As the season continues, the 2024 NFL trade deadline is becoming more and more of a talking point. Being the last chance for numerous teams to improve their rosters ahead of the playoff run, the trade deadline is a pivotal date for organizations. When is the NFL trade deadline in 2024 and who might be on the move this season?
What Is the NFL Trade Deadline Date in 2024?
The NFL trade deadline for the 2024 season is set for Tuesday, November 5, 2024. This date falls after Week 9 of the regular season, marking the last opportunity for teams to make trades and adjust their rosters before the final stretch of the year.
This past offseason, during the league’s annual ownership meetings, the trade deadline became a major point of discussion. Browns general manager Andrew Berry submitted a proposal, supported by the Detroit Lions, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders, to move the deadline back two weeks after Week 10. That move did not garner enough support to pass.
Among the rule changes at the NFL’s Annual Meeting, the trade deadline has been pushed back a week to the day after Week 9 is completed. pic.twitter.com/NbnkHHC0FJ
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 26, 2024
However, the Steelers proposed a rule change that would see it moved back only one week. The three-fourths approval needed to pass the rule was acquired.
The Browns GM provided his reasoning behind suggesting the move.
“Our proposal [Berry’s original Week 10 trade deadline idea] would move it to about 55% of the games played,” Berry said. “And, oh by the way, over the last 10 years the earliest that a team has been eliminated from postseason consideration has been Week 11, and that happened in 2014 and 2016. If you look over the last three [seasons], 27 or more teams are actually within two games of a wild-card spot.
“We felt that was the sweet spot where we can add additional flexibility, be proactive in terms of how we’re thinking about it, but could also be at a time where teams are still competitive as they thought about the current season.”
This is the first time the trade deadline changed since 2012.
What Time Is the NFL Trade Deadline?
The official NFL trade deadline expires at 4 p.m. ET. Some moves could potentially trickle in after that time due to processing, but organizations need to finish their dealings before that hour.
How Long Has the Trade Deadline Existed?
The NFL has always had a trade deadline, but the league was once more stringent than it is now regarding its execution. Prior to 2012, the NFL’s trade deadline followed Week 6. In 2012, the league agreed to extend the trade deadline to after Week 8, providing teams more insight into their chances of competing in the current year.
Over the years, the NFL has earned a reputation for inactivity, at least when compared to other US sports leagues like the NBA, MLB, and NHL. There are a few reasons for that.
NFL front offices are reluctant to deal future draft picks for current players, many of which on large salaries, or asking for larger salaries and extended contracts.
NFL front offices believe they can draft suitable replacements with premium draft picks at a fraction of the cost of what it takes to retain a veteran looking for a new deal. Finding starting-caliber players on rookie contracts are worth their weight in gold because it provides teams with cap flexibility to fill out their roster and make their team stronger across the board.
Why Is There an NFL Trade Deadline?
Hark back to why the NFL trade deadline was established in the first place. The NFL, as much as any professional sport in existence, thrives on parity. The fact that every season there are a 1/2 dozen new teams in the playoffs illustrates the amount of turnover in the league.
The league thrives on this. Every fan base has hope this could be THE YEAR for their team.
The NFL trade deadline enforces these principles. The NFL wants competitive balance and integrity above all else and doesn’t want major market teams taking advantage of smaller market teams.
The NFL doesn’t want the strong teams getting stronger and the weak teams getting weaker. Aligning a deadline for any trades for this calendar league year makes sense to ensure the balance of power.
Can an NFL Player Prevent a Trade From Happening?
A player may veto a potential trade if they have a no-trade clause in their contract with the team.
What Is a No-Trade Clause?
A no-trade clause is a stipulation in a contract that gives more power to the player and allows them to veto any trade the organization is trying to make.