NFL Trade Deadline Autopsy: Why the Biggest Deals Didn't Happen

The NFL trade deadline is basically a holiday where general managers leak how hard they tried to make a deal without actually doing anything. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler just dropped his Week 10 buzz file, and it is a beautiful monument to front-office window shopping.

We finally have the autopsy on why blockbuster deals for Brian Thomas Jr., Jonathan Taylor, and Diontae Johnson never materialized. It turns out that asking prices in November are completely detached from reality, and most teams would rather hoard draft picks than pay a premium for a guy who might just pull a hamstring in Week 12.

"Jeremy Fowler reported on the 'Cousins fallout for Vikings, Raiders' and 'Inside Chiefs' deal for Downs.'"

The most fascinating ripple effect belongs to the Kirk Cousins fallout between the Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders. The Vikings are sitting at 6-2 but just got absolutely pantsed 23-6 by the Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, the Raiders are 4-5 after getting cooked 38-17 by the San Francisco 49ers. Vegas desperately needs a quarterback, but apparently, the cost of doing business was higher than a casino ATM fee.

While the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers stood pat and the 7-1 Bills plotted a massive swing that never happened, the 6-2 Kansas City Chiefs actually pulled the trigger on a deal for Downs. Because if there is one thing the NFL needs, it is Patrick Mahomes getting another weapon right after dropping 35 points on the New York Jets.

For the fantasy managers and prop bettors who have been refreshing injury reports like maniacs, the real prize in Fowler's report is that Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua is returning. Getting a healthy Nacua back on the field is basically a blockbuster trade that does not require giving up a conditional third-round pick.

Now that the deadline theater is officially closed, these front offices actually have to live with the rosters they built. The Vikings need to fix whatever just happened against Buffalo, and the Raiders have to decide if they are trying to salvage a playoff push or just quietly steering the ship toward the draft lottery.