When Is the NFL Trade Deadline?

The NFL trade deadline is October 29th at 4:00 p.m. EST. After that, no trades can be made for the rest of the season.

Introduction

The NFL trade deadline is the last day of the NFL’s regular season. After that, teams can no longer make trades until the following year’s NFL Draft. The deadline is typically in early- to mid-April, but it can vary from year to year.

This year, the NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m. ET. That means any trades that are agreed upon must be completed by that time. If you’re interested in following along with all the trade rumors and reports leading up to the deadline, be sure to bookmark our NFL Trade Tracker.

Now that you know when the deadline is, let’s take a look at some of the biggest trades in recent years and what they meant for the teams involved.

What is the NFL Trade Deadline?

The National Football League trade deadline is the date by which all NFL teams must finalize their rosters for the remainder of the season. After this date, no trades are allowed between teams. The NFL trade deadline for the 2020 season is October 29th.

In recent years, the NFL trade deadline has become one of the most exciting days of the year for fans and media alike. As teams jockey for position in the standings, many are looking to make a splash by adding a big name player via trade. While some trades do happen on deadline day, most occur in the days and weeks leading up to it.

The NFL trade deadline is typically one of the busiest days in terms of player movement around the league. In 2019, there were a total of 13 trades made on deadline day, involving 27 different players. The biggest trade of the day saw wide receiver Mohamed Sanu being traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the New England Patriots in exchange for a second-round pick in 2020.

While some trades are made on deadline day itself, many more occur leading up to it as teams attempt to get ahead of their competition. In 2018, a total of 48 trades were made between March 12th and October 30th, involving 106 different players. The most notable trade of that year saw Khalil Mack being traded from the Oakland Raiders to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a package that included two first-round picks.

The NFL trade deadline is an exciting time for fans and media alike, as it gives us a glimpse into how teams around the league are shaping up for the stretch run of the season.

History of the NFL Trade Deadline

The NFL trade deadline is the date by which all NFL trades must be made. It is typically set for the Tuesday after Week 8 of the NFL season, at 4:00 p.m. ET. This allows for a full half season of games to be played before any trades are made, so that teams have a better idea of their needs and which players might be available to fill those needs.

In recent years, the trade deadline has been pushed back to later in the season, first to Week 10 in 2013, then to Week 8 in 2014. This has generally been seen as a positive move by fans and pundits alike, as it allows for more time for potential trades to materialize and also gives teams more information about their own players and their needs.

The NFL trade deadline was first instituted in 1993, following a vote by league owners. Prior to that, there was no set date for trades and they could happen at any time during the season. The first trade under the new system was made on October 19, 1993, when the San Francisco 49ers traded quarterback Steve Young to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two first-round draft picks (one of which was used to select future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp).

In recent years, the trade deadline has been relatively quiet, with only a handful of notable trades being made each year. However, there have been some major deals that have gone down right at or just before the deadline, such as the 2012 trade that sent wide receiver Percy Harvin from the Minnesota Vikings to the Seattle Seahawks for multiple draft picks (including a first-rounder), or the 2010 deal that saw quarterback Donovan McNabb traded from the Philadelphia Eagles

Why Do Trades Happen?

In the NFL, trades are completed for a variety of reasons. One common reason is that a team may need to trade for a player who can help them fill a specific need on their roster. For example, if a team is struggling to run the ball effectively, they may trade for a Running Back who they believe can provide a boost to their offense.

Another reason why trades happen is due to the salary cap. In the NFL, each team has a limit on how much they can spend on player salaries in a given year (the “salary cap”). If a team is close to reaching their salary cap limit, they may need to trade one or more players in order to free up some cap space.

Lastly, sometimes teams will make trades simply because they believe it will help them in the long run, even if it doesn’t have an immediate impact. For example, a team may trade away a veteran player who is nearing the end of his career for draft picks which can be used to select young players who will be part of the team’s core for years to come.

Who is Eligible for a Trade?

