The NFL trade deadline passed on Tuesday, leaving clear winners and losers across the league. The Kansas City Chiefs secured a needed weapon by acquiring wide receiver Josh Downs from the Colts. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings brought back quarterback Kirk Cousins to stabilize their offense. These moves fix immediate holes while other teams like the Chargers decided to sit on their hands.
Kansas City Adds a Reliable Target
The Chiefs needed help in the passing game after injuries hit their receiving corps. Hamstring and knee problems have plagued Rashee Rice this season, whereas Xavier Worthy dealt with a hamstring injury during Sunday’s victory against the Jets. Since October, Tyquan Thornton will be out for an extended period of time after fracturing his ankle. To solve this, Indianapolis received a fourth-round and a fifth-round selection from the team in exchange for Downs. The deal also saw the Colts send a seventh-round pick back to Kansas City, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport.
Downs brings a solid track record to the roster. A third-round draft choice in 2023, he recorded 33 receptions, 354 yards, and one touchdown across nine games this season. During 2024, he had a career year, catching 72 passes for 803 yards and scoring five touchdowns. The 25-year-old appears ready to contribute immediately. Following the announcement of the deal, he shared a celebratory meme on social media. Downs wrote in a follow-up post on X, “I am beyond grateful and blessed for my time in Indy.” He added, “Nothing but love For the Shoe.”
Cousins Returns to a Familiar System
Minnesota made a massive move to get Kirk Cousins back under center. The 4-5 Raiders, awaiting 2026 No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, saw Cousins start nine games. He handled the transition with grace during his time in Las Vegas. After the Raiders’ fourth straight loss in late October, “If I’m not the best option, then I don’t want to be out there,” Cousins said. He noted that he would try to play as well as possible to help the team win and give the rookie a great example to learn from.
Before tearing an Achilles midway through the 2023 season, Cousins led the Vikings to a 13-4 record in 2022. Head coach Kevin O’Connell worked with Cousins in Washington in 2017, when he served as the team’s quarterbacks coach. The two reunited in Minnesota in 2022, giving Cousins familiarity with O’Connell’s offensive system.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell ran the offense with Cousins from 2018 to 2023, so the fit is natural. In 2017, O’Connell served as the quarterbacks coach for Washington, marking Cousins’ final year with that team. This reunion gives Minnesota a veteran who knows exactly how to run their scheme. With a 2-7 start this season, the Colts are now focusing on building for the future.
While the Colts moved on from Downs and Allen, they retained superstar running back Jonathan Taylor despite several weeks of trade speculation. Indianapolis had already traded defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the 49ers and guard Quenton Nelson to the Seahawks on October 27, receiving three draft picks in those deals. The team then traded wide receivers Keenan Allen and Josh Downs ahead of the November 10 deadline as it continued reshaping its roster.
