Why the Vikings and Jaguars Look Like Definitive Winners of the NFL Trade Deadline

Minnesota adds a familiar quarterback

The Vikings began the season 6-0, powered by the NFL’s best defense, while their offense ranked second-worst in efficiency. With the team’s quarterback situation under pressure, Minnesota reached a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders for Kirk Cousins in the deadline’s final hours.

Cousins, 38, previously spent six years with Minnesota and two productive seasons working under coach Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings paid a third-round pick for a quarterback described as league-average, a modest price for a possible half-season rental.

Cousins reunites with weapons including Justin Jefferson and already knows the offensive system. The article sees Minnesota’s defense, led by Brian Flores, as a route to contention, but says it is uncertain whether the offense can improve.

Raiders gain value from the deal

The trade’s value for Las Vegas is open to debate: Cousins had been productive, and the Raiders received only a third-round selection despite his Pro Bowl-level résumé. His age and injury concerns are part of the calculation.

The Raiders also paid about $650,000 of Cousins’ salary and won several important games before moving him. Fernando Mendoza spent six months learning from Cousins, a period the article says could help his development compared with starting in Week 1.

Jacksonville makes late moves

Jacksonville hired James Gladstone last summer. At 36, he is the NFL’s youngest general manager, and the article describes early impressions of his work as strongly positive. Gladstone previously traded two first-round picks and a second-round pick for Travis Hunter. Before the deadline, he made two major moves in quick succession, including acquiring Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates; the account ends before giving further details about that transaction.