As the dust settles following the 2023 NFL trade deadline on Halloween evening, the league has been shaken by a flurry of late moves. In this Week 9 edition of Gridiron Gossip, we delve into the most significant trade developments, including the addition of a potential franchise quarterback to the Minnesota Vikings.
Coach Josh McDaniels, in true Las Vegas Raiders fashion, found himself ousted from his position in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Further to their anti-Midas touch, the team will have to honour at least four years of McDaniels’ six-year contract that he signed in January 2022. Buckle in Raider Nation, long gone are the days of John Madden.
In case you missed it: A third consecutive loss for the San Francisco 49ers has seen them slide down the Pintsized NFL Week 9 Power Rankings. Catch up on the movement of all 32 NFL teams, along with a Halloween bonus grading of each mascot’s ‘spook factor’.
Where does Josh McDaniels sacking leave the Raiders
Josh McDaniels‘ firing from the Raiders was the inevitable outcome following back-to-back embarrassing losses to the Bears and Lions. His stint in Las Vegas wraps up with a disappointing 9-16 record, which includes last season’s humiliating 24-0 defeat at the hands of the Andy Dalton-led New Orleans Saints.
Though unconfirmed, sources within the Raiders camp suggest that the final straw regarding McDaniels involved his costume antics at the franchise’s Halloween party. Despite being humiliated by the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, McDaniels appeared at the Raiders facility dressed as owner Mark Davis. While Davis and McDaniels shared lunch together, the latter received his termination via a fortune cookie message reading “you’re fired hotshot”. Again, the rumours remain unconfirmed, but why let facts stand in the way of a cracking story?
What lies ahead for McDaniels? Simply put, he will find his way back into an offensive coordinator role where his strengths lie, while simultaneously dooming his prospects of a meaningful head coach position in the future.
What about the Raiders as a franchise? If it wasn’t clear from their results this season, there won’t be any hope of a postseason run for the Raiders. Although the team sits in a quasi-rebuilding phase, they occupy an awkward middle ground with three victories registered already and star players like Josh Jacobs in their final year of contract.
Given that the Jimmy Garoppolo experiment has not yielded the desired results, it might be worth taking a chance on rookie Aidan O’Connell for the remainder of the season. If AOC proves his worth, then the Raiders can avoid any hefty draft trades that will be required to move up the board for a premium quarterback. Whether this strategy would please disenchanted studs like Davante Adams is yet to be seen, however.
Who is the biggest winner and loser of the 2023 NFL Trade Deadline?
Winner – Chase Young and the 49ers. Sometimes, the simplest way to snap a rotten streak is to simply win the next game. For the San Francisco 49ers, the addition of Chase Young boosts an already formidable defence, clearing some of the negative press attached with a 3-game slump. Obtaining a former No. 2 draft selection for a third-round pick seems like a no-brainer, regardless of Young’s patchy injury history.
Pairing a rising star like Young with former college teammate and defensive player of the year, Nick Bosa, seems like it can only go one way. The worst case scenario is that the 49ers effectively rent Young for half a season before allowing the 24-year-old to enter free agency. The flip side is that one of the league’s best defences moves up another level and end their nearly three-decade Super Bowl drought.
Loser – Commanders. If trading away your two best defensive assets in Montez Sweat and Chase Young doesn’t scream full rebuild mode, then the inevitable departure of head coach Ron Rivera will. Although defensive tackle Jonathan Allen remains in the Washington Commanders‘ hollowed shell, the deadline day deals have undoubtedly dealt a hammer blow to a team that have been flirting with play-off contention this season.
While any hopes of a positive record and push towards the postseason now seem remote, the Commanders have at least acquired the draft capital to start afresh under new leadership. Attention should turn towards picking up Alabama tackle J.C. Latham to beef up an offensive line that has allowed rookie Sam Howell to be sacked 41 times in just eight games.
Can Joshua Dobbs carry on Kirk Cousins’ miraculous Vikings turnaround?
After Minnesota‘s quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during their victory over the Green Bay Packers, the 4-4 Vikings found themselves at a crossroads. A disastrous 1-4 start to the season had raised questions over their long-term solution at QB, leading many to believe that the time was ripe for a full rebuild. However, three consecutive victories, including a shock win over the undefeated 49ers, reignited playoff possibilities with Cousins playing out of his skin. Cruelly, the Vikings have returned to the crossroads once again.
In exchange for just a 2024 sixth-round pick, Minnesota acquired Arizona Cardinals‘ stand-in quarterback Joshua Dobbs and a 2024 seventh-rounder. Dobbs was a little known commodity before the 2023 season, but the former Tennessee Volunteer impressed while filling in for the injured Kyler Murray. Despite leading the Cardinals to a dismal 1-7 record, the 28-year-old suffered from a talent shortage at every skill position in Arizona.
Dobbs has shown promise throughout the season, currently sitting on a 62.8% completion rate from 266 pass attempts, resulting in eight touchdowns and five interceptions. Although only ranking 28th in the league for yards gained per pass attempted (5.9), the statistic masks Arizona’s inability to find space and fight for extra yards. While he may not match Cousins’ freakish aerial output this season, Dobbs’s rushing ability coupled with the support of a top-five offensive line could make the Vikings an unlikely post-season contender.
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