The 2026 NFL trade deadline has officially passed, and it was one of the most exciting in recent memory.
The reason for this is simple. For the first time in a long while, a significant quarterback trade happened ahead of the deadline. The Las Vegas Raiders sent their starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins
, to the Minnesota Vikings, who surrendered a third-round pick to reacquire the veteran who spent six seasons with the team from 2018-23.The Cousins deal wasn't the only major move. The Indianapolis Colts also traded a couple of receivers, Keenan Allen and Josh Downs, ahead of the deadline while the Jacksonville Jaguars were aggressive in adding three pieces to their defense to put a bow on the NFL's trade season.
Even so, there were still plenty
of trades that didn't end up happening. Most notably, running back Jonathan Taylor – who was subject to many trade rumors in the lead-up to the deadline – remained with the Colts while the Los Angeles Chargers decided to hang on to most of their veterans despite sporting a winless record.
With that in mind, here's a look at five deals we would have liked to see that didn't ultimately happen as the dust settles on the 2026 NFL trade deadline.
Minnesota Vikings trade for Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor
There's little doubt the Vikings made the most impactful deadline deal by acquiring Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders to address their quarterback woes. Still, Minnesota could have taken it a step further and tried to pry Taylor away from the Colts.
The Vikings' rushing offense has ranked 27th in EPA per play this season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason have formed a solid but unspectacular duo at the position, and adding a true three-down playmaker could have made an even bigger difference for Minnesota's offense.
Taylor would have been an excellent fit, and bringing him in to play alongside Cousins could have given Minnesota's offense an even bigger shot in the arm. Getting that unit to play at an above-average level could be all it takes to turn the Vikings, who sport an elite defense under Brian Flores, into a true Super Bowl contender.
As such, it would have been fun to see the Vikings try to make an all-in move to get Taylor. But at the same time, it isn't shocking to see first-year general manager Nolan Teasley take a more measured approach – especially given the Colts' high asking price for Taylor – while treating Cousins as the team's marquee acquisition.
Los Angeles Rams trade for Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr.
The Jaguars opted to keep Thomas ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline. That isn't a major surprise considering Jacksonville was a big-time buyer, swinging deals for a trio of defensive players – safety Jessie Bates III along with defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Davon Godchaux – to bolster their chances of making a Super Bowl run.
Even so, Thomas has struggled to make much of an impact in Liam Coen's offense, posting just 10 catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns across eight games this season. The 2024 first-round pick could use a change of scenery, and landing with a Rams team in desperate need of help at the position could've proven to be a nice fit.
The Rams are currently without both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, who are each on IR, so Matthew Stafford is going to have to make use of a receiving corps whose top options are Konata Mumpfield and Tutu Atwell. Thomas would have been a big-time upgrade to that group and could have completed a formidable receiving trio along with Nacua and Adams in Sean McVay's offense.
New England Patriots trade for Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard
The Patriots are currently dealing with key injuries at running back. Rhamondre Stevenson is dealing with a knee injury that is expected to sideline him short-term, while TreVeyon Henderson is still dealing with the aftermath of an "unusual medical emergency" that briefly hospitalized him.
Because of those issues, New England is left with only Corey Kiner and Lan Larison among the healthy running backs on its 53-man roster. Kiner has flashed in limited action, but it may have been wise for the Patriots to add another proven running back to the rotation as they look to make a playoff push.
Pollard is on pace for a fifth consecutive season with at least 1,000 rushing yards, and he ran for 246 yards and five touchdowns in his two games leading up to the 2026 NFL trade deadline. The 29-year-old veteran would have been a perfect option as a steady, plug-and-play fit for the Patriots who could help take pressure off Drake Maye.
San Francisco 49ers trade for Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack
The 49ers were active ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and wide receiver Keenan Allen from the Colts, but they still could have used additional help for their pass rush.
San Francisco ranks 30th league-wide in pressure rate, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats, and has only produced 15 total sacks this season. Just one team with a winning record, the Kansas City Chiefs, has fewer sacks than the 49ers thus far this year.
The 49ers could certainly see an uptick in production with Nick Bosa healthy and Buckner now in the fold. Still, adding a proven veteran like Mack to help them chase a title could also have been a good play. The 35-year-old has played 69.3% of the Chargers' defensive snaps this season while generating three sacks and 19 pressures. Placing him across from Bosa could have added a welcome layer of depth and talent to San Francisco's pass rush.
And hey, it also would have been nice to see Mack, a pending free agent, get a chance to play with a contender instead of languishing through a lost season with the 0-8 Chargers.
Kansas City Chiefs trade for Arizona Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat
The Chiefs rank middle-of-the-pack league-wide in pressure rate, but they have struggled to turn those pressures into sacks. Kansas City has just 14 sacks in eight games and endured a three-week stretch without recording a single sack.
The Chiefs have performed better of late, racking up 10 sacks over their last four games. Still, adding a player like Sweat, who had a career-high 12 sacks last season and has posted three this season despite playing for a struggling Cardinals defense, could have improved their baseline production and given more assistance to George Karlaftis and Chris Jones.
Instead, the Chiefs focused on grabbing a "Josh" for their offense: Colts wide receiver Josh Downs. The move was sensible given the team's injury issues at the position and Xavier Worthy's inconsistent performance, but it still would have been nice to see Kansas City try to upgrade the defensive side of the ball as well.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 NFL trade deadline moves we wish happened, including Jonathan Taylor
