NFL Trade Deadline 2017 Top Winners and Losers

Updated: November 20, 2025

Normally, the NFL trade deadline garners about as much attention as a PBA bowling event in entertainment news. This year, there was plenty of action as the league’s trade deadline brought about a number of trades – and one no-trade – that are definitely newsworthy. Teams like Buffalo and Philadelphia added key players that will help them get to and, hopefully, advance through the postseason. Others, like the 0-8 Cleveland Browns, lost out on acquiring new talent. Here’s a look at the winners and losers at this season’s NFL trade deadline. [toc]

Winners & Losers At The NFL Trade Deadline

WINNERS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

New head coach Kyle Shanahan and new GM John Lynch finally have a quarterback. Trading for New England’s Jimmy Garoppolo, the Niners get the most sought after backup in the league. The beauty of the trade is that Garoppolo will become a free agent at the end of the 2017 season. The next two months serve as an audition for the Eastern Illinois product who spent four seasons behind Tom Brady in New England. Excel and the Niners will likely give Garoppolo a nice long-term deal or possibly even use the franchise tag. Flop and San Francisco lets him go and goes to the draft for a quarterback of the future. Garoppolo's trade to the 49ers proved to be a turning point for San Francisco. He immediately made an impact, winning his first five starts with the team and revitalizing a struggling offense. This strong finish in 2017 led to a five-year, $137.5 million contract, underscoring the team's confidence in him as a franchise quarterback. Despite injuries in 2018 and 2020, Garoppolo helped guide the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2019 season, proving that the trade was a gamble that paid off for both Garoppolo and the team. [su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/uD2K6PnXVs8″ width=”880″ height=”720″]

JAY AJAYI

One minute you’re playing for the worst offense in the NFL and the next? Well, you’re packing your bags and heading to the best team in the league. That would be Ajayi’s story. The third-year pro was Miami’s leading rusher with 465 yards, but was deemed a problem by the Dolphins’ management. There was his less-than-desirable attitude as well as a past knee injury that Miami didn’t like. Long-term, the Dolphins felt like Ajayi would be more of a liability so they shipped him off to Philadelphia where he will pair with LeGarrette Blount in the NFL’s third-best rushing offense. Ajayi will also have a shot at a division title, a conference title, and the ultimate prize, the Super Bowl, all things that are far-fetched in Miami. The acquisition of Jay Ajayi became a significant factor in Philadelphia's successful 2017 campaign. Ajayi complemented an already strong rushing attack, contributing solid performances that helped the Eagles secure the NFC's top seed. His role in Philadelphia's Super Bowl LII victory was extremely important, showcasing his skill and adaptability on the biggest stage. Ajayi's presence helped relieve some pressure off the Eagles' passing game, allowing quarterback Nick Foles to shine in their Super Bowl win over the Patriots.

RUSSELL WILSON & THE SEATTLE RUNNING GAME

The most unsung hero of the NFL season’s first half is Wilson who has almost single-handedly willed Seattle to five wins. Take his performance in a Week 8 win over Houston. Wilson threw for 452 yards and four touchdowns and was the Seahawks leading rusher with 30 yards on four carries in a 41-38 win over the Texans. The Seattle ground game, once among the league’s most prolific, averages just 97.6 yards per game, 21^st in the NFL. Before the NFL trade deadline, Seattle acquired offensive tackle Duane Brown from Houston. His acquisition will not only help to protect Wilson in pass protection, but also help improve the Seattle running game. Brown has played in similar zone-blocking systems in the past and should get acclimated to the Seahawks’ offense very quickly. Duane Brown's arrival in Seattle provided a much-needed boost to their offensive line. His veteran presence stabilized the protection for Russell Wilson, allowing him more time to make plays. Brown's influence extended to the running game, which saw gradual improvement with better blocking schemes. As a result, the Seahawks offense began to show more balance, with Brown playing an integral role in enhancing both the passing and rushing attacks over the following seasons.

BUFFALO BILLS

New head coach Sean McDermott has built the Bills around a strong running game led by RB LeSean McCoy and a stout defense that is third in the NFL in scoring defense allowing just 16.4 points per game. Where Buffalo needs help is in the passing game, which is 29^th in the league at 178.7 yards per game. The Bills wide receivers are dead last in the NFL in receptions and yards. That is why the trade for former Carolina WR Kelvin Benjamin made all the sense in the world. Benjamin (32 receptions, 475 yards) has nearly as many catches as the entire Bills’ receiving corps. He will provide QB Tyrod Taylor with a big (6-foot-5-inches) target as well as one that can get down the field. Kelvin Benjamin's time with the Bills was mixed, as he struggled to fit into their offensive scheme. Despite a few bright moments, such as his debut performance against New Orleans, Benjamin couldn't consistently boost the Bills' passing game. His tenure in Buffalo was marred by limited production and a lack of chemistry with quarterback Tyrod Taylor. These challenges eventually led to his release in 2018, with the Bills opting to pursue other options at wide receiver. LOSERS

CLEVELAND BROWNS

The Browns started the 2017 season by going 0-8 for the second consecutive season. It’s almost as if nothing can go right for in Cleveland. The Browns also failed in attempting to make a trade for Cincinnati quarterback A.J. McCarron. It’s no secret that the Browns have struggled to find a franchise quarterback. The team reached out to the Bengals and thought they had a deal for Andy Dalton’s backup. Cincinnati informed the league office of the trade at 3:55 p.m. ET. The Browns then informed the NFL of the deal at 4:05 p.m., five minutes after the NFL trade deadline. The league nullified the trade. It’s just one more thing that Cleveland has failed to get right in 2017. Following another disappointing season, the Browns drafted Baker Mayfield as the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Mayfield quickly brought new energy to the franchise, ending Cleveland's long-standing quarterback woes. He led the team to its first win in 635 days during his debut game, sparking optimism for the future. Under his leadership, the Browns achieved a winning record in 2020, making the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and signaling a new era for the franchise.

MARTAVIS BRYANT

The Steelers’ receiver, who was suspended all of last season for violating the NFL’s drug policy, tweeted about how much better he was than rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster. Then, Smith-Schuster caught seven passes for 193 yards and touchdown in a win over the Lions while Bryant watched from the sideline. While the former Clemson star wanted to be traded, Pittsburgh never entertained the idea leaving Bryant as the Steelers’ fourth- or fifth-best option.

KIRK COUSINS

The Washington Redskins quarterback still stands to make a lot of money in free agency this offseason; it just won’t be with the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners signing of Garoppolo puts any inkling of the whole Cousins-to-San-Francisco thing to rest. Remember, Cousins really developed as an NFL quarterback under new 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. A reunion would have been nice, but Cousins, who is playing under the franchise tag in Washington for the second straight season, will surely do fine both financially and on the field next season (even if it is with a new team).

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Head coach Adam Gase was the one who declared that his Dolphins have the NFL’s worst offense. What does he do? He goes ahead and trades away his team’s best rusher. The trade comes on the heels of a 40-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at a time when Miami’s starting quarterback is coming off an injury. Without Ajayi, the Dolphins turn to the dynamic duo of Damien Williams and Kenyon Drake. The pair has a combined 22 carries for 57 yards this season. Miami has the NFL’s 31^st-ranked rushing offense and the Dolphins have yet to rush for a touchdown. How Miami’s ground game is supposed to improve over the last half of the season is anybody’s guess. Somehow, the Dolphins are 4-3 but still have to play both Buffalo and New England … twice.