The NFL trade deadline is only two days away, and it’s already been a dramatic time for the league. The Seattle Seahawks strengthened their offensive line with Quenton Nelson, the San Francisco 49ers brought back DeForest Buckner, the Chicago Bears look like a Super Bowl favorite with the addition of Jeffery Simmons and the Baltimore Ravens have a new quarterback in Jacoby Brissett. Who is the next domino to fall?
A total of 27 players were traded last season. This is the highest number in the last 25 years. A total of 12 players were dealt at the deadline last year. Get ready for a crazy 48 hours. There’s a lot of speculation surrounding Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, but will he actually be dealt? What about the Minnesota Vikings? Could they close a deal for a new quarterback in the next 48 hours? Below we will detail 10 transactions that need to take place.
1. Vikings’ Kirk Cousins
The Vikings receive: QB Kirk Cousins
Raiders receive: Conditional fifth round pick
ESPN’s Adam Schefter got a lot of people excited last week when he said he was going to keep an eye on the Vikings. Will they trade for Justin Herbert? Or Mac Jones? Maybe Daniel Jones? What if we brought back Kirk Cousins?
It doesn’t appear that Cousins will be dealt at the trade deadline, but it would be a storybook ending if Kevin O’Connell brought Cousins back to town and he contributed to a Super Bowl run. Cousins spent six seasons in Minnesota, threw for 4,000 yards four times and went 50-37-1 as a starter. Although he is 38 years old today, Cousins is still capable of playing good football. His 19 passing touchdowns on Sunday ranked second in the NFL behind Joe Burrow, and his 265.5 passing yards per game ranked seventh.
Now that we’re halfway through the 2026 season, the Raiders can turn their attention to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, while Cousins will improve a crackling Vikings passing attack. Kyler Murray’s 170.3 passing yards per game entering Week 9 ranks 30th among 31 qualified passers, and we don’t know if Carson Wentz is a solution. Justin Jefferson is tired of not having consistent play under center, so let’s bring Cousins back to Minnesota and watch him power a run to the Super Bowl.
2. Budda Baker on Bills
Invoices received: S Budda Baker
Cardinals receive: third round pick
How long can the Bills continue to win track meets? Josh Allen can outperform just about any team, but this defense ranks bottom 10 in yards allowed per game (352.1) and points allowed per game (25.9). Buffalo has four wins in games where the defense has allowed 30 points!
The addition of Cardinals safety Budda Baker should help. He is an eight-time Pro Bowler and plays great football for a not-so-great team. In eight games this season, he has recorded 51 tackles, four passes defensed, one interception and a career-high 3.5 sacks. Few players have made 1,000 tackles before the age of 30 – just Bobby Wagner, Roquan Smith, Luke Kuechly, Lavonte David, Ray Lewis, Fred Warner and Budda Baker.
3. Derrick Henry reunites with Mike Vrabel
The Patriots receive: RB Derrick Henry
Ravens receive: third round pick
Mike Vrabel has a few former Titans on his roster, including AJ Brown and Kevin Byard. He could make a deal for another of his former players, Derrick Henry.
The Ravens running back is averaging 76.6 rushing yards per game and has scored nine total touchdowns in nine games played. Considering the injuries at the quarterback position and the fact that the Ravens are the only team in the division with a losing record, it appears that Baltimore will not make the Super Bowl this year. Henry is 32 and 33 and should help a competitor.
The Patriots rank 12th in rushing yards per game with 123.1, but Rhamondre Stevenson is averaging less than four yards per attempt and around 46 yards per game. TreVeyon Henderson’s situation also remains unclear, after revealing he experienced a “unusual medical emergency“Vrabel knows what Henry is capable of as a bell cow, and he can help the defending AFC champions return to the ‘Big Game.’
4. George Pickens on his way to “Sin City”
Raiders receive: WR George Pickens
Cowboys receive: second round pick
George Pickens ranked third in the NFL in receiving yards last season with 1,429 and nine touchdowns on 93 receptions, but this season has been a different story. His yards per game dropped from 84.1 to 66.6, and Pickens played just 56.8 percent of snaps in the Cowboys’ Week 8 loss to Arizona.
Pickens is playing on the franchise tag this year and is due to sign a massive contract. Questions remain about the Cowboys’ ability to pay him. Dak Prescott is the No. 2 highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, CeeDee Lamb is the No. 6 highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL and Tyler Smith is the No. 2 highest-paid guard in the league. Then, recently added Joey Porter Jr. is also expected to sign a massive contract. Is Dallas really going to pay Pickens around $35 million per year? It makes sense to take a second-round pick for a player who may not be on your roster next year.
