2018 NFL Trade Deadline: Who Was Moved on Tuesday?
The 4:00 PM deadline came and went in the National Football League today as teams looked to add players to make a run in the second half of the season or retool for their future. In total, there were five trades made on Tuesday before the deadline, some of which could impact teams on the football field as soon as this week as long as they are able to learn their new team's system. So let us jump right in and explore the five trades made on Tuesday afternoon.
Demaryius Thomas Traded to Houston Texans
This was the first move of the afternoon as the Denver Broncos parted ways with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and sent him to the Houston Texans. In addition to Thomas, the Texans also received a seventh-round pick while sending a seventh-round pick of their own along with a fourth-round pick to get the veteran receiver. The move made sense for Houston considering they found out they lost receiver Will Fuller V for the season to a torn ACL which he suffered last Thursday night against the Miami Dolphins. At the moment, the Broncos are struggling at 3-5 while the Texans have won five in a row and DeShaun Watson is starting to come around after some early season struggles. Adding a veteran weapon opposite of Deandre Hopkins will be huge for the young QB and Thomas will get to face his former team when the Texans travel to Denver to face the Broncos this Sunday at 4:05 PM EST. Thomas should make an immediate impact in the Houston offense while Denver should benefit later on from the mid-round pick they received from the Texans.
Golden Tate Traded to Philadelphia Eagles
This one came as a bit of a shock to me as Golden Tate has been one of Detroit's most consistent wide receivers since signing with the team in 2014. Tate has recorded 1,000 receiving yards in three of his four seasons and topped in 90 receptions in all four seasons with the Lions. Since 2010, Tate ranks first in receptions, receiving yards, and yards after the catch on screen passes. Now he will be headed to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2019 third-round pick on the final year of his contract. The Eagles are in win-now mode after becoming Super Bowl champions last season and starting this year off with a Super Bowl hangover that has put them at 4-4 at the halfway point of their schedule. For Detroit, the move could signal the Lions are looking to move in a new direction with their future by moving one of Matthew Stafford's top weapons. The division could be Detroit's only hope at a postseason appearance, the Lions are just one game back of the division-leading Chicago Bears heading into Week 9.
Ty Montgomery Moved to Baltimore Ravens
Just days after fumbling the kickoff in the final two minutes against the Los Angeles Rams and sealing the Green Bay Packers chances of taking down the undefeated team, running back Ty Montgomery was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Montgomery's impacts have been minimal on the field this season as the running back has just 26 carries for 105 rushing yards in seven games this season to go along with his 170 receiving yards. Stuck in a crowded backfield of Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams and himself, Montgomery did not have much opportunity to carry to ball especially in a pass-heavy offense like the Packers' offense. In moving to Baltimore, Montgomery will be the second back behind Alex Collins and can become a dual threat for the Ravens giving his pass-catching ability. The second-year running back transitioned from wide receiver back in the middle of the 2016 season with Green Bay. Montgomery will likely take away some of the targets pass-catching back Javorius Allen currently gets for the Ravens. In return for Montgomery, Baltimore gave Green Bay their 2020 seventh-round pick, a low price to pay with a potentially high reward in store.
Dante Fowler Jr. Joins Super Bowl Hopeful Rams
As if the Rams were not already good enough, they acquired defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a compensatory 2019 third-round pick and 2020 fifth-round pick. Although the Jaguars have been atrocious on defense this season, they are still loaded with talent on that side of the ball. In two and a half seasons, Fowler Jr. has started just one game, accumulated 14.0 sacks, and has 61 combined tackles. He will be rushing the quarterback on the opposite side of Aaron Donald who has recorded 10 of the 22 sacks the Los Angeles defense has this season. Additionally, the Rams have Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers who have the ability to collapse the pocket around opposing quarterbacks. But being able to finish off the quarterback in the backfield will be a big part of Fowler Jr.'s role with the Rams. This defensive line of the Rams just got a lot scarier with the addition of the Jacksonville defensive end and opposing offensive lines will have to figure out how to attack this powerful front of Los Angeles.
Packers' Clinton-Dix Traded to Redskins
The Packers stayed busy ahead of the deadline and traded safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Washington Redskins in exchange for a 2019 fourth-round pick. Clinton-Dix is in the final year of his rookie contract and said earlier this year he did not expect to be back with the Packers next season. Unless the Redskins strike a deal with the safety, he is simply a rental for them this season as Washington has their sights set on winning the NFC East which has been rather weak this year. The Redskins boast a top five defense overall, rank 14th against the pass, and according to Pro Football Focus grades now contain the second and third rated safeties in football. In his first four and a half seasons, Clinton-Dix has recorded 378 tackles, defended 25 passes, produced 24 interceptions, 5.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. With his departure, the Packers will rely on the younger players they have drafted for their secondary in recent years to lead the way on defense. As long as the Redskins have a decent performance on offense each week, their defense will give them a chance to win and this move could further make them a contender in the NFC.
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