Tuesday was a cold reminder that the cliché “The NFL stands for Not For Long” has merit. Hundreds of players took to the streets as all 32 teams, which could have up to 90 players on their teams during the offseason, had to reduce their rosters to 53. However, some teams didn’t want to see their potential free agent targets who weren’t acquired by any of the other 31 franchises, so there was a flurry of transactions before the 4 p.m. ET cutting deadline.
Here’s a look at all the deals that took place in the month of August leading up to the league-wide roster cuts and how each team fared in each transaction.
Kelvin Joseph
MIA • CB • #1
View Profile Noah Igbinoghene
DAL • CB • #9
show profile
Both the Cowboys and Dolphins were tired of their underperforming cornerbacks early in the round, so both rolled and traded. Dallas sent 2021 second-round pick Kelvin Joseph to Miami while receiving 2020 30th overall pick Noah Igbinoghene.
Grades: Cowboys C+, Dolphins C+
Both teams rely on young potential. Both serve as depth extensions while fulfilling different roles. Igbinoghene is the No. 2 reserve outside corner behind Daron Bland (five interceptions as a rookie, tied for fifth-most in the NFL in 2022). Joseph can provide instant versatility on special teams as well as at inside or outside corner in South Beach.
Broncos acquire K Wil Lutz from Saints
Wil Lutz
DEN • K • #3
show profile
New Broncos head coach Sean Payton is adding a familiar face: Denver is acquiring former Saints kicker Wil Lutz in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round pick.
Grades: Broncos B, Saints B+
The Broncos needed a kicker they could trust after exiled Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher failed to convince Payton of his reliability in the preseason. Signing a veteran former Pro Bowler at the last second was a good move for a team that had a lot of close games. The Saints receiving draft compensation for a player they would have otherwise released is a smart move.
Eagles acquire TE Albert Okwuegbunam from Broncos
Albert Okwuegbunam
PHI • TE • #85
show profile
The Eagles didn’t have a significant player behind starter Dallas Goedert, so general manager Howie Roseman acquired the 25-year-old former fourth-round pick for the cost of sending a 2025 fifth-rounder for Okwuegbunam and a 2025 sixth-rounder.
Grades: Eagles B, Broncos C
Philadelphia adds a nice depth piece to their tight end room without losing a draft pick, and that depth piece was drafted higher than the pick they traded up to acquire him. Payton didn’t see a home for the Albert O, so he at least got something for him instead of releasing him outright.
Giants acquire DE Boogie Basham from Bills
Boogie Basham Jr.
NYG • DE • #55
show profile
The Giants are adding a 2021 second-round pick drafted by current general manager Joe Schoen when he was Brandon Beane’s assistant general manager with the Bills. According to ESPN, Buffalo also drafted a 2025 seventh-round draft pick along with Basham in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round draft pick.
Grades: Giants B, Bills C
New York adds nice depth to its edge rusher group, which hasn’t had much to work with after Azeez Ojulari and Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Giants receive bonus points for acquiring a player. Both Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, the Bills’ offensive coordinator at the time of Basham’s selection, already know it very well. The Bills get points for the loss of value they suffered by punting on a second-round pick just two seasons into his career.
Panthers acquire WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette from Chiefs
Himir Smith-Marsette
AUTO • WR • #82
show profile
The Carolina Panthers are adding depth to the pass-catching group of 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young by acquiring wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette from the Kansas City Chiefs for the price of a conditional seventh-round pick swap in the 2025 NFL Draft acquire.
Grades: Panthers B, Chiefs B
Smith-Marsette couldn’t separate himself in a crowded, competitive wide receiver room in Kansas City, but Carolina Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer knew he didn’t want Smith Marsette claimed off waivers. The Panthers got their guy, and the Chiefs got a draft pick on a player they definitely wanted to pass up.
Chiefs acquire DT Neil Farrell from Raiders
Neil Farrell Jr.
KC • DE • #92
show profile
The Chiefs are adding some depth to their defense as 2022 First-Team All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones is still waiting on a new deal. The Raiders get a draft pick, a 2024 sixth-rounder, for a player they would likely forgo.
Grades: Chiefs B-, Raiders C-
Kansas City did well to add young, affordable depth to its defensive tackle, with Jones threatening to hold out until at least Week 8. Las Vegas is condemned for releasing a player for a sixth-round pick when they had selected him two rounds earlier in 2022.
