A steady stream of blockbuster moves in advance of the 2026 NFL trade deadline redistributed some of the league’s top talent at numerous positions. A grand total of 18 in-season trades made the 2026 campaign the fourth-most active year of player movement and defined where teams stand in the playoff race and the hunt for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 draft.
Teams including the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars went all-in ahead of the deadline when they spent premier draft capital on defensive standouts like Jeffery Simmons and Jordan Davis. Those swaps made the Super Bowl contenders two of the deadline’s biggest winners.
On the other hand, the Indianapolis Colts emerged as by far the most aggressive sellers when they parted with Quenton Nelson, DeForest Buckner, Keenan Allen and Josh Downs. That dichotomy shows exactly how teams used Nov. 10 as a pivot point in their quest for either a championship or a jumpstart in the rebuilding process.
A bevy of big-name trade candidates stood still when the deadline passed. The Colts’ fire sale did not extend to Jonathan Taylor or Daniel Jones, while defenders like Khalil Mack, Will McDonald and Budda Baker remained with their respective teams, too.
Below is every in-season trade processed in advance of the NFL’s 2026 deadline.
Nov. 10: Ravens land another center to close out deadline day
Just over a month ago, the Ravens pulled off the league’s third in-season trade to acquire Cam Jurgens. The move landed them a long-term solution at center following Tyler Linderbaum’s exit in free agency. Now they have another center on the roster. Neuzil was the Falcons’ starter at that position this season but appears poised to take on a backup role for the Ravens unless he moves to guard (a position he played to an extent in Atlanta and exclusively in college). Olaivavega Ioane is locked in at right guard, so it will come down to John Simpson and Neuzil on the left side. The other will head to the bench as the primary interior offensive line reserve.
The Falcons will not walk away empty-handed, as Vorhees brings starting experience at guard. There will be some shifting around to do on that offensive line.
Nov. 10: Chiefs add weapon to receiving corps
- Chiefs receive: Josh Downs, 2027 seventh-round pick
- Colts receive: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick
Kansas City owns the 10th-best passing offense in the NFL but is more reliant on yards after the catch than any team in football. Additionally, wide receivers accounted for only 46.0% of the Chiefs’ receiving yards through Week 9, the second-lowest rate, behind only the Raiders at 36.8%, according to Next Gen Stats. This team needed another weapon for Patrick Mahomes and secured one just minutes before the trade deadline in the form of Downs. Although he is not much of a field-stretcher, he could free up Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy or expand his own role now that he is on a new team.
That concludes the Colts’ fire sale, bringing the tally to four players traded. All of them were on expiring contracts, so Indianapolis prioritized landing guaranteed draft capital for players likely to leave in free agency, who may or may not have netted compensatory picks. There are now only five healthy wide receivers on the Colts’ active roster: Laquon Treadwell, Deion Burks, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Trade grades:
Chiefs: B+ | Colts: A
Nov. 10: Broncos bolster defense as Chargers finally sell
One AFC West team got stronger while the other slipped further into the abyss. The Broncos added Daiyan Henley to their linebacker group and now own high-end depth behind locked-in starters Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad. Henley, a former third-round pick, was an every-week starter for the Chargers and brings excellent coverage and run defense skills to the vaunted Denver unit as it gears up for a postseason push. The Broncos anticipate receiving a compensatory pick for John Franklin-Myers’ departure in free agency, which will help offset the cost of this deal.
It was puzzling to see the Chargers sit on their hands for most of the pre-deadline, considering they are the only winless team in the league, and while the Henley deal finally made them sellers, it was also a surprise for them to strengthen a division rival. They latched onto their other tradeable assets — players like Khalil Mack and even Justin Herbert, who would have commanded far greater returns— while securing only Day 3 capital for Henley.
Nov. 10: Vikings reunite with Kirk Cousins to solve quarterback dilemma
For the second time in his career, Cousins is a Viking. Minnesota had the most glaring need at quarterback of any team in the league heading into deadline day, and Cousins was the most obvious target given his familiarity with the franchise and offensive system and his status as a bridge for the Raiders to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. He is coming off his worst performance of the year (a three-interception day in a loss to the 49ers) and seemed destined to cede the job to Mendoza in the weeks to come, so the trade makes all kinds of sense for both teams.
