Tuesday’s presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most significant events of the generation, which means it undoubtedly adds all kinds of worry, angst and general unease to the rest of the evening. Sometimes it helps to be distracted, even if for only a brief respite.

So where should sports fans turn on a night like this? The World Series is over, the NBA doesn’t play on Election Day and the NFL wrapped Week 9 on Monday when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime.

Here are five sporting events to potentially help distract during what will likely be a long night of election coverage.

College football: Watch Bowling Green at Central Michigan

Tuesday night in the fall means there is college football action in the MAC. Bowling Green sits second place in the conference, and has played close against strong out of conference opponents such as Penn State. Central Michigan is trying to stop a three-game losing streak and get back on track in conference play.

Central Michigan hosts Bowling Green at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, which can be watched free by signing up for a seven-day free trial of Fubo.

Watch Central Michigan vs Bowling Green FREE on Fubo

Men’s college basketball: Watch BYU vs. Central Arkansas

The college basketball season tips off on Tuesday for a number of teams, including BYU and new head coach Kevin Young. Former head coach Mark Pope left the Cougars in the offseason, taking over for John Calipari at Kentucky.

BYU just missed the top-25 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and boasts two potential first-round NBA draft picks. The Cougars look to start off the season right against Central Arkansas. The game begins at 9:00 p.m. ET and is available to watch exclusively via ESPN+.

Watch BYU vs Central Arkansas on ESPN+

Women’s college basketball: Watch NC State vs. ETSU

Three ranked women’s college basketball teams begin their seasons tonight, but only North Carolina State is ranked in the top 10 of the USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The Wolfpack host Eastern Tennessee State in a game in which they are heavy favorites, but this is more about sizing up the Wolfpack for an upcoming home matchup against No. 1 South Carolina this weekend.

NC State and ETSU tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET and the game is available to watch exclusively via ESPN+.

Watch NC State vs ETSU on ESPN+

NHL: Watch every out-of-market NHL game with ESPN+ Power Play

New this year, ESPN+ is offering a new feature called NHL Power Play that allows hockey fans to watch their team play even if they are out of market. Tuesday’s NHL slate features 11 games including some late-night options if you’re staying up worrying about the election.

NHL Power Play will cover more than 1,000 NHL games this season and allows fans to choose between the home and away broadcast while watching. This service is available exclusively through ESPN+.

Watch hockey with NHL Power Play on ESPN+

College football: Watch Miami (OH) at Ball State

In case one MAC college football game wasn’t enough, there is also a second game of #MACtion on Election Day, as Ball State hosts Miami (Ohio) at 8 p.m. The visiting Redhawks are tied for second place in the conference, while the Cardinals are just a game behind.

The game will be televised on ESPN, which can be streamed for free by signing up for a seven-day trial with Fubo.

Watch Miami (OH) at Ball State FREE on Fubo

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The Dallas Cowboys will apparently protect injured quarterback Dak Prescott, if largely from himself.

During his weekly radio interview on 105.3 The FAN on Tuesday morning, team owner Jerry Jones said, “It’s likely we’ll IR him,’ meaning Prescott would miss at least the next four games as he tries to heal from the hamstring injury he suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Falcons in Atlanta.

Prescott said following the game that the issue was “something he never felt before,’ and the pain on his face was obvious during his final throw of the afternoon. He said the medical staff opted to shut him down because he could no longer reasonably safeguard himself on the field. However NFL Media reported Monday that Prescott planned an aggressive rehabilitation in order to get back on the field sooner than later.

But, apparently, that won’t happen.

It’s the latest blow to what was already a highly disappointing season for the reigning NFC East champions, who are 3-5 and set to be without their most important player for the foreseeable future.

All things Cowboys: Latest Dallas Cowboys news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

What games will Dak Prescott miss?

Going on injured reserve would force the 2023 league MVP runner-up, who signed a record extension (4 years, $240 million) before the regular-season opener, to the sideline at least until Dec. 9. And the upcoming stretch seems especially crucial given three of the Cowboys’ four upcoming games are against division rivals: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Nov. 10), at Washington Commanders (Nov. 24) and vs. New York Giants on Nov. 28, which is Dallas’ annual Thanksgiving showcase. The other matchup is a Monday nighter at home against the Houston Texans on Nov. 18, surely one that carries a little extra weight with local fans who covet Lone Star State bragging rights.

Prescott’s numbers have been down after he led the NFL with 410 completions and 36 TD passes last season. He’s currently averaging 247.3 passing yards per game – 18 fewer than last year – with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His completion rate (64.7%) and pass rating (career-low 86.0) are depressed and significantly shy of his career norms.

Prescott would be eligible to return for Week 14’s home date with the Cincinnati Bengals but could be shut down for the season at any point depending on how things play out both with his recovery and the team at large.

