The 2026 NFL trade deadline has officially come and gone, and there was A LOT happening over the final two weeks.

We saw several blockbuster moves, contenders adding important pieces for the playoff push, struggling teams selling off valuable players, and plenty of rumors that ultimately went nowhere.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were especially busy, the Indianapolis Colts continued their roster overhaul, the San Francisco 49ers made multiple additions, and the Minnesota Vikings made one of the most interesting moves of the entire deadline by bringing back Kirk Cousins.

But there were also some pretty big names who weren’t traded.

So let’s go through everything that happened over the final two weeks, including every completed trade, the biggest winners, and some of the players who surprisingly stayed put.

Every Trade From the Final Two Weeks

There were 14 completed trades between October 27 and November 10. Here is the full breakdown, starting with the moves that happened before deadline week.

October 27: Colts Begin Their Big Sell-Off

DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers

• 49ers receive: DT DeForest Buckner
• Colts receive: 2027 fourth-round pick

The 49ers brought back a familiar face, acquiring DeForest Buckner from Indianapolis.

San Francisco clearly wanted to strengthen its defensive line for the second half of the season, and Buckner gives them another experienced, disruptive presence up front.

This was a pretty significant move for the 49ers, especially considering their championship ambitions.

Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks

• Seahawks receive: G Quenton Nelson
• Colts receive: 2027 third-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick

Seattle also took advantage of Indianapolis’ willingness to move veterans, acquiring eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson.

This was one of my favorite moves of the entire deadline period. The Seahawks needed help along the offensive line, and Nelson is exactly the kind of player who can make an immediate difference.

Unfortunately, Nelson has since been dealing with a knee issue and will undergo a minor procedure, but the trade itself was a major statement from Seattle.

October 29: Bears Make a Blockbuster Move

Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears

• Bears receive: DT Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick
• Titans receive: 2027 first-round pick, 2027 fourth-round pick and 2028 first-round pick

This was arguably the biggest defensive trade of the entire period.

Chicago went ALL IN, sending two first-round picks and an additional fourth-rounder to Tennessee for one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles.

Simmons is a massive addition for the Bears. He’s an impact player who can disrupt opposing offenses from the interior, and Chicago clearly believes he can help take its defense to another level.

The Titans, meanwhile, received a pretty impressive collection of draft capital as they continue rebuilding.

November 6: Ravens Acquire Jacoby Brissett

Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens

• Ravens receive: QB Jacoby Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick
• Cardinals receive: 2027 fourth-round pick and 2028 seventh-round pick

I actually predicted this trade two days before it happened, and the fit made way too much sense.

Baltimore had lost Lamar Jackson to a thumb injury and Tyler Huntley to turf toe, leaving the team desperately needing quarterback help.

Meanwhile, Arizona had just benched Brissett and moved him down the depth chart.

The Ravens eventually made the move, bringing in an experienced quarterback who could help keep their season alive while Jackson recovers.

Brissett is expected to make his Baltimore debut in Week 10 against the Chargers.

November 9: Jaguars Go Shopping

Jacksonville was easily one of the busiest teams during deadline week, making THREE major defensive additions in one day.

Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars

• Jaguars receive: S Jessie Bates III
• Falcons receive: 2027 second-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick

The Jaguars added one of the best safeties in the league, bringing in Jessie Bates from Atlanta.

This is a huge addition to their secondary and gives Jacksonville another experienced playmaker on defense.

Davon Godchaux to the Jacksonville Jaguars

• Jaguars receive: DT Davon Godchaux
• Saints receive: Conditional 2028 sixth-round pick

Jacksonville also added some depth and experience to its defensive line by acquiring Davon Godchaux from New Orleans.

It’s not the biggest name involved in these trades, but it’s another move designed to strengthen the defensive front.

Jordan Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars

• Jaguars receive: DT Jordan Davis
• Eagles receive: 2027 first-round pick and 2029 second-round pick

And then came the biggest move of Jacksonville’s shopping spree.

The Jaguars acquired Jordan Davis from Philadelphia, giving up a first-round pick and a future second-rounder to get the deal done.

Davis is a talented young defensive tackle who can become a major piece of Jacksonville’s defense for years to come.

I really like what the Jaguars were trying to accomplish here. They didn’t just add one player and call it a day. They aggressively addressed multiple areas of their defense.

However, giving up that much draft capital is a significant investment, and these moves will need to pay off.

