NFL Trade Deadline Was Busy
Making NFL picks in Week 9 and beyond is going to look a bit different than it did during the first eight weeks of the season. That’s because the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline has officially come and gone, and it was one of the wildest ones in recent memory.
The other major professional leagues in the United States have crazy trade deadlines every single year, but that’s not usually the case in the NFL. This season though, even some teams that appear to be in the playoff mix were looking to get rid of some talent.
There were several big names that got moved before the Trade Deadline, and sending picks back and forth was pretty common. It’s going to make the 2023 NFL Draft wild and crazy, but it’s also going to have a pretty big impact on the second half of the 2022 season.
Bears Were Busy
The NFL expert picks for the Chicago Bears didn’t give the team much of a chance to make the playoffs in 2022, and it’s played out that way through eight weeks. Chicago went just 3-5 during the beginning of the season, and that allowed general manager Ryan Poles to make some moves.
Poles was faced with a mess when he took over the job in Chicago, and he has decided to tear it completely down and rebuild. He sent his top two defensive players to other teams but then flipped the script and went on the offensive.
Robert Quinn was the first player traded from Chicago as he was sent to the Baltimore Ravens. Roquan Smith was also traded away from Chicago as Poles was able to strike a deal with the Baltimore Ravens.
The defense for Chicago is going to suffer over the remainder of the season, but the offense could actually be much improved. Poles was able to flip one of his second-round picks for wide receiver Chase Claypool.
49ers Land the Big Fish
As soon as the Carolina Panthers announced that they were going to start rebuilding for the future, they were flooded with calls for running back Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey has battled injuries over the last few seasons, but he is one of the most dynamic players in the league when healthy.
It was the San Francisco 49ers that were able to swing a deal to land McCaffrey, and it’s going to have a big impact on the NFL predictions for the team moving forward. Carolina landed four draft picks in the trade, including three of them in the 2023 NFL Draft.
The San Francisco 49ers got off to a slow start to the 2022 season, but the 49ers are expected to have a huge jump in the standings after McCaffrey is able to learn the offense. Other teams in the NFC West were looking to land the star running back as well, and that’s an added bonus for the 49ers in making the trade to get him.
The Arizona Cardinals were able to get a player from the Carolina Panthers as they traded for wide receiver Robbie Anderson. The wide receiver was benched by Carolina after questioning some coaching decisions, and it only cost the Cardinals a sixth and seventh-round draft pick.
Dolphins Deal With Denver
The Miami Dolphins are already a team with a loaded offense, but they needed some help on the defensive side of the football. Miami and Denver were able to get together for a deal, and both players were able to receive a player in the deal.
Linebacker Bradley Chubb is headed to South Beach, and he will provide plenty of help to the Miami defense. The Dolphins were also able to land a fifth-round draft pick in 2025 in the deal, but it cost them a player and some picks as well.
Running back Chase Edmonds is heading to Denver to join the running back room, and he could provide a boost to a team that is struggling to score. The Broncos also received a 2023 first-round draft pick and a fourth-round draft pick in 2024.