NFL trade deadline 2023 rumors, updates: Commanders trade two stars; Lions acquire WR; Bills add CB

Tuesday’s 4 p.m. NFL trade deadline featured a lot of rumors and some trades, with an NFC East team letting go of two stars.

Trades could be viewed under this prism for teams:

— If they’re in contention, this was their last chance to pull off a trade for a missing piece that could help propel them to the postseason.

— And if they’re out of contention, this was a chance to collect draft picks in exchange for top performers.

And then there are unhappy players, like Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who has requested a trade, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The Bears have granted permission for Johnson to find a team before the deadline. Johnson and the Bears tried to negotiate a new contract last week, but couldn’t come close to a deal, Fowler reported. Spoiler alert: He wasn’t traded Tuesday.

Thirteen players were traded on the day of the 2022 deadline, the most in 30 years. Here’s what happened Tuesday:

BILLS TRADE FOR EX-EAGLE

The Bills sent a third-round pick to the Green Bay Packers for cornerback Rasul Douglas and a fifth-round pick, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Douglas was drafted by the Eagles in 2017, starting 18 games in three years before getting waived in 2020. Over the last three years, Douglas developed into a quality starter for Green Bay. He has 32 tackles in seven starts this year. With Tre’Davious White out for the year with a torn Achilles, the Bills needed a starting corner to replace him. Douglas should be an upgrade over second-year player Kaiir Elam and Co.

BEARS CORNERBACK STAYING PUT

After exploring a trade, Jaylon Johnson is expected to stay with the Bears, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

LIONS TRADE FOR A WOLVERINE

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Browns traded wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones to the Lions. Peoples-Jones played at Michigan from 2017-19 and is a Detroit native. He’s caught nine passes for 97 yards through seven games. In 2022, People-Jones grabbed 61 catches for 839 yards and three touchdowns. Lions general manager Brad Holmes announced it was for a sixth-round pick, per Ari Meirov.

49ERS ADD STAR PASS RUSHER

The 49ers have acquired Commanders defensive end Chase Young for a 2024 third-round pick, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Young made the Pro Bowl and won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020. The No. 2 pick tore his ACL in 2021 and only played three games last year due to the injury. In the offseason, the Commanders declined his fifth-year option, indicating they no longer viewed him as a part of the future. The Ohio State product bounced back, racking up five sacks and 15 tackles in seven games this year. New Commanders owner Josh Harris is conducting a fire sale. Earlier in the day, Washington traded Montez Sweat to the Bears for a second-rounder.

JAGUARS FIX OFFENSIVE LINE

The Jaguars have traded a Day 3 draft pick for Minnesota Vikings guard Ezra Cleveland, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Cleveland started 49 games for Minnesota since being drafted in 2020, including six this year. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is ascending into elite status, needs to be protected.

COMMANDERS WANT SIGNIFICANT COMPENSATION FOR BACKUP QB

NFL teams who are interested in Commanders backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett have been asked to give up a Day 2 draft pick, according to NFL reporter Albert Breer. Breer said Washington’s price is “prohibitive” for those inquiring. With Josh Dobbs to Minnesota, Brissett is one of the viable quarterback options left before the 4 p.m. deadline.

CARDINALS TRADE JOSH DOBBS

Days after Kirk Cousins went down with a torn Achilles, the Vikings have acquired quarterback Josh Dobbs and a seventh-round pick from the Cardinals for a sixth-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.. Even though he won’t have a full week to review the playbook, Dobbs is the frontrunner to start in Week 9 against the Falcons. Dobbs has started eight games as Kyler Murray rehabs a torn ACL. He has completed 62.8% of his passes for 1,569 yards with eight touchdowns and five interceptions. He has been traded two times in the past three months, first being dealt from the Browns.

UPDATE: COMMANDERS STILL TAKING CALLS ON CHASE YOUNG

Don’t count out the Commanders trading Chase Young just yet. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said that they “may not be done” as they get calls on the pass rusher.

CHASE YOUNG LIKELY TO STAY IN WASHINGTON?

The Commanders sent Montez Sweat packing, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes that Chase Young, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, will stay. He has been a popular trade target for teams.

BROWNS TRYING TO GET COMMANDERS QB?

