NFL Teams That Missed out on the Trade Deadline

The NFL trade deadline came and went with merely a limp thud, like a pass lofted out of bounds into the hands of a random player or coach. 

Hype suggested otherwise. Big trades for rebuilders such as the Cincinnati Bengals seemed possible, and contenders were ready to gobble up talent in an effort to make a Lombardi Trophy push. It was the usual trappings of a deadline day that doesn't typically match its NBA counterpart, though. 

Looking back at a day filled with inactivity, several teams stick out as passive losers. These teams didn't pull the trigger on deals when they needed to, and it could backfire over the long term. 

All hope isn't lost for these teams by any measure, but tip-toeing around the deadline and ultimately doing nothing is a wince-worthy result for their front offices. The list is largely filled with the usual suspects—which is part of the problem.

Cincinnati Bengals

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

The big news out of Cincinnati was the team's decision to go with rookie quarterback Ryan Finley after the bye instead of longtime starter Andy Dalton. 

That the announcement occurred hours before the deadline made it seem like the team might sell its veteran passer to the highest-bidding contender and wave the white flag at 0-8. 

Instead, the Bengals didn't make any deals at all. 

Perplexing considering the state of the roster and its severe problems across the offensive line and defense. The O-line has various injuries, the defensive front seven isn't generating a consistent pass rush, the linebackers are struggling, and overall the unit is coughing up a league-worst 435.8 yards per game.

The Bengals had plenty of attractive pieces to sell, including contract-year guys like A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert, as well as players whose value won't ever be this high again in Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap—never mind Dalton. 

The counterargument is the team wants to properly evaluate Finley in the remaining games. But accumulating as many draft assets for what is a clear rebuild would've made sense, too. 

New York Jets

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Perhaps no team exits the deadline looking like a bigger disaster than the New York Jets. 

The Jets apparently listened to offers on star safety Jamal Adams, who has since turned around and publicly blasted general manager Joe Douglas. There was also speculation the team wouldn't have minded unloading Le'Veon Bell. 

That's one way to blow up a locker room under the watch of first-year coach Adam Gase. 

The Jets, 1-6, didn't need any more drama amid a season defined by oddities around quarterback Sam Darnold, ranging from his early-season sickness to what the mics picked up during a game. It's a bad sign when it goes public that the team is listening to offers on a 2017 top-six pick like Adams and Bell, a player they just signed to a deal worth north of $50 million. 

A whole lot of chatter and minimal action seems to define the Jets lately, though. If the team wanted to shift the culture or cut out big contracts while gaining some assets to acquire more talent at a later date, it whiffed in the worst way imaginable. The front office did manage to get something in return for the disappointing Leonard Williams (more on that later), but it gets lost in the shuffle of all the other noise. 

Cleveland Browns

Steven Senne/Associated Press

It was no secret the Cleveland Browns were looking for help along the offensive line before the deadline. 

The two-win Browns entered the week suffering from a serious Baker Mayfield regression. He'd been sacked 21 times and completed just 57.6 percent of his passes over seven games, tallying six touchdowns against 12 interceptions in the process. 

The obvious target for the Browns was Washington's Trent Williams to replace the benched Greg Robinson at the most important position on the line, left tackle. The front office tried to engage in talks for Williams with repeated calls to Washington, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, but no dice.

This isn't so much about a normally trigger-happy front office pulling off another big trade like it did Odell Beckham Jr. It's about failing to protect the long-term development of an investment like Mayfield. 

In the end, all the Browns did was send backup defensive end Genard Avery to Philadelphia for a 2021 fourth-round pick, which isn't cutting it for a team that began the season touted as a Super Bowl contender and now looks to be on the outside of the playoff picture. 

Washington Redskins

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Dealing Trent Williams right at the deadline seemed like one of the most obvious outcomes well in advance. 

But the Redskins had other plans. 

That, or other teams got tired of playing hardball. The going rate for one of the best left tackles in football was always a first-round pick. But according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the most notable offer was a second-round pick. 

Williams then turned right around and reported to the Redskins after the deadline passed to avoid having to apply for reinstatement. The following day, he experienced discomfort while putting on his helmet during a team physical. It has the vibes of a situation heading toward a grievance. 

Even if Williams does somehow take the field for the Redskins again, they'll eventually need to dole out a big extension. If they want to move him, the price doesn't figure to get as high as the front office would probably like. 

Keep in mind the Redskins didn't make a single deal, which is inadvisable for a one-win team with potentially high-selling pieces that could help contenders, such as running back Adrian Peterson and defensive end Ryan Kerrigan. 

New York Giants

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

The 2-6 New York Giants were one of the rare teams to make a deal around the deadline, grabbing the Jets' Leonard Williams for third- and fifth-round picks. 

Not great. 

In other words, the Giants just invested in a half-season rental from a nearby rival at the cost of future assets while ignoring other problem areas.

And the Giants have a whole host of problems. Cornerback is a weak spot, and the defense hemmorhages 386.8 yards and 27.3 points per game. And there should always be an emphasis on surrounding Daniel Jones with as much talent as possible. 

This is not to suggest Williams can't blossom via a small change of scenery alongside guys like B.J. Hill. But unless there is an agreement in place to keep him around longer on an extension, the Giants oddly jumped at the chance to make a trade that fortifies what was already a decent area of the roster and ignored other issues.