2022 NFL Trade Deadline Day Recap

In one of the most active trade deadlines in recent memory, several teams sent shockwaves across the NFL.

But throughout the discussions of impact players joining playoff teams or rebuilding squads bolstering their draft capital, there was also a lot of money shipped around the league this afternoon.

Let’s take a look into the financial breakdown of today’s most notable trade deadline moves.

Broncos trade Bradley Chubb and 2025 fifth-round pick to Dolphins for 2023 first-round pick, 2024 fourth-round pick and Chase Edmonds

In terms of paychecks and impacts on the field, this can confidently be remembered as the biggest trade of the day.

The Dolphins went all out for a rental in Chubb, sacrificing a first-round pick for the outside linebacker with 26 sacks, 107 solo tackles, 58 QB hits, and 6 forced fumbles in 49 career games.

Financially, Miami is pushing it to the limit in cap space, with just over $100,000 left to play with after taking on all $7 million of Chubb’s cap hit.

This is likely the reason that Chase Edmonds was included on this deal. Even though the Dolphins may not be thrilled with his 2.9 yards per carry in his first year in the 305, it never seemed as though the Dolphins were looking to move the 26-year-old back. But his $1.1 million cap hit and the Broncos need for running back depth after losing Jevonte Williams for the year was the perfect combination for this deal to get done.

On Denvers’ side, this deal all but confirms that they are punting on the season. It also shines light on the fact that Chubb must have never been in the plans to resign after this year, as they were able to salvage a first-round pick from what would’ve been a difficult decision in the offseason if the Broncos were confident in the Winter.

And with Russell Wilson making $22 million, Cortland Sutton set for $18.3 million, Justin Simmons and Garett Bolles making north of $18 million per as well next year, the orange and blue can use as many rookie contracts as they can manage.

Lions trade T.J. Hockenson to Vikings for 4 Draft Picks

After 4 years, a Pro-Bowl appearance, 186 catches and over 2,000 yards in his career, the T.J. Hockenson era is over in Detroit.

After Detroit exercised his fifth-year option for 2023, the Vikings essentially gave up two picks per year for 2023 and 2024 for 2-years of the former first-rounder.

While the Vikings entered today with less than $1 million in cap space, it was difficult to imagine them being an active team in today’s moves.

Instead, thanks to Hockenson’s cap hit of $536,000, the Vikings were able to fill the gap left from Irv Smith rather seamlessly, as the reliable tight end for Minnesota is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a high ankle injury.

For the Viking’s sake, Hockenson has the 14th most receiving yards of any tight end since 2018, while playing in the least amount of games. When healthy, he can be a significant factor to their offense.

Detroit on the other hand will avoid any dead cap hits with this deal, and free up over $9 million in cap space for 2023 while bringing in 4 total picks, specifically being a 2nd and 4th round pick for next year, and 2 fourths for 2024.

Steelers trade Chase Claypool to Bears for 2023 2nd Round Pick

This is a rare example of 2 teams at similar levels trading for a similar purpose, with their difference of player development taking priority.

The Bears are eager to see if they have a franchise quarterback in house already, or if the search needs to be back on for a franchise that does not have the best success at QB scouting.

The only issue with this is their wide receiver development trails behind the league average at the same time, which made a trade for Claypool necessary.

Pittsburgh on the other hand is attempting to determine the same situation at quarterback, but thankfully for them, their wide receiver development is potentially the best in the NFL.

So, despite having a receiver that averaged over 800 receiving yards a season his last 2 full years for $673,000 this year and $1.5 million in 2023, Pittsburgh is confident that their depth can match that production, and if not their ability to draft the position will fill the gap.

And for the Bears, even if the addition of Claypool does not help Fields’ development these next 2 years, the front office can at least hold their chins high knowing they blocked the Packers from acquiring what could be WR1 talent.

Falcons trade Calvin Ridley to Jaguars for draft capital worth as much as a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick

This is a deal that most fanbases, and front offices for that matter, wish that they knew was an option heading into the 4 pm deadline.

The Jaguars continue to add weapons to their non-threatening offensive attack, while the Falcons continue to add draft capital to their back pocket.

Ridley was a hot commodity coming into the 2021 season after his breakout 2020, where he finished with 90 catches and 1,374 yards in just 15 games.

But, after a five-game year due to injuries, his value was too low to trade for a rebuilding Falcons team.

And sure enough, in as unexpected of a story as you could script in the offseason, his stock hit rock bottom after getting suspended for a year due to gambling on NFL games.

For Atlanta, this turned a deal that could have included a first round pick or multiple day two picks into what we see today, which was one of the better trades the league has seen Jacksonville pull off.

For an $11 million cap hit, the Jaguars get to pair Trevor Lawrence with a receiver coming off a full year’s rest and with the potential to have top-10 numbers in your 1-1 pick’s ‘prove it’ year.

While draft picks are always a good thing, whether you’re a Super Bowl contender or at risk of finishing winless, the Jaguars are past the point of compiling picks and now at a need to see what they have compiled.

Pairing Ridley with Zay Jones, Travis Etienne and other weapons on rookie deals, and Christian Kirk, who’s $22.3 million cap hit is the only outlier of your offensive weapons contracts, is going to be a welcome sight come 2023.

The only issue now for Jacksonville? Getting themselves out of the $23 million hole of negative cap space they currently have

49ers trade Jeff Wilson to Dolphins for 2023 fifth-round pick

Soon after the blockbuster trade for Chubb was confirmed, the Dolphins wasted no time not only refilling their backfield depth, but actually improving in the space.

For just a fifth-round pick next year, the Dolphins transformed their 2.9 yards per attempt for $1.1 million in a cap hit to 5.1 yards per attempt and $575,000 in a cap hit.

While Wilson’s contract is just a rental, the Dolphins still used this deal to come out as the top dog of the 2022 Deadline Day.

And in the 49er49ers’s eyes, who are now deprived of draft picks after the Christian McCaffrey trade, they would be foolish not to take back a day three draft day pick for a position of such depth.

So on its own, this deal would not raise many eyebrows. But paired with the Chubb deal just hours earlier today, it’s safe to say that the Dolphins respect as a Super Bowl threat shot up.