NFL Trade Deadline: Kirk Cousins Returns to Vikings as Contenders Load Up for Playoff Push

admin · November 10, 2026 · 8 min read

NFL stadium under floodlights at dusk with an empty field, illustration for the 2026 NFL trade deadline

The Minnesota Vikings reunited with quarterback Kirk Cousins on Tuesday, November 10, in the headline move of the NFL’s 2026 trade deadline, sending a 2027 third-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders about 90 minutes before the 4 p.m. ET cutoff. Six trades were completed on deadline day, bringing the league-wide total to 18 in-season trades this year, and the final hours delivered a familiar pattern: contenders buying help for the playoff push, and struggling teams cashing in veterans for future picks.

Cousins, 38, returns to the team he quarterbacked from 2018 through 2023. He spent 2024 and 2025 with the Atlanta Falcons before signing with the Raiders in the offseason. His deal in Las Vegas was a five-year, $172 million contract that essentially represented only a one-year commitment for a guaranteed $20 million, and the Raiders’ decision to move him now clears the way for Fernando Mendoza, the 2026 No. 1 overall pick and former Heisman Trophy winner at Indiana, to take over as the starter.

A quarterback rescue in Minnesota

The Vikings did not wait long to act after their season reached a breaking point on Monday night. Starting quarterback Kyler Murray has underwhelmed with an 86.6 passer rating this season and is dealing with a hamstring injury, and backup Carson Wentz put forth a poor performance in Monday’s 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills, completing just 8 of 25 passes while committing three turnovers. Minnesota, which owns one of the NFL’s top defenses but also one of its worst offenses, began making trade calls for a quarterback early Tuesday.

Cousins gives the Vikings a proven answer at the position. He has thrived with the Raiders this season, ranking fifth in the NFL in passing yards (2,340) and second in passing touchdowns (20) in nine games. He reunites with head coach Kevin O’Connell and star wide receiver Justin Jefferson, and he is expected to take over as Minnesota’s starting quarterback in the near future, if not immediately. His first game back could come Sunday against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

For Las Vegas, the trade is a handover rather than a retreat. Mendoza, the top overall selection in this year’s NFL Draft, is now in line to start, and the Raiders add a third-round pick to a rebuilding roster. The move was reported by Tom Pelissero of Netflix and The Ringer, and confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Bills, 49ers and Chiefs buy on deadline day

The Buffalo Bills made the day’s biggest defensive addition, acquiring safety Amani Hooker from the Tennessee Titans. The Bills receive Hooker and a 2027 fifth-round pick, while the Titans receive a 2027 second-round pick. Hooker is tied for the league lead with five interceptions, and Buffalo acted after its biggest need at safety became impossible to ignore. The deal was one of two major sales by Tennessee on the day the window closed, after the Titans had already sent defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears.

The San Francisco 49ers addressed their wide receiver need by trading for Keenan Allen of the Indianapolis Colts. The 49ers sent a 2027 sixth-round pick to Indianapolis for the 14-year veteran and six-time Pro Bowl receiver, a move that followed San Francisco’s earlier acquisition of defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the same Colts team.

The Kansas City Chiefs finally addressed their weakness at wide receiver, acquiring Josh Downs from the Colts. Kansas City sent 2027 fourth- and fifth-round picks to Indianapolis and received Downs and a 2027 seventh-round pick in return. The Denver Broncos, meanwhile, added linebacker Daiyan Henley from the winless Los Angeles Chargers, sending a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to Los Angeles.

One final deal was reported just after the deadline passed, with the Atlanta Falcons sending center Ryan Neuzil to the Baltimore Ravens for guard Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round pick. Baltimore had already added quarterback Jacoby Brissett from Arizona earlier in the trade season after losing Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley to injury.

A deadline that started weeks ago

Tuesday’s six deals were only the final chapter of the busiest in-season trading period in recent memory. The headline moves had been made in the weeks leading up to the deadline, and several of them reshaped the league’s contenders.

The Chicago Bears paid the biggest price, sending two first-round picks to Tennessee for Jeffery Simmons, a deal completed on October 29. The Bears received Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick, while the Titans received a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were the most aggressive buyers in football. On Monday alone they added three defensive starters, acquiring safety Jessie Bates III from Atlanta, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from New Orleans and defensive tackle Jordan Davis from Philadelphia. Davis cost a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick, while Bates arrived for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, and Godchaux for a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick that could become a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Elsewhere, the Seattle Seahawks acquired star guard Quenton Nelson from Indianapolis, the Houston Texans landed wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from Arizona, the New York Giants traded for quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Minnesota on September 28, and the Detroit Lions added safety Andre Cisco from the New York Jets for a 2028 sixth-round pick. The Pittsburgh Steelers had earlier sent cornerback Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys after failed contract negotiations.

Why this matters

The 2026 deadline confirmed a shift in how NFL teams treat the midseason window. General managers no longer wait for the offseason to rebuild or reload. Sellers such as the 2-7 Indianapolis Colts turned a disappointing season into a stockpile of draft picks, moving Buckner, Nelson, Allen and Downs in the space of a few weeks. Buyers such as Jacksonville and Chicago paid premium prices for proven defenders, betting that one player can change a playoff race.

For Minnesota, the stakes are immediate. A team with a championship-level defense cannot afford to waste the season on an offense that managed six points on national television. Cousins, who knows the offense, the coach and the receivers, is the rare midseason acquisition who can plausibly start within days. For Las Vegas, the stakes are longer term. Mendoza’s development now becomes the defining question of the Raiders’ season, and the extra draft capital gives the front office room to build around him.

The deadline also showed the limits of the market. Some of the biggest names rumored to move stayed put. Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor and Baltimore running back Derrick Henry were not traded, Jacksonville kept wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. despite interest from contenders, and the Chargers immediately shut down all inquiries for quarterback Justin Herbert.

What happens next

Cousins is expected to be in Minnesota this week, and his first test could come quickly against the Packers in Green Bay. Mendoza’s first start for Las Vegas will be watched just as closely, with the Raiders now fully committed to their rookie. Hooker joins a Buffalo defense chasing a deep playoff run, while Allen and Downs get fresh starts with teams that need them immediately.

Elsewhere in sports this week, Kyle Larson won his third NASCAR Cup Series title, while Spain will be without Lamine Yamal for its Nations League trip to the Czech Republic because of a knee problem.

The trade window is now closed for the rest of the 2026 season. The rosters that take the field from here on are the ones that will decide the playoff race, and Tuesday’s deals made clear which teams believe they are one player away — and which ones have already started thinking about next year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who did the Vikings get at the trade deadline?

The Vikings acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2027 third-round draft pick. Cousins played for Minnesota from 2018 through 2023 and returns to reunite with head coach Kevin O’Connell and wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

What did the Bills give up for Amani Hooker?

Buffalo sent a 2027 second-round pick to Tennessee for Hooker and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Hooker is tied for the NFL lead with five interceptions this season.

Which teams were the biggest sellers at the deadline?

The Indianapolis Colts were the clearest sellers, moving DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson, Keenan Allen and Josh Downs for draft picks during the trade season. The Tennessee Titans also sold aggressively, trading Jeffery Simmons and Amani Hooker.

Which star players were not traded?

Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor and Baltimore running back Derrick Henry stayed put, Jacksonville kept wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., and the Chargers refused to entertain offers for quarterback Justin Herbert.