Grading the Four Tempering Period Trades

Yesterday was the first day of the legal tampering period of free agency in the NFL and a lot happened including three blockbuster trades and a ton of signings. It was a big day for the NFL and a lot of teams made some huge additions to their rosters to improve their chances to compete for a super bowl next season. There were four trades that happened in total and I will be grading these trades for each team involved.

Texans ship DeAndre Hopkins to Arizona

Arizona Cardinals Receive: DeAndre Hopkins, 2020 Fourth Round Pick

Houston Texans Receive: David Johnson, 2020 Second Round Pick, 2020 Fourth Round Pick

Cardinals Grade: A+

Houston Texans: F

Wow! This was a full-blown robbery by the Cardinals. They got one of the best receivers in the entire league without having to give up a first-round pick. Hopkins is a fantastic receiver who will enjoy a lot of success in Kliff Kingsbury’s high powered air raid offense. They will have to pay the nearly 28-year-old wideout soon, but getting one of the best weapons in the game

for an injury-prone running back and a second and fourth-round pick is unbelievable. Now the Cardinals can draft a tackle with the 8th pick, giving Kyler Murray an elite receiver and an improved offensive line.

What are you doing Bill O’Brien? Do you need to be drug tested?

The Texans went from having a 24-0 lead over the Chiefs in the divisional round to blowing that lead and now trading Deshaun Watson’s number one target for pocket change all in a matter of months. I understand wanting to trade Hopkins for draft capital, but you have to get a first-round pick for him. If the Vikings can get a first-rounder and more for Stefon Diggs, the Texans should be able to get at least a first-rounder for a guy as talented as Hopkins. Not only did the Texans not get a first-rounder in return, but they also got an injury-prone running back who hasn’t rushed for 1,000 yards since 2016. If healthy, Johnson is an upgrade over Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson, but I wouldn’t count on him staying healthy. They better make these picks count or else you could possibly see Deshaun Watson become impatient with the decision-makers of that franchise. This trade made the Texans worse and didn’t give them enough draft capital to improve the issues they have on their offensive line and secondary.

Falcons get Hayden Hurst after letting Austin Hooper walk

Falcons Receive: Hayden Hurst, 2020 Fourth Round Pick

Ravens Receive: 2020 Second Round Pick, 2020 Fifth Round Pick

Falcons Grade: B

Ravens Grade: A-

This is a good trade for both teams. The Ravens were able to get a high pick for a guy who didn’t get many opportunities in that crowded tight end room in Baltimore. They can use this pick to improve their linebackers or they can add a running back or wide receiver to their offense to give Lamar Jackson another weapon. This is a great return for probably their third-string tight end.

The Falcons needed a tight end after letting Austin Hooper walk for a ridiculous amount of money. You might think a second-round pick is too much for Hurst considering his production or lack thereof, but according to https://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/hayden-hurst/ Hurst is top 30 in all stats that have to do with efficiency, including a 90.9% true catch rate. Hurst could break out in a high powered Falcons offense, but I question whether or not he’s worth a second-round pick. We’ll have to wait to see how he does in a TE no. 1 role before we can really grade the Falcons on this trade.

Colts make a splash, trade for DeForest Buckner

San Francisco 49ers get: 2020 first-round pick (No. 13 overall)

Indianapolis Colts get: DT DeForest Buckner

Colts Grade: A-

49ers Grade: B

The Colts had a lot of money and made a splash, trading the 13th pick for DeForest Buckner. They needed an interior lineman and they got one of the best defensive tackles in the league. They also went ahead and signed him to a massive contract worth $21 million a year, which is a little expensive for me, but still a good pick up. At pick no. 13, there isn’t going to be a player available near the talent of Buckner, so this trade makes a lot of sense for the Colts.

The 49ers basically chose Arik Armstead and a first-round pick over DeForest Buckner. They overpaid Armstead after a break out year where he had 10 sacks instead of keeping the more consistent player in Buckner. I don’t really like this decision, but getting another first-round pick gives San Fran some flexibility in the draft. Now they have two firsts (nos. 13 and 31) and can trade one of those to get some late-round picks. With a number of needs to fill and no second third or fourth-round picks, they have to trade one of these picks for more draft capital. The 49ers have a few options at no. 13 depending on what happens during the draft. They can draft Javon Kinlaw to replace Buckner at DT or C.J Henderson who has incredible speed and length at corner and helps them match up better with the Chiefs. I love the flexibility this deal gives the 49ers in the draft, but I don’t know if that was worth trading DeForest Buckner. Nevertheless, I like this trade and think it’s smart for both teams.

Vikings move on from Diggs, sending him to Buffalo

Minnesota Vikings Receive: 2020 first-, fifth- and sixth-round picks, 2021 fourth-round pick

Buffalo Bills Receive: WR Stefon Diggs, 2020 seventh-round pick

Vikings Grade: A

Bills Grade: B+

The Vikings finally ended their rocky relationship with Stefon Diggs, trading him for a first-rounder and three more late-round picks. Unlike the Texans, the Vikings were actually able to get a first-rounder for their talented receiver. Diggs had been unhappy with Kirk Cousins and his role in the Vikings’ offense so this was a great time to move on from the disgruntled wideout. Now Minnesota has two first-round picks (nos. 22 and 25) which they can use to pick a wide receiver to fill that WR no. 2 slot or improve their offensive line and secondary.

Stefon Diggs is a perfect fit in Buffalo. The Bills ran the ball a lot last season because they didn’t have a great receiving core. They were missing a high level no. 1 receiver, and but with the acquisition of Diggs, they will throw the ball a lot more and have a more balanced and explosive offense. They weren’t gonna be able to draft a receiver who’s immediately better than Diggs at no. 22, so I like this trade which makes them the favorites to win the AFC North after Tom Brady announced he’s leaving the Patriots.

The loser of this trade is Bill O’Brien, who’s still a complete moron. The Vikings got a first for Diggs but you couldn’t get one for Hopkins who’s better and doesn’t cause locker room issues? How is that possible?