Andre Cisco to the Detroit Lions

• Lions receive: S Andre Cisco
• Jets receive: 2028 sixth-round pick

Detroit also made a move in the secondary, acquiring safety Andre Cisco from the New York Jets.

The Lions needed some additional help in their defensive backfield, and Cisco gives them another experienced option.

November 10: Deadline Day Gets Wild

The final day brought six more trades, including some pretty interesting moves.

Kirk Cousins Returns to the Minnesota Vikings

• Vikings receive: QB Kirk Cousins
• Raiders receive: 2027 third-round pick

This was probably the most surprising move of the deadline.

Kirk Cousins is heading back to Minnesota after spending six seasons with the Vikings from 2018 through 2023.

Minnesota desperately needed help at quarterback, and Cousins gives them an experienced starter who already knows the organization and head coach Kevin O’Connell.

For Las Vegas, this move clears the way for No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza to take over as the starting quarterback.

I actually really like this move for Minnesota. The Vikings are trying to salvage their season, and Cousins gives them a much better chance of competing than continuing with their previous quarterback situation.

Amani Hooker to the Buffalo Bills

• Bills receive: S Amani Hooker and a 2027 fifth-round pick
• Titans receive: 2027 second-round pick

Buffalo addressed its secondary by acquiring Amani Hooker from Tennessee.

Hooker has been one of the league’s top interception producers this season, and the Bills clearly believe he can help strengthen their defense for the playoff push.

This is a pretty important addition for a Buffalo team with serious championship aspirations.

Keenan Allen to the San Francisco 49ers

• 49ers receive: WR Keenan Allen
• Colts receive: 2027 sixth-round pick

San Francisco continued adding to its offense by acquiring veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen.

Allen gives Brock Purdy another experienced target, and the 49ers didn’t have to give up much to get him.

For Indianapolis, this was another move in its ongoing roster overhaul.

Daiyan Henley to the Denver Broncos

• Broncos receive: LB Daiyan Henley
• Chargers receive: 2027 fourth-round pick and 2028 fifth-round pick

This was an interesting one because Denver acquired Henley from its AFC West rival, the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Broncos have one of the league’s strongest defenses, and adding a talented linebacker gives them another weapon as they try to separate themselves from the competition in the AFC.

The Chargers, meanwhile, collected more future draft capital.

Josh Downs to the Kansas City Chiefs

• Chiefs receive: WR Josh Downs and a 2027 seventh-round pick
• Colts receive: 2027 fourth-round pick and 2027 fifth-round pick

The Chiefs needed another weapon in their receiving group, and they got one by acquiring Josh Downs.

Downs gives Patrick Mahomes another reliable option in the passing game and should help Kansas City as it tries to make another championship run.

Indianapolis continued selling, moving another receiver and collecting additional draft picks.

Ryan Neuzil to the Baltimore Ravens

• Ravens receive: C Ryan Neuzil
• Falcons receive: G Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round pick

The final trade of the deadline involved Baltimore and Atlanta swapping offensive linemen.

The Ravens acquired center Ryan Neuzil in exchange for Andrew Vorhees and a future sixth-round pick.

It wasn’t the flashiest move, but Baltimore clearly wanted to add some help up front after dealing with several injuries.

And that’s all 14 trades from the final two weeks!

The Players Who Weren’t Traded

Of course, not every player involved in trade rumors actually found a new home.

There were several pretty significant names who were expected to be involved in deadline discussions, but ultimately stayed with their teams.

And honestly, some of these were pretty surprising.

Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones Stay in Indianapolis

The Colts were one of the most active sellers, but they ultimately held onto two of their biggest names: running back Jonathan Taylor and quarterback Daniel Jones.

Taylor had been linked to multiple teams throughout the trade rumors, and Indianapolis reportedly received offers that included a second-round pick and additional compensation.

However, the Colts wanted a much bigger package to consider moving their star running back.

Daniel Jones also drew interest, including from Minnesota, but Indianapolis decided not to move him either.

Considering how aggressively the Colts were selling other players, it’s interesting that these two remained in place.

Budda Baker Stays With the Cardinals

Another big name who didn’t get traded was Arizona safety Budda Baker.

The Buffalo Bills reportedly explored a deal for Baker before eventually acquiring Amani Hooker from Tennessee.

Arizona reportedly turned down a strong offer that included a Day 2 draft pick.

Baker is one of the best safeties in football, so I understand why the Cardinals weren’t necessarily willing to give him away.

Still, with Arizona struggling, it was definitely a situation worth watching.

