The 2023 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and various NFL teams are now looking over the big moves that they’ve made to either bolster their rosters or add draft picks for the future.
As we look over the final results of this year’s trade deadline, it’s worth thinking about the NFL teams players who didn’t get moved before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET final horn.
All of these players could have found new homes by the deadline, and these teams might regret not making a move if these players wind up elsewhere in the offseason.
Let’s break down who these guys are and why they should’ve been traded.
Vikings DE Danielle Hunter
A week ago, it would’ve made a ton of sense for the Minnesota Vikings to keep Hunter. After quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a season-end Achilles tear, it feels like the Vikings will start looking to the future. Does that future involve Hunter?
The current NFL sack leader will be a free agent after the season, and he’ll be one of the hottest names out there unless the Vikings plan to place the franchise tag on him. If they don’t intend to keep him after this year, what was the use of keeping him if they could’ve gotten a good pick in return?
The Vikings will either have to hope quarterback Josh Dobbs can lift them to the NFC Wild Card round, or that there is already a contract extension waiting for Hunter’s agent. Any other outcome won’t amount to anything but a compensatory pick in 2025, if that.
Raiders WR Davante Adams
After getting trounced by the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, it feels like the Las Vegas Raiders are closer to a rebuild than the playoffs.
Adams seemed very disgruntled on the sideline after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo missed him for an open pass in the game’s second half, and it doesn’t make much sense for Las Vegas to keep a veteran receiver like Adams as playoff hopes continue to dwindle.
Las Vegas could’ve gotten a big return on sending Adams to a contender. The team may look at holding onto Adams as a big missed opportunity once January rolls around.
Jets DE Carl Lawson
The New York Jets have had Lawson inactive lately, which is more than strange for a pass rusher who has been quite productive in the past.
New York has a very full defensive line rotation, but is there really not room for someone of Lawson’s talent? If not, why didn’t they just take really any pick at this point for a player they don’t seem intent on using anytime soon?
We wonder if the Jets could’ve at least gotten a sixth-round pick for Lawson, if not a fifth-round pick. It might not seem like much on paper, but it’s better than just letting Lawson walk next offseason outright.
Panthers DE Brian Burns
The Panthers had better pay Burns what he’s rightfully owed after not trading him at the deadline. The team cannot afford to allow one of the NFL’s best pass rushers to simply reach free agency.
Not trading him at the deadline basically locks the Panthers into keeping Burns on a big extension or on the franchise tag for just 2024. If Carolina isn’t intent on giving Burns what he deserves, why is he still there?
It’s time for the Panthers brass to give Burns a new deal. If they aren’t going to extend him, they’ll either keep playing this contract game into 2024 on the tag or watch a super-talented player get scooped up quickly in free agency.
Titans RB Derrick Henry
The Titans got a startlingly good performance from rookie quarterback Will Levis on Sunday, but that doesn’t mean the team should’ve held onto Henry.
The prolific running back could’ve fetched Tennessee a really nice draft pick in return, as painful as it would’ve been for Titans fans to see another franchise great go before the deadline after safety Kevin Byard went to the Philadelphia Eagles.
It feels unlikely that Henry and the Titans would agree to another deal as the former deserves to play for a contending team and the latter might not want to extend Henry on the kind of deal he’s understandably going to want.
We’re not sure this is going to end for the Titans like they’d hope.