The Texans acquire C/G Kendrick Green from the Steelers
Kendrick Green
HOU • OG
show profile
The Houston Texans improved offensive line depth for 2023 second overall pick CJ Stroud ahead of his regular-season NFL debut against a stout Baltimore Ravens defense. The Pittsburgh Steelers received compensation for a player who was on their offensive line no longer played a role.
Grades: Texans B-, Steelers C-
Houston needs reinforcements at many positions after finishing 3-13-1 last season. More offensive line depth in the form of a 24-year-old former third-round pick isn’t a bad move. Pittsburgh deserves some credit for extracting a pick from the Texans for a player who wasn’t on the field for them in 2022. However, this pick being two drafts in 2025 and three rounds later than Green’s selection pushes their grades down a bit.
Nick Folk
TEN • K • #6
show profile
The Titans didn’t have a kicker on their roster until they signed 15-year veteran kicker Nick Folk from the Patriots on Tuesday. New England will be allowed to move on to its rookie fourth-round pick, Chad Ryland, while also adding a 2025 seventh-round pick.
Grades: Titans B, Patriots B
The Titans were desperate after all of training camp and the preseason, they literally didn’t have a kicker on their roster. They needed a body quickly. Sure, Folk didn’t have his best season in 2022, but he still ranked in the top five in field goal percentage, connecting on 32 of his 37 attempts (86.5%, tied for fifth-best). in the NFL). New England wanted to reduce his salary because it was happy with fourth-round draft pick Chad Ryland. So it’s a victory that the team received a pick for an aging player they were willing to move on from.
Bears acquire G Dan Feeney from Dolphins
Dan Feeney
CHI • OG • #67
show profile
The Bears’ offense suffered a major setback as left guard Tevin Jenkins was sidelined for an extended period of time with a leg injury, leaving them in need of reinforcements. The Dolphins traded Dan Feeney, a player who started just two games into a season with the New York Jets, for the price of a 2024 sixth-round pick.
Grades: Bears C+, Dolphins B-
The Bears needed more depth in the immediate aftermath of Jenkins’ injury, and a sixth-round pick is a relatively small price to pay. The Dolphins are in a tricky situation if injuries occur on offense, but it’s not a terrible deal for a player they beat anyway.
Browns acquire K Dustin Hopkins from Chargers
Dustin Hopkins
CLE • K • #4
show profile
Second-year kicker Cade York struggled this preseason, and in a pivotal year for general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Browns turned their situation around. Cleveland acquired nine-year NFL veteran Dustin Hopkins in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick.
Grades: Browns B+, Chargers B-
York went an ugly 4-for-8 on field goal attempts this preseason, including a 43-yarder that could have won the game. That kick was blocked in the Browns’ preseason finale against the Chiefs, a 33-32 loss. Hopkins has been reliable: He has hit 84.8% of his field goal attempts (190 for 224) and 94.4% of his extra points (221 for 234). The Chargers probably could have gotten more than one seventh-rounder in two drafts if they had passed Hopkins to more suitors.
Patriots acquire OT Vederian Lowe from Vikings
Vederian Lowe
NE • OT • #79
show profile
The Patriots needed more help on offense starting Riley Reiff, a former Viking who is currently sidelined with a leg injury. So New England went back to the Minnesota well and acquired Vederian Lowe for the price of a 2024 sixth-round pick.
Grades: Patriots B, Vikings C
New England traded up a 2024 sixth-round pick for a massively sized 2022 sixth-round pick who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 320 pounds. That kind of size and youth offers potential at a premier position. As for Minnesota, they gave up on playing a cheap depth piece a little too early.
Rams acquire G Kevin Dotson from Steelers
Kevin Dotson
LAR • OG • #69
show profile
The Los Angeles Rams’ offense collapsed in 2022 due to serious injuries to their offensive line, Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Cooper Kupp and quarterback Matthew Stafford. So Los Angeles bolstered its offensive front by signing former Steelers starter Kevin Dotson by trading its 2024 fourth- and fifth-round picks for the Steelers’ 2024 fifth and sixth-round picks.
Grades: Rams C+, Steelers B-
The Rams added a player who could start for them, but at the expense of two picks they could desperately bolster their roster next April. Going down in two rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft is not advisable. Especially when Dotson might have been available on the open market after a release. The Steelers did well to get two mid-round picks from a weak Rams team that could miss the playoffs again in 2023. Dotson may have been added to the roster as a replacement, but he may also have been cut.