Who are the Cowboys’ backup QBs?

Dallas has some fairly intriguing fallbacks behind center with Prescott headed for the shelf.

Cooper Rush hasn’t played much recently but completed 13 of 25 passes for 115 yards and a TD in relief at Atlanta. He essentially saved the 2022 regular season by winning four of five starts when Prescott was sidelined with a bum thumb. With nearly the entirety of his seven-year career spent in Dallas, Rush knows the personnel and the playbook.

Jones also indicated that QB3 Trey Lance could get an opportunity to play – which would be a welcome development for the No. 3 pick of the 2021 draft to kickstart his thus far disappointing career. He was acquired from the San Francisco 49ers before the start of the 2023 season but hasn’t managed to unseat Rush. Lance will be a free agent next year.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.

The debut College Football Playoff rankings can be used as a road map for the rest of the regular season. Here are a few things to expect:

Look for the Big Ten and SEC to dominate the top half of the Tuesday night’s Top 25, with as many as a combined eight teams in the top 12 and potentially five of the top six.

Look for Oregon to be an easy pick to come at No. 1 for a pretty extensive list of reasons, beginning with an unbeaten record starring last month’s thrilling win against Ohio State.

Look for surprise teams such as Indiana, Brigham Young and Boise State to land just outside this top group, highlighting this season’s unpredictability across the Power Four.

And look for plenty of debate outside of a clear-cut top three as the playoff selection committee weighs a series of unbeaten and one-loss teams from the major conferences.

Here’s our prediction for the top 12 in the first rankings of the 2024 season:

1. Oregon (9-0)

The Ducks are unbeaten and own the nation’s best win. That makes Oregon a no-doubt pick to top the debut rankings. But there’s also a very high-quality victory against Boise State along with solid wins against Illinois and Michigan. The Ducks rank 11th nationally in yards per play on offense and yards given up per play, giving the committee another reason to have them No. 1.

2. Georgia (7-1)

Georgia has stumbled at times outside of a 41-34 loss at Alabama, including a very close call against Kentucky back in September and a tougher-than-expected 34-20 win this past Saturday against Florida. This lack of consistency is something the committee will have to consider. In the Bulldogs’ favor are wins against Clemson and Texas, a one-two punch that Ohio State can’t match.

CALM DOWN:  The five biggest Week 10 overreactions assess the playoff

3. Ohio State (7-1)

Saturday’s win at Penn State could be enough to push the Buckeyes ahead of Georgia. But while the Buckeyes have been the more reliable team, the Bulldogs’ strength of schedule provides a degree of separation. Ohio State has a strong win against Iowa — the Hawkeyes could fall in the back end of Tuesday’s rankings — and a victory against a Nebraska team that might secure bowl eligibility. The Bulldogs have more.

4. Miami (9-0)

An unbeaten record and the nation’s top-scoring offense overshadow a lack of anything close to a marquee win. Miami does have six wins against opponents currently with a non-losing record, including a shootout win against a Louisville team that could squeeze into these rankings. But the Hurricanes have been pushed to the limit several times in ACC play.

5. Texas (7-1)

Texas also suffers from a dearth of impressive wins, though the Longhorns will benefit from a quality loss to Georgia – in case you’ve forgot, the committee has historically placed good losses in the same ballpark as good wins. Michigan, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt are for now the best Texas has to offer. The eye test will favor the Longhorns, though, and the committee won’t forget that this team spent multiple weeks at No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

6. Penn State (7-1)

Here’s where things start to get a little unpredictable. No. 6 could go to unbeaten Brigham Young, a reflection on the Cougars’ place as the current Big 12 favorite and wins against SMU and Kansas State. Tennessee has a win against Alabama and a defense that ranks at or near the top of the FBS in most major categories. But as with Texas, the committee will look very favorably on Penn State’s one loss while pointing to wins at home against Illinois and on the road against West Virginia, Southern California and Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions also rank in the top 10 in the FBS in yards gained and allowed per play.

7. Brigham Young (8-0)

Don’t be surprised if BYU lands as high as No. 6, mostly because of those two wins; SMU came on the road, which is even better. Unfortunately, the committee does have the ammunition to drop the Cougars to No. 8 or even No. 9. There’s a very fortunate win at Oklahoma State, only two victories against teams with fewer than four losses and non-conference wins against Southern Illinois and Wyoming.

8. Tennessee (7-1)

The Volunteers have defeats of Alabama, Oklahoma, North Carolina State and Florida. Only the Crimson Tide result will matter to the committee. Tennessee has also been often unimpressive offensively since the end of non-conference play, though there has been some clear improvement seen from young quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

9. Notre Dame (7-1)

That loss to Northern Illinois will be hard to ignore. Otherwise, the committee has to be moved by a six-game winning streak featuring all but one game decided by 18 or more points. The Irish have a great win at Texas A&M and solid wins against Louisville, Georgia Tech and Navy. The committee will also point to the team’s in-season growth as reason to keep Notre Dame ahead of undefeated Indiana.

