So much for the NFL trade deadline being anticlimactic, right?
Not only were there a ton of notable trades around the league at the 2026 NFL trade deadline, but the AFC West teams were all involved in a significant way. That includes the Denver Broncos, who struck a surprise deal with the Los Angeles Chargers for starting linebacker Daiyan Henley.
The Broncos are on their bye week in Week 10, and they're going to be relaxing over the weekend with a 7-2 record heading into the second half of the season. Now that the trade deadline has officially come and gone, let's take a look at what happened around the entire AFC West.
Denver Broncos make a surprise splash with Daiyan Henley trade...with the Chargers
The Denver Broncos appeared content to just stick with their roster heading into the bye week, which honestly would have been at least a little bit frustrating.
There had been a lot of talk about the Broncos wanting a playmaker, maybe even feeling like they needed one. The emergence of rookie running back Jonah Coleman over the past couple of weeks may have prevented the team from going overboard on any trade proposals, but teams around the league did not seem overly willing to deal running backs, either.
The Colts decided to hang on to Jonathan Taylor despite some strong offers on the table, though we don't know if any of those were from the Broncos. The Titans decided it was more beneficial to keep Tony Pollard for the development of Cam Ward than to send him off to a contender for a Day 3 pick.
Nobody else was really available.
The Broncos at least tried to upgrade at the running back position, but other teams weren't willing to dance.
At the tight end position, the Broncos shot for the stars. They reportedly called the Arizona Cardinals about Trey McBride. After seeing Jeffery Simmons traded to the Chicago Bears, you have to shoot your shot, right? The Cardinals also weren't playing ball.
The Broncos ultimately decided that if they couldn't add a substantial player to their offense, they were going to add a young playmaker to the second level of the defense.
Daiyan Henley is exactly what the team has been missing at the linebacker position, and while he may not be anywhere near as decorated, he effectively replaces what the team lost (and hoped they were getting) from Dre Greenlaw. He can run, he can cover, he's physical, he can spy quarterbacks, and he's been a thorn in the Broncos' side.
The Chargers were reportedly trying to re-sign him to a long-term deal, but couldn't reach an agreement, so they traded him. And it's still shocking that they traded him to a division rival, even in a lost season.
And speaking of the lost season for the currently 0-8 Chargers...Why was Daiyan Henley the only player they moved?
The Chargers had a lot of names popping up on the trade rumor mill because of their record, and justifiably so. Khalil Mack was apparently untouchable for this team, and so was pretty much everyone else. Daiyan Henley was the one guy they chose to let go with this season going nowhere fast?
Something seems a little fishy.
Kansas City Chiefs add WR Josh Downs as Colts' fire sale continues
The Kansas City Chiefs lost wide receiver Tyquan Thornton to injury early this season, which was a massive blow to their offense.
Thornton, believe it or not, had really developed into Patrick Mahomes's favorite target outside of tight end Travis Kelce, and he was opening things up for the offense in a big way vertically.
Not that Josh Downs is a 1-for-1 replacement, but he certainly upgrades the Chiefs' receiver room. It cost the Chiefs 4th- and 5th-round picks to get Downs, so they paid the same price to add him to their offense that the Broncos paid to get Daiyan Henley for their defense.
Downs has been a very good secondary option for the Colts throughout his four years in the league, averaging 70 receptions for 757 yards per 17 games played. He does a great job of beating man coverage and should be a really solid addition for the Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders usher in Fernando Mendoza era with Kirk Cousins trade
The Las Vegas Raiders used the 1st overall pick on Fernando Mendoza, and the plan was to have him sit for the entirety of his rookie season.
That was until Kirk Cousins threw 20 touchdown passes in the first half of the season, generating legitimate trade value for the Super Bowl contending Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings wanted Cousins back after dumping him so they could draft JJ McCarthy. They've made one false move after another at the QB position, so Klint Kubiak and the Raiders decided to bail them out.
Cousins will now get a chance to be the savior of the Vikings once more, and the heir apparent is set to make his NFL starting debut against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10. That means the Broncos will see Mendoza when they come out of their bye in Week 11.
He will get to make his starting debut in front of the home crowd in Las Vegas, but he's going to have to come to Denver for his first road start. Nothing like being thrown into the deep end right away.
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