Cardinals acquire QB Joshua Dobbs from Browns
Joshua Dobbs
ARI • QB • #9
show profile
The Arizona Cardinals released long-time veteran backup Colt McCoy, leaving them in need of an additional quarterback alongside fifth-round rookie Clayton Tune as Kyler Murray continues to recover from a torn ACL. So the Cardinals traded a 2024 fifth-round draft choice to the Cleveland Browns for Joshua Dobbs, who filled in for the injured Ryan Tannehill as a Tennessee Titan at the end of last season.
Grades: Browns A, Cardinals C+
The Browns saw fifth-round rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson go out this preseason and they knew that made Dobbs expendable. It’s a great deal to get him for probably the top fifth-round pick when he returns from the Cardinals. For Arizona, they bring in an experienced quarterback to start the year with Murray on the bench before handing things over to Tune. The move does the job it needs to do: It makes it seem like the Cardinals won’t overtly abandon their offense in 2023.
Patriots acquire OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. from Browns in exchange for RB Pierre Strong Jr.
Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
NE • OT • #79
View Profile Pierre Strong Jr.
CLE • RB • #35
show profile
The Browns needed running back depth behind Nick Chubb and didn’t have room for him on their offensive line. Meanwhile, Strong got lost in the hustle and bustle of the Patriots running backfield after signing Pro Bowler Ezekiel Elliott.
Grades: Patriots A-, Browns B
The Patriots’ running back room was one of their strongest players, while their offensive line group was one of their weaker links. You did a great job acquiring a more valuable position in exchange for one of the less valuable positions. The Browns likely had to cut the developing 26-year-old Wheatley Jr., and he likely wouldn’t return to their practice squad due to waivers. Getting some depth in a spot where they needed something softens the blow.
Cowboys acquire QB Trey Lance from 49ers
Trey Lance
DAL • QB • #5
show profile
The San Francisco 49ers had a massive elephant in their locker room as 2021 third overall draft pick quarterback Trey Lance was demoted to third quarterback after being replaced by journeyman Sam Darnold, another former third overall draft pick. securing the right to become Brock Purdy was beaten. So the Cowboys took advantage of the opportunity to sign a developmental passer behind Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick in 2024.
Grades: Cowboys B+, 49ers C-
The Dallas Cowboys knew what they had in conservative, soon-to-be 30-year-old backup Cooper Rush. Will Grier, a fun preseason folk hero, couldn’t beat out Rush for the right to be Prescott’s replacement. Head coach Mike McCarthy always loves to have a developmental prospect in his quarterback room, and he got his wish with an athletic, 23-year-old top-three pick. A fourth-round pick is a great value for a player who was once strong enough with the 49ers to part with three first-round picks to secure his services. It’s nice that San Francisco has something for a third-street quarterback, but Lance’s draft pick is a sunk cost that could hurt them in the years to come.
The Texans acquire OT Josh Jones from the Cardinals
Josh Jones
HOU • OT • #72
show profile
The Houston Texans improved offensive line depth for 2023 second overall pick quarterback CJ Stroud ahead of his NFL regular-season debut against a stout Baltimore Ravens defense. The recovering Arizona Cardinals add a high fifth-round pick 2024, but must clear a spot on their offensive line for the sixth overall offensive pick in 2023 against Paris Johnson Jr. and a seventh-round pick in 2024.
Grades: Cardinals B, Texans C
Houston needs reinforcements at many positions after finishing 3-13-1 last season. More offensive line depth in the form of Josh Jones, a 2020 third-round pick with 21 career starts, isn’t a bad thing. However, the Texans could have acquired on the open market as Jones was potentially a cut candidate entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Cardinals did a good job of selecting a player in the middle of the round that isn’t in their long-term plans.
Giants acquire S/ILB Isaiah Simmons from Cardinals
Isaiah Simmons
NYG • SAF • #46
show profile
The New York Giants are bolstering their defense for the versatile Isaiah Simmons, a top-10 pick (eighth overall) from the 2020 NFL Draft, at the expense of a 2024 seventh-round pick. The Cardinals’ new regime dumps an underperforming veteran, who did everything for her in the previous season.
Grades: Giants B+, Cardinals D+
The Giants provide accomplished defensive coordinator Wink Martindale with a young, athletic chess piece who could play well in multiple personnel groups if New York can reach its potential. The Cardinals are taking a hard L on this deal. Getting a seventh-round pick just for a former top-10 pick is brutal. Sure, new head coach Jonathan Gannon and new general manager Monti Ossenfort didn’t sign him, but it’s still poor value. It’s understandable why they felt they had to make the trade now, after his poor performance in their second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.