10. Indiana (9-0)

This has been maybe the most dominant team in the country, believe it or not. It wasn’t until Saturday against Michigan State had Indiana trailed this season — and then turned that 10-0 deficit into a 47-10 win. The problem is a weak schedule that has just two wins against team with a winning record, Nebraska and Washington. That won’t change until this month’s trip to Ohio State, a make-or-break game for the Hoosiers’ chances.

11. Boise State (7-1)

This may be the lowest spot for Boise State given the multiple factors in the Broncos’ corner. Again, as with Texas and Penn State, a highly competitive loss to Oregon will definitely register with the committee. Boise also has the current Heisman Trophy favorite in running back Ashton Jeanty. In the end, the Broncos have wins against Washington State and UNLV but nothing beyond that.

12. Alabama (6-2)

Beating Georgia is enough to land Alabama here, ahead of other contenders such as SMU, LSU, Mississippi and Texas A&M. Losses to Tennessee and Vanderbilt will also be looked at kindly, especially if the Commodores land somewhere in the final three spots in this week’s rankings.

The Pittsburgh Steelers had been seen as likely buyers for a wide receiver in the weeks leading up to the 2024 NFL trade deadline. Now, the leaders of the AFC North have finally made their purchase.

In the run-up to Tuesday’s cutoff, the Steelers agreed to acquire Mike Williams from the New York Jets, sending a 2025 fifth-round NFL draft pick back in the deal, according to multiple reports.

For the Steelers, the 6-4, 218-pound target provides a big-bodied downfield target for Russell Wilson, who lacked many perimeter options beyond George Pickens. The Jets, meanwhile, cut their losses on a free-agent signing who never was able to get on the same page with Aaron Rodgers, with Williams just recording 12 catches for 166 yards this year.

Here’s how both Pittsburgh and New York fared in the deal.

Mike Williams trade grades

Steelers grade: C+

A fifth-round pick doesn’t represent a hefty tab, but there’s still a price tag here for a mere nine games of work. While the motivation to provide an in-season boost to a passing attack that has shifted with Wilson taking over for Justin Fields, how much of a jolt can Pittsburgh reasonably expect from a 30-year-old who has failed to find his place in a new offense through his first campaign following an ACL tear? Ultimately, Wilson might need to simply trust Williams to come down with some jump balls – which isn’t the worst use of the former Los Angeles Chargers standout’s skill set. Maybe Mike Tomlin and the Steelers again maximize the returns from a talented pass catcher, but it doesn’t seem like this will provide much of an edge against the AFC’s elite.

All things Steelers: Latest Pittsburgh Steelers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Jets grade: B-

That the Jets couldn’t find a way to push forward with Williams amid its last-gasp attempt at establishing relevance in the playoff picture speaks to how off things were between the receiver and the franchise. At least Joe Douglas recouped something from the ill-advised one-year, $15 million deal given to Williams this offseason. With Allen Lazard on injured reserve until early December, it’ll be the Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams show from here on out for Rodgers and the Jets. But that was going to be the case regardless of whether Williams was moved or not.

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Tre’Davious White is getting another fresh start as he tries to re-establish himself after suffering a torn Achilles last fall.

The Los Angeles Rams are trading the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback to the Baltimore Ravens ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, a person with knowledge of the move told USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the trade was not yet official.

White, 29, struggled in the early going with the Rams after signing a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the team this offseason. He gave up four touchdowns in four games before becoming a healthy scratch starting in October. Los Angeles allowed him to pursue a trade, and the franchise found a willing partner.

As he joins Baltimore, White could have a chance to assist a defense giving up a league-worst 280.9 passing yards per game.

Here’s how both the Ravens and Rams fared in the trade.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Tre’Davious White trade grades

Ravens grade: C+

Nothing more than a low-cost flier here. If White somehow becomes a viable contributor to a maligned secondary, great. If not, Baltimore can move on without worrying about what it gave up in the deal. The Ravens would have been better off poking around for a pass rusher, but a relatively tight salary-cap outlook likely precluded any moves more significant than this.

Rams grade: C+

For the minimal draft compensation headed back to Los Angeles, this likely was a case of the Rams doing right by a highly respected player. White was forced into action amid injuries on the back end of Los Angeles’ defense, and there was no longer a path forward for him given the current setup of the secondary. It was simply time for both sides to move on.

