Our 2023 NFL trade tracker is now live with the offseason in full swing. We’ve already seen a couple blockbusters, including a rare one involving a head coach.
As free agency plays out and the NFL Draft season starts, trades will soon become the name of the game around the football world. Bookmark. Save. Do your thing. We will be providing instant updates on every trade around the football world with analysis in this NFL trade tracker moving forward.
Related: Updated NFL trade rumors
Houston Texans trade for Shaq Mason (March 14)
| Houston Texans get | Tampa Bay Buccaneers get |
| Shaq Mason (G) | 2024 7th-round pick |
| 2023 7th-round pick |
Houston continued its active offseason by acquiring Mason from a Buccaneers team that was looking to move off his expensive cap hit for the 2023 season. In doing, so it was able to pick up the veteran guard for a mere swap of late-round picks.
It’s hard to grade this in a vacuum in that the Buccaneers are not in a great salary cap situation. Houston was able to take on Mason’s $8.5 million cap hit for 2023 without even thinking about it. Even then, we’re talking about a veteran guard who Pro Football Focus graded out among the top-20 at his position in the league last season.
- Houston Texans: A+
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B-
Jonnu Smith sent to the Atlanta Falcons from New England (March 13)
| Atlanta Falcons | New England Patriots |
| Jonnu Smith (TE) | 2023 7th-round pick |
As with most deals this offseason, this one was all about finances. New England saw Smith bomb out after it signed him to a four-year, $50 million contract back in 2021. He was set to count nearly $11 million against the cap next season.
In return, the Falcons add a plus-level blocker who is able to help Kyle Pitts line up more outside and at wide receiver. Smith seems to be a perfect scheme fit for head coach Arthur Smith and CO. Meanwhile, Atlanta had the cap room to take on Smith’s bloated contract.
- Atlanta Falcons: B
- New England Patriots: B-
Related: NFL free agent tracker and grades
Miami Dolphins acquire star cornerback Jalen Ramsey (March 12)
| Miami Dolphins get | Los Angeles Rams get |
| Jalen Ramsey (CB) | Hunter Long (TE) |
| 2023 3rd-round pick |
We already knew that the Rams were in cost-cutting mode when they released All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner earlier in the offseason. Coming off a disastrous and injury-plagued 2022 season, Los Angeles needed to cut some of the proverbial fat from its roster.
By making the move, these Rams were able to get cap compliant. Unfortunately, it meant moving one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks for a mere third-round pick and reserve tight end.
From Miami’s perspective, this trade was a no-brainer. Ramsey will team up with Xavien Howard to form one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL. He also agreed to a restructured contract, lowering the All-Pro cornerback’s cap hit to $4.11 million for 2023. That’s a win-win for Miami.
- Miami Dolphins: A+
- Los Angeles Rams: D+
Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers blockbuster trade (March 10)
| Chicago Bears get | Carolina Panthers get |
| D.J. Moore (WR) | 1st pick in 2023 NFL Draft |
| 9th pick in 2023 NFL Draft | |
| 2nd-round pick in 2023 NFL Draft | |
| 1st-round pick in 2024 NFL Draft | |
| 2nd-round pick in 2025 NFL Draft |
With teams looking to move up in the draft to land a top quarterback, Chicago was in an advantageous position in talking potential trades. For Carolina, the likes of Bryce Young (Alabama), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) and Anthony Richardson (Florida) have to be seen as targets.
As for Chicago, it made perfect sense to pull the trigger on one of the biggest blockbuster NFL Draft trades in some time. While he’s been inconsistent through two seasons, former first-round pick Justin Fields was not the problem for a three-win Bears team in 2022. He played stellar all-around football. Acquiring D.J. Moore is going to help him big time.
- Chicago Bears: A+
- Carolina Panthers: B-
New York Jets add starting safety (March 9)
| New York Jets get | Baltimore Ravens get |
| Chuck Clark (S) | 2024 7th-round pick |
This is one of those moves that could potentially fly under the radar. Baltimore had Clark on the trade block primarily due to his cap hit and the presence of 2022 first-round pick Kyle Hamilton at safety. It had no need for Clark moving forward.
The Jets are a different story. Clark will slot in as their starting strong safety under head coach Robert Saleh. It was just back in 2021 that Clark yielded a mere 81.9 QB rating while intercepting two passes while targeted. He’s an upgrade in Jersey.
- New York Jets: A
- Baltimore Ravens: A
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This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
