There are three kinds of general managers at the NFL trade deadline: those who make bold, often rash moves to signal an all-out title push, those who make measured additions to address areas of need, and those who admit defeat.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch falls in the second category, at least for the 2026 deadline. He made a couple of important moves, adding DeForest Buckner and Keenan Allen to fuel the "retirement home" narrative. Both players should help the Niners on their journey back to the Super Bowl.
But the arms race in the NFC has plenty of participants. Multiple teams made splash moves near the deadline, shaking up the hierarchy of the conference.
As the playoff picture comes into view, here is how the NFC stands in a post-deadline world. And, no, we didn't include the New York Giants or the Carolina Panthers in our list of contenders.
7. Rams fail to solve their biggest problem
Les Snead has never been shy about scouring the trade market to address the Los Angeles Rams' biggest problems. In this case, though, he didn't have the buying power to make the moves he needed to make.
After already sending first-round picks and more away for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie in the offseason, Snead wasn't able or willing to add a wide receiver to his roster. He desperately needed one, as both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams are dealing with injuries.
The Rams were slow out of the gate this season, so they're now relying on a banged-up roster to carry them through the back half of their schedule.
6. Lions' Andre Cisco deal doesn't measure up
After watching their NFC North rivals make splashy moves for star players, the Detroit Lions responded by trading for... Andre Cisco.
The veteran safety should add some depth to a depleted secondary, but he's not going to lift the unit to a Super Bowl level.
The Lions' explosive offense keeps them on the list of contenders, but they'll need massive improvements from their defense if they're going to make waves in the playoffs.
5. Vikings had no choice but to return to Kirk Cousins after Kyler Murray's failure
The Minnesota Vikings moved on from Kirk Cousins in 2024. Since then, they've tried Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy, and Kyler Murray at quarterback. After realizing their mistake, they finally returned to Cousins, trading a third-round pick to the Las Vegas Raiders to get him.
Cousins is obviously familiar with Kevin O'Connell's offense and should bring the unit out of bottom-of-the-league territory, but can he win a Super Bowl at this point in his career?
If Brian Flores can continue to lead an elite defense through the rest of the Vikings' schedule, Cousins might just be enough to get the job done.
4. Seahawks turn a weakness into their calling card with Quenton Nelson splash
The Seattle Seahawks got their shopping done early this year, adding All-Pro guard Qeunton Nelson weeks before the actual trade deadline.
With Nelson on the left and Grey Zabel on the right, the Seahawks might have the best guard duo in the NFL. It's a massive shift in philosophy from Seattle after ignoring the guard position for years.
Mike Macdonald has his defense playing at a championship level once again, even after losing multiple contributors in the offseason. It's beginning to look like the Seahawks could go back-to-back if things fall their way.
3. Bay Packers didn't have to make a move to carry their momentum forward
If anyone complains about Brian Gutekunst's lack of action at the trade deadline, he can just pull up some recent Jordan Love tape. With the quarterback playing at this level, the Green Bay Packers didn't need to make any moves to be taken seriously in the NFC.
Of course, the Packers do still have some issues that could have been addressed. Their running game is lackluster, so adding an offensive lineman or a running back to the mix wouldn't have hurt their cause.
But assuming that Love can continue his domination through the rest of the year, Green Bay is still a legitimate threat.
2. Bears go all-in with Jeffery Simmons blockbuster
Like the Seahawks, the Chicago Bears didn't do anything at the actual trade deadline. After making a blockbuster deal for Jeffery Simmons, though, their fans can't complain.
Simmons has already shown his impact in his first couple of games with the Bears. He's the type of player who can take over in the playoffs, willing his team to victory in key moments. He's capable of blowing up an opponent's plans at any moment.
The key for Chicago will be finding consistency from Caleb Williams. When the young quarterback is at his best, the Bears' offense is impossible to stop. Chicago is San Francisco's biggest threat in the NFC at the moment.
1. 49ers address their biggest needs without spreading themselves thin
No, Allen isn't reshaping the hierarchy of the NFC. If we're being honest, Buckner isn't either. But that doesn't mean that these weren't crucial moves from Lynch.
The Niners now have a baseline of competence at the two positions that threatened to hold them back from their championship goals. Even if Allen and Buckner are no longer at their peaks, they can still give San Francisco reliable options in the playoffs.
After these additions, Kyle Shanahan can rest a bit easier. He has all he needs to finally win a Super Bowl.
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