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Jonathan Taylor Stays Put as NFL Trade Deadline Passes With Cousins Back in Minnesota

The 4 p.m. deadline passed Tuesday with Kirk Cousins headed back to Minnesota, the Chiefs and Bills adding help, and Indianapolis holding on to Jonathan Taylor after the Giants' best offer fell short.

By admin Nov. 11, 2026 · 8:50 PM ET 2 min read

An empty professional football stadium under floodlights at dusk, with the field marked at the 50-yard line.

The NFL trade deadline passed at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday with one big quarterback move, several smaller deals, and the player who drew the most trade interest staying put. The Las Vegas Raiders sent quarterback Kirk Cousins back to the Minnesota Vikings, while the Indianapolis Colts held on to running back Jonathan Taylor after weeks of trade talks.

A football quarterback in a black uniform and helmet seen from behind as he throws a pass on the field.
A football quarterback in a black uniform and helmet seen from behind as he throws a pass on the field.

Cousins, 38, returns to the team he led from 2018 to 2023. Minnesota sent a 2027 third-round pick to Las Vegas for him, according to multiple reports. The move gives the Vikings a veteran starter after Monday night’s loss to Buffalo, and it clears the way for the Raiders’ No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza, to start in Week 10 against Seattle.

The deals that got done

The Kansas City Chiefs added receiver Josh Downs from the Colts, who will receive fourth- and fifth-round picks in return. Downs, who asked for a trade two weeks ago, led Indianapolis with 354 receiving yards in nine games.

The Buffalo Bills landed safety Amani Hooker from Tennessee for second- and fifth-round picks. Hooker is tied for the league lead with five interceptions and is signed through 2028. The Denver Broncos acquired linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Chargers for a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. Henley leads Los Angeles with 51 tackles and is in the final year of his rookie contract.

San Francisco picked up receiver Keenan Allen from Indianapolis for a sixth-round pick. Allen, 34, leads the Colts with 40 catches for 351 yards. In the final deal before the cutoff, Baltimore acquired center Ryan Neuzil from Atlanta in exchange for guard Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round pick.

A row of plain black football helmets lined up on a bench beside the field.
A row of plain black football helmets lined up on a bench beside the field.

Taylor stays in Indianapolis

Taylor was the name that drew the most calls. The New York Giants, who sit at 5-2-1 and lead the NFC East, offered a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, but never raised the offer, according to the New York Post. The Colts also kept quarterback Daniel Jones and defensive tackle Grover Stewart.

A football player in a black uniform and helmet running with the ball across the field in front of a crowd.
A football player in a black uniform and helmet running with the ball across the field in front of a crowd.

“It was better not to make a deal than to make a bad deal,” Giants coach John Harbaugh said. “You make a bad deal, that doesn’t make you better. That makes you worse. Sometimes the best deal is a deal that you don’t make.”

Indianapolis, 2-7 and on a five-game losing streak, still sold off four players at the deadline, having already traded guard Quenton Nelson and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner in late October. Other players who stayed put included Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack, Titans running back Tony Pollard, Ravens running back Derrick Henry, and Jets receiver Garrett Wilson.

Reporting based on coverage by USA Today and the New York Post.

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