The 2026 NFL trade deadline officially hits at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and it has already produced one of the most active midseason markets in recent memory. The Jacksonville Jaguars stole the headlines with three defensive additions on deadline eve, the Chicago Bears paid a massive haul for an All-Pro defensive tackle, and rebuilding clubs such as the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals tore down their rosters. It all unfolded after a rule change that moved the deadline back to after Week 9, giving contenders more runway to load up for a Super Bowl push and turning what was once a quiet day into a full-blown event.
Jaguars Go All-In: Three Deals in One Day Remake Jacksonville's Defense
The Jaguars, leaders of the AFC South, turned Monday, Nov. 9 into a franchise-altering day. Jacksonville first landed All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2028 selection. Hours later, the team agreed to a deal for New Orleans Saints nose tackle Davon Godchaux for a conditional draft pick. Then, on Monday evening, the Jaguars completed the centerpiece move: acquiring 26-year-old Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.
Davis, a former first-round pick, became the third defender Jacksonville added in a roughly 12-hour window — a clear signal the Jaguars are pushing their chips to the middle of the table for a championship run. Together with Bates and Godchaux, the trio addresses the interior of the defensive line and the back end of the secondary at once, a coordinated all-in push rarely seen at the deadline.
The Blockbuster That Set the Tone: Bears Pay Up for Jeffery Simmons
Before Jacksonville's eve-of-deadline flurry, the Bears authored the biggest single trade of the season. On Oct. 29, Chicago acquired three-time All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for 2027 and 2028 first-round picks plus a 2027 fourth-round pick. The deal reportedly came together quickly between the two front offices, and it served as Chicago's unmistakable all-in declaration in its pursuit of a Super Bowl in 2026.
The price was steep — two first-rounders for a defensive lineman is among the richer packages in recent deadline history — but the Bears signaled they believe a player of Simmons' caliber can be the missing piece on a contender built to win now.
Sellers Go to Work: Colts, Eagles, Cardinals and Falcons Tear Down
The other side of the market was defined by teams pivoting toward the future. The Indianapolis Colts, sitting at 2-7, effectively began a fire sale by trading eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 selection, then sending three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to the San Francisco 49ers — the team that originally drafted him — for a 2027 fourth-round pick. Star running back Jonathan Taylor, meanwhile, has lingered at the center of trade speculation, though he has said he has not requested a trade.
The Eagles, in the midst of a roster overhaul, moved two homegrown starters: after dealing Jordan Davis to the Jaguars for a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick, they sent center Cam Jurgens and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The moves continue general manager Howie Roseman's pivot toward stockpiling future draft capital as Philadelphia's season has fallen apart amid injuries and Lane Johnson's retirement.
The Cardinals dealt wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft, to the Houston Texans on Oct. 11, then shipped quarterback Jacoby Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Ravens in early November. The Falcons' Bates deal and the Saints' Godchaux move rounded out the seller activity.
Buyers kept pace across the league. The Dallas Cowboys acquired cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick — the third Cowboys-Steelers swap in 18 months. The New York Giants, after losing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart to a season-ending injury, acquired J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in 2024, from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Timeline: Every Deal From Opening Week to Deadline Day
Here's how the 2026 regular-season trade market unfolded, in order:
- Sept. 28 — Giants acquire QB J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick.
- Oct. 1 — Cowboys acquire CB Joey Porter Jr. from the Steelers for a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-round pick.
- Oct. 11 — Texans acquire WR Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Cardinals.
- Oct. 27 — Seahawks acquire G Quenton Nelson from the Colts; 49ers acquire DT DeForest Buckner from the Colts.
- Oct. 29 — Bears acquire DT Jeffery Simmons from the Titans for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick.
- Nov. 6 — Ravens acquire QB Jacoby Brissett from the Cardinals.
- Nov. 9 — Jaguars acquire S Jessie Bates III (Falcons), DT Davon Godchaux (Saints) and DT Jordan Davis (Eagles) in three separate deals.
The Ravens also added center Cam Jurgens from the Eagles during the season to reinforce the interior of their offensive line.
Grading the Deals: Overpays, Steals and the Eagles' Haul
Immediate grades on Jacksonville's all-in push were split. ESPN handed the Jaguars an "F" for the Davis trade, arguing the team overpaid by sending a first- and second-round pick for a defensive tackle. Other outlets were more forgiving: The Sporting News graded the Davis acquisition a "B," crediting Jacksonville for completing a strong defensive line. The Eagles, by contrast, were widely celebrated for converting Davis into a 2027 first-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick — a return that kick-starts a Philadelphia retool.
Pro Football Focus rated the Cowboys' Porter acquisition as "Good" and the Steelers' return as "Average." Around the league, analysts generally framed the Falcons' Bates trade as a deal that weakens Atlanta on the field but is defensible given the significant draft capital it returns.
Where Things Stand: Jonathan Taylor and the Final Hours
As the 4 p.m. ET deadline approached, the biggest unresolved storyline was Taylor, the Colts' star running back. Reports indicated Indianapolis was seeking a significant compensation package similar to what it received for Nelson, but no deal had materialized. With the Colts already having moved Nelson and Buckner, a Taylor trade would have completed a full-scale teardown of one of the league's most recognizable offenses.
The wider takeaway is structural: since owners voted during the 2024 offseason to push the deadline back until after Week 9 games, teams have had more time to evaluate whether they are genuine contenders — and more contenders have chosen to buy. The result has been a deadline that no longer resembles the sleepy, rumor-driven day of past seasons.
The Bottom Line: Key Takeaways From the 2026 Deadline
- The Jaguars went all-in with three defensive additions in a single day, headlined by Jordan Davis.
- The Bears paid two first-round picks plus a fourth-round pick for All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons.
- The Colts, Eagles, Cardinals, Falcons, Saints and Titans all moved into sell mode at various points.
- Two top-10 picks from the 2024 draft — Marvin Harrison Jr. and J.J. McCarthy — changed teams this season.
- The deadline's move to after Week 9 has fueled a more active, more consequential midseason market.