Minnesota’s two losses this season emphasized its inability to capitalize on owning the league’s stingiest defense. It was most apparent on “Monday Night Football” when Carson Wentz struggled mightily in a 23-6 loss to the Bills. Cousins’ arrival gives the Vikings a rest-of-season solution and an upgrade over Wentz and Kyler Murray — one who should be able to force-feed the ball to superstar wideout Justin Jefferson and more accurately distribute it to the secondary options, too.
The Vikings sent their own 2027 third-round pick to the Raiders in the deal and still possess the Eagles’ third-rounder, which projects to be a more valuable asset. Las Vegas now owns more Day 2 capital and will put that to use in its construction of a young core around Mendoza.
Trade Grades:
Vikings: B- | Raiders: A
Kirk Cousins trade grades: Vikings hope to salvage offense; Raiders get ‘A,’ turn to Fernando Mendoza
Zachary Pereles
Nov. 10: Bills land safety help
- Bills receive: Amani Hooker
- Titans receive:Â 2027 second-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick
Following the release of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the Bills were down to the starting tandem of Cole Bishop and Damar Hamlin at safety. The depth in that group was minimal, and the starting production was that of the fourth-worst pass defense in the NFL. Enter Hooker, who is tied for the league lead with five interceptions. The Titans captain is in the midst of a career year and is allowing a passer rating of just 79.3, which is the best mark of his starting career and the best number since his rookie year when he played off the bench.
The rebuilding Titans now have two second-round picks to go with their two first-rounders in 2027. They are in the throes of a defensive tear-down after they also moved on from Jeffery Simmons and will be among the richest teams in draft capital as they work to stockpile young talent and building blocks for the long-term future.
Nov. 10: 49ers get another wide receiver
- 49ers receive: Keenan Allen
- Colts receive: 2027 sixth-round pick
San Francisco has been dealing with injuries in the receiver room all season. It started during training camp, when Ricky Pearsall went out for the year. It continued in Week 1 with De’Zhaun Stribling injuring his ankle. It got worse in recent weeks with both Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel Sr. experiencing injury issues of their own.
Now, the Niners are adding another veteran to the mix: six-time Pro-Bowler Keenan Allen. He’s several years removed from playing at that Pro Bowler level, but he does have 40 catches for 351 yards and a touchdown with the Colts this season.
He should probably be expected to fill snaps at the Z receiver position and in the slot while Evans and Samuel are out. He’ll likely rotate in with those guys, Stribling upon his return, and players like Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Watkins. His addition gives the 49ers a reliable option while they deal with injuries and provides solid depth when their main pieces return.
Trade grades:
49ers: B | Colts: C+
Nov. 10: The canceled Ebiketie trade
The Cincinnati Bengals were reportedly trading a sixth-round pick to the Eagles for pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie. However, the Bengals front office didn’t realize they would also lose a third-round pick in the deal.
Nick Korte of Over The Cap pointed out that Ebiketie was signed by the Eagles as a compensatory free agent. The Bengals lost three compensatory free agents this offseason and signed two. With the addition of Ebiketie, the Bengals would lose a 2027 third-round compensatory pick that was coming after Trey Hendrickson signed with the Ravens.Â
About an hour later, the trade reportedly collapsed. Korte noted that the Bengals may have thought offensive lineman Cordell Volson counted as one of their CFAs lost. However, he has not played a single snap this year and does not count toward the formula.Â
Nov. 9: Jaguars make their biggest splash yet
- Jaguars receive: Jordan Davis
- Eagles receive: 2027 first-round pick, 2029 second-round pick
Just when it seemed like the Jaguars had filled all of their needs, they went out and made their biggest move of all. Jacksonville’s acquisition of Davis is a blockbuster in every sense of the word. The standout defensive tackle will be on the team’s books through 2029 after signing a lucrative contract extension with the Eagles earlier this year and will be among the faces of the franchise as it pursues its first Super Bowl. His arrival marks the third trade for a defensive player in one day for Jacksonville and gives them a star in the trenches who should make an already superb group even more impenetrable.
