Though NFL trade deadline day in 2019 was not as busy as it has been over the last two seasons — just one trade was completed Tuesday — it was not for a lack of aggression on the part of NFL teams looking to buy or sell before 4 p.m. ET. Plenty of trades already had been made by the time this year's deadline day arrived.
Entering Tuesday, 13 NFL trades involving 15 players had been completed this month alone ahead of the Oct. 29 deadline. Even though teams in general have been more aggressive around the NFL trade deadline in recent years, some self-awareness on the part of the league's worst teams in 2019 led to an unusually large flurry of player movement in October.
MORE: Rams trade Aqib Talib to Dolphins
While some notable names like Jalen Ramsey, Emmanuel Sanders, Mohamed Sanu, Kenyan Drake and Leonard Williams already had been moved, several strong players reportedly were being targeted Tuesday by teams looking to stuff their rosters with as much talent as possible for the second half of the 2019 season.
With that said, while general managers have been active around the trade deadline in recent years, NFL trades are still relatively rare. In short, it boils down to four issues: signing bonuses/dead cap charges, space under a hard salary cap, compensation/compensatory picks and spending requirements. Sporting News contributor Jason Fitzgerald explains in detail here why that's the case.
GMs did not make trading in 2019 seem difficult, of course. Below are all the deals that were made in October leading up to Tuesday's relatively quiet deadline.
NFL trades completed before deadline
— Oct. 29: The Rams traded cornerback Aqib Talib and a 2020 fifth-round pick to the Dolphins in exchange for a future seventh-round pick.
— Oct. 28: The Browns traded linebacker Genard Avery to the Eagles in exchange for an undisclosed 2021 draft pick.
— Oct. 28: The Jets traded defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the Giants in exchange for a third-round draft pick in 2020 and a fifth-round draft pick in 2021.
— Oct. 28: The Dolphins traded running back Kenyan Drake to the Cardinals in exchange for a 2020 sixth-round draft pick that could become a fifth.
— Oct. 24: The Patriots traded defensive end Michael Bennett to the Cowboys in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick.
— Oct. 22: The Lions traded safety Quandre Diggs and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Seahawks in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick.
— Oct. 22: The Broncos traded wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and a 2020 fifth-round pick to the 49ers in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick and a 2020 fourth-round pick.
— Oct. 22: The Falcons traded wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to the Patriots in exchange for a second-round draft pick. New England, in need of receiver help, reportedly had tried to make a deal for Sanu before the 2019 NFL Draft. Looking to rebuild amid a bad season, Atlanta finally gave in.
— Oct. 21: The Raiders traded cornerback Gareon Conley to the Texans in exchange for a third-round pick. The deal was made days before Houston was scheduled to host Oakland in Week 8.
— Oct. 16: The Jaguars traded cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Rams in exchange for a 2020 first-round pick, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick.
— Oct. 16: The Rams traded cornerback Marcus Peters to the Ravens in exchange for linebacker Kenny Young and a 2020 fifth-round pick.
— Oct. 15: The Browns traded offensive lineman Austin Corbett to the Rams in exchange for a 2021 fifth-round pick.
— Oct. 8: The Bills traded wide receiver Zay Jones to the Raiders in exchange for a 2021 fifth-round pick.
— Oct. 1: The Falcons traded linebacker Duke Riley and a 2020 sixth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for safety Johnathan Cyprien and a 2020 seventh-round pick.
NFL trade deadline 2019: Tracking the latest news, rumors
4:14 p.m. ET: The Dallas Morning News reports the Cowboys offered a first-round pick for Jets safety Jamal Adams, but it wasn't enough.
4:05 p.m. ET: ESPN reports the Ravens went hard after Jets safety Jamal Adams before the deadline but could not reach a deal.
3:56 p.m. ET: The Browns are not trading for Redskins left tackle Trent Williams, per ESPN.
3:54 p.m. ET: The Cowboys "don't have a deal" for Jets safety Jamal Adams, according to NFL Media, adding that New York's asking price was too high.
3:53 p.m. ET: The Broncos are not trading Chris Harris Jr., barring a last-minute development, per ESPN.
