Grading Every Deal from 2025 NFL Trade Deadline

The 2025 NFL trade deadline will arrive at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, but teams aren't waiting until then to make deals. The trade market is already active and will continue to be until the deadline passes.

Bleacher Report's team of NFL analysts—Brent Sobleski, Gary Davenport, Kris Knox and Moe Moton—will provide live grades for all the major deals as they unfold.

Grades are based on factors such as player upside, positional value, trade compensation, how well needs are addressed, and how deals fit into each team's short- or long-term plans.

The Trade

Philadelphia Eagles Receive: CB Jaire Alexander, 2027 7th-Round Pick

Baltimore Ravens Receive: 2026 6th-Round Pick

Grades

Eagles: B

The Eagles need veteran insurance and depth at cornerback. In the first half of the season, opposing quarterbacks picked on Adoree' Jackson and Kelee Ringo in the passing game. Neither of the two showed much consistency on the boundary in the secondary. Also, Jackson missed Philadelphia's previous game with a concussion.

Alexander could surpass Jackson and Ringo on the depth chart if he eases his way into a steady role. Though his short tenure with the Ravens didn't work out, he's healthy, which will allow him to compete for immediate snaps. General manager Howie Roseman is known for making low-risk, high-reward moves for former high-end draft picks and notable underperformers. This trade fits that approach.

Ravens: C

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was excited to reunite with Alexander, who played with him at Louisville in college, but the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback didn't make any notable contributions. The Ravens field the 28th-ranked pass defense, and Alexander only appeared in two games.

This past offseason, the Green Bay Packers released Alexander, and Baltimore signed him to a one-year, $4 million deal. He only played 61 defensive snaps through eight games. The Ravens didn't get much return on their investment. So, they needed to flip the player into draft capital. Because of Alexander's minimal role and healthy scratches, Baltimore doesn't need to find his replacement, though it did whiff on signing him.

The Trade

San Francisco 49ers Receive: Edge Keion White, 2026 7th-Round Pick

New England Patriots Receive: 2026 6th-Round Pick

Grades

49ers: A

The San Francisco 49ers have seen defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner suffer season-ending injuries. Adding Keion White won't replace either player, but it will give the Niners valuable depth on the edge.

A 2023 second-round pick out of Georgia Tech, White flashed his upside last season with five sacks and 16 quarterback hits. Getting him with more than a year remaining on his rookie contract at the cost of a late pick swap makes this a great deal for San Francisco.

Patriots: D

When one team in a trade gets a bargain, the other usually isn't getting adequate compensation.

White's playing time had decreased in the New England Patriots' new defensive system, and he was a healthy scratch in Week 8. However, pass-rushers are almost always in demand, and the 26-year-old has shown previously he can be a nice rotational piece.

Yes, White was a product of the previous regime, but New England should have been able to get more for a 2023 second-round selection.

The Trade

Pittsburgh Steelers Receive: S Kyle Dugger, 2026 7th-Round Pick

New England Patriots Receive: 2026 6th-Round Pick

Grades

Steelers: B-

The Pittsburgh Steelers needed help on the back end of their defense, which hasn't been great since the team swapped Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jalen Ramsey in the offseason. While Pittsburgh's cornerback room got better on paper, its pass defense overall took a hit.

No team has surrendered more passing yards this season than the Steelers.

Kyle Dugger hasn't been as dependable over the last two seasons as he was early in his career. However, the Steelers needed to do something to bolster their defense, and if he can recapture his previous form, this could be an excellent value trade.

Patriots: C+

Like White, Dugger hasn't looked like a great fit under new Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. He's also been a liability in coverage, allowing an opposing passer rating of 118.1 in coverage this season.

While the trade compensation isn't great, this deal can be viewed as a minor win for New England. It gets the Patriots out from under the four-year, $58 million extension he signed last offseason.

The Trade

Los Angeles Rams Receive: CB Roger McCreary, 2026 6th-Round Pick

Tennessee Titans Receive: 2026 5th-Round Pick

Grades

Rams: A

A team with championship aspirations can never have too much cornerback depth, and the Los Angeles Rams have been searching for more. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported on October 25 that the Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions were all "making calls" on cornerbacks.

Landing Roger McCreary—and keeping him away from a potential postseason foe—was a solid move by Los Angeles. The 2022 second-round pick is in the final year of his rookie deal and has been an average defender with the Tennessee Titans. He has 38 starts on his resume, though, and comes to L.A. on a bargain deal.

Titans: C+

A late-round pick swap isn't exactly a huge return on investment, considering the Titans drafted McCreary 35th overall. However, Tennessee is trying to stockpile 2026 draft capital and was never likely to re-sign the 25-year-old anyway.

A fifth-round pick could turn into a solid young contributor, and the Titans need as many of those as they can get. McCreary is unlikely to be the last player Tennessee moves before the deadline.

The Trade

Philadelphia Eagles Receive: CB Michael Carter II

New York Jets Receive: WR John Metchie III

Eagles: A

The Philadelphia Eagles first acquired wide receiver John Metchie III in August by dealing tight end Harrison Bryant and swapping a fifth-round pick for a Houston Texans sixth-rounder. On Wednesday, they flipped Metchie for a capable cornerback in Michael Carter II.

Carter's play has slipped a bit this season, but that's pretty much true of the New York Jets defense overall. Last season, he appeared in 13 games and allowed an opposing passer rating of just 75.7 in coverage.

The Eagles, who rank 18th in passing yards allowed this season, needed corner depth. They got it by moving a player who had seen just 31 offensive snaps through eight weeks.

Jets: D+

The Jets don't have a whole lot at wide receiver behind Garrett Wilson, and Metchie does have an intriguing amount of upside. Taking a chance on the 2022 second-round pick does make sense for New York.

Still, trading a proven defender signed through 2027 in exchange for Metchie's promise is a notable risk.