On the other side, Philadelphia is officially in tear-down mode for 2026. Nothing signals a rebuild like moving a foundational player months after locking him into a new contract. The Eagles now have 10 picks in the first two rounds of the next three drafts and can seek an expedited return to playoff contention with a couple of massive draft day hauls.
Trade grades:
Jaguars: B- | Eagles: A
Nov. 9: Help arrives in maligned Lions secondary
The Lions should be better off than they were before in the defensive backfield with the addition of Cisco, but by how much? Cisco arrives in a unit that ranks dead last in stopping the pass at 260.9 yards per game. He slipped from his status as an every-week starter and was at the top of the Jets’ depth chart for just four of nine games this season. While he remains productive, this is not a home-run transaction for a Detroit team that has to be better on his side of the ball in order to achieve its goals. This could age much better if and when Kerby Joseph returns to the lineup, because Cisco would be a pleasant depth option behind both Joseph and Brian Branch.
New York will have to wait a year to reap the benefits of this trade. It is a success to get something in return for a player who started fewer than half of his games this season, but the Jets need all the draft capital they can stockpile in order to pull themselves out of their rebuild, and 2028 is a long way away.
Trade grades:Â
Lions: B- | Jets: C-
Nov. 9: Jaguars make second trade of the day for another defender
Jacksonville entered the week with needs at safety and defensive tackle and filled both of them in a matter of hours. Shortly after acquiring Jessie Bates III, the Jaguars made a play for Godchaux, boosting a defense that may already be Super Bowl-caliber. This is a necessary addition for general manager James Gladstone after he watched DaVon Hamilton go down with a torn quad in Week 8 and one that should keep the NFL’s No. 5 run defense in the top echelon.
The pick heading to New Orleans will become a 2027 sixth-round pick if the Jaguars acquire one, according to ESPN. They do not currently own one but are projected to receive two compensatory sixth-round picks, according to Spotrac. Even with the caveat on the return, the Saints upgraded in the deal considering they spent a seventh-rounder to acquire Godchaux in a trade last year. He was a questionable fit in a run defense that ranks fifth-worst in the NFL, anyway.
Trade grades:Â
Jaguars: B+ | Saints: B
Nov. 9: Jaguars upgrade defensive backfield for postseason push
The Jaguars secured a rental for their secondary and an impactful one at that. Bates is a perennial All-Pro safety who not only beefs up the starting lineup with renowned playmaking ability but also adds depth to a group that is dealing with injuries and just lost Eric Murray for the year with an elbow issue. Jacksonville is right in the midst of its contention window and is in play for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, so any move that strengthens its Super Bowl chances is justifiable, even if it gives up quite a bit in the way of draft picks to pull it off.
Those picks make this deal a beneficial one for the Falcons, too. Atlanta should have expected to lose Bates in free agency this coming offseason, since he was not among the many players it extended this past summer. The second-round pick is better than any compensatory pick that would have come with his departure, and the 2028 fifth-rounder sweetened the deal even further. Now is the time for the Falcons to turn expiring contracts into future assets, because, at 3-6, they are unlikely to contend for anything beyond a potential first-place finish in the NFL’s weakest division.
Trade grades:Â
Jaguars: B | Falcons: B+
Nov. 4: Ravens add another QB amid injury crisis
- Ravens receive: Jacoby Brissett, 2027 fifth-round pick
- Cardinals receive: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2028 seventh-round pick
Baltimore agreed to trade for Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett and completed the deal over the weekend after its “Thursday Night Football” loss. This was an expected move for the Ravens, because their quarterback situation went from bad to worse in Week 8. The highly anticipated return of starter Lamar Jackson lasted just one play. Jackson suffered a thumb injury and is now on injured reserve. Tyler Huntley, who started in place of Jackson, took over but also went down. He is out for the season with a turf toe injury. The team relied on emergency third quarterback Joe Fagnano to finish the game and started him on Thursday.
