NFL

Broncos receive:
2026 fourth-round pick
2027 seventh-round pick

Saints receive:
WR Devaughn Vele

Find me a better duo than the Saints and short-sighted moves. Hint: you can’t. Under Mickey Loomis, New Orleans has been in win-now mode every year. It worked well with Drew Brees under center, as the Saints won the 2009 Super Bowl and plenty of other playoff games. Those days are long gone, however, and now is the perfect time to rebuild. Trading a future fourth-round selection doesn’t constitute as a future-focused decision.

If parting with fourth rounder wasn’t enough, New Orleans tossed in a 2027 seventh-round pick for good measure. It’s comical at times to witness some of these executives operate. They can do better. In fact, most of us hardcore fans can do better than they do. That’s a story for another time, though.

Vele posted an excellent rookie season for a seventh rounder last season. The problem is that the Utah product did it as a 27-year-old. His upside is limited for a second-year player, but marginal potential is what the Saints seem to love. Vele will look to improve upon his 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns.

Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are mostly locked in as the top two wideouts for New Orleans, so Vele will compete with Brandon Cooks for reps. Theoretically, that’s a competition he should win, given Cooks’ age and the capital the Saints are dealing for Vele.

This is an awful move for the Saints, and yet another great decision by the Broncos. Every franchise should attempt to take advantage of New Orleans as long as the Saints remain solely focused on the present. Poor Saints fans.

Broncos Grade: A

Saints Grade: D

Jets receive:
DT Harrison Phillips

Vikings receive:
2026 sixth-round pick
2027 sixth-round pick
2027 seventh-round pick

This was the Jets’ second trade of the day for a defensive tackle. New York has plenty of holes, but at least it’s addressing one of them.

Phillips, 29, has regressed slightly from his 2021-2023 peak, but he remains a stout point-of-attack defender. He recorded 56 tackles and two sacks last season, and should start for New York next to star Quinnen Williams.

Dealing three picks is too much for the Jets, but at least Minnesota is paying part of Phillips’ remaining salary. By adding Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the Vikings viewed Phillips as expendable.

Jets Grade: C-

Vikings Grade: A-

Bears sign QB Tyson Bagent to two-year, $10 million contract extension

Caleb Williams is the Bears’ quarterback for the present and future, but having a reliable backup can provide a cushion in case of injury. For Chicago, the hope is that Bagent can develop into one.

Undrafted in 2023, Bagent has fared surprisingly decent when called upon, thus elevating him to second-string status for the club. It would obviously be troublesome if Williams were to be sidelined, but the Bears could do worse than the 25-year-old signal-caller is a backup.

Bagent has three touchdowns and six interceptions in nine career games.

Grade: C+

49ers receive:
WR Skyy Moore
2027 seventh-round pick

Chiefs receive:
2026 sixth-round pick

Do you remember Moore catching a touchdown in the 2022 Super Bowl? Most of us probably do, but it’s been downhill for the former second-round selection since. A change of scenery might do him well, especially one in which he’ll have an increased opportunity.

It’s doubtful, though, that Moore will capitalize on his chance. He recorded precisely zero receiving yards last season, a strong indicator that the undersized wideout is overmatched in the NFL. The 49ers are brutalized at wide receiver, with the statuses of Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Demarcus Robinson all on shaky ground, so this might be Moore’s last — and best — chance at making an impact.

The Chiefs seemed fed up with a lack of progress from the 24-year-old. That’s telling, considering the resources invested in Moore and snaps still available for the team at receiver. In the end, Moore is another failed draft pick at a offensive skill position for Kansas City. It’s amazing that the franchise keeps dominating.

49ers Grade: B-

Chiefs Grade: C+

Browns receive:
2026 sixth-round pick

Jets receive:
DT Jowon Briggs
2026 seventh-round pick

The draft selections exchanged in this transaction indicate an inconsequential deal, but Briggs holds minor appeal. A seventh-round choice in 2024, the Cincinnati product played decent in limited action as a rookie. In New York, Briggs will likely assume a greater role, which could allow him to establish himself as a solid rotational defensive lineman.

Briggs posted 13 tackles and one fumble recovery last year for Cleveland.

Browns Grade: B+

Jets Grade: A-