The 2023 National Football League (NFL) trade deadline passed on October 31, prior to which several teams made significant trades in hopes of bolstering their rosters for the playoffs. Historically, the NFL trade deadline has been uneventful with minimal transactions—there was only one trade the week before the deadline in 2015—but recent years have been a little more exciting.  

A total of 18 players were dealt within a week of the 2022 NFL trade deadline and 10 changed teams before this year's deadline. Here's a look at some of the most impactful moves. 

1. San Francisco Adds Chase Young 

The San Francisco 49ers, already one of the Super Bowl favorites, improved its defensive line with the acquisition of defensive end Chase Young from the Washington Commanders. A 24-year-old native of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Young was selected by the Commanders with the second pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and was the 2020 Associated Press (AP) Defensive Rookie of the Year. He had 15 tackles, five quarterback sacks, and one defended pass through seven games with the Commanders this season. 

San Francisco traded a 2024 third-round pick to Washington for Young, who gives the 49ers a formidable defensive front opposite Nick Bosa. 

2. Philadelphia Acquires Kevin Byard 

Philadelphia, another Super Bowl favorite, also improved its defense before the deadline, acquiring safety Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for safety Terrell Edmunds and a fifth- and sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A two-time All-Pro safety, Byard was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft and played 120 games with the team over eight seasons. He had 47 tackles and one fumble recovery in six games with Tennessee this season. 

3. Seattle Bolsters Defensive Line  

Recognizing that the playoffs were a longshot with a 2-6 record, the New York Giants dealt Pro Bowl defensive tackle Leonard Williams to the Seattle Seahawks for a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. New York also agreed to pay most of the Williams' $9 million salary this season.  

A 29-year-old native of Bakersfield, California, Williams was drafted sixth overall by the New York Jets in 2015 and acquired by the Giants in 2019 for third- and fifth-round picks. Prior to the trade, he had 470 tackles, 39.5 quarterback sacks, six forced fumbles, and one interception in 132 career regular season games. He had 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks in eight games with the Giants this season. It didn’t take long for analysts to begin speculating what this would mean for the Seahawks in the 2023 postseason and 2024.