The 2026 NFL trade deadline passed at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. The headline deal was the return of quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota brought Cousins back from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2027 third-round draft pick. Cousins played for Minnesota from 2018 to 2023, so this move brings a familiar face back to a team that needs help at the most important position on the field. The rest of the day brought smart additions, one late surprise, one deal that fell apart, and several teams that chose to stay quiet.
Quick Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET |
| Headline deal | Kirk Cousins returns to Minnesota from Las Vegas for a 2027 third-round pick |
| Cousins in Minnesota | Played for the Vikings from 2018 to 2023 |
| Vikings last game | Lost 23-6 to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football on November 9 |
| Vikings next game | Play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, November 15, at Lambeau Field |
| Bills deal | Acquired safety Amani Hooker from Tennessee for a second-round pick and received a fifth-round pick |
| Chiefs deal | Acquired wide receiver Josh Downs and a 2027 seventh-round pick from Indianapolis |
| Broncos deal | Acquired linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Los Angeles Chargers |
| 49ers deal | Acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen from Indianapolis for a 2027 sixth-round pick |
| Late deal | Atlanta traded center Ryan Neuzil to Baltimore for guard Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round pick |
| Deal that fell through | Cincinnati backed out of a trade for Arnold Ebiketie from Philadelphia |
| Colts at the deadline | Sellers, moving both Josh Downs and Keenan Allen |
| Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis did not trade the running back before the deadline |
Cousins Is Back in Minnesota
The biggest story of the day was simple. The Minnesota Vikings needed a quarterback, and they turned to a player who already knows the team, the city, and the pressure that comes with the job. Kirk Cousins is back in Minnesota after a move from the Las Vegas Raiders. The price was a 2027 third-round draft pick.
Cousins played for Minnesota from 2018 to 2023. That history matters because a midseason quarterback change is hard, and Cousins already knows the playbook, the coaches, and the receivers.
The Vikings lost 23-6 to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football on November 9, just one day before the deadline. That loss put the spotlight on the offense and on the need for a steady hand at quarterback. The front office did not wait long to act. By the next afternoon, Cousins was on his way back.
The next test comes fast. Minnesota plays the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, November 15, at Lambeau Field, a tough road rivalry game. The deal shows the Vikings still believe they can compete: they spent a future draft pick to bring back a player they trust instead of standing still.
Buffalo Adds Amani Hooker After a Big Monday Night Win
The Buffalo Bills were already in a good mood after their 23-6 win over the Vikings on Monday Night Football on November 9. The defense played well in that game, and the team looked sharp in front of a national audience. Then the front office made the defense even stronger by adding safety Amani Hooker from the Tennessee Titans.
Buffalo gave up a second-round draft pick for Hooker, and the Bills also received a fifth-round pick in the deal. That is a fair price for a starting safety. A second-round pick has real value, but a team that wants to win now will often trade future picks for a player who can step in and make plays in the present.
A good safety helps cover deep passes, support the run, and line up the defense before the snap. That matters most late in the season, when one mistake can decide a playoff spot. Adding Hooker after a strong win sends a message: the front office sees a team that can go far. For Tennessee, taking a second-round pick for a starting safety points to the future.
Kansas City and San Francisco Shop While Indianapolis Sells
The Indianapolis Colts were sellers at the deadline, and two of the biggest moves of the day came from their roster. The Kansas City Chiefs acquired wide receiver Josh Downs and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Colts in exchange for 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks. The San Francisco 49ers acquired veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Colts in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Both deals make sense for the buyers. Downs gives Kansas City another option on offense, plus a seventh-round pick, for two mid-round picks. The Chiefs expect to compete for big games, and a receiver who can get open is worth that price.
San Francisco added a veteran instead. Keenan Allen knows how to find space against good defenses, and the 49ers gave up only a 2027 sixth-round pick. He needs to make catches on key downs and give the quarterback a trusted target.
For Indianapolis, the message was clear. Moving both Downs and Allen means trading present help for future picks, a hard choice for fans but a clear plan. Kansas City and San Francisco are trying to win now. Indianapolis is trying to build for later.
