NFL trade grades: Instant reaction to every major deal on deadline day

Catch up on theScore's instant grades for every notable NFL trade made under the wire before the league's 4 p.m. ET deadline.

👉 Tracking every NFL trade this season

Jump to:
Cousins | Hooker | Allen | Henley

Josh Downs ➡️ Chiefs

The Chiefs desperately needed to make a move for a wide receiver, and they did it. Does Downs' arrival solve Kansas City's issues in the passing game? Probably not. But it does help.

Downs caught 58 passes for 566 yards and four touchdowns last year in what was his least productive NFL season to date. He had previously topped 700 yards in each of his first two pro years, including a career-high 803 in 2024. He's racked up 354 yards and one touchdown on 33 receptions this campaign. Downs and his yards-after-catch potential project as a great fit for the Chiefs, who need a WR2 behind Rashee Rice and continue to rely on quick-strike passing plays.

The Downs trade comes as no surprise for the rebuilding Colts. Downs was the last trade made by an Indianapolis team focused on adding draft capital before this year's deadline. Downs is set to hit free agency next year, so getting fourth- and fifth-round picks in return for him was smart for Indy.

It's hard to understand why the Colts traded four key veterans but still decided to keep star running back Jonathan Taylor, but Indianapolis did a decent job with its 2026 in-season trades.

Chiefs: B+

Colts: B-

Daiyan Henley ➡️ Broncos

The Broncos needed another capable linebacker option in the middle of their defense, and Henley should complement Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad well. Henley has been a starter for the Chargers in the past two-plus seasons, registering at least 100 tackles, one sack, three pass breakups, and an interception in both 2024 and 2025. He's on pace to replicate those numbers again this year, and Denver is only giving up Day 3 picks for him.

Granted, the 2023 third-round pick is in the last year of his rookie contract, so he'll be looking for a new deal in a few months. However, even if he's just a rental for Denver, the Chargers could regret giving an AFC West rival a potential starter for two mid-round picks. The Broncos expect to receive a fourth-round compensatory pick for John Franklin-Myers, and their slotted selection will go to Los Angeles, according to TheMMQB's Albert Breer.

Broncos: A-

Chargers: C+

Kirk Cousins ➡️ Vikings

It's a reunion for Cousins and the Vikings.

Minnesota has had quarterback questions since the start of the season, but those issues were exposed to a greater degree with backup Carson Wentz in charge. The Vikings scored only six points on Monday Night Football, failing to reach 17 points in a game for the fifth time this year. Quarterback whisperer Kevin O'Connell hasn't been able to revive Kyler Murray's career, and his offense ranks 27th in scoring. Meanwhile, Minnesota's defense has allowed the fewest points and passing yards in the NFL.

Trading for Cousins - who has worked with O'Connell and earned three Pro Bowl berths in Minnesota from 2018-23 - makes a lot of sense. The Vikings can't keep wasting the NFL's best defense. Cousins isn't an elite QB, but he knows O'Connell's offense and has played well for the Raiders, completing 64% of his passes for 2,340 yards and 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He's on pace to finish this season with 37 TD passes, which would be a career high. If the 38-year-old maintains that production, he'll offer Minnesota much-needed upside at football's most important position.

The Raiders had a surprising 3-0 start this season, but this was never going to be the year for them to make a deep playoff run. Cousins served as a strong bridge QB for No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza and helped first-year coach Klint Kubiak build a competitive team through nine weeks. But Las Vegas has lost five of its last six games, and at some point it had to turn to Mendoza. As solid as Cousins has been, getting a Day 3 pick in this trade was the best move for the Raiders' short- and long-term future. It's now Mendoza time in Vegas.

Vikings: A-

Raiders: B+

Amani Hooker ➡️ Bills

It's hard not to love this move for Buffalo. The Bills' defense allowed 29 or more points in five of its first six games, and the only exception came against the listless Chargers. The Bills have only given up 16 total points in two contests since their bye week, but those games were against backup quarterbacks. Buffalo undoubtedly needs more playmakers on defense, specifically in the secondary, and Hooker offers exactly what the club wants.

Hooker, 28, leads the NFL with five interceptions this season. He recently picked off Joe Burrow three times in the same game, and given how the Bengals and Bills are playing, they could easily face each other in the playoffs in January. Hooker, who also had a five-INT campaign in 2024, has averaged 77 tackles, seven pass breakups, three interceptions, and one forced fumble per 17 games played since the Titans drafted him in the fourth round in 2019.

Tennessee became one of the season's biggest sellers after trading franchise cornerstone Jeffery Simmons to the Bears for two first-round picks. With the Hooker deal, the Titans scoop up another premium draft pick and now have four selections in the first two rounds in 2027. The club will also have more financial flexibility, with the Bills inheriting approximately $4.4 million in Hooker's remaining 2026 compensation, followed by $10.3 million in 2027 and $13.5 million in 2028.

Bills: A

Titans: A-

Keenan Allen ➡️ 49ers

The 49ers needed to be aggressive ahead of the trade deadline, and the wide receiver position was their biggest roster need. With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel battling injuries, Jordan Watkins, Brandin Cooks, and Demarcus Robinson were San Francisco's leading WRs during Sunday's win over the Raiders. Not ideal for a team with Super Bowl aspirations that currently owns the NFC's best record.

Allen, 34, is past his prime, but his 40 receptions are the most on the Colts this season. He's also scored one touchdown and posted 351 receiving yards, which would rank third on the 49ers behind only George Kittle and Evans. The Niners will take on Allen's $920,000 salary and potentially another $5 million in incentives after he joined Indy on a one-year contract in August.

This is a win-win trade for both teams. Indianapolis continues to collect more draft capital amid a major roster rebuild, while San Francisco adds depth and experience at a premier position in the form of a former perennial Pro Bowler for a late-round pick in a low-risk move.

49ers: B+

Colts: B