### NFL Trade Deadline 2024: Major Moves Shape Contenders' Futures

The 2024 NFL trade deadline has officially passed, concluding at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and it was a flurry of activity as teams scrambled to finalize deals. The expanded playoffs have kept many teams in the hunt, prompting significant trades that could reshape the postseason landscape.

One of the headline trades saw the Washington Commanders acquiring four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints. This move is expected to boost the Commanders' defensive secondary dramatically. Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions strengthened their pass rush by securing edge rusher Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns.

Not to be outdone, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a splash with two substantial acquisitions on Tuesday. They added wide receiver Mike Williams from the New York Jets and bolstered their defensive line by trading for pass rusher Preston Smith from the Green Bay Packers. These moves signal the Steelers' intent to remain competitive in a tight AFC North race.

A few smaller trades were completed just minutes before the deadline, adding to a string of transactions that had already taken place in recent weeks. Among the notable deals, the San Francisco 49ers acquired defensive tackle Khalil Davis from the Houston Texans for a seventh-round pick. The Baltimore Ravens also improved their secondary by trading for cornerback Tre'Davious White from the Los Angeles Rams.

In an outlook of some other significant trades, the Dallas Cowboys made a move for wide receiver Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers, and the Cincinnati Bengals brought in running back Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears for a seventh-rounder. Both moves were aimed at addressing specific team needs as they push for playoff spots.

The Chiefs were also active, making two key trades by acquiring linebacker Joshua Uche from the New England Patriots and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the Tennessee Titans. The Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans swapped linebackers, with Ernest Jones IV moving to Seattle and Jerome Baker heading to Tennessee.

Interestingly, the deadline was also marked by notable non-deals. Despite trade rumors, the Carolina Panthers decided to retain their young quarterback Bryce Young, while the Indianapolis Colts held onto QB Anthony Richardson. The Los Angeles Rams also kept wide receiver Cooper Kupp, with head coach Sean McVay emphasizing the importance of the Super Bowl 56 MVP to their team.

As some deals shaped up successfully, others like the potential trades for Panthers' WR Adam Thielen and Giants' OLB Azeez Ojulari did not materialize. Nonetheless, the plethora of moves that did happen has undoubtedly set the stage for an intriguing second half of the 2024 NFL season.