let’s bring back the report card season and re-grade the 10 biggest trades of the NFL in 2025.
Which 2025 NFL trades netted the highest grades?
Packers Make The Ultimate All-In Trade For Micah Parsons
The Dallas Cowboys’ All-Pro linebacker requested a trade after months of unproductive contract extension talks. Jerry Jones didn’t waste much time putting an end to the saga, dealing Parsons to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark and a pair of first-round picks.
Despite Parsons’ trade request, it was still a bit of a stunner. Jones has always paid his best players top dollar, and Parsons might have been the most talented defensive player this franchise has ever had.
After the trade, the Packers handed the four-time Pro Bowler a mammoth four-year contract extension worth $188 million, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. So, how has the trade looked for both sides? Call it a win-win.
Parsons is having a career year with the Packers and has elevated their defense to an elite level. We’d go as far as saying their D hasn’t looked this good since the 2010 squad that led the Pack to a Super Bowl 45 championship.
Green Bay has re-emerged as the NFC North’s top team. And Parsons is only in the middle of his prime. Greatest non-QB trade in Packers history? It’s not too early to start the conversation.
Packers Grade: A+
Early on, the move looked like a mistake for the Cowboys, with their defense allowing over 30 points per game. But Jerry Jones was able to flip one of the first-round picks from Green Bay to the New York Jets for All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who has single-handedly turned this unit around in the second half.
Dallas still has an extra first-rounder to spare, too. And as much flak as Jerry Jones gets, trading Parsons allows him to spread that wealth across multiple players — including the no-brainer call to extend George Pickens. Cowboys Grade: A.
Man, it feels weird praising Jerry Jones these days. This can be considered as top level trade in NFL 2025.
Jaguars Move Up For Travis Hunter
Every mock draft was busted on draft day when the Jacksonville Jaguars moved up into the No. 2 spot in a stunning blockbuster move with the Cleveland Browns. The Jaguars acquired the Nos. 2, 104, and 200th picks from Cleveland in exchange for the Nos. 5, 36, and 126 picks, along with a 2026 first-rounder.
With the No. 2 pick, the Jaguars selected the Heisman Trophy winner and two-way phenom out of Colorado. The Browns used the fifth selection on Michigan’s Mason Graham, strengthening the front seven led by Myles Garrett.
We’re giving the Jaguars an A- here. Hunter’s rookie year was cut short by seven games, but he was on pace to finish with over 700 receiving yards and performed well in coverage, allowing zero touchdowns and a passer rating of 68.3. His arrival has changed the culture in Duval County under Liam Coen, whose Jags are in a great spot to make a surprise return to the playoffs.
Oh, and they got a steady No. 2 RB to help Travis Etienne Jr. in Bhayshul Tuten, taken with the No. .14 pick.
The Browns get an A+ here because they’ve already gotten two big-time studs out of this trade in the NFL. Graham ranks in the top 10 among defensive tackles for both run-stopping and pass-rush win rate per ESPN’s metrics, and Judkins is on pace to rush for over 1,000 yards as a rookie. There’s your long-term Nick Chubb replacement in the back field.
The Quinnen Williams Trade Deadline Stunner
Before the deadline struck, the Cowboys and New York Jets agreed to another jaw-dropping blockbuster that nobody saw coming.
The deal was this: The Cowboys acquired Quinnen Williams in exchange for 2026 second and 2027 first-round picks and defensive tackle Mazi Smith, Dallas’ first-round selection back in 2023.
Jerry Jones made the trade with Dallas sitting at 3-5-1, so it felt like a horrible move of desperation on his end. As it turns out, the man actually knew what he was doing the entire time.
Dallas’ defense, which had been allowing over 30 points per game, suddenly transformed into a middle-of-the-pack group. Good enough with the way the offense has played this year.
Williams has been the catalyst of the turnaround on defense, and Dallas has re-entered the playoff picture. Even if they don’t qualify this year, they have their new superstar on defense to replace Parsons, and there’s still an extra first-round pick in the deal with Green Bay.
So congrats on the A+ grade, Dallas. You earned it.
As for the Jets, they, too, get an A+ grade in what has been a win-win trade thus far the NFL. The team has actually played a lot better since waiving the white flag at the deadline, and getting two early-round picks for Williams could very well accelerate the rebuild in Gotham. This trade is considered among the best trades of 2025 NFL.
Joe Thuney Hibernates To Bears
With the Kansas City Chiefs facing a cap crunch and having to pay All-Pro guard Trey Smith, they made the tough decision to ship off four-time Super Bowl champion and All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears.
In return, the defending AFC champions got a 2026 fourth-round pick in the NFL draft, with Thuney immediately agreeing to a two-year extension worth $35 million after the trade.
This is an easy A+ for the Bears, who’ve been the NFC’s biggest surprise this year. Caleb Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times last year, but will finish with far less than half of that total this season.
The o-line’s turnaround starts with Thuney, who’s at or near the very top in PFF and ESPN’s run and pass-blocking win rates among interior offensive linemen. Thuney might even finish in pass-blocking at both sites.
The Chiefs get a B on this one. Thuney was simply a cap dump. They couldn’t pay both him and Trey Smith. On top of that, Kingsley Suamataia has fared pretty well in Thuney’s place. The o-line is not the main issue in Kansas City this year — even if they made a small downgrade at guard.
Falcons Trade Up For James Pearce Jr.
After using the No. 15 pick on Jalon Walker, the Atlanta Falcons decided to double down on pass-rushers. So they acquired the No. 26 and 101 picks from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for the 46th and 242nd picks and, most notably, a 2026 first-round pick.
With the 26th selection, the Falcons selected Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr. Obviously, Atlanta expected to be a playoff contender after making this pick.