The Browns are “chasing” Commanders backup QB Jacoby Brissett, per Commanders insider JP Finaly. Brissett started 11 games for Cleveland last year in place of Deshaun Watson, who was suspended 11 games by the NFL for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Watson’s only played in four games because of a shoulder injury this season. With him banged up, Cleveland needs a backup option.

PATRIOTS RUNNING BACK DRAWING INTEREST

Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott is drawing interest from “RB-needy teams,” according to Bleacher Report NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Elliott has rushed for 260 yards and two touchdowns through eight weeks. The former Cowboy splits carries with Rhamondre Stevenson. At 2-6, maybe New England can get late-round compensation for Elliott, who is set to be a free agent after this year.

RAIDERS TOLD DAVANTE ADAMS ‘NO’

Davante Adams and his camp spoke to the Raiders earlier this month about making a potential trade, but the organization doesn’t want to move him, per Jordan Schultz.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said that a person close to the situation said there is “not a chance in hell” that Adams gets traded.

JERRY JONES DOWNPLAYS COWBOYS’ PLANS

Even though Micah Parsons seemed interested in a trade, it doesn’t look like owner and GM Jerry Jones feels the same way. He said on 105.3 The FAN that he’s “not seeing anything at the moment.”

BEARS MAKE BLOCKBUSTER WITH COMMANDERS

The rumors grew hotter over the past couple of hours, and now the trade is done: the Bears acquired pass-rusher Montez Sweat from the Commanders for a second-round pick, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Sweat, a free agent after this season, has 6.5 sacks and 32 tackles this season. Make that two NFC East teams in rebuild mode, adding the Commanders to the Giants. The Bears are 2-6 this year, but maybe they think they can sign him long-term.

BEARS ACQUIRING PASS RUSHER?

According to Chicago Tribune reporter Brad Biggs, the Bears “could be close to adding a defensive end via the trade market.”

COMMANDERS COULD TRADE MULTIPLE PLAYERS

Commanders pass rusher Montez Sweat, backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett and running back Antonio Gibson could all be traded, according to Commanders insider JP Finaly. Finaly believes Sweat is the most likely to be traded with multiple teams interested.

MORE GIANTS MOVES COMING?

The Giants at 2-5 are a (quarterback) mess circling the drain, so they dealt defensive tackle Leonard Williams to the first-place Seattle Seahawks on Monday, getting back two draft picks. Meanwhile, Giants head coach Brian Daboll insisted running back Saquon Barkley would not be dealt, but the roster is drawing interest, according to ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan.

Giants players being floated include FS Xavier McKinney, CB Adoree Jackson, WR Parris Campbell and WR Isaiah Hodgins.

COWBOYS COULD BE ACTIVE

Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons said he believes his team could make a trade for more depth in the offensive line, at cornerback, in the defensive line or at linebacker.

DEVANTE ADAMS ISN’T HAPPY

Meanwhile, Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is biting his tongue after Monday night’s loss to the Lions. Adams, who had one catch for 11 yards, has just 142 yards receiving in the past four games.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to say at this moment,” Adams said after the game. “I truly don’t. I wish I had the words to say something that’s not going to get blown up in the media and taken out of context, so I’m going to just, I truly, I just don’t know.”

PATRIOTS … SELLERS?

Will Bill Belichick and the 2-6 Patriots start selling? According to NESN:

The Patriots have a few players in contract years who could help contending clubs, most notably pass rusher Josh Uche, whose name has appeared in multiple trade rumors. … Other candidates include offensive linemen Mike Onwenu and Trent Brown, safeties Kyle Dugger and Jalen Mills, running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, if New England can find any takers for the underperforming wideout. Fellow receiver Kendrick Bourne was removed from the list of possible trade chips when he tore his ACL during Sunday’s loss to Miami.

WHAT WILL THE JETS DO?

There has been talk about Jets running back Dalvin Cook being a potential trade candidate, but there is apparently a different Jets running back. Jay Glazer said on Fox NFL Sunday that interest around the league is more focused on Michael Carter than on Cook: “A guy like Dalvin Cook, you’d think that everyone would be calling for him, they’re not,” Glazer said. “They’re more calling for Michael Carter.”

The Jets, meanwhile, need offensive line help — who doesn’t? — but don’t expect any to shake free.

“You like reinforcements, but no one’s trading offensive linemen,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said Monday. “They are so scarce throughout the League. There have been so many injuries throughout the League, with regards to the O-line.”