Even Zach Allen was checking X on Tuesday for the latest NFL moves.
The Broncos defensive tackle, who helped distribute holiday meals on Tuesday at the Food Bank of the Rockies, said players are “fans at the end of the day” and try to keep up with the trade deadline, too. There were a lot of moves to follow Monday and Tuesday, with 10 deals completed. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins got shipped from Las Vegas to Minneapolis, while stars like Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens stayed put. The Broncos added linebacker Daiyan Henley from the Chargers, helping to shore up their defensive depth for a playoff run.
“These past few years there’s been more blockbusters than when I first came into the league,” Allen told The Denver Post. “As a fan it’s cool, as a player it’s kind of crazy. You just don’t know what you’re going to see later in the year.”
Here’s a rundown of the trades and where the Broncos now stand among Super Bowl contenders.
Head coach Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars takes a penalty during the fourth quarter of the Denver Broncos’ 20-13 win at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Around the AFC
Jags go all in: Within 12 hours on Monday, the Jaguars completely changed their defensive outlook for the remainder of the season with three big trades. First, they dealt a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for safety Jessie Bates III. Bates, who is in the final year of a four-year, $64 million contract, will replace injured starter Eric Murray.
The safety has been one of the best ball hawks in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl twice and posting at least three interceptions in eight of his nine seasons in the league (withstanding 2026). He has 28 career picks.
After that, they quickly filled the void left by injured nose tackle Davon Hamilton by adding Saints defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. He’s no Hamilton, but Godchaux has been a valuable run stopper across his career. He played only 12 snaps against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday and is also in the final year of his contract.
But Jacksonville’s biggest move — literally and figuratively — came last. The Jaguars traded a first- and a second-round pick for Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis, completing arguably the most consequential trade in franchise history.
Jordan Davis #90 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates in the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium on December 20, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Davis has recorded 31 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and three QB hits in nine games this season. The former first-round pick is one of the best run defenders in football. His 23 run stops are second in the league among defensive tackles and his 28 run tackles are tied for fourth, per Next Gen Stats.
The trio of additions signals the Jags are all-in, pushing their chips toward the middle of a stacked AFC. They also face the third-easiest schedule in the NFL for the rest of the season, according to opponent win percentage.
Needed moves: Hardly any team needs were clearer among conference contenders going into the deadline than Kansas City needing receiver help and Buffalo needing any kind of reinforcement for rookie defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s unit. Both teams got the job done Tuesday, with the Chiefs sending a fourth-round pick to Indianapolis for receiver Josh Downs and a seventh-rounder, and the Bills sending a second-round pick to Tennessee for safety Amani Hooker and a fifth-rounder. Hooker just picked off Cincinnati’s MVP candidate, Joe Burrow, three times earlier this month.
Taylor time in Indy: Jonathan Taylor, the long-rumored white whale of the deadline, stayed in Indianapolis. The Colts reportedly had a second-round pick on the table for the running back, but chose to keep their star for the next regime at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Colts “wanted a blockbuster offer to even consider” trading Taylor, according to Tom Pelissero. They didn’t get that and now Taylor will play the rest of the season in white and blue.
Kirk Cousins #8 of the Las Vegas Raiders passes the ball against the New York Jets in the third quarter at MetLife Stadium on November 1, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Raiders defeated the Jets 38-33. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Around the NFC
Time is a flat circle: Minnesota reunited with old friend Kirk Cousins, shipping a third-round pick to Las Vegas to solve their quarterback woes. Cousins left the Vikings in 2023 and the franchise has since gone on a quarterback odyssey, which got so bad it threatened to blow up an otherwise clear contender this fall. Minnesota’s defense is great. Justin Jefferson is in his prime. And their quarterback play stunk. Now, Kirk is back and the NFC North is even more rugged.
Puka to IR: The Rams already have one star receiver on injured reserve in Davante Adams, and they will likely add another. Puka Nacua, who has dealt with lingering health issues all season, is set to be placed on IR due to MCL and PCL sprains, head coach Sean McVay said.
Nacua went off in the Rams’ Week 9 matchup against the Commanders, catching 14 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. He had 19 targets against the Commanders and 24 against the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 12. Big loss for Los Angeles, who just can’t stay healthy this year.
Best move?
Gabriel: The Cousins trade, from all angles. Minnesota had to do something and getting a veteran who is familiar and has succeeded in the system previously is a no-brainer. So, too, is the Vegas decision to turn the reins over to rookie and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders are sportier than most thought they’d be this fall, but this is still a building project. General manager John Spytek, a former Broncos front office executive, could hardly have played this any better. He signs a veteran, lets his top pick see half a season, then not only turns the show over to the franchise’s future but gets a solid Day 2 pick for next spring’s draft out of the whole thing, too. Definition of a win-win.
Gabriel: Agree with Parker, but to switch it up, let’s go with Hooker to the Bills. Buffalo’s defense is rounding into shape with back-to-back strong showings against the Vikings and Ravens. Those aren’t the greatest offenses to hang your hat on, though, so Brandon Beane got aggressive for the Titans safety. Hooker will help a pass defense that ranks 29th in passing yards allowed per game.
A former fourth-round pick by the Titans, Hooker is tied for the league lead with five interceptions. He has 17 interceptions and 45 passes defended in his career, and Buffalo’s hoping a few more of those will come in January or February.
Where do the Broncos stand in AFC now?
Jane: Slot them in third, behind Jacksonville and Buffalo. That’s where some would have put them before the deadline, but the Jaguars’ and Bills’ additions push them over the edge. The Broncos did beat the Jaguars earlier this year, which could be big for playoff implications, and will get Buffalo at Empower Field on Christmas Day. The AFC is a heavyweight class, and that’s without mentioning Kansas City — who added Josh Downs — and the Cincinnati Bengals. Lots of firepower in this conference, but the Broncos are still near the top of the leaderboard.
Parker: In fine position and probably wherever you had them before the deadline, but just further protected by injury with the addition of Henley to the middle of their defense. It is impossible to ignore the work Jacksonville did at the deadline. When the Broncos beat that team in Week 2, it was an easy call to say it would look good in retrospect. And boy does it ever. Denver has a head-to-head tiebreaker there, which could really matter. It would be fair to rank Jacksonville ahead of the Broncos in the AFC pecking order after the deadline, but as long as Sean Payton’s team is in line to host that potential postseason game, I’ll say advantage Broncos. The Broncos are also already done seeing the Chiefs, which means they won’t have to deal with receiver Josh Downs unless the teams meet again in the playoffs.
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