If we're all being honest here, the NFL trade deadline is more fun for the imagination than it is in reality. Dreams of remaking multiple franchises often descend into bit moves and short-term fixes, at least compared to the in-season blockbusters we see in other sports.
With that said, NFL teams had been relatively active in the weeks heading into the Nov. 2 deadline. They added backup quarterbacks. (Welcome back to the Jets, Joe Flacco.) They bolstered linebacker depth in Denver, added a complementary running back in New Orleans, rebuilt the defensive secondary in Carolina and, in one notable instance, acquired a player who could put a team into serious contention for the Super Bowl championship.