NFL trade deadline arrives after nine trades since season start
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The NFL trade deadline is set for 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, after nine trades this season.
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and receiver Josh Downs remain the names in play.
Background
The NFL trade deadline is the cutoff after which teams can no longer swap players during the season. The league pushed it back one week — from the 2023 date of Oct. 31 — after team owners voted in the 2024 offseason to move it behind Week 9 games to fit a 17-game regular season; the 2025 deadline fell on November 4. This year's market has already been busy: nine trades since the season kicked off, including two quarterbacks, a former No. 4 overall pick and an All-Pro defensive tackle changing teams. Attention now centers on the Indianapolis Colts, where star running back Jonathan Taylor and receiver Josh Downs have drawn trade talk.
How it unfolded
- Sep 28, 2026The Giants acquire quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
- Oct 1, 2026The Cowboys acquire cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Steelers; Pittsburgh gets 2027 sixth- and 2028 second-round picks.
- Oct 7, 2026The Ravens acquire center Cam Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick from the Eagles for 2027 fifth- and 2028 second-round picks.
- Oct 12, 2026The Texans acquire wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Cardinals for 2027 second- and seventh-round picks.
- Oct 27, 2026The 49ers acquire defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Colts for a 2027 fourth-round pick; the Seahawks acquire guard Quenton Nelson from the Colts for 2027 third- and 2028 fifth-round picks.
- Oct 29, 2026The Bears acquire defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick from the Titans for 2027 first-, 2027 fourth- and 2028 first-round picks.
- Nov 6, 2026The Ravens acquire quarterback Jacoby Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick from the Cardinals for 2027 fourth- and 2028 seventh-round picks.
- Nov 9, 2026The Jaguars acquire safety Jessie Bates III from the Falcons for 2027 second- and 2028 fifth-round picks; the Lions acquire safety Andre Cisco from the Jets for a 2028 sixth-round pick, per ESPN's Adam Schefter; the Jaguars acquire defensive tackle Davon Godchaux from the Saints for a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
- Nov 10, 2026The trade deadline is set for 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT; 9pm UK time).
Key terms
- All-Pro
- An honor given to the best professional American football player at each position in a given season, chosen by press organizations.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- ESPN reports the Colts already hold a fourth-round offer for Josh Downs, who requested a trade in the last year of his contract, after initially asking for a third-rounder.
- Analysts
- ESPN reports the Colts have a second-round pick and more on the table for Jonathan Taylor but see him as a possible part of any rebuild.
- Analysts
- ESPN reports the Giants have made no secret of wanting to swing big, eyeing the running back and defensive tackle markets, while the Jaguars keep calling about adding a playmaker to their defense.
- Caution
- The Chargers' team site says whether the club will make a trade 'remains to be seen.'
Still unverified
Bleacher Report says some hot-topic rumors could come to fruition and that surprise moves often come down the pipeline; DAZN says unspecified reports surround Will McDonald IV's trade request.