AI Image
NFL trade deadline winners and losers: Kirk Cousins heads home, Bengals seemingly fail to understand the rules
CBS Sports • • general
Key Points:
- The 2026 NFL trade deadline saw 23 teams make 18 trades involving 19 players and 34 draft picks, with the Indianapolis Colts leading with four trades but retaining star running back Jonathan Taylor.
- The Minnesota Vikings' acquisition of quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders was a major win for both teams and Cousins himself, improving the Vikings' offense and giving Cousins a chance at a Super Bowl run.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars aggressively pursued a Super Bowl push by trading high-value draft picks for defensive stars Jessie Bates III, Davon Godchaux, and Jordan Davis, though the heavy capital spent raises questions about long-term impact.
- The Cincinnati Bengals lost out due to a compensatory pick miscalculation that caused them to back out of a trade for pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie, highlighting front office errors.
- Running backs were notably absent from trades despite high-profile names like Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, and Tony Pollard being linked to potential moves, leaving many playoff hopefuls without upgrades at the position.