Denver, Baltimore, and a Buzzer Beater
The Denver Broncos made a strong move by acquiring linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Henley is a young linebacker who can run, tackle, and help in coverage. Denver paid two future picks, which shows how much the team values him.
The Chargers are 0-8, which explains the move. A winless team looks to the future, and trading Henley brings draft picks to rebuild with, even though he is the kind of player fans want to keep.
The last deal of the day came right at the edge of the deadline. In a buzzer-beating deal reported at 4:13 p.m. ET, the Atlanta Falcons traded starting center Ryan Neuzil to the Baltimore Ravens for guard Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round pick. It was reported after the 4 p.m. ET deadline but completed in time to count. A starting center calls out protections and keeps the quarterback safe, so the move can help the whole Baltimore offense run better.
Deals Before Deadline Day and the Ones That Never Happened
Some of the biggest deals of the trade season happened before deadline day. The Jacksonville Jaguars were active early, and they made three moves that changed their roster. Jacksonville acquired defensive tackle Jordan Davis from the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick, safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons, and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the New Orleans Saints.
The Chicago Bears also made a big move before the deadline, acquiring defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans for a 2027 first-round pick, a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick, and getting a 2028 fifth-round pick back. That is a heavy price for a difference maker on the defensive line.
The Detroit Lions acquired safety Andre Cisco from the New York Jets for a 2028 sixth-round pick. The Baltimore Ravens acquired quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals as a veteran backup. Smaller moves than the Cousins deal, but both can help in the second half of the season.
Not every story had a happy ending. The Cincinnati Bengals backed out of a trade to acquire defensive end Arnold Ebiketie from the Philadelphia Eagles, after the deal had been reported as agreed. The trade fell through. That is a reminder that a reported deal is not always a done deal. Teams can change their minds, and a trade can fall apart even after the news breaks.
The Indianapolis Colts did not trade running back Jonathan Taylor before the deadline. That was one of the biggest questions of the day, and the answer was no move at all. The Jonathan Taylor story was another reminder that trade talks can end without a deal.
Some teams stayed quiet in a different way. The Green Bay Packers made no moves before the deadline. The Detroit Lions made no moves beyond the Cisco trade. The New York Jets made no moves beyond trading Cisco. For Green Bay, the quiet deadline is notable because the Packers play the Vikings on Sunday, November 15, at Lambeau Field, just days after Minnesota added Cousins. The Bills win over the Vikings on Monday Night Football showed how fast things can change: one night Buffalo beats Minnesota 23-6, and the next day Minnesota brings back Cousins and Buffalo adds Hooker.
FAQs
When was the 2026 NFL trade deadline?
The deadline was Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET. Deals had to be completed by that time to count, although the Neuzil deal was reported at 4:13 p.m. ET after it had been completed in time.
What was the biggest deal of the day?
The headline deal was Kirk Cousins returning to the Minnesota Vikings from the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2027 third-round pick. Cousins played for Minnesota from 2018 to 2023, and the move came one day after the Vikings lost 23-6 to Buffalo.
Did the Colts trade Jonathan Taylor?
No. The Indianapolis Colts did not trade running back Jonathan Taylor before the deadline. The Colts were sellers at the deadline, moving both Josh Downs and Keenan Allen, but Taylor stayed in Indianapolis.
Did the Arnold Ebiketie trade happen?
No. The Cincinnati Bengals backed out of a trade to acquire defensive end Arnold Ebiketie from the Philadelphia Eagles, after the deal had been reported as agreed. The trade fell through.
SOURCES
Final Thoughts
The 2026 NFL trade deadline gave fans a clear story. The biggest move was Cousins back in Minnesota, a return that felt both surprising and familiar at the same time. The Bills added Hooker after a strong win. The Chiefs and 49ers added receivers while the Colts sold. The Broncos added Henley, and the Ravens added Neuzil in a late deal. The Jaguars and Bears had already made their big moves before deadline day.
The deals that did not happen mattered too. Ebiketie stayed in Philadelphia after Cincinnati backed out, Taylor stayed in Indianapolis, and Green Bay, Detroit, and the Jets made no big moves. Now the focus shifts back to the field, where Minnesota at Green Bay on Sunday, November 15, will be the first real test of the Cousins return.
