The NFL season is hitting that wild midseason stretch where trades and last-minute pickups can make or break a team’s shot at glory.
But which teams have improved their chances of bringing home the Lombardi Trophy? And which have pushed themselves behind the eight ball?
Let’s break it all down and find out who’s gearing up for success and who’s heading straight for a disaster.
Which trades/signings from NFL teams were a success or failure this season?
Success: Houston Texans Sign Devin White
The Houston Texans have been off to a good, but not great start to the 2024 season. Through 7 games they sit at 5 – 2 and are atop a Week AFC South, but Houston has bigger aspirations than merely winning their division this year…
Enter Devin White.
The Texans signing White wasn’t about filling a hole in the roster—it was about turning up the heat on the rest of the AFC. Look, White isn’t just another linebacker you bring in for a few extra tackles; he’s a guy who, when he plays at his best, can completely transform the defense.
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This is the dude who was all over the field for Tampa Bay when they won the Super Bowl back in 2020. Not only did he rack up 140 tackles that season, but he also added nine sacks, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, you name it. And don’t forget the cherry on top: a pick-six on Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. That sounds like something that Houston could use if you ask me!
2020 is a long time ago and White hasn’t played his best football of late, but he is only 26. And with good reason, DeMeco Ryans seems to believe that White could be the missing piece to make this a truly championship caliber defense.
If you’re a Texans fan, this signing should have you feeling pretty good about what’s to come. Adding White is the kind of power move that can tip the scales in close games and get Houston into serious contention mode.
Disaster: Las Vegas Raiders sign Desmond Ridder
The Las Vegas Raiders signing Desmond Ridder to solve their quarterback woes? Tough scene!
It is so bad that you can even say it’s a Hail Mary… At least there is usually some excitement with that play!
This seems more like a check down on 4th and 29 from your own 23, as it completely lacks the courage of a last-minute heave into the end zone.
Ridder is a former third-round pick who had got multiple shots to make it work in Atlanta and disappointed in many ways.
And for some reason, the Raiders expect him to be a potential option under center since Aidan O’Connell went on the IR?
Let’s be real: this doesn’t feel like the magic fix. Raiders fans, don’t expect miracles here if he gets slotted in for Gardner Minshew at some point. This move has all the makings of a desperation play – and Antonio Pierce simply cannot feel good about his team heading into the back half of his first year as a full-time head coach.
Success: Kansas City Chiefs trade for Deandre Hopkins
This is a great example of how championship-caliber organizations make championship-caliber moves!
DeAndre Hopkins, a three-time All-Pro with seven 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, is headed to Kansas City. This guy has seen it all, caught it all, and probably dreamed about winning it all. Now he finally gets another legitimate shot at some real January football.
Hopkins has been one of the best receivers in the league for a decade, but he’s never been on a team with a true shot at a deep playoff run. So when the Tennessee Titans shipped him off to the Chiefs, Hopkins didn’t just get traded—he got the opportunity in the NFL he’s been waiting for. He’s already said it: “I think just playing meaningful football in January is what’s left on the list.”
The trade couldn’t have come at a better time for Kansas City, which is dealing with injuries across the board in its receiving corps. JuJu Smith-Schuster is out with a sore hamstring, Skyy Moore is on IR, and Rashee Rice is likely out for the season.
Hopkins gives them a guy who can step right in as a seasoned veteran who knows exactly how to handle the spotlight. And if you’re Mahomes, you’ve got to be thrilled about having Hopkins’ insane catch radius in the mix.
Andy Reid seems excited, too, and didn’t hesitate to say Hopkins would be ready to play immediately. “Why wait?” he said. Exactly, Coach. With Hopkins in the lineup, the Chiefs’ offense just went from dangerous to downright terrifying.
Disaster: New Orleans Saints Sign Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Have to be honest – I am not sure what the New Orleans Saints are thinking with this move…
The Saints think they can revive Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s career with Derek Carr at the helm? Alright, New Orleans, good luck with that one.
I mean, this guy couldn’t make it work in any of his last three stops with Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen throwing him the ball, and now the Saints think he’ll thrive in their system?
Yeah… Okay!
Valdes-Scantling had a promising start in Green Bay, but he’s since been something of a journeyman—short stints with the Chiefs, a quick stop in Buffalo, and now the Saints.
He’s just collecting stamps in his NFL passport but leaving nothing but mediocre stat lines in his wake. Over six seasons, he’s racked up just 188 receptions, 3,181 yards, and 16 touchdowns.
Decent, but for a supposed deep threat, he’s far from reliable.
Buffalo let him go after picking up Amari Cooper, and now New Orleans is hoping he can somehow resurrect his career here? It feels like wishful thinking…. Because even before Cooper’s arrival, Valdes-Scantling found a tough time cracking the Bills’ pass-catching rotation, catching just two of his nine targets for 26 yards.
Saints fans, don’t get your hopes up that this is going to revitalize this offense!
Also Read: 10 NFL Superstars MOST LIKELY To Get Traded This 2024 Season
Success: Buffalo Bills Trade for Amari Cooper
Cooper has had his ups and downs, sure, but his upside is undeniable, and it is hard to argue that he’s not a proven WR1.