The Raiders, meanwhile, have one of the worst receiver rooms in the NFL. Tre Tucker leads the way with 474 yards, then Jalen Nailor is behind him with 113 yards. Pickens would provide Fernando Mendoza with a true perimeter threat for years to come.
5. Broncos add Breece Hall
Broncos receive: RB Breece Hall
Jets receive: third round pick
Breece Hall signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract this offseason after being handed the franchise tag. He became the Jets’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2015 and is one of three active players to record 3,000 rushing yards and 1,500 receiving yards in his first four seasons. However, Hall’s quad injury opened the door for Braelon Allen, who really took advantage of his opportunity. He rushed for a career-high 147 yards against the Raiders last week.
The Broncos’ rushing offense, entering Sunday, ranks seventh-worst in the NFL. While rookie Jonah Coleman has flashed in spots and the injured RJ Harvey is a weapon as a receiver out of the backfield, Hall would immediately improve an inconsistent offense that has legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
6. Josh Downs in Kansas City
Chiefs receive: WR Josh Downs
Colts receive: Conditional fourth-round pick
The Chiefs would like Brian Thomas Jr., but they don’t want to give up a second-round pick for a player with question marks. They instead trade a conditional fourth-round pick for Josh Downs, who has recorded the second-most receiving yards out of the slot since being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of North Carolina.
Downs has caught 30 passes for 330 yards and a touchdown in his first eight games this season and has a career-high 803 yards and five trips to the end zone in 2024. The Chiefs’ problems at the wide receiver position are well-documented. Rashee Rice entered Sunday averaging 48.6 receiving yards per game, and Xavier Worthy is just a gadget player at this point. Travis Kelce should not lead this team in receiving.
7. Ladd McConkey to the Steelers
Steelers receive: WR Ladd McConkey, fifth-round pick
Chargers receive: WR Roman Wilson, second round pick
Bryan Deardo of CBS Sports started this business earlier this week, and it makes sense. Ladd McConkey could take the Steelers passing attack to another level, while former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh reunites with Roman Wilson.
McConkey caught just 17 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown through the first eight weeks of the season. As a rookie, he caught 82 passes for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns. The Steelers have averaged 26.2 points per game over their last six games, but their leading receiver, DK Metcalf, is averaging just 47.3 yards per game. In McConkey, Aaron Rodgers would get a solid slot weapon that could also serve as a security blanket.
8. Tony Pollard to the Giants
Giants receive: RB Tony Pollard
Titans receive: fourth-round pick
Jonathan Taylor has had plenty of oxygen over the past few weeks, but there’s another running back in the AFC South that teams should be interested in. Tony Pollard had 129 yards and three touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns in Week 7, then 117 yards and two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8. He is averaging a career-high 74.4 rushing yards per game per game this season, and he ranks in the top 10 in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He and Derrick Henry are the only players to rush for 1,000 yards in each of the last four seasons.
The Giants have Cam Skattebo, who accounted for 124 yards and a touchdown in that overtime win over the Houston Texans, but Pollard would improve a questionable room as New York looks to win the division. John Harbaugh was upset that his team couldn’t bring in Jeffery Simmons. Mike Borgonzi finally answers the phone and sends Pollard to the Giants.
9. Moro Ojomo to the Jags
The Jaguars receive: DT Moro Ojomo
Eagles receive: third round pick
The Jaguars are reportedly looking for defensive linemen, and Moro Ojomo could be a good fit. Jacksonville just saw DaVon Hamilton go down with a torn quad, and general manager James Gladstone is hoping to make an addition to maintain one of the best run defenses in the NFL. Ojomo adds some juice as an interior passer and has recorded the second-most pressures on the Eagles over the past three seasons behind Jalen Carter.
10. Khalil Mack moves north to Santa Clara
49ers receive: EDGE Khalil Mack, sixth-round pick
Chargers receive: third round pick
Reports indicate that Khalil Mack will not be traded, but he is a player who should rush the passer to become a contender. The former Defensive Player of the Year turns 36 in a few months, but he can still get after the quarterback. Mack recorded three sacks in his first seven games this season and notched a career-high 17 sacks just three years ago.
The 49ers have missed the most games due to injury this season (142), as of Sunday. The defensive line has 47 games missed by players, the most in the NFL. Mack would help a Raheem Morris defense that can win a Super Bowl if healthy.
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