Brissett spent the last two seasons with the Cardinals, who benched him in his final game with the team and turned instead to Gardner Minshew. The return of draft capital for a quarterback who lost his job, was unhappy all offseason about his contract situation and projected as a bridge to an eventual first-round pick is a huge success for a rebuilding Arizona team.
Trade grades:
Ravens: B- | Cardinals: A
Oct. 29: Bears go all-in, acquire Jeffery Simmons
- Bears receive: Jeffery Simmons, 2028 fifth-round pick
- Titans receive: 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick, 2027 fourth-round pick
In giving up two first-rounders to secure a perennial All-Pro defensive tackle, the Bears went all-in and opened their Super Bowl contention window. The transaction paid immediate dividends when Simmons logged a sack and led the team with six tackles in his Chicago debut: A commanding 34-17 road win over the Seahawks. Mortgaging so much of their future first-round capital showed that the Bears trust their roster, as currently constructed, to compete at the top of the league, and Simmons is the kind of game-changing talent worth the steep price. His production in the pass rush and in run defense could help Chicago maximize its high-octane unit on the other side of the ball led by Caleb Williams.
This move sends the Titans deeper into their rebuild. Questions lie ahead about whether to stick with Cam Ward at quarterback, and with the first-round picks they acquired from dealing Simmons, there will be curiosity as to whether they will use one to land a new signal-caller. Regardless of how they use the picks, moving on from one of the greatest players in franchise history shows how bleak the present is in Tennessee and that all eyes are on the future.
Trade grades:
Bears: A- | Titans: C+
Oct. 27: DeForest Buckner reunites with 49ers
- 49ers receive: DeForest Buckner
- Colts receive: 2027 fourth-round pick
The seemingly nonstop onslaught of injuries hit the 49ers’ defensive line, resulting in CJ West landing on injured reserve with a bone chip in his knee and Alfred Collins being ruled out for the year with a torn patellar tendon. That heightened the need for immediate help in the trenches, so the 49ers brought Buckner back after his six-plus years in Indianapolis. The 49ers selected Buckner in the first round of the 2016 draft, and the best years of his prime came during his time in San Francisco, so this is a welcome return for someone the franchise remembers fondly. Buckner remains one of the NFL’s top pass-rushing interior defensive linemen and will aid in the 49ers’ Super Bowl push.
Buckner’s exit marked the second trade in one day for the slumping Colts, who are in the midst of tearing things down with multiple star players on the move and former general manager Chris Ballard out the door. There is an argument to be made that a Day 3 pick was an underwhelming return, but for a 32-year-old veteran on an expiring contract, the Colts were content to get at least something of value for a player who was likely to leave in free agency anyway. Buckner grew publicly frustrated with Indianapolis’ struggles, which heightened the anticipation for his trade or an eventual departure at the end of his contract.
Trade grades:
49ers: A | Colts: B+
Oct. 27: Seahawks bolster offensive line with Quenton Nelson
- Seahawks receive: Quenton Nelson
- Colts receive: 2027 third-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick
Seahawks general manager Jon Schneider is keen to make big-time moves ahead of the trade deadline. This is the fourth consecutive year in which Seattle made a play for an impactful midseason addition to its roster. Nelson is as stellar of an offensive lineman as there is on the trade market this year as a six-time All-Pro and should elevate a struggling Seahawks run game over the long term, even if his arrival did not deliver an immediate boost in the loss to the Bears in his debut. This is also a savvy transaction for the front office given that it stands to receive at least one compensatory third-round pick in 2027; trading a third-rounder for Nelson was thus an easy price to pay.
The Colts got more in return for Nelson than they did for Buckner, which is to be expected considering his status as perhaps the top interior lineman in football. This is still a discount, though, and they remain without a first-round pick in either of the next two drafts. If they can use the third-rounder and next year’s fifth-rounder to move up in the order, the trade deadline sale could prove more worthwhile.