The Pro Bowl receiver needs to clean up the drops that have plagued him this season, but considering he is no longer catching passes from Deshaun Watson for a terrible Browns team, I have to think he’ll be able to find the motivation to focus.
He’ll be a massive addition to Buffalo’s offense, and he’s already showing it! Right out of the gate, he made his presence felt, even tossing in a passing touchdown in Week 7. It’s like he walked into Buffalo and immediately hit the ground running.
Disaster: New York Jets Trade for Davante Adams
The Jets think that they are hunting a deep playoff run, but the reality is that they are going nowhere fast.
Despite a 2-4 start, the Jets decided to finalize a deal—and a coaching change—in hopes of turning their season around.
After all, this was a team that came into the season with hopes of not just winning the AFC East and the conference, but a Super Bowl too.
But the fact of the matter is that Aaron Rodgers is looking way too old, this NFL team has way too many holes, and this season is far too gone for this to be a successful trade.
For a conditional third-round pick, the Jets are taking a low-risk chance on an aging receiver with an expensive contract. But the idea is that Adams will bring back some of that Green Bay magic is not reality with the way this organization functions.
Adams has two years left on his current contract, which made many people across the league wonder how much the Raiders would get in return.
So at least they can take the offseason to really try and get it right, but, man, this one feels like it has all the makings of a complete disaster. Especially if Aaron Rodgers and the Jets end up falling out of love while Adams is still under contract!
Success: Seahawks Trade for Ernest Jones
The Seattle Seahawks have made a couple of interesting midseason moves, but perhaps none more so than at linebacker, acquiring fourth-year pro Ernest Jones IV from the Tennessee Titans for seventh-year LB Jerome Baker and a fifth-round NFL Draft pick.
The Seahawks have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game at just over 146 heading into Week 8. And with Jones’s skillset and his familiarity with Macdonald’s defense, as Tennessee runs a version of it under coordinator Dennard Wilson, he should be extremely valuable in changing that for the Seahawks, who surprisingly lead the NFC West by one game at 4-3.
Jones is in the final year of his rookie contract, but the Seahawks hope to keep him beyond 2024, which would really make this move a win.
Jones might not be a household name, yet but the Seahawks aren’t looking for a superstar—they want a professional who can hold the middle and stop the bleeding and this is undoubtedly a move that could shore up their defense just in time for a postseason push.
Disaster: Minnesota Vikings Trade for Cam Akers
I don’t know what it is about Cam Akers that keeps teams interested in him, but man, this guy leaves a lot to be desired.
When the news broke that the Texans were sending Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick, there were plenty of surprised faces around the league.
It made sense for Houston, as that Texans team already has Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce in the backfield, meaning that Akers was more like clutter than depth.
But it is hard to understand why the Vikings bothered to trade for Akers, as he has never really been able to string together any sort of consistent performances and always seems to leave his NFL teams wanting more.
I could see them wanting some depth behind the veteran NFL running back Aaron Jones, who has battled some injuries this year, but it seems like there had to be better options available either via trade or even off the scrap heap.
Success: Seattle Seahawks Trade for DT Roy Robertson-Harris
Seattle’s been dealing with injuries on the D-line, and the timing couldn’t be better for Roy Robertson-Harris to join the mix. This guy is an experienced veteran who can disrupt the pocket and bring some stability to a banged-up front. And the Seahawks only had to part with a sixth-round pick for him? Not bad at all.
It will be particularly interesting to see how Mike Macdonald, who was one of the most impactful defensive coordinators in the game the past couple of seasons prior to taking the head coaching gig in Seattle, is able to leverage Robertson-Harris’s talents.
In any case, I think it is safe to assume that the Seahawks are likely going to be happy buyers coming out of the fire sale down in Jacksonville that came as a result to the Jaguars disastrous start to the season.
After all, he’s got the potential to give Seattle’s defense some real grit. With guys like Byron Murphy and Uchenna Nwosu sidelined, adding a player of his caliber could be huge as they try to stay on top of a wide-open NFC West.
Disaster: Tennessee Titans Trade for Jerome Baker
The Seahawks acquired Ernest Jones IV from the Titans in exchange for Jerome Baker and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick in a swap of inside linebackers Wednesday.
Seattle, as we mentioned has plenty of reason to be excited… But Tennessee, who in the same week also gave up DeAndre Hopkins, well not so much.
Keep in mind… This is the second time Jones, 24, has been traded this year, making the move for the Titans, who acquired him from the Rams in August, sending a 2026 NFL fifth-round pick to Los Angeles for Jones and a 2026 sixth-round selection, all the more puzzling.
Trading for Jerome Baker might have felt like a quick fix for the Titans defense, as they try to recoup so draft capital in a lost season but this move has red flags all over it.
Especially if Ernest Jones begins to really thrive in Mike Macdonald’s defense out in Seattle.
Also Read: Who Are The Top NFL Trade Targets For Each Position?
