The top 5 biggest impact deadline trades, including Jaguars and Bears shooting for a Super Bowl

The NFL trade deadline had plenty of action. There were multiple teams who traded for a new starting quarterback. Stars at all three levels of the defense were dealt. There were well-known offensive linemen and receivers moved. Strangely, after weeks of chatter, the only position that didn't see a trade was running back. But there were enough deals to keep everyone busy. Here are the five most impactful trades made since the start of this season: 1. DT Jeffery Simmons, Bears Simmons showed in his first game at Seattle how much he will impact the Bears this season. The Chicago defense looked much different with Simmons in the middle, taking up attention from blockers and still making plays. He was a first-team All-Pro last season and could be on a similar path this season. Everyone had seen how dominant Simmons was, the Bears were just the team that acted on it. They sent two first-round picks to Tennessee for Simmons , who is 29 years old, but the Bears and their fans won't mind if he helps break a Super Bowl drought that dates back to the 1985 season. Given how good Chicago's offense is and how the defense has improved already with Simmons in the middle, it's realistic to think Chicago could find itself in the Super Bowl. "I think he's just — I don't know — you can feel his presence," linebacker T.J. Edwards said after Simmons' Week 8 Bears debut, according to the team's site . "Especially me, I'm right behind him, so I can kind of just feel how they're trying to block him. I feel like [the defense] was just flying today. They made our job a whole lot easier. But he definitely helps, for sure." 2. DT Jordan Davis, Jaguars The Eagles had a lot of potential trade chips, but Davis wasn't discussed as one because he was just 26 years old and also one of the highest paid defensive tackles in the NFL. But the Jaguars got aggressive, sending a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick to the Eagles for a player who immediately can replace (and potentially upgrade) from DaVon Hamilton, who was having a tremendous season before he tore his quadriceps and went to injured reserve. It was a very expensive trade, and probably an overpay, but Davis unquestionably makes the Jaguars stronger this season. The Jaguars also made moves for safety Jessie Bates III and another defensive tackle, Davon Godchaux, but the move for Davis is the big difference-maker for a team that clearly has Super Bowl hopes. 3. QB Kirk Cousins, Vikings We have to be careful to not overrate the impact of this move. The Vikings still have the fourth-best quarterback and fourth-best offense in their own division. Cousins is 38 years old. And many of the same people who were clamoring for the Vikings to trade for Cousins were the same ones that, during Cousins' previous six seasons in Minnesota, said he could never win anything. But, it's the kind of move that is very rare in the NFL. Viable starting quarterbacks are rarely available in a trade. The Vikings didn't pay too much, a third-round pick , and it's the rare situation of a quarterback who has played with the coach and in the scheme before. He can step right in. The Vikings have a fantastic defense and now should have a competent offense. Wherever this reunion leads, it was smart for the Vikings to find out. 4. S Amani Hooker, BIlls Hooker is having a career year in his eighth season. He leads the NFL with five interceptions. His Pro Football Focus grade ranks fourth among all NFL safeties with at least 300 snaps. The Bills had a hole at safety after cutting C. J. Gardner-Johnson and did well to land Hooker. The Bills' defense started slow this season and while it has played well for two weeks, that came against quarterbacks Joe Fagnano and Carson Wentz. Buffalo needed an upgrade on defense. The Bills are pretty good up front, and now they have a potential All-Pro safety this season for the back end. It was a sharp move that should improve the Bills , who are in a great spot to make the Super Bowl for the first time in the Josh Allen era. 5. QB J.J. McCarthy, Giants When the Giants traded a fifth-round pick for McCarthy, it seemed like a low-cost gamble on a reclamation project . The Giants couldn't have known they had found a starting quarterback for a team that is still in first place of the NFC East. McCarthy had a blistering fourth quarter in relief of Jameis Winston against the Saints, throwing for 243 yards in less than a quarter. He got the starting job after that and the Giants have won both games since. It's possible McCarthy reverts to the inconsistent form he had last season, which caused the Vikings to give up on the 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft after only 10 starts. But he has looked poised and gives the Giants a more stable option at quarterback than the hot-and-cold Winston. It seemed like the GIants' season might have been done when Jaxson Dart suffered a knee injury in Week 2, but a smart and cheap trade for McCarthy could end up saving it.