But the season has quickly gone sideways in Atlanta, and they’re in danger of giving up a potential top-five pick — at the very least a top-10 selection. And Pearce Jr. hasn’t made any impact here, so it’s an F for Terry Fontenot’s group.
We’ll see what the Rams do with the 2026 first-rounder, but it’s already an A+ for them. They’re the favorites to win Super Bowl 60 anyway, and obviously didn’t need an impact rookie in round one this year. More all-world asset management from GM Les Snead.
Steelers Snap Up D.K. Metcalf From Seattle
After missing the postseason for the second straight year, the Seahawks decided to shake up their offense. Aside from trading Geno Smith, they made the tough decision to trade their Pro Bowl wideout to the Steelers to build more around Jaxson Smith-Njigba.
Pittsburgh acquired Metcalf in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, with the clubs swapping sixth and seventh-round selections as well. Metcalf then signed a four-year extension with his new club worth $132 million.
Call this an A+ for the Seahawks, whose offense has reached another level with JSN emerging as the new No. 1 receiver and with Metcalf gone. Oh, and Seattle used the second-round pick from Pittsburgh to trade up for safety Nick Emmanwori at No. 35 overall, and what an addition he’s been to their defense.
Pittsburgh gets a C here for this trade in the NFL offseason. Metcalf is on pace to finish with his fewest receiving yards in a season and isn’t playing like the former Pro Bowler we saw in Pittsburgh. He’s also the only Pittsburgh pass-catcher doing anything, so we suppose it could be worse.
But a Metcalf-Aaron Rodgers tandem was supposed to produce much more than this.
Giants Trade Up For Jaxson Dart
After passing on a quarterback with the No. 3 pick to select Abdul Carter, the New York Giants moved back into round one by snagging the No. 25 selection from Houston for the 34th and 99th picks plus a 2026 third-rounder.
With the 25th pick, the Giants got the QB they wanted in Ole Miss standout Jaxson Dart.
Even though the Giants have been dreadful this year, Dart has already emerged as the new franchise QB. His pinpoint accuracy, toughness, and competitiveness have made the G-Men watchable. And to think he’s spent most of his rookie year without Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo.
It’s an A+ for the Giants because rebuilding into a winner always starts with a franchise QB. And Dart will only get better.
Houston gets an A- for now. They took Iowa State wideout Jayden Higgins with the No. 34 pick, and he’s shown some flashes and ability to become a decent No. 2 receiver. Of course, they still have that 2026 third-round pick in their pockets, so let’s see if they make the most of it.
Raiders Reunite Geno Smith & Pete Carroll In Sin City
After hiring Pete Carroll as their new head coach, the Las Vegas Raiders decided to bring in a familiar face to run his offense. Having cut ties with the disastrous Gardner Minshew II experiment, the Raiders acquired Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a third-round pick.
With Smith heading into his contract year, the Raiders decided to award him a lucrative two-year extension worth $75 million before ever playing a snap for them. With the third-round pick, the Seahawks drafted Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to back up Sam Darnold.
This trade is an easy “F” for the Raiders, who thought they were getting a two-time NFL Pro Bowler to maximize the talents of Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty. Instead, Smith’s alarming amount of turnovers and sacks has the Raiders scrambling to avoid the NFL basement.
And to think that Tom Brady “nixed” the Raiders’ plans to pursue Sam Darnold in free agency.
Seattle gets an easy A+ from us. Even if Milroe doesn’t make any meaningful impact, the Smith trade put in motion the plans to sign Darnold, who’s been a near-perfect fit in Emerald City as they re-emerge as a force in the NFC.
Cowboys Finally Make “All-In” Deal For George Pickens
It came 15 months late, but Jerry Jones finally lived up to his promise of going “all-in” when he acquired ex-Pittsburgh Steelers star wideout George Pickens in a blockbuster trade after the NFL draft.
To land the 1,000-yard receiver, Dallas only had to send third and fifth-round picks for Pickens and a sixth-round selection. Just like that, the Cowboys finally had their new No. 2 receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb.
Let’s cut to the chase and give the Cowboys an A+ grade for this one. Pickens had set new career highs in catches, yards, AND touchdowns by the end of Dallas’ Thanksgiving Day win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The offense kept Dallas competitive while the defense floundered in the first half, and Pickens’ presence for Dak Prescott is a key reason why. Up next, Jerry’s gotta give the man his well-deserved extension.
For the Steelers? We’re giving this a D- for now. We know they still have two picks from Dallas to use, and maybe Pickens was too much of a problem in the locker room. But they also failed to find a No. 2 receiver to replace Pickens after acquiring DK Metcalf in a separate deal with the Seahawks.
Something tells us the Aaron Rodgers-led offense would be a LOT better if he had Metcalf and Pickens as his top two targets, instead of just Metcalf and a whole bunch of guys who wouldn’t be starters anywhere else.
Colts Add Some “Sauce” To Their Defense
It may not go down as the most impactful trade of 2025, but it certainly had the biggest “shock” factor.
At the 2025 trade deadline, the Indianapolis Colts acquired All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the Jets for two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. The trade came less than four months (!) after Gardner signed a four-year extension worth $120.4 million.
We can give the Jets an A+ off the bat. They were a horrible team with Gardner and Quinnen Williams and had to rebuild from scratch. Turning those two into three extra first-rounders and a pair of second-rounders is a rare win for the Jets. Pure and simple.
We’ll see if the Colts can lock down a playoff spot, but we’ll give them an A+ for now. Gardner is either the NFL’s best corner or the second-best after Patrick Surtain II. Take your pick.
To land a player like Gardner in the early stages of his prime is worth the hefty price. They haven’t had a real shutdown corner in years. And he fills a glaring need on their defense, which should be close to a top-five group for years to come.