Trade grades:
Seahawks: A | Colts: C+
Oct. 11: Texans take a shot on Marvin Harrison Jr.
Harrison reunited with his college quarterback, C.J. Stroud, upon his arrival in Houston. Will that help him rekindle what has become a disappointing career? His first two games with the Texans were mostly underwhelming, but he did haul in a touchdown reception in Week 7 and could secure a more sizable target share as the team seeks for a go-to No. 2 option behind star pass-catcher Nico Collins. This is trending toward a lost season for the Texans, but they will have another year of control over Harrison and the option to pick up a fifth year in 2028. If they can mold him into the star he was supposed to become out of Ohio State, their passing game will be in excellent shape over the long haul.
Trading Harrison was an admission that he was a bust of a former first-round pick, but to get a second-rounder in the process and to upgrade with a Day 3 pick swap was about as good of a deal as the Cardinals could have landed. Harrison ran his course in the desert and was clearly a poor fit in Mike LaFleur’s system, so maximizing his value in the trade was a big win for a team that is not going to contend for anything meaningful in 2026 anyway.
Trade grades:
Texans: C- | Cardinals: B+
Oct. 7: Ravens land Cam Jurgens
The interior offensive line in Baltimore was a glaring issue last year and into the start of 2026. The Jurgens trade addressed that head-on. Not only did the Ravens find their long-term replacement for Tyler Linderbaum, who left in free agency, but the addition also allowed them to move Olaivavega Ioane from center back to right guard. The full benefits of this move may not show up until Lamar Jackson returns to action, whether that be later in 2026 or next season.
On the Eagles’ side, Jurgens’ exit effectively marked the end of an era for a once-legendary offensive line that also saw longtime tackle Lane Johnson and legendary position coach Jeff Stoutland enter retirement. It is a turning of the page and one that netted a couple of draft picks for a franchise that now looks destined to rebuild following a six-game losing streak. Philadelphia had been playing Jurgens out of position, anyway.
Trade grades:
Ravens: B+ | Eagles: B-
Oct. 1: Joey Porter Jr. brings much-needed help to Cowboys defense
If Porter cannot fix the Cowboys’ defense, then that unit might be broken beyond repair in 2026. Dallas made a splash to address its greatest weakness and has thus far seen the exact kind of individual impact it envisioned from the star cornerback, as he allowed a diminutive 39.6 passer rating and just three completions on 11 targets across his first four games with the team. Still, the unit around him is in shambles. And with Porter set to reach unrestricted free agency this offseason, this could be a one-year rental that fails to produce a postseason appearance.
The Steelers made it clear that they were not going to shell out market-resetting money to keep Porter around on a long-term contract extension. By declining to meet his demands as he sat out the start of the season, they only had one viable option, which was to trade him. A first-round pick would have been the preferable return package, but Pittsburgh received the next-best thing with both a second-rounder and 2027 draft capital. That sixth-round pick in next year’s draft already vested, as it was conditional upon Porter being active for just two games with the Cowboys.
Trade grades:
Cowboys: C | Steelers: B-
Sept. 28: Giants find replacement QB in J.J. McCarthy
The torn knee ligaments Jaxson Dart sustained in Week 2 made the Giants desperate for quarterback help, because the rest of the roster remained talented enough to compete for the NFC East crown. The McCarthy acquisition at first came across as puzzling given his own struggles to stay healthy, his underwhelming play when available and the fact that New York already has a franchise quarterback and thus has little to gain from McCarthy potentially developing into a viable starter. But it has aged better than expected. McCarthy threw for 243 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter in Week 6, earned the starting job over Jameis Winston and promptly delivered a road win over the Texans to place the Giants in command of the division.
Getting anything in return for McCarthy after a disastrous start to his career was a win for the Vikings. He slipped all the way down to the third line of Minnesota’s depth chart behind a couple of low-ceiling veterans in Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz and was clearly no longer part of the franchise’s plans.
Trade grades:
Giants: C | Vikings: B+