NFL power rankings entering Week 10 of the 2024 season (previous rank in parentheses):

1. Kansas City Chiefs (1): One hallmark of a championship organization? A willingness to take risks and leverage opportunities that maintain a focus on excellence. HC Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach have been as busy as any front office in recent weeks ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline – swinging deals for WR DeAndre Hopkins (2 TD catches in Monday night’s win) and LB Joshua Uche. And how about the returns they’ve already realized by re-signing RB Kareem Hunt, who scored the game-winning TD in overtime Monday, given the infamous end of his initial tenure in K.C. What does it all mean? The reigning champs remain on track to battle for the league’s first-ever Super Bowl three-peat, are still the NFL’s lone undefeated team and first with a 14-game winning streak (including playoffs) in nine years – that heater also establishing a franchise record. And they’re still not firing on all cylinders.

2. Detroit Lions (2): There’s no replacing injured DE Aidan Hutchinson. But the NFC’s leaders did about as well as could be expected in seeking a temporary fill-in, executing a long-anticipated swap with Cleveland for Za’Darius Smith on Tuesday morning. Nice boost for a unit that’s only managed 12½ sacks aside from Hutchinson’s production. Yet maybe it won’t even matter much given how well this multi-faceted offense is clicking. QB Jared Goff and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown haven’t had a missed connection since Week 3, hooking up on 30 consecutive targets – tied for the longest streak for any wideout since 2016.

3. Baltimore Ravens (3): QB2 Josh Johnson had just as big a role in mop-up duty during a 31-point walkover against Denver as WR Diontae Johnson, acquired last week for some crab cakes before getting 17 snaps and zero targets Sunday. Diontae Johnson might serve as little more than a hood ornament on this offense – if one that other AFC contenders won’t have access to. Whatever dividends he pays, the real question now is whether this defense has enough juice … or if that’s irrelevant given Lamar Jackson and Co. are good for 30+ points weekly.

4. Buffalo Bills (4): WR Amari Cooper only has five grabs in the three weeks since he was obtained, missing Sunday’s game with a wrist injury. And that’s causing absolutely no stress for a herd stampeding toward a fifth straight AFC East crown yet will invariably need Cooper to come up big in mid to late January. Also, after Sunday, you can bet Buffalo has no interest in trading its previously struggling kicker. Probably.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

6. Minnesota Vikings (5): This is no inconsequential bridge season with QB Sam Darnold. Management has sent a very clear signal it’s committed to winning now after importing LT Cam Robinson and RB Cam Akers to patch some holes. And getting T.J. Hockenson back into the lineup Sunday night is akin to making a major move … which Minnesota did for the Pro Bowl tight end two years ago.

11. Arizona Cardinals (14): The NFC West leaders had 16 defenders generate at least one pressure in Sunday’s win, according to Next Gen Stats. So what’d they do Monday? Acquire OLB Baron Browning to add depth to this budding defense, which faces the pass-heavy Jets and Seahawks next.

17. Los Angeles Chargers (18): As well as they’re generally playing – albeit against a fairly soft schedule – it’s probably premature for this ascending program to delve into the trade market. But at least the NFL thinks enough of the Bolts to trade them into Week 11’s Sunday night slot.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (21): As well as they’re generally playing – albeit against a fairly soft schedule – it might be even more remarkable that this rebounding program actually waded into the trade market, if only to do a low-level deal for ex-Chicago RB Khalil Herbert. Maybe now we know why the NFL thinks enough of the Stripes to trade them into Week 11’s Sunday night slot.

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26. Dallas Cowboys (17): Just when you think they’ve hit rock bottom, turns out they’re only changing drill bits. Three of the next four games are against NFC East foes, and the other is a Monday night home game against the Lone Star State’s best team, the Texans, that you just know owner Jerry Jones doesn’t want to concede. Yet it seems quite possible QB Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury will force him to miss all of those dates. At least QB2 Cooper Rush will have … newly acquired WR Jonathan Mingo to throw to? Um, yeah …

27. New England Patriots (26): Valiant effort by rookie QB Drake Maye and Co. in Sunday’s overtime loss in Nashville. But it feels like the Pats are starting to chart a course – perhaps including a stop atop the 2025 draft – and that it might be short-sighted to strip this team of any low-level assets that might otherwise contribute to Maye’s development down the stretch.

31. New Orleans Saints (29): On the heels of a league-worst seven-game skid, their longest since 1999, they traded in HC Dennis Allen on Monday. Hard to say what they hope to reap from such a move at this juncture.

32. Las Vegas Raiders (31): On the heels of an AFC-worst five-game skid, their longest since coming to Las Vegas, they traded in OC Luke Getsy and others on Sunday night. Hard to say what they hope to reap from such a move at this juncture … especially when Norv Turner, two decades from being this club’s head coach, is the fallback.

(This story has been updated to include new information.)

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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.

Handing out marks shortly after the completion of moves can be a dicey proposition, as the true winners and losers of each swap might not become clear for some time. But it doesn’t always take long to identify a savvy addition or shrewd sell-off, as several teams in recent years have boosted their outlook for either the short or long term by pulling off a trade that was immediately recognizable as a boon.