Brian Thomas Jr. Stays in Jacksonville

The Jaguars made three major defensive additions, but they also decided to keep their young wide receiver.

Brian Thomas Jr. had been the subject of trade speculation because of his reduced role in Jacksonville’s offense.

However, the Jaguars reportedly told interested teams that they planned to keep him for at least the rest of the season.

I think that’s the right decision. Thomas is still a talented young receiver, and Jacksonville shouldn’t give up on him just because things haven’t gone perfectly this season.

Will McDonald IV Doesn’t Get Traded

New York Jets edge rusher Will McDonald IV also generated plenty of attention.

He reportedly requested a trade, and the Jaguars had previously made a significant offer to acquire him.

However, Jacksonville ultimately went in a different direction with its defensive additions, and McDonald remained with the Jets.

Considering the Jaguars’ aggressive spending on defense, it’s interesting that this was one deal they couldn’t get done.

Other Notable Names Who Stayed Put

There were several other players who generated interest but weren’t moved:

• Geno Smith: Teams reportedly called the Jets about their quarterback, but New York wasn’t expected to make him available.
• Sam LaPorta: The Lions received calls about their talented tight end but reportedly had no interest in moving him.
• Grover Stewart: The Colts reportedly had an offer involving a pair of draft picks, but the deal never got completed.
• Josh Sweat: The Cardinals edge rusher drew interest from other teams, but Arizona held onto him.
• Evan Engram: The Broncos tight end reportedly generated interest, but no trade materialized.
• Brandon Aiyuk: The 49ers reinstated the receiver from the reserve/left squad list shortly before the deadline, but he was not traded.

There were also reports that Minnesota explored options involving Geno Smith, Daniel Jones and Justin Herbert before ultimately landing Kirk Cousins. The Chargers reportedly shut down inquiries about Herbert.

The Trade That Almost Happened: Arnold Ebiketie

One of the more interesting stories from deadline day involved Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie.

The Cincinnati Bengals reportedly had a deal in place to acquire him from Philadelphia in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

However, the deal was eventually called off.

Why?

Because acquiring Ebiketie could have cost Cincinnati a valuable third-round compensatory pick projected to come from Trey Hendrickson’s departure.

The Bengals ultimately decided that keeping that future draft pick was more valuable than completing the trade.

It’s a pretty unusual reason for a deal to fall apart, but it shows how much teams have to consider when making these moves.

My Biggest Takeaways From the 2026 NFL Trade Deadline

There were plenty of interesting moves, but a few teams really stood out to me.

The Jaguars were the most aggressive buyers.

Jacksonville added Jessie Bates, Jordan Davis and Davon Godchaux in a single day. That’s a serious investment in the defense, and the front office clearly believes this team can make a deep playoff run.

The Colts were the biggest sellers.

Indianapolis moved DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson, Keenan Allen and Josh Downs over this stretch. That’s a lot of talent leaving one roster, and it looks like the organization is preparing for a major reset.

The 49ers quietly had a very good deadline.

Getting DeForest Buckner and Keenan Allen gives San Francisco two experienced players who can help immediately. I really like both moves, especially considering what the 49ers are trying to accomplish this season.

The Bears made one of the biggest investments.

Giving up two first-round picks for Jeffery Simmons is a massive commitment. Chicago clearly believes it’s ready to compete now, and Simmons could make a huge difference on its defensive line.

The Vikings made the most interesting quarterback move.

Bringing Kirk Cousins back to Minnesota is something I honestly didn’t expect to see. But with the Vikings struggling at quarterback, the reunion makes a lot of sense.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I thought this was a pretty entertaining NFL trade deadline.

We had multiple blockbuster defensive additions, several teams making aggressive playoff pushes, and a few struggling organizations clearly looking toward the future.

The Jaguars were probably the biggest winners in terms of activity, the Colts completely reshaped their roster, and the 49ers made some really smart additions.

But I also think some of the biggest stories came from the players who weren’t traded.

Jonathan Taylor staying in Indianapolis, Budda Baker remaining in Arizona, and Brian Thomas Jr. staying in Jacksonville were all interesting developments. And the Arnold Ebiketie situation was just strange.

Not every team made a move, and not every rumored trade actually happened. That’s part of what makes the deadline so interesting.

Now the rosters are set, and it’s time to see which of these moves actually make a difference.

Some of these acquisitions could end up being huge for their new teams, while others might not work out the way their front offices hoped.

We’ll find out over the next couple of months.

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