Here are the winners and losers of the 2026 NFL trade deadline:
Winner: Minnesota Vikings
While a 38-year-old Kirk Cousins is hardly glamorous, he’s considerably better than Carson Wentz, Kyler Murray or any other realistic option the Vikings had.
He’s also still an above-average quarterback, currently second in the NFL in passing touchdowns.
With an elite defense already in place, Cousins immediately improves Minnesota’s chances of holding on to the lead in the historically competitive NFC North.
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Loser: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers appear determined to become the first team to start 0-8 and make the playoffs. Either that, or they’re the biggest losers of the entire deadline.
The reports were true. The Chargers held on to veterans with expiring contracts, including Khalil Mack and Donte Jackson, both of whom could have fetched solid draft capital in return.
The team did, however, trade its homegrown, emerging linebacker Daiyan Henley – to the division rival Denver Broncos.
Winner: Chicago Bears
The Bears were quiet on deadline day because they made their move two weeks ago. No team improved more through a trade this season than Chicago did by acquiring All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
Simmons has made an immediate impact in Chicago, improving the play of the defenders around him, notably Devin Bush and Austin Booker.
Most sportsbooks have moved the Bears from 10th to third in Super Bowl odds in recent weeks. Trading for Simmons is part of the reason.
Loser: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars improved by trading for safety Jessie Bates III and defensive tackle Jordan Davis. But they vastly overpaid for both, to the point of recklessness.
Jacksonville sent the Eagles a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick for Davis. He is a good player, but primarily a run-stuffing nose tackle. The Jaguars paid as if he were a difference-making pass rusher. He isn’t.
They also sent Atlanta a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick for Bates. The problem: Bates is a free agent after the season, and the Jaguars are projected to be over the salary cap.
What’s more, the Bills acquired fellow safety Amani Hooker at a much better price. Buffalo sent Tennessee a second-round pick and received a fifth-round pick along with Hooker. He’s also two years younger than Bates and has two and a half years remaining on his contract.
By comparison, the Jags were fleeced.
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Winner: Tom Pelissero
As OutKick said in July, ESPN made a mistake by including NFL insider Tom Pelissero in its layoffs. Three people break about 99% of all NFL news: Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport, and Pelissero. ESPN could have had all three.
Now with The Ringer and Netflix, Pelissero has become a fan favorite on social media during his revenger tour, competing head-to-head against ESPN’s much larger operation. Think Adrian Wojnarowski at Yahoo.
On Tuesday, football fans had fun with Pelissero’s impressive day:
Moses, huh?
Loser: Dianna Russini
Russini returned to media just in time for the trade deadline. She posted her first tweet since April, confirming that the 49ers were not trading Mac Jones.
But her inactivity isn’t what lands her on the losers list. It’s how she portrayed herself in her first interview since resigning from The Athletic following the scandal involving Mike Vrabel.
In an interview with People, Russini claimed she is the victim of “heartbreaking” lies and took no accountability for her role in the scandal.
Her arrogance is embarrassing.
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Read our column about Russini’s lack of accountability here.