USA TODAY Sports will be updating team grades for each deal as they come in, so check back Tuesday for analysis on all the latest moves.

Mike Williams trade grades

Steelers receive: WR Mike Williams

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Jets receive: 2025 fifth-round pick

Steelers grade: C+

A fifth-round pick doesn’t represent a hefty tab, but there’s still a price tag here for a mere nine games of work. While the motivation to provide an in-season boost to a passing attack that has shifted with Wilson taking over for Justin Fields, how much of a jolt can Pittsburgh reasonably expect from a 30-year-old who has failed to find his place in a new offense through his first campaign following an ACL tear? Ultimately, Wilson might need to simply trust Williams to come down with some jump balls – which isn’t the worst use of the former Los Angeles Chargers standout’s skill set. Maybe Mike Tomlin and the Steelers again maximize the returns from a talented pass catcher, but it doesn’t seem like this will provide much of an edge against the AFC’s elite.

Jets grade: B-

That the Jets couldn’t find a way to push forward with Williams amid its last-gasp attempt at establishing relevance in the playoff picture speaks to how off things were between the receiver and the franchise. At least Joe Douglas recouped something from the ill-advised one-year, $15 million deal given to Williams this offseason. With Allen Lazard on injured reserve until early December, it’ll be the Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams show from here on out for Rodgers and the Jets. But that was going to be the case regardless of whether Williams was moved or not.

Marshon Lattimore trade grades

Commanders receive: CB Marshon Lattimore, 2025 fifth-round pick

Saints receive: 2025 third-round pick, 2025 fourth-round pick, 2025 sixth-round pick

Commanders: B+

From a talent standpoint, there’s plenty to like in this move. Lattimore, 28, is a sticky presence in coverage and also a playmaker with 15 career interceptions. Even amid the Saints’ widespread struggles, he’s yielding a career-low 5.2 yards per target while allowing a meager 69.1 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Reference. Still, this was a good bit of draft compensation to surrender, even for a team that was set to have an extra third-round pick thanks to its Jahan Dotson deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even though Lattimore is a proven entity, cornerback play can be volatile, and some other high-profile deals at the position – like the Tennessee Titans’ move for L’Jarius Sneed – have gone bust. That seems less risky, however, with the overall track record exhibited by a player who will clearly upgrade a premium spot – rookie Mike Sainristil can now move back to his more natural position in the slot – and serve as more than a rental. Health could be an X-factor, as Lattimore has missed 19 games since the 2022 season and is dealing with a hamstring injury. He is also due a hefty $36.5 million in the final two years of his contract after this season, though Washington is in a solid spot to absorb the hit.

Saints: B+

The reboot rolls on in the Big Easy. New Orleans didn’t have many assets to cast off for additional draft capital, so parting with Lattimore was a sensible move. The picks will come in handy for a roster that surely will need to rely on rookie contracts as it navigates a troublesome salary-cap fallout in the coming years. And between Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans is in a solid spot with its cornerbacks moving forward.

Jonathan Mingo trade grades

Cowboys receive: WR Jonathan Mingo, 2025 seventh-round pick

Panthers receive: 2025 fourth-round pick

Cowboys: D-

Desperation isn’t a good look for Jerry Jones. While the Cowboys are right to want to repair a stale offense that ranks 22nd in yards per play (5.2), it seems unlikely that a receiver who has essentially been leapfrogged by undrafted rookie free agent Jalen Coker is going to make much of a difference in a 3-5 campaign, especially with Dak Prescott likely to miss at least the next four games with his hamstring injury. And the return of a fourth-round draft pick is downright baffling, with little indication that such high bid was required. Though Mingo might have some untapped potential that can be unlocked in a new setting, Jones’ explanation prior to the deal that the Cowboys were bringing on a receiver they liked during the draft process would seem to suggest the team is doubling down on an evaluation miss and focusing on pre-draft perception rather than professional performance.

Panthers: A

After Carolina puzzled many by getting a modest pick swap for Diontae Johnson, general manager Dan Morgan somehow secured even better draft capital for the underperforming Mingo. The second-year receiver is essentially a non-factor in the offense at the moment, not posting a catch in the last three games. As far as cutting bait on a likely misstep from the previous regime goes, this is about as good as it gets. Dealing Adam Thielen is probably a non-starter at this point given the other moves, but Carolina can scrape by for the rest of the season with the 34-year-old and Coker. And the focus is on the future, which looks a bit brighter now.

