NFL trade deadline winners and losers: Kirk Cousins heads home, Bengals seemingly fail to understand the rules
The 2026 NFL trade deadline saw moderate activity, highlighted by the Minnesota Vikings re-acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins. While some teams made strategic moves to bolster their rosters, others remained stagnant despite being expected to buy.
Why it matters
Trade deadlines significantly impact team performance and playoff trajectories in professional sports, serving as a key indicator of organizational strategy.
The 2026 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and while we did see a couple of blockbuster trades in recent weeks, such as the Chicago Bears trading for Jeffery Simmons and the Jacksonville Jaguars swinging deals for three players in one day, the final 24 hours of the trade deadline were relatively quiet.
On Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings brought back Kirk Cousins to replace Kyler Murray, and the Kansas City Chiefs added a new wide receiver in Josh Downs . However, there were plenty of other teams perceived to be "buyers" who stayed put, while other "sellers" were hesitant to part ways with their assets. In all, 23 teams combined to make 18 trades with 19 players and 34 picks changing hands. It was the Indianapolis Colts who led the way with an NFL-high four trades for six draft selections, although star running back Jonathan Taylor was not moved.
Headlinne story · 4 newsrooms
Minnesota Vikings Acquire Quarterback Kirk Cousins in Trade With Las Vegas Raiders
What every outlet reported, where they differ, and how each framed it →
Also covering this story
5 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
2026 NFL trade deadline winners, losers: From Kirk Cousins to the Bengals - ESPN
NFL trade bombshell! Kirk Cousins’ spectacular return is a done deal
Vikings reacquire Kirk Cousins in deadline deal with Raiders
Vikings swing blockbuster trade with Raiders to get Cousins
Fernando Mendoza will get brutal NFL welcome after Kirk Cousins trade
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in