NFL trade deadline 2020: Winners and losers from dead deadline

NFL trade deadline Loser: New York Jets

Speaking of teams that should have been bigger sellers at the trade deadline than they were, what exactly is the New York Jets’ plan here? This team is winless and looks the part at the midway point of the season. And though they may be a rudderless ship right now, they do have assets like Quinnen Williams and Marcus Maye that hold some value if they were going to start a full-scale rebuild.

But maybe that’s why they are actual losers at the deadline. Despite trading the likes of Avery Williamson and Steve McLendon, the Jets seem to be in denial — at least publicly — that they’re in need of a large rebuilding effort. After all, this is what general manager Joe Douglas said to the media about much-maligned head coach Adam Gase:

Spoiler: He’s not part of any solution. But if that’s the team’s line of thinking right now, then it stands to reason why they didn’t look to have a fire sale. It also makes them more deserving of a “Loser” designation.

NFL trade deadline Winner: Baltimore Ravens

It may be going under the radar because it happened weeks ago but the Baltimore Ravens may have made the most impactful trade of the deadline period. They gave up a 2021 third-round pick and a 2022 fifth-round pick to get edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue from the Minnesota Vikings. And the deal was absolutely pristine on the part of the Ravens.

Not only was Baltimore able to pull off the deal and get a productive pass-rusher for cheaper than what the Vikings paid to trade for Ngakoue from the Jaguars but they addressed a major need. They have been lacking individual edge-rushing presences for a bit now and Ngakoue, especially once he gets integrated, should fix that.

For a team that has Super Bowl aspirations, this was a critical move.