Melvin Ingram (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
The NFL Trade Deadline has passed and, though it was less than eventful, the deals that were and weren’t made give us a strong set of winners.
As is often the case at the NFL Trade Deadline, we heard a number of big names get thrown around in rumors but, at the end of the day, the deals that actually got done were pretty scarce. For some teams, that’s a missed opportunity — for others, it’s the right course of action.
Overall, we did see some high-profile players get moved with Von Miller, Stephon Gilmore, Melvin Ingram, Zach Ertz and more now either suiting up or preparing to suit up for new teams. These moves could all have a big effect on the playoff push in the second half of the season.
But which teams are the big winners after the deadline? We’re highlighting the five most notable winners coming out of the fracas of rumors on Tuesday and prior to the 4 p.m. ET deadline.
2021 NFL Trade Deadline winners
5. Kansas City Chiefs
In light of the mass hysteria (a warranted sense of panic, it should be said) around the Chiefs after their 4-4 start to the season, it figured that Kansas City would be aggressive to improve their roster however possible at the deadline. Indeed, that was the case.
Not only did the Chiefs acquire Melvin Ingram in an absolute steal for Kansas City as they sent only a sixth-round pick to Pittsburgh in return for the apparently disgruntled veteran pass-rusher, but they were able to free up cap space by shipping out veteran guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif for tight end Daniel Brown.
Brown, of course, is relatively inconsequential overall as he was largely just included as fodder. However, anything to improve the KC defense was wholly necessary if this team was going to make a move, particularly up front.
Ingram, even if he wore out his welcome quickly in Pittsburgh, played extremely well in a rotational role. Kansas City has been starved for anyone to make an impact in the trenches and on the edge of the defensive line this season, which makes it huge for the Chiefs to have the opportunity to add a veteran of this caliber to try and climb out of their current quagmire.