Will Reichard

Minnesota moved up for its quarterback of the future; the final grade depends on McCarthy’s development and team results.

Denver acquired Zach Wilson and a seventh-round pick from the Jets for a sixth-round pick, taking a low-cost quarterback flyer after Wilson’s New York tenure collapsed. This was a cheap upside attempt rather than a franchise-quarterback solution. Denver paid little to add a former No. 2 overall pick to the quarterback room, while the Jets cleared a failed developmental investment. The grade stays modest because the acquisition carried name value but limited proven on-field reliability.

Denver traded Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland for fifth- and sixth-round picks, ending a first-round receiver investment that never fully broke through with the Broncos. The return was modest for a former first-round pick, but Denver was moving on from an inconsistent fit and recouped usable draft capital before a larger contract decision. Cleveland took the upside swing on Jeudy’s talent, while Denver accepted a reset that reflected how far his value had fallen from draft day.