Za’Darius Smith trade grades

Lions receive: DE Za’Darius Smith, 2026 seventh-round draft pick

Browns receive: 2025 fifth-round draft pick, 2026 sixth-round draft pick

Lions grade: A-

With the 7-1 Lions off to their best start since 1956 and looking like a legitimate threat to make their first Super Bowl appearance, adding a starter at defensive end to replace Aidan Hutchinson was essentially a necessity for Brad Holmes. In Smith, 32, he found likely the best option on the market as far as a short-term fix for this team. The three-time Pro Bowl selection shouldn’t be expected to reach the same heights Hutchinson did in what was looking like an NFL Defensive Player of the Year campaign – his 7 ½ sacks still account for 37.5% of the team’s production in that category – but replacing his impact and production was never on the table. Smith, who has five sacks this year, should provide a good bit of pressure while still satisfying Campbell’s demand to remain stout against the run. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn likely will still need to be creative in dialing up blitzes to help this front four – Detroit ranks sixth in blitz rate on the season at 29.8%, according to Pro Football Reference – but it’s hard to beat this price and payoff.

Browns grade: C

For one of the best players still available on deadline day, this seems like a relatively meager return. Maybe there weren’t enough other bidders for a half-season rental, but it’s hard to believe that a proven product at a premium position wouldn’t generate more interest as other teams gear up for a playoff push. Regardless, moving on from Smith was the right move for a franchise that needs to do some serious restocking in the draft given the drain that the Deshaun Watson trade created for its young talent.

Baron Browning trade grades

Cardinals receive: LB Baron Browning

Broncos receive: 2025 sixth-round draft pick

Cardinals grade: B+

Arizona’s pass rush has been dormant for almost the entire season, with the team posting the NFL’s worst collective pass rush win rate (27%) through its first eight games, according to ESPN. Things changed Sunday, when the Cardinals overwhelmed Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears for six sacks in a 29-9 win. But this was truly an outlier performance, with 16 different players registering a pressure, according to Next Gen Stats, against an offense that was clearly unable to adjust to what was being thrown at it.

It might seem strange for the Cardinals to be buyers – and for a half-season rental – at this point given the overall state of the roster. But a sixth-round pick isn’t a hefty price to pay, and the organization’s first division title since 2015 is at stake. Hard to say no to a clear talent upgrade at a position of need. If Browning can stay healthy, he raises the ceiling of a group that doesn’t have much top-line talent in its front seven, especially after B.J. Ojulari and Dennis Gardeck were lost to torn anterior cruciate ligaments.

Broncos grade: B

It’s a modest return for a former third-round draft pick, but a person with knowledge of the agreement – speaking on condition of anonymity because financial details had not been made public – confirmed to USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon that outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper signed a four-year, $60 million extension with the Broncos this weekend. Given Nik Bonitto’s breakout season, that cements that there wasn’t a future for Browning in Denver beyond this season. Barring an injury, the Broncos’ stellar pass rush – tops in the NFL in pass rush win rate (57%) after eight weeks – shouldn’t take too much of a hit.

Cam Robinson trade grades

Vikings receive: OT Cam Robinson, 2026 conditional seventh-round draft pick

Jaguars receive: 2026 conditional fifth-round draft pick

Vikings grade: C+

This seems like a somewhat odd move for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who has resisted the ‘all-in’ mentality that other front offices have at times given into. Yes, Christian Darrisaw’s season-ending knee injury left Minnesota with a massive hole at left tackle. But Robinson, who turns 30 on Saturday, has topped out as a passable starter. The Vikings seemed to regress to the mean a bit after their 5-0 start, and this trade felt a bit like borrowing against the future for a group that looks like a long shot to push for the conference crown.

Jaguars grade: B

All things considered, the return was pretty kind for an impending free agent who had been benched in favor of Walker Little, who should be able to hold down the role of protecting Trevor Lawrence’s blind side for the rest of the season. This marks a bit of an unceremonious split with the team’s longest-tenured player, and Jacksonville likely would have been better off had it broken off its commitment much earlier during the nearly eight-year run with Robinson. But at least the franchise didn’t see this through to the end of the season and leave things up to the compensatory pick formula.

Diontae Johnson trade grades

Ravens receive: WR Diontae Johnson, 2025 sixth-round draft pick

Panthers receive: 2025 fifth-round draft pick

Ravens grade: A

Baltimore didn’t seem like it would join the buying class at the trade deadline given a relatively tight cap outlook. But GM Eric DeCosta knows a steal when he sees one. Though the Ravens offense has been moving at an incredible pace, Johnson serves as an additional weapon who might be invigorated by playing for a contender. At such a miniscule price, Johnson is well worth a roll of the dice given the potential for a sizable payoff.

Panthers grade: D

Maybe Carolina needed Johnson to go after he declared ‘I can’t play every position on the field and make every play’ following a 40-7 loss to the Washington Commanders. But if a talent-starved roster is going to part with one of its most important pieces, it should be getting far better value than what the Panthers netted here. Given how the receiver market panned out after several high-profile moves – and the fact that the Panthers are still paying the bulk of Johnson’s salary, according to The Athletic – this looks like a pretty big whiff.

