Overview of 3 & Out: NFL Trade Deadline Reaction
John Middlekauff reviews the NFL trade deadline, focusing on Kirk Cousins returning to the Minnesota Vikings, the Raiders turning to rookie Fernando Mendoza, and playoff contenders adding help at receiver and safety. He also critiques teams that held onto veteran players and answers listener questions about coaching, quarterbacks, and roster moves.
Major NFL Trade Deadline Moves
Kirk Cousins returns to Minnesota
Middlekauff says Carson Wentz’s disastrous performance against Buffalo made a quarterback change urgent for Minnesota. The Vikings traded a third-round pick to the Raiders for Cousins, who already knows head coach Kevin O’Connell, the offense, and Justin Jefferson. Middlekauff sees that familiarity as a major advantage, though Cousins’ age and limited mobility still carry risk.
The move also clears the way for Las Vegas to give rookie Fernando Mendoza a chance to start. Middlekauff expects a difficult transition: Mendoza has never started an NFL game, the Raiders lack a reliable run game, and his first opponents are formidable. He suggests the experience could still help Mendoza develop, even if the team struggles.
Chiefs, Bills, and 49ers add receivers and defensive help
- Kansas City Chiefs: Acquired receiver Josh Downs, whom Middlekauff views as a useful slot target who can improve the offense. He says Downs may need time to learn the Chiefs’ system and build chemistry with Patrick Mahomes.
- Buffalo Bills: Traded a second-round pick for safety Amani Hooker. Middlekauff considers the price steep, but says Hooker’s reliable play, ball skills, and affordable contract help explain it.
- San Francisco 49ers: Added veteran receiver Keenan Allen for a sixth-round pick to bolster a depleted group.
Teams That Held Their Ground
Middlekauff questions why the Colts kept Jonathan Taylor and the Chargers kept Khalil Mack, arguing that both teams could have used draft picks to support a longer-term rebuild. He also criticizes the Colts’ leadership and the Chargers’ direction. He notes that the Jaguars refused to trade Brian Thomas Jr., particularly to a contender such as Kansas City.
He sees different logic behind some teams’ choices: the Bills needed help in the secondary, the Chiefs needed a receiver, and the 49ers needed healthy veteran depth. He also cautions that midseason acquisitions at receiver and safety often need time to learn a new system.
Mailbag: Coaches, Quarterbacks, and Team Building
- Potential Jets coaches: Middlekauff thinks Mike Tomlin may eventually miss the competition and intensity of coaching, while he is less certain Sean McDermott would want the Jets job.
- Brian Flores: He praises Flores’s defensive work but questions whether his personality and approach are a good fit for managing quarterbacks and offensive staff as a head coach.
- Vikings and 49ers comparisons: He says Minnesota’s success without steady quarterback play would differ from San Francisco’s Purdy-era run, when the 49ers also had a powerful offense.
- Cowboys: He credits Will McClay and the scouting operation for strong drafting, while blaming Jerry Jones’s interference and the team’s coaching decisions for limiting its results.
- MVP and the tush push: He sees several possible MVP contenders, including Jordan Love if Green Bay keeps winning. He says criticism of Jalen Hurts’s quarterback sneak is mostly because the Eagles popularized the play.
- Practical roster questions: Teams may help a newly acquired player with moving costs, but it likely varies. Kickers rarely get traded because teams have only one starting spot and can often sign an available replacement.
Key Takeaways
Middlekauff sees Wentz’s poor performance as the moment that set off a chain reaction: Cousins went back to Minnesota, and the Raiders moved toward starting Mendoza. The deadline also showed contenders paying a premium for players who fill immediate needs, while several struggling teams passed on chances to add draft capital.