The 2026 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, and the moves — and non-moves — reshaped several playoff races. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest winners and losers.
Winner: Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota brought back Kirk Cousins, now 38, over alternatives like Carson Wentz or Kyler Murray. Cousins currently ranks second in the NFL in passing touchdowns and remains an above-average starter. Paired with an already elite Vikings defense, the move strengthens Minnesota’s position in the tightly contested NFC North.
Loser: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers held on to veterans Khalil Mack and Donte Jackson despite both having expiring contracts and trade value that could have brought back draft capital. Instead, the team traded linebacker Daiyan Henley to the division-rival Denver Broncos, a move that does nothing to help the Chargers’ own playoff push.
Winner: Chicago Bears
Chicago’s biggest move came two weeks before the deadline, when it acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Simmons has already lifted the play of teammates Devin Bush and Austin Booker. Sportsbooks have since moved the Bears from 10th to third in Super Bowl odds, with the Simmons trade cited as a key factor.
Loser: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville acquired safety Jessie Bates III from Atlanta and defensive tackle Jordan Davis from Philadelphia, but at steep prices. The Jaguars sent the Eagles a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick for Davis, a run-stuffing nose tackle rather than a pass-rush difference-maker. They sent Atlanta a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick for Bates, who becomes a free agent after this season while Jacksonville is already projected to be over the salary cap. By contrast, the Buffalo Bills acquired safety Amani Hooker from Tennessee for a second-round pick, receiving a fifth-round pick back along with Hooker, who is two years younger than Bates and has two and a half years left on his contract.
Winner: Tom Pelissero
Now with The Ringer and Netflix after departing ESPN, Pelissero remains one of the three reporters — alongside Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport — who break the vast majority of NFL news. He had a standout deadline day breaking trades head-to-head against ESPN’s larger operation.
Loser: Dianna Russini
Russini returned to posting on social media for the first time since April to confirm the San Francisco 49ers were not trading quarterback Mac Jones. In her first interview since resigning from The Athletic amid the Mike Vrabel scandal, Russini told People she is the victim of “heartbreaking” lies, taking no accountability for her role in the controversy.