Joshua Uche trade grades

Chiefs receive: LB Joshua Uche

Patriots receive: 2026 sixth-round draft pick

Chiefs grade: B

Boosting the pass rush on the cheap isn’t an easy task for any team, but the two-time defending champs might have pulled it off here. The 6-1, 240-pound Uche wasn’t permitted to stay on the field regularly in New England and never played more than 38% of the team’s defensive snaps in a season. But he has made a name for himself as a spark off the edge, recording 11 ½ sacks in 2022 and remaining one of the league’s more effective players in generating pressure despite tallying just two sacks this year. Given Kansas City’s underwhelming results in reaching the quarterback, any assistance should be welcome. Steve Spagnuolo can continue to find him favorable looks as a sub rusher, which might give the Chiefs yet another edge down the stretch.

Patriots grade: B-

With New England poised to be a spender again in free agency this offseason, a compensatory pick might not have been in the cards if Uche had walked after his one-year deal expired, giving this trade some distinct value for the Patriots. Still, it’s a bit of a disappointing outcome for the team and its handling of a former second-round pick who displayed promise, even if it was in brief flashes.

Ernest Jones IV trade grades

Seahawks receive: LB Ernest Jones IV

Titans receive: LB Jerome Baker, 2025 fourth-round draft pick

Seahawks grade: B-

Returning to the NFC West could be win-win for both the Seahawks and the former Los Angeles Rams standout. Jones can make his mark against the run for a defense that is far too leaky in the ground game, and Mike Macdonald should be able to tap into his blitzing ability as well. But giving up a mid-round draft pick for an upgrade at a non-premium position raises some concerns, especially given that Jones is on an expiring contract. With Seattle’s viability as a playoff threat looking more than a little suspect, the team would have been better off waiting to address this deficiency through free agency and/or the draft.

Titans grade: B+

Acquiring Jones in August seemed like a bit of a stretch for a franchise that was clearly trying to fast-track its rebuild by importing established veterans from other teams. Call this a proper correction, then, as netting a fourth-rounder could prove meaningful for a roster with abundant holes to be addressed this spring. Nice pivot by Ran Carthon.

DeAndre Hopkins trade grades

Chiefs receive: WR DeAndre Hopkins

Titans receive: 2025 conditional fifth-round draft pick

Chiefs grade: A-

This seemed like the deal that made too much sense to actually happen. And for a while, it appeared it wouldn’t, with buzz that the Titans weren’t eager to move on from their No. 2 target and Hopkins not broadcasting any discontent with his standing. Still, general manager Brett Veach found a way to swing a deal for a pass catcher for the third consecutive year ahead of the trade deadline.

Here’s to betting that Hopkins’ impact will be greater than that of Kadarius Toney and Mecole Hardman, however. Try as the Chiefs might to forge ahead, it was clear that an additional weapon was required after Rashee Rice’s season-ending knee injury, which compounded the problems for a receiving corps that is already without Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown (shoulder) until at least the playoffs. Hopkins doesn’t need to rediscover his electric early-career form for this to work out. Though he’s not a one-for-one replacement for Rice, if he can simply continue to overpower defensive backs at the catch point and feast on a high volume of targets on underneath and intermediate routes, he can provide a major boost to the Chiefs’ revised offensive mission of being highly functional rather than explosive.

Titans grade: B

General manager Ran Carthon deserves some credit for seeing the bigger picture and not simply barreling ahead with Hopkins. While it stood to reason that a receiver who makes his mark on contested catches would be a fine complement to Calvin Ridley, who wins on separation, and a major asset to an unsteady second-year signal-caller in Will Levis, things obviously haven’t panned out for the 1-5 Titans. With Tennessee already down a third-round pick in 2025 thanks to the L’Jarius Sneed trade – which so far has yielded ugly results – it was time to scrounge up more draft assets for a team due for another offseason reboot in its offensive personnel.

Amari Cooper trade grades

Bills receive: WR Amari Cooper, 2025 sixth-round draft pick

Browns receive: 2025 third-round draft pick, 2026 seventh-round draft pick

Bills grade: A-

At a time when most eyes were trained on Davante Adams and the Jets, the Bills managed to swoop in with their own substantial move for a top-flight wide receiver. Cooper’s arrival could make for a seismic shift for a receiving corps that was still struggling to find its own way after Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans. Though Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman showed promise, jeopardizing another season of Josh Allen’s prime simply wasn’t an option. Cooper has had some struggles with drops and needs to re-establish his trustworthiness as a target after enduring some awful quarterback play in Cleveland, but this was probably the highest upside that Buffalo could find given its salary cap limitations.

