Ranking the Best Trades in NFL History

These NFL Trades Will Always Be Remembered for Their Incredible Impact on the League.

Trades That Shook the Market

NFL trades are generally not as commonplace as dealings in either sport. Transactions seem to involve draft choices more than familiar names on rosters. Now the modern era of free agency has led to an ease of player movement throughout the 32-team league.

That doesn’t mean players don’t get exchanged. Over the century-plus history of the league, huge transactions have certainly occurred. Ranking the best of those would depend on how one defines “best,” as in “helps both sides” or “ridiculously one-sided.”

Among the best trades in NFL history would be the 1989 trade of Dallas Cowboys running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings. Walker, the former Georgia Heisman Trophy winner, was floundering on a poor team. He fetched eight high draft picks which were used to quickly turn the Cowboys into champions.

Walker never regained his form in the Twin Cities, making this as lopsided a trade as the league has ever seen.

Another of those one-sided trades involved quarterback John Hadl (Los Angeles Rams to Green Bay Packers, 1974). Hadl was mediocre at best with the Pack, while the Rams' return netted a slew of draft capital used to make them a contender. 

There’ve been other trades where the player(s) dealt didn’t move the needle until they found a new address, including wide receiver Steve Largent (Houston Oilers to Seattle Seahawks, 1976) and quarterback Brett Favre (Atlanta Falcons to Green Bay Packers, 1992).

The “disgruntled player” has forced his share of trades, including quarterback John Elway (Baltimore Colts to Denver Broncos, 1983), running back Eric Dickerson (Los Angeles Rams to Indianapolis Colts, 1987 [trade also involved Buffalo Bills]) and quarterback Eli Manning (San Diego Chargers to New York Giants, 2004).

As a footnote, Manning and quarterback Philip Rivers, who went to the Chargers, each had 16-season tenures with their respective teams.

One can’t forget deals involving quarterbacks Steve Young (Tampa Bay Buccaneers to San Francisco 49ers, 1987) and Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers to Kansas City Chiefs, 1993). Those two transactions were not unrelated.         

Those are just some of the trades made as teams strive to reach the NFL playoffs.

When Can NFL Teams Start Signing Free Agents?

NFL news really does not have an offseason, though the actual offseason always involves free agency and the reshuffling of rosters throughout the league.

Using the 2025 NFL league calendar as an example, March 10th through March 12th is the free agent negotiating period, and March 12th is the date teams can begin signing free agents, but before that time, however, NFL rumors abound.

How Do Salary Caps Affect Trade Possibilities?

Here’s how much the salary cap has grown in the National Football League over the past decade-and-a-half. Back in 2009, it was $123 million per team. In 2025, more than $281 million. As the cap impacts all movement of players, it definitely hovers over all NFL trades as well.

Just like the proverbial kid in the candy store, teams can’t have all the “sweets” they want. 

Does BetUS Have Constant Updates on Super Bowl Winners’ Odds? 

NFL picks and predictions include a variety of options, especially when it comes to the biggest prize out there. As of this writing a few weeks after the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant victory in Super Bowl LIX, eyes now turn toward the Super Bowl LX winner.

Those same Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs are 13-2 (+650) betting odds tri-favorites to win the next championship when the game is played in Santa Clara, California.

Note that the odds to win the title are fluid. Do not forget to check the board before wagering.

Any Final Thoughts?

There’s never really a downtime when it comes to the National Football League. Though the offseason has neither NFL games nor NFL scores, there’s no break in the news.