With the 2021 NFL Trade Deadline officially surpassed we take a look at the biggest trade deadline winners and the biggest trade deadline losers. It wasn't the most exciting week, but some teams clearly won and lost.
These trades could change the outcome of the playoff race. A couple of contenders attempted to improve their roster, while some teams acquired draft capital for the future. The most notable moves are between the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos, as well as the trade between the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots.
At the end of the day, there are three teams that stand out as the biggest trade deadline winners. Meanwhile, there are three teams who look to be the biggest trade deadline losers. With that said, here is our evaluation of the 2021 NFL trade deadline.
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Biggest Trade Deadline Winners
Biggest Trade Deadline Losers
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are in new territory as they've had their way the last 20 years. Maybe their luck is running out, but the deal to ship Stephon Gilmore for a sixth-round pick is just terrible value. Gilmore isn't the player he used to be, but it's insane to see the Patriots send him off for such a late NFL draft pick.
Considering the issues surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs, it's odd to see them trade away an offensive lineman. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif isn't a big-name player that stands out. However, he's a fantastic depth piece that brought a ton of value to a struggling Chiefs team. The New York Jets acquired much-needed depth, while Kansas City acquired Dan Brown, an NFL tight end they don't necessarily need.
The Houston Texans make the list for a couple of reasons. For starters, trading away Mark Ingram for a seventh-round pick just doesn't make a ton of sense. Let alone, the draft pick is in 2024. Houston mainly made the move as a kind gesture to Mark Ingram, as they allowed him to rejoin the New Orleans Saints to finish off his NFL career.
On the other hand, NFL rumors say the Texans were in agreement to send away superstar Deshaun Watson to the Miami Dolphins. For whatever reason, a deal never came to fruition. There are murmurs the Texans caught wind that Watson was about to settle his lawsuits to make the trade official. Houston decided to up the asking price for the superstar quarterback. Killing the deal immediately.
Of course, those are just rumors, so that information needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Even so, the Texans are stuck rostering a disgruntled player as he eats into their salary cap and takes a roster spot that could be used elsewhere. This franchise is just a messy NFL team right now.