NFL Midseason Deals 2024

NFL Midseason Deals

Analyzing significant trades made during the 2024 NFL season and their impacts

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In 2010, the Seattle Seahawks traded for running back Marshawn Lynch in the middle of the season. Lynch went on to become a cornerstone of the Seahawks team for the next four years, making the Pro Bowl every year and helping the team win the Super Bowl in 2013. Midseason trades can be crucial for teams looking to find a missing franchise piece that may help them contend for the championship. This season many big name wide receivers such as Davante Adams and Amari Cooper were moved. These trades were some of the most popular and exciting this year. But how worthy were these trades of the hype surrounding them? In this article, I will evaluate the particularly compelling deals made in the middle of this season and analyze their effectiveness.

Trade 1: Davante Adams to the New York Jets (The Las Vegas Raiders acquire a 2025 conditional third-rounder )

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers reunites with his primary receiver from their time together with the Green Bay Packers and the Jets pair Adams with young star receiver Garrett Wilson for an improved passing attack. The struggling Raiders decide to move on from one of their top pass catchers for future draft capital. This trade looked good for both sides. Adams may make significant impacts during games such as his performance just last week against the Dolphins where he caught 9 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown , but overall the trade was not effective. The anticipated connection between Adams and Rodgers has not been enough to save the Jets season as they are 1-6 since acquiring him.

Trade 2: Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills ( The Cleveland Browns get a 2025 third-rounder and a 2026 seventh-rounder while the Bills also acquire a 2025 sixth-rounder )

The Bills lost star receiver Stefon Diggs in the offseason to the Houston Texans and also lost receiver Gabe Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In order to get some help for star quarterback Josh Allen, they decided to bring in veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper. Cooper began his Bills career strongly with a touchdown in his first game . Since then however, he had just 6 receptions over the course of three games and an injury that caused him to sit out for two . Recently, Cooper produced a strong stat line in the Bills outing against the Los Angeles Rams despite the loss, accumulating 95 yards on 6 receptions. Games like these demonstrate Cooper's potential to contribute to the Bills dangerous offense in the future. Head coach Sean McDermott even acknowledged the newfound connection between the two in a game where Amari Cooper was the most targeted receiver, “I think it's a good sign, I really do. I think there is a chemistry there that's been born,” . Cooper’s presence on the field also opens up opportunities for the rest of the offense. Notably, fellow wide receiver Khalil Shakir posted 5 receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown in the Rams game. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady sums up Cooper’s contributions to the offense by saying, “We're better when Amari Cooper's on the field right and he's going to continue to progress in this offense,” Overall, trading for Amari Cooper hasn’t proved to be incredibly effective thus far, but his showing in week 14 could allude to more positive things in the future.