All players are eligible to be traded. However, there are some restrictions. For instance, players who have signed a contract extension cannot be traded for one year after signing the extension. Players who have signed a tender as a restricted or unrestricted free agent cannot be traded for seven days after signing the tender. If a player was designated with the franchise tag, he cannot be traded until the trade deadline in the following league year.

What Happens to Trades After the Deadline?

Players who are traded after the deadline are not eligible to play in the playoffs for their new team. However, they are eligible to play in the Pro Bowl.

How do Trades Affect a Team’s Salary Cap?

In the NFL, trades are only allowed during the trade deadline period, which falls during the latter half of the season. Although trades can happen at any point during the season, teams are often hesitant to make trades early on because they don’t want to disrupt team chemistry or upset team morale. As the season progresses and teams become more desperate, however, the trade market opens up and we start to see more activity.

The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to trades is how they will affect a team’s salary cap. The salary cap is a hard limit on how much money a team can spend on player salaries in a given year. When a team makes a trade, they have to be careful that they don’t go over their salary cap for the year. If they do, they could be subject to severe penalties from the league.

One way that teams get around this issue is by “structuring” trades. Structured trades are essentially two separate deals that are completed at different times. For example, let’s say that Team A wants to trade Player X to Team B for Player Y and a future draft pick. However, Team B is worried about how this trade will affect their salary cap for the year. To make the deal work, Team A might agree to send Player X to Team B now and then send Player Y and the draft pick to Team A at a later date (say, next year). This way, both teams can stay under their respective salary caps for the year.

It’s important to note that not all trades have to involve players. Teams can also trade away draft picks (or future draft picks) in exchange for other draft picks or players. These types of trades are often used as a way for teams to rebuild their roster or move up in the draft order.

Notable Trades in NFL History

The NFL trade deadline is a date in the NFL calendar that has become increasingly important in recent years. In the past, it was simply the last day that teams were allowed to make trades with each other. But now, it has become one of the most anticipated days of the year, as fans and media members alike wait to see which teams will make a move to improve their rosters.

In recent years, we’ve seen some big-name players get traded at the deadline, such as Odell Beckham Jr., Khalil Mack, and Amari Cooper. But there have been plenty of other notable trades in NFL history that didn’t involve marquee names. Here are just a few of them:

– In 1989, the San Francisco 49ers traded quarterback Steve Young to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two first-round draft picks and two second-round draft picks. The 49ers would go on to win five Super Bowls with Young as their starting quarterback.

– In 1999, the New York Jets traded wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two first-round draft picks. The Jets used one of those picks to select running back Curtis Martin, who would go on to have a Hall of Fame career.

– In 2009, the New England Patriots traded wide receiver Randy Moss to the Minnesota Vikings for a fourth-round draft pick. The Patriots would go on to win two Super Bowls with Moss as their starting wide receiver.

So as you can see, some big names have been traded at the NFL trade deadline over the years. But it’s not just about the marquee names; sometimes, it’s about acquiring future assets that can help a team down the road. So make sure you’re paying attention to this year’s deadline!

Conclusion

The NFL trade deadline is usually in late October, right around the time when the regular season is halfway over. This year, the deadline is October 29th. That means that teams have until then to make any trades they want to make. After that, they’ll have to wait until the offseason to make any more deals.

So why do teams wait until the halfway point of the season to make trades? There are a few reasons. First of all, it gives them a chance to see how their team is shaping up. They can see which players are performing well and which ones aren’t living up to expectations. They can also get a sense of which positions they need to strengthen and which ones they can afford to weaken.

Waiting until the midway point also allows teams to get a better idea of what other teams might be willing to trade for. If a player is having a great season, his value will go up and teams will be more likely to want to trade for him. On the other hand, if a player is struggling, his value will go down and he might be less likely to get traded.

So if you’re a fan of a team that’s struggling, don’t despair just yet. There’s still plenty of time for your team to make some deals and improve its chances of turning things around. And if you’re rooting for a team that’s doing well, enjoy the ride while it lasts!