Browns grade: B-

Cleveland’s move seemed necessary given its spiraling season, yet it was still somewhat of a surprise to see the front office acknowledge the current landscape given the headstrong approach of the current regime. Getting a Day 2 draft pick is no small accomplishment for a franchise starved for young talent after the Deshaun Watson trade. But there are so many bigger problems to be faced here, and this only begins to address them.

Davante Adams trade grades

Jets receive: WR Davante Adams

Raiders receive: 2025 conditional third-round draft pick

Jets grade: B+

It’s more than fair to question the wisdom of putting Aaron Rodgers at the center of everything a franchise does, especially with how things have turned out so far for Gang Green. But that dynamic can’t truly be escaped until this offseason at the earliest, and it likely results in many people losing their jobs. A conditional third-round draft pick is no sweat for Joe Douglas, who almost certainly won’t need to worry about cleaning things up if the Adams trade doesn’t help pull the Jets up out of their tailspin. Even if Adams doesn’t recapture the peak form he displayed years ago, the six-time Pro Bowler can still be counted on to routinely create separation and leverage his connection with Rodgers.

Raiders grade: B-

The Jets weren’t the only ones who found themselves boxed in early this season. As Adams’ dissatisfaction with the Silver and Black grew, the Raiders had little choice but to find the highest bidder and send the star pass catcher on his way. Not seeking a deal in the offseason was a serious blunder, and the organization deserves ridicule for never figuring out a way to make things work with a premier talent who fell into the team’s lap due to his connection with Derek Carr. But at least their path forward in the short term is a little clearer now.

This story has been updated with new information.

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Add the Washington Commanders to the list of playoff contenders making a bold move in advance of the NFL trade deadline.

Hours before Tuesday’s cutoff, the Commanders struck an agreement with the New Orleans Saints to acquire cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

The Saints will receive a third-round pick, fourth-round pick and sixth-round pick while the Commanders will also get a fifth-round pick in the deal.

In adding the four-time Pro Bowl selection, the 7-2 Commanders have strengthened their outlook at one of their weakest positions. The Saints, meanwhile, continue to focus on the long term after firing coach Dennis Allen on Monday.

Here’s how each team fared in the deal.

All things Commanders: Latest Washington Commanders news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Commanders grade: B+

From a talent standpoint, there’s plenty to like in this move. Lattimore, 28, is a sticky presence in coverage and also a playmaker with 15 career interceptions. Even amid the Saints’ widespread struggles, he’s yielding a career-low 5.2 yards per target while allowing a meager 69.1 passer rating when targeted, according to Pro Football Reference. Still, this was a good bit of draft compensation to surrender, even for a team that was set to have an extra third-round pick thanks to its Jahan Dotson deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Even though Lattimore is a proven entity, cornerback play can be volatile, and some other high-profile deals at the position – like the Tennessee Titans’ move for L’Jarius Sneed – have gone bust. That seems less risky, however, with the overall track record exhibited by a player who will clearly upgrade a premium spot – rookie Mike Sainristil can now move back to his more natural position in the slot – and serve as more than a rental. Health could be an X-factor, as Lattimore has missed 19 games since the 2022 season and is dealing with a hamstring injury. He is also due $36.5 million in the final two years of his contract after this season, though Washington is in a solid spot to absorb the hit.

Saints grade: B+

The reboot rolls on in the Big Easy. New Orleans didn’t have many assets to cast off for additional draft capital, so parting with Lattimore was a sensible move. The picks will come in handy for a roster that surely will need to rely on rookie contracts as it navigates a troublesome salary-cap fallout in the coming years. And between Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry, New Orleans is in a solid spot with its cornerbacks moving forward.

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Southern California’s start to its Big Ten tenure perhaps hasn’t gone as planned, as the Trojans have lost four of their past five contests.

And now with USC on its second bye week of the season, Lincoln Riley and Co. look to be in search of a late-season spark as they make a change at quarterback.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, USC will now start UNLV transfer Jayden Maiava in its Week 12 game vs. Nebraska. Trojans starter Miller Moss will serve as the backup vs. the Cornhuskers.

Moss, who took over at quarterback this year for USC after Caleb Williams was selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft to the Chicago Bears, has struggled in recent weeks. Since USC’s upset loss to Minnesota on Oct. 5, Moss has thrown eight interceptions – including three last week vs. Washington.

USC is coming off a Week 10 loss to Washington, during which the Trojans were shut out in the first and fourth quarters and had their bowl game odds take a hit. USC has the No. 6 scoring offense in the Big Ten (30.6 points per game).

Maiava, who transferred from UNLV this past offseason, has seen some playing time this year – all coming late in the game after Riley pulled the starters in blowout wins. Last year at UNLV, the 6-foot-4 quarterback from Paauilo, Hawaii, completed 63.5% of his passes for 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns.

USC will take on Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. With three games remaining on its schedule, including one against No. 8 Notre Dame, USC needs two more wins to become bowl-eligible.