By Anthony Cardone

The 2018 NFL trade deadline was one to remember, with a total of nine trades going down this fall. Bigger names changed uniforms this year than we’ve seen in the last couple of years and could turn teams into playoff contenders.

It started out with the Jaguars getting running back Carlos Hyde from the Browns for a fifth-round pick. The Jaguars needed some depth at the position while last year’s first round pick Leonard Fournette deals with lingering injuries.

The next player was Amari Cooper, who went from the Raiders to the Cowboys. The Raiders, who are pretty much done this season, have already gotten rid of a lot of players this year. Amari Cooper was probably the top receiver on the trading block. He never clicked with Derek Carr, and the Cowboys, with their offensive struggles, can really use Cooper. He can hopefully fill the spot that Dez Bryant left open after leaving through free agency. The Cowboys traded a first-round pick for Cooper.

The Giants, after going 1-7, started a mini fire sale by trading two defensive players: cornerback Eli Apple and tackle Damon Harrison. Apple was a former first-round pick of the Giants, but always had off-the-field issues. Harrison ate up a huge amount of money, so it was good for the Giants to get that contract off their books. Apple went to the Saints for a fourth-round pick and Harrison went to the Lions for a fifth-round pick; both teams needed a little defensive help.

The biggest name moved was the eight-year Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas, who was traded to the Texans for a fourth-round pick. After losing Will Fuller to a torn ACL, the Texans needed a little more depth at the position to go far in the playoffs. Thomas was reunited on the field with his old team in his first game with his new one as the Texans played the Broncos on Sunday. Thomas had three catches for 61 yards in the Texan victory.

Another receiver, Golden Tate, who was part of the Seahawks and Lions organizations for eight years, was traded to the Eagles for a third-round pick. The move was a surprising but good one for the Eagles if they want to make a chase down the stretch in the NFC East.

After fumbling the ball on a kick return last week against the Rams, Packers running back Ty Montgomery was traded to the Ravens for a seventh-round pick. Montgomery spent four years with the Packers, first as a wide receiver and then as a kind of hybrid-back, playing running back due to injuries. The Packers also traded Ha-Ha Clinton Dix to NFC East leader Washington for a fourth-round pick.

The last trade was Jaguars DT Dante Fowler Jr. to the Rams for a third-round pick. A dangerous defense just got even scarier, as the first-place Rams now have a defensive line made out of former first-round picks.

Each trade definitely helped both sides, as every name was a big one this year, whether it was defensive or offensive. As to who won at the trade deadline, we’ll have to wait and see.