The final days before this year's trading deadline started with a bang and ended with a whimper. On Monday, the traded outside linebacker to the for 2022 second- and third-round picks. The Broncos reportedly converted $9 million of the Super Bowl 50 MVP's remaining $9,722,222 2021 base salary into signing bonus prior to the trade, which means the Jayson Werth Jersey Rams only have a $722,222 salary cap charge to acquire him. He is in a contract year.Miller being moved was the only 11th-hour trade of major consequence before the deadline. It's the type of deal MLB and NBA teams are more willing to make for what is perceived to be a mi sing piece to better make a championship run.Here are three of trades that should have been explored before the deadline that may have improved a team's chances to make the postseason or go on a deep playoff run. The financial ramifications of the moves are highlighted. Salary cap space is based off NFLPA data.An acquiring team would have needed enough salary cap room to absorb the remainder of the player's current salary unle s the original team was willing to eat salary like the Broncos in Miller's case. Since the trades would have occurred after Week 8, the acquiring team would have been responsible for 10/18ths of a player's 2021 base salary and any other applicable salary components in his contract. The salary cap situations around the league weren't ideal for trades. The teams with the most existing cap room like the and aren't playoff contenders. Most of the contending teams have very limited cap space. I had a Browns/Saints trade idea centered around a swap of wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and that was scrapped with Thomas now being out for the season because of a setback in his recovery from ankle surgery. A standalone trade of Beckham to the didn't seem feasible. The Saints have just over $710,000 in cap room, which would have required the to convert almost $7.5 million of Beckham's remaining $8,055,556 2021 base salary to signing bonus before a trade and increased the amount of draft capital the Browns would have wanted in return. Every conceivable contract that would have been a source of significant 2021 cap room has already been restructured by the Saints.Trades can't be executed again until the 2022 league year begins on March 16. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, Ryan Zimmerman Jersey picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Michael A. Taylor Jersey Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. Trade compensation:2022 second-round pickRemaining 2021 Salary: $1,830,066 (Texans 2021 salary cap savings)Raiders 2021 cap room: $2.535 millionTexans 2022 dead money: $7.5 million ($8,735,294 salary cap savings) The Raiders would have needed to act quickly after 2020 first-round pick Henry Ruggs III's car accident early Tuesday morning in which the driver of the other vehicle was killed. Ruggs is facing felony charges of driving while under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and reckle s driving. He was travelling at 156 miles per hour before the crash with a blood alcohol content of .161, which is slightly more than twice the legal limit. The Raiders have released Ruggs.Cooks, who has been traded three times in his eight-year NFL career, expre sed displeasure last week after learning running back had been dealt to the Saints. With a 1-6 record and clearly in a rebuilding mode, the Texans shouldn't have had any qualms about parting with their best skill-position player. Cooks was acquired from the Rams last year, along with a 2020 fourth-round pick, for a 2020 second-round pick.The Raiders are currently sitting atop the AFC West with a 5- Tanner Rainey Jersey 2 record in an already challenging season. Head coach Jon Gruden resigned three weeks ago after racially insensitive, homophobic and misogynistic emails he sent while as an ESPN employee surfaced. Cooks' remaining 2021 compensation consists of $1,388,88