The Scoreboard with Tanner Lehtinen (Nov 4)

The NFL made history this past Tuesday. 10 last-day trades were made with 9 other trades being made before this. How well did each time trade this year? Will the recent trades impact the landscape of the NFL? Only the future can tell, but for now, a review of every major trade at the deadline. 

Broncos OLB Bradley Chubb, 2023 5th Round Pick traded to Miami Dolphins for RB Chase Edmonds, 2023 1st Round Pick, 2024 4th Round Pick: A-

This trade seemed to benefit the dolphins in every facet. Bradley Chubb, a sack leader for the Broncos this year, is a great addition to the Dolphins, especially with their struggles to sustain pressure on the quarterback. Overall, Miami will benefit greatly from this, 

Steelers WR Chase Claypool traded to Chicago Bears for 2023 2nd Round Pick (From Baltimore): C+

The Bears desperately needed a tall, bulky, receiving threat to complement sophomore wide receiver, Darnell Mooney. While I believe there were better wide receivers available, this fits them. Hopefully, Claypool can produce better now that he has transferred to Chicago. 

Lions TE T.J Hockenson, 2023 4th Round Pick, 2024 conditional 4th Round Pick traded to Minnesota Vikings for 2023 2nd Round Pick, 2024 3rd Round Pick: B

While Hockenson and the Lions have underperformed greatly this season, the pro bowl caliber tight end is among one of the best, and the Lions only traded for at most a second-rounder. The Lions had not made plans to re-sign Hockenson, while the Minnesota Vikings desperately needed a replacement for Irv Smith Jr. who suffered an ankle injury that will prohibit him until at least week 17. Overall, the Vikings won this trade by a long shot. 

Bears LB Roquan Smith traded to Baltimore Ravens for LB A.J Klein, 2023 2nd Round Pick, 2024 6th Round Pick: B+

The Chicago Bears were by far the most active team this year at the trade deadline, making three blockbuster trades over two days. On top of this, the Bears used the 2023 2nd round draft pick received here to trade for Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool. On the other hand, the Ravens receive one of the better young defenders in the league which will add to a team that has prowess for defensive talent. This trade was win-win for both teams as the Bears now hold nine picks in next year’s draft while the Ravens receive a great young stud to help their defense. 

Falcons WR Calvin Ridley traded to Jacksonville Jaguars for conditional 2023 5th Round Pick, 2024 conditional 4th Round Pick: A

The Falcons won this trade, no questions asked. Both draft picks that were traded to the Falcons can become 2nd round picks if Calvin Ridley is signed to an extension, basically forcing the Jaguars into a corner where the Falcons profit no matter what. Calvin Ridley will almost certainly be extended as in the case of DeAndre Hopkins with the Cardinals, coming off a suspension, had one of his best career games against the Vikings. Overall, this trade forced the Jaguars into a trade they could not resist. 

Colts RB Nyheim Hines traded to Buffalo Bills for RB Zack Moss, 2023 conditional 6th Round Pick: B-

Nyheim Hines will be a great addition to a very pass-heavy offense in Buffalo. Coming off of a season where he was out most of the year with injury, however, Hines is still a solid dual-threat running back that will complement Josh Allen well. Meanwhile, the Colts received running back Zack Moss, who appeared to be the odd one out of the running back trio in Buffalo. I believe Zack Moss will be a solid starter for the Colts until Jonathan Taylor returns. I give this trade a B- because I don’t think that the Colts got much in return for a good dual-threat running back.

In the NBA, a new season has just begun. Teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics are projected to make it far into the playoffs in April, while some more unexpected teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls emerge from the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile in the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz now with the addition of Colin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen, two very consistent scorers from the Donovan Mitchell trade this past offseason, lead the Jazz to a 6-3 record to start early in the year. Markkanen, currently leading the Utah Jazz in points per game with 22.6, has been a consistent big man for every team he has played for and will be an important piece for the jazz this year if they plan to make it to the postseason. Currently, overall, some of the top performers in the league are the Dallas Mavericks Luca Doncic with an average of 36.7 points per game while also averaging 9.5 rebounds with 8.7 assists. Giannis Antetokumpo, Ja Morant, Kevin Durant, and Donovan Mitchell are also among some of the league’s top scorers, but only time will tell who emerges as both NBA all-stars and league champions. 

Meanwhile, in NCAA football, the match has arrived in the SEC East. Georgia versus Tennessee, 1 versus 2, best offense versus best defense. Set to be one of the best matchups of the week with College Gameday traveling to Athens to witness this historic battle over SEC titans. Along with this, the Red Rebels of Ole Miss host the Alabama Crimson Tide in a top-15 matchup which is sure to be exciting. In the Big 12, the stage is almost set for the meeting between TCU (7) and Kansas St. (13). TCU has remained stout throughout the year with crushing victories over the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma St. (18), Baylor, Kansas St. (13), and Kansas. Only time will tell who prevails and advances to their respective conference championships. 

The Astros capture their third win as Justin Verlander gets his first World Series to win. However, the Phillies and Astros might not have been everybody’s favorite matchup to see, even despite the records being set during the series. Senior Kai Gasparovich stated “I would’ve just rather had the Padres been in there against the Astros rather than the Phillies because there is no reason the Padres should’ve lost. They should’ve just made it farther.” While some may be unhappy with the matchup, it is still creating an exciting matchup to watch with dominant performances from Yurdan Alverez and Bryce Harper for their respective teams. I believe that the Astros will close out the series and reconfirm themselves as defiant World Series champions and complete the redemption story in 2017.

With all this variety in sports from trade deadline news in the NFL, to records broken in the World Series, to a beginning of a new NBA season, and exciting matchups in the NCAA football world, it will be important to stay informed and keep checking the Scoreboard.