3:40 p.m. ET: Trade talks around Jets safety Jamal Adams are not heating up as the deadline nears, ESPN reports.
2:53 p.m. ET: The Titans are not looking to trade quarterback Marcus Mariota, according to Titansinsider.com (via Pro Football Talk).
2:52 p.m. ET: The Broncos do not plan to trade pass-rusher Von Miller, according to ESPN.
2:51 p.m. ET: The Jets will not trade running back Le'Veon Bell "barring a last-hour change," according to ESPN, despite the fact that New York has received calls.
2:49 p.m. ET: The Redskins are "holding firm on what they want in return" for left tackle Trent Williams, per ESPN, and the Browns are not giving in.
2:48 p.m. ET: The Jets are asking for "more than a first-rounder" in a trade for safety Jamal Adams, according to NFL Media, and "a deal is not close or imminent."
2:26 p.m. ET: The Eagles have called the Broncos about a trade for cornerback Chris Harris Jr., according to ESPN, but Denver's asking price is too much for Philadelphia. ESPN also reports six teams have called about Harris.
2:20 p.m. ET: ESPN's Ryan Clark says Jets safety Jamal Adams "wants to play (in Dallas). I know he wants to go home." The Athletic also reports the Cowboys are "very, very much in" on Adams.
2:16 p.m. ET: Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard is not available in a trade based on what Tampa Bay told an interested team, according to NFL Media.
2:11 p.m. ET: The Browns' interest in Redskins left tackle Trent Williams is "more lukewarm than it is hot," according to ESPN.
2:04 p.m. ET: The Jets' asking price for safety Jamal Adams "exceeds what the Dolphins got for Minkah Fitzpatrick," according to NFL Media. (The Steelers sent the Dolphins a 2020 first-round pick, a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 sixth-round pick in exchange for Fitzpatrick earlier this season.)
1:56 p.m. ET: Several playoff contenders, not just the Cowboys, are calling the Jets about a trade for safety Jamal Adams, according to NFL Media.
1:43 p.m. ET: The Cowboys have contacted the Jets about a possible trade for safety Jamal Adams, according to NFL Media.
1:37 p.m. ET: The "hot name" when it comes to Jets trade rumors is safety Jamal Adams, according to ESPN.
1:17 p.m. ET: The Redskins want more than just draft picks in return for left tackle Trent Williams. Per NFL Media, "They are big-game hunting, asking for players like (Browns) CB Denzel Ward."
1:09 p.m. ET: The Jets are open to trading anybody on their roster except Sam Darnold and Quinnen Williams, according to ESPN.
1:07 p.m. ET: The Buccaneers are not expected to trade tight end O.J. Howard "as of now," according to NFL Media, but the Patriots and Seahawks might be interested if that changes.
1:01 p.m. ET: Among the teams that have shown the most interest in trading for Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert are the Patriots, according to The Athletic.
12:59 p.m. ET: The Redskins remain willing to trade left tackle Trent Williams for their price of a first-round pick, according to ESPN, which noted the Browns are still interested.
12:56 p.m. ET: Asked whether the Chiefs will trade for Jets running back Le'Veon Bell, a source tells The Athletic, "Nah."
12:33 p.m. ET: The Jets are listening to offers on running back Le'Veon Bell but "aren't actively shopping him," according to ESPN.
12:23 p.m. ET: The Chiefs and Texans are the teams most interested in trading for Jets running back Le'Veon Bell despite a "high" asking price, according to The Athletic.
12:05 p.m. ET: The Cowboys are "checking the temperature" with teams on cornerbacks, defensive linemen and safeties, according to NFL Media.
11:58 a.m. ET: Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant is not expected to be traded "as of now," according to ESPN.
11:43 a.m. ET: The Jets are open to trading running back Le'Veon Bell "for the right price," according to The New York Daily News. NFL Media reports New York has not yet received any calls about Bell.
9:25 a.m. ET: Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says his team is "always looking" and that "anything is possible," leaving the door open for a deadline day trade in Dallas.
8:12 a.m. ET: There is no indication Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins will be on the move, according to NFL Media.