Plenty of teams got active during this season's NFL trade period, with 18 total in-season trades, including six big ones on deadline day. As teams make necessary moves, it could change the outlook for the rest of the season.
QB Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings acquired quarterback Cousins for a 2027 3rd-round pick from the Las Vegas Raiders. A much-needed move made by the Vikings, who have one of the worst offences in the league, mainly due to poor quarterback play.
After setting a new NFL record with 72 consecutive drives without scoring and losing their last two games, they had to make a move for a new quarterback no matter what.
And what better than a Kirk Cousins return? Cousins played six seasons with the Vikings from 2018 to 2023, and played some of his best football with them until he tore his Achilles during the 2023 season.
After a lot of contained frustration on the sidelines, superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson can now aim to get back to his best, and it would be no surprise if we are again calling him the best receiver in the league by the end of the season.
For the Raiders, this allows number 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza an unhindered look at the starting role, and, with the Raiders losing their last four games, they have nothing to lose.
WB Josh Downs to the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs acquired wide receiver Downs and a seventh-round pick in 2027 for fourth and fifth-round picks in 2027 from the Indianapolis Colts.
A great move for the Chiefs, who, although they have started well, still needed help in the receiver room. Downs led the Colts in receiving yards this season, recording 33 receptions for 354 receiving yards and one touchdown this season. With the Chiefs' wide receivers ranking 30th in total yards in the league, Downs will give them and quarterback Patrick Mahomes a much-needed boost.
With the receiver set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason it was highly unlikely he was going to re-sign with the Colts, so best for them to move on from him now as they enter full tank mode.
WR Keenan Allen to the San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers acquired veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Indianapolis Colts for a sixth-round pick.
Although the ageing Allen is well and truly past his prime, the six-time Pro Bowl receiver has still been performing on a poor Colts team with 40 receptions for 351 receiving yards and one touchdown this season. With the 49ers' dealing with injuries again - Mike Evans has missed the last two games, Deebo Samuel missing three games and dealing with a hamstring injury, and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling not having appeared since Week 1 - this allows Allen to come straight into the starting unit and provide reliable hands for MVP candidate Brock Purdy.
The Colts continued to make moves throughout the trade period as they look to enter a full rebuild and hope to land the No. 1 overall pick by the end of the season.
RB Jonathan Taylor stays with the Indianapolis Colts
After speculation that star running back Taylor would be traded before the deadline, the Colts made four moves during this trade period, with many more teams interested in Taylor.
The Colts received multiple trade offers featuring a second-round pick, but it wasn't enough for the Colts, as they were asking for either a first-round pick or bulk compensation similar to that the Carolina Panthers received from the Christian McCaffrey trade in 2022, with the Panthers receiving a second, third, fourth and fifth-round pick.
Cincinnati Bengals call off trade for EDGE Arnold Ebiketie
The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to send edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie to the Bengals for a sixth-round pick. Although both parties agreed to the trade, it was never made official, and the Bengals later called it off realising they were about to lose a compensatory third-round pick they were expected to receive for losing Trey Hendrickson in free agency this past offseason.
S Amani Hooker to the Buffalo Bills
The Bills acquired safety Amani Hooker and a fifth-round pick from the Tennessee Titans for a second-round pick.
Even with the Bills looking like the best team in the NFL, starting 7-1, that is mainly due to their offensive firepower, as they still struggle on defence. They rank in the bottom four in the league in both opponent pass play percentage (62.65 per cent) and opponent pass yards per game (238.8).
Hooker is one of the league's best safeties, with a league-leading five interceptions, and he has allowed only 20 catches for 249 yards.
A big loss for the Titans, but with Tennessee still (or again?) in rebuild mode, they nowhave two first-round and two second-round picks in next year's draft.
Even with the big deadline day, other teams around the league made multiple trades leading up to the deadline, with a Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles blockbuster, a shock QB move for the Baltimore Ravens, and a firesale (of sorts) by the Indianapolis Colts.
