It’s not hyperbole to say that the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline was the craziest deadline in league history. There were 12 trades made on Tuesday leading up to the 4 p.m. ET deadline, which was the most ever made on deadline day. Not only were there a large number of deals struck, but there were also a number of blockbuster moves, including Bradley Chubb heading to Miami and T.J. Hockenson staying in the NFC North but being dealt to the Vikings.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the more notable deals that occurred:
Most surprising trade
I don’t think it’s much of a debate to say that Calvin Ridley being shipped to the Jaguars is the most surprising deal of the day. Was anyone even thinking about the now former Falcons receiver lately? After all, Ridley is suspended for the entirety of this season after he was caught betting on NFL games during an absence from football. He can apply for reinstatement in February and this is a pretty complex deal because of his uncertain status.
If Ridley reportedly is reinstated by a certain date, the Falcons will receive a 2023 fifth round pick. If he is not reinstated by the date, it’s a 2023 sixth-round pick. After that, Atlanta receives a 2024 selection that could escalate all the way to a second rounder if he reaches certain milestones.
On top of this simply being a fascinating trade from a logisitical standpoint, it also has the potential to be a game-changer for the Jacksonville offense as early as 2023. Ridley was regarded as one of the bright, young pass catchers in the NFL and now has the potential of being Trevor Lawrence’s go-to weapon.
Big picture storyline
Two of the more notable trades of the day were Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins and Chase Claypool to the Bears. One thing that those two trades have in common is the stamp of approval they give to their respective quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Fields.
With Tagovailoa, the Dolphins traded away their 2023 first-round pick (among others) to acquire Chubb. That pick (from the 49ers) was their only first-round pick this coming spring after their own was forfeited as a result of the Tom Brady tampering investigation. Not only is that willingness to give up the first rounder a sign that the front office believes this team can make a push this season, but it also put them out of the quarterback market in this coming draft. That’s as big of a stamp of approval that you’ll see from the front office with Tagovailoa outside of a contract extension.
On a similar tone, the Bears seem to be rewarding Justin Fields’ strong play as of late by giving him a much-needed pass-catching weapon in Chase Claypool. The fact that they were willing to give up their own second round pick — arguably a lofty price to pay — is a sign that they believe in what the young quarterback is doing.
So, we have two quarterback who we questioned coming into the year if they were truly going to be “franchise guys” have their teams make moves that directly or indirectly show their long-term support of them.
To relive everything that went down as it happened, check out our live blog below. Also, check out how CBS Sports graded each trade.