The 2026 NFL trade deadline has come and gone as a potential season-changing event as of 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Several teams were active, either as "buyers" making moves to improve their chances of succeeding in the playoffs or as "sellers", acquiring draft picks and clearing salary cap room.

Between teams getting players to help now or assets for the future, who fared the best? Also, did some teams whiff by not wheeling and dealing? Was it smart for other teams to avoid forcing trades?

Here is a breakdown of the best and worst from what went down in the league transactional market over the past few weeks through Nov. 10:

MORE NFL TRADE DEADLINE:

NFL trade deadline 2026 winners and losers

Jeffery Simmons

Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

Winners: Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings weren't sure if they could wrestle Kirk Cousins from the Raiders for a much-needed quarterback reunion and upgrade, but desperation kicked in and a third-round pick became good compensation. This trade was made possible by both Minnesota realizing it can't win a Super Bowl with Carson Wentz and Las Vegas knowing it wouldn't make the playoffs with Cousins.

Taking a shot on a QB playing so well in one familiar offensive system to bring him back to another was worth it to save a promising season so the Vikings can compete much better with the QB-rich rivals in the NFC North, starting with Jordan Love and the Packers in Green Bay in Week 10.

MORE: Grading the Kirk Cousins blockbuster

Losers: Indianapolis Colts

The Colts moved early by trading DeForest Buckner (49ers) and Quenton Nelson (Seahawks) to NFC West teams, but then got really quiet, deciding not to trade quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor to return valuable draft assets. They settled for minor deals on deadline day, getting a sixth-round pick in a second trade with San Francisco for Keenan Allen and fourth- and fifth-rounders for Josh Downs.

There was some draft pick quantity in return for the multiple deals made by interim GM Ed Dodds, but there will be a ton of work to do to get the roster back on track under a presumed new head coach. They sold too much, but that also was not enough at the same tie.

MORE: Colts come up short at trade deadline

Winners: Chicago Bears

The Bears made the big defensive splash to bolster their pass rush, but it was better than expected in adding former Titans superstar Jeffery Simmons to fill the one weakness on the defensive line. Simmons has been terrific at disrupting things up front in Dennis Allen's scheme, also raising the play of savvy Grady Jarrett next to him.

The price was very high, including first-round picks in the next two years, but Chicago needed to jump on a potential Super Bowl-winning team it has right now. and a talent in Simmons who can give them a championship defense to match an explosive offense.

Losers: Los Angeles Chargers

Khalil Mack and others didn't move before the deadline. Only linebacker Daiyan Henley did, to the division rival Broncos, no less. It was a waste of a time for an 0-8 team to do nothing with so many rumors and a few good assets.

Winners: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars' defense, like the Bears, was playing well on every level with an emphasis on pressuring teams into key takeaways. Their missing piece was also a massive defensive tackle to help aging Arik Armstead in between prime-pedigree edge rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Enter Jordan Davis, whom the Eagles couldn't keep paying with Jalen Carter inside.

The Jaguars backed up that big space-eater with the ideal safety to pair with Antonio Johnson to replace injured Eric Murray. Jessie Bates III was making some huge plays for the Falcons this season, but with little chance of re-signing with Atlanta, Bates brings that clutch playmaking to Jacksonville. The new 1-2 defensive punch raises the Jaguars' profile as serious AFC threats to win Super Bowl 61.

POWER RANKINGS: Jaguars soaring toward the top

Winners: Tennessee Titans

The one-win Titans were a lot smarter with their moves than the division rival Colts. GM Mike Borgonzi pulled off the blockbuster with Chicago to move the best draft candidate in Simmons and ended by trading safety Amani Hooker, a pending free agent. Tennessee now has two first-rounders and two second-rounders to help further its rebuilding effort in the 2027 draft and seven picks overall in the top four rounds. The Titans are hoping a second year with Robert Saleh and Brian Daboll will be a lot more promising.

Winner: Justin Jefferson

Jefferson will resume his chemistry with Cousins without going anywhere. He knows Cousins tends to pepper his top target all over the field (see tight end Brock Bowers with the Raiders) and will make sure he gets a consistent high volume of targets. Jefferson can go back to being giddy, because he'll get to Griddy after big plays and touchdowns on the regular again. Jefferson being more dangerous again will also help tight end T.J. Hockenson and second wide receiver Jordan Addison.

Winner: Keenan Allen and Josh Downs

Allen gets to escape Indianapolis, where the 34-year-old landed as a free agent in mid-August, and gets to the 49ers with a shot to win a Super Bowl before retiring for good. His fellow now-former Colts wide receiver Downs got super excited immediately on social media to leave catching passes from Jones and going to get targeted plenty by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

MORE: Resetting the Chiefs WR depth chart

Daniel Jones

Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Losers: Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor

While Cousins got his reunion with the Vikings to leave an AFC non-playoff team, Jones now gets stuck with the Colts getting paid well but now down two weapons in Allen and Downs after already losing Nelson on the offensive line. Taylor misses Nelson's run blocking more and has to stay on the team he expected to leave at midseason, given his "farewell" post-game comments in Week 10. They are both stuck playing out the string for Shane Steichen, just to get reevaluated by a new coach and GM combination when they stay under contract in 2027.

Winners: Buffalo Bills

The Bills didn't end up with Derwin James or Budda Baker, but their fans had to be thrilled to get Amani Hooker to match the Jaguars getting much-needed safety help as AFC championship contenders. Hooker can be a huge asset vs. Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow or Mahomes in the playoffs.

Losers: Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals weren't supposed to be too busy, but they didn't upgrade anywhere in relation to the Jaguars, Bills and Chiefs. Also getting a dishonorable mention are the Steelers and the Patriots, joining them all on the second three-team tier of AFC contenders.

Losers: Los Angeles Rams

The Rams didn't get any wide receiver, despite both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams being injured. They will need to rely a lot on their running game and Myles Garrett-led defense to get into the playoffs and make a push toward Super Bowl 61 in Los Angeles.

Winners: Fernando Mendoza and Carson Beck

Mendoza and Beck get to start at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday in respective games against the Seahawks and Cardinals. Mendoza has played a little mopup duty but the No. 1 overall pick will go full speed ahead against a tough defense. Beck gets to start with Garnder Minshew hurting and Jacoby Brissett now in Baltimore. He starts against Garrett on the pass rush. The national championship quarterbacks will now be in the lineup the rest of their rookie season.