10 NFL trades that need to happen: Derrick Henry to Patriots, Budda Baker to Bills among options

By Google News Sports · 2026-11-08T22:41:00+01:00

The NFL trade deadline is just two days away, and it's already been a dramatic time around the league. The Seattle Seahawks beefed up their offensive line with Quenton Nelson, the San Francisco 49ers brought back DeForest Buckner, the Chicago Bears look like a Super Bowl favorite with the addition of Jeffery Simmons, and the Baltimore Ravens have a new quarterback in Jacoby Brissett. Who is the next domino to fall?

A total of 27 players were traded in-season last year. That's the most in the past 25 years. A total of 12 players were dealt on deadline day last year. Get ready for a wild 48 hours. There's a lot of speculation around Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, but will he actually get dealt? What about the Minnesota Vikings? Could they swing a deal for a new quarterback in the next 48 hours?

Below, we will break down 10 trades that need to happen.

Vikings receive: QB Kirk CousinsRaiders receive: Conditional fifth-round pick

ESPN's Adam Schefter got a lot of people excited last week when he said he was going to keep an eye on the Vikings. Are they going to trade for Justin Herbert? Or Mac Jones? Maybe Daniel Jones? What about bringing back Kirk Cousins?

It doesn't appear that Cousins will be dealt at the trade deadline, but it would be a storybook ending if Kevin O'Connell brought Cousins back to town and he contributed to a Super Bowl run. Cousins spent six seasons in Minnesota, threw for 4,000 yards four times and went 50-37-1 as the starter. While he's 38 now, Cousins is still capable of playing good football.

His 19 passing touchdowns entering Sunday ranked second in the NFL behind Joe Burrow, and his 265.5 passing yards per game ranked seventh.

Now that we are halfway through the 2026 season, the Raiders can turn their attention to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, while Cousins will improve a Vikings passing attack that's sputtering. Kyler Murray's 170.3 passing yards per game entering Week 9 ranked 30th among 31 qualifying passers, and we don't know if Carson Wentz is a solution.

Justin Jefferson is sick of not having consistent play under center, so let's get Cousins back to Minnesota and watch him power a Super Bowl run.

Bills receive: S Budda BakerCardinals receive: Third-round pick

How long can the Bills keep winning track meets? Josh Allen can outscore just about any team, but this defense ranks bottom 10 in both yards allowed per game (352.1) and points allowed per game (25.9). Buffalo has four wins in games the defense has allowed 30 points!

Adding Cardinals safety Budda Baker should help. He's an eight-time Pro Bowler playing great football for a not-so-great team. In eight games this season, he's recorded 51 tackles, four passes defensed, one interception and a career-high 3.5 sacks. Not many players have made 1,000 tackles before age 30 — just Bobby Wagner, Roquan Smith, Luke Kuechly, Lavonte David, Ray Lewis, Fred Warner and Budda Baker.

Patriots receive: RB Derrick HenryRavens receive: Third-round pick

Mike Vrabel has a few former Titans on his roster, including A.J. Brown and Kevin Byard. He could swing a deal for another one of his former players in Derrick Henry.

The Ravens running back is averaging 76.6 rushing yards per game and has scored nine total touchdowns in nine games played. Given the injuries at the quarterback position and the fact that the Ravens are the only team in the division with a losing record, it looks like Baltimore won't be making its Super Bowl run this year…

Originally published by Google News Sports