5 teams that improved their Super Bowl chances most at NFL trade deadline

The NFL’s 2024 trade deadline has come and gone. There were 18 total trades involving 19 players since Week 1 of the regular season. Which teams improved their Super Bowl chances the most?

The Kansas City Chiefs are aiming to win an historic third straight Super Bowl in a row. They acquired veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and he’s already thriving on his new squad. Not to be out done, the Baltimore Ravens bolstered their high-powered offense adding wideout Diontae Johnson and traded for veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White on defense.

In the NFC, the Detroit Lions made a much-anticipated move when they snagged defensive end Za'Darius Smith from Cleveland.

Three Super Bowl contenders made major trades. USA TODAY Sports lists five teams who improved their Super Bowl chances the most at the NFL trade deadline:

Detroit Lions

Acquired:Za'Darius Smith

Already boasting the top scoring offense in the NFL, the Lions knew they needed to fill their void at defensive end after Aidan Hutchinson sustained a season-ending leg injury, so they went out and acquired Za'Darius Smith, who they coveted.

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The 10-year veteran has experience in the NFC North having played for both the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.

Smith’s generated 26 pressures and five sacks this season. His 26 pressures are 17 more than Detroit’s next best active edge rusher Josh Paschal (9) and his five sacks are more than the team’s active sack leader defensive tackle Alim McNeill (2.5).

Detroit is all in this season. The Lions are off to their best eight-game start since 1956. The franchise has never made a Super Bowl appearance. They are hungry for a Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Acquired: Mike Williams, Preston Smith

The Steelers coveted Williams since he was released by the Chargers. They were in search of a wide receiver as George Pickens is Pittsburgh’s only wideout with over 15 receptions.

Williams and Pickens have potential to form a nice one-two punch on the outside. Russell Wilson is 2-0 with a 111.9 passer rating since being inserted into the starting lineup. Wilson throws a wide receiver-friendly deep ball, which should bode well for Williams. The 6-foot-4 wideout averaged an NFL-high 20.4 yards a reception in 2019. Williams excels at 50-50 balls and has big-play ability but he hasn’t been the same since his season-ending knee injury in 2023. A change of scenery might do the trick.

The Packers decided to go younger at the position as Smith lost snaps in recent weeks. In Pittsburgh, Smith provides the Steelers’ top 10 defense with more depth at outside linebacker behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

Already at 6-2, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is well on his way to an 18^th straight season above .500.

Kansas City Chiefs

Acquired: DeAndre Hopkins, Josh Uche

The Chiefs are vying to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. They were depleted at wide receiver due to injuries, so they went out and got Hopkins. How’s he doing in Kansas City? Well, he compiled eight catches, 86 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first home game at Arrowhead. He’s had a seamless transition with the Chiefs and is already performing like the team’s No. 1 wide receiver.

Generating pressure from a player outside of Chris Jones is imperative. Uche will be asked to be a situational pass rusher. He tallied a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2022. If Uche can rekindle his 2022 success, the Chiefs' top-five defense got a steal.

Washington Commanders

Acquired: Marshon Lattimore

The Commanders were absent of a No. 1 cornerback. Lattimore immediately becomes Washington’s best cover corner. He’s been targeted on just 9.7% of his coverage snaps, the second-lowest among outside cornerbacks and he’s allowed below a 65% completion percentage for seven straight seasons

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels told USA TODAY Sports in July that he hoped to “shift the culture” on the Commanders. He’s stayed true to is word this far. The Commanders have become a desirable location for players and the team understands they have a chance to earn a playoff berth for the first time since the 2020 season.

Baltimore Ravens

Acquired: Diontae Johnson, Tre'Davious White

The Ravens had the NFL’s No. 1 ranked total offense and top ranked rushing offense before they acquired Johnson. Johnson is almost a luxury piece for Baltimore. He is a crisp route runner who can separate.

Zay Flowers has blossomed into Baltimore’s top wideout, while Rashod Bateman is a capable secondary receiver. The two receivers rank in the top 30 in receiving yards. Johnson supplies Baltimore with more playmaking. And that’s not even mentioning Derrick Henry and the Ravens’ dominant rushing attack.

Lamar Jackson has a plethora of talent around him in what’s turning out to be another MVP-caliber campaign.  

The Rams and White mutually agreed to part ways after he fell down Los Angeles’ depth chart. White is not the Pro Bowl corner he once was in Buffalo, but it’s a win for the Ravens if he can play meaningful productive snaps.

The Ravens have dealt with multiple injuries to their secondary.   

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