NFL teams are preparing for the regular season after cutting their rosters down to 53 players, and a number of those teams have brand-new weapons to feature.
This year's roster cut deadline was not abnormal in that there are usually quite a few trades made, but it felt somewhat abnormal in the overall volume of trades, especially at the wide receiver position. This was not considered to be the best draft class at the receiver position, and this is maybe a reflection of that as teams were scrambling to find options before the start of the season.
But you never know when you strike a deal right before the season that can bring one of those important 53 pieces to your roster. Which moves could end up making a huge impact early on?
3 recent WR trades that could be huge early on for NFL teams
1. Tim Patrick to the Jaguars
This was a really interesting one because the Jacksonville Jaguars moved on from a taller, lankier former Denver Broncos receiver this offseason already. They moved on from Josh Reynolds as part of the mass exodus they sent out under new general manager James Gladstone, but here they bring in Tim Patrick.
Patrick is a veteran who has been through a lot as a professional. He went from UDFA nobody to being a second-contract player in Denver. Unfortunately, he never really got to even play on that second contract as injuries robbed him of his prime years.
He was part of the Detroit Lions until just recently when the Lions sent him to the Jaguars, and he's quietly going to be an important veteran for that team. The Jags have a lot of young players at receiver including their top pick Travis Hunter, and Patrick will come in and show those guys how to be pros while also bringing excellent blocking ability and the occasional big play to the offense.
2. Skyy Moore to the 49ers
Nobody is going to be more furious to see Skyy Moore potentially figure it out as a member of the San Francisco 49ers than Chiefs fans, but you've got to hope this guy can turn the corner. The former second-round pick out of Western Michigan has not been able to thrive despite seemingly being in an ideal situation there with the Chiefs.
Where the Chiefs failed to unlock Moore's potential, perhaps the 49ers can figure it out. Moore can contribute as a return man right away while also filling in the gaps of San Francisco's rough receiver depth chart right now.
He had a punt return for a touchdown in the preseason and might have gotten the confidence boost he desperately needed to thrive in a new environment.
3. Adam Thielen to the Vikings
Let's state the obvious with this one, because Adam Thielen to the Vikings was one of the most substantial trades made around roster cuts.
Thielen is obviously a really strong veteran option for the Vikings, who needed some help with Jordan Addison serving a three-game suspension to start the year. But when Thielen was healthy with the Panthers the past couple of seasons, this dude was still playing at a very high level.
Thielen is capable of getting open at all levels of the field, though where he's really going to be a godsend for the Vikings is in the red zone and on third downs. He can still get the job done and is a great addition on the cusp of the regular season for a team breaking in a young QB.