Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, center, poses for a portrait with general manager Andrew Berry, left, and coach Kevin Stefanski during Watson’s introductory news conference on March 26, 2022, at the Browns training facility in Berea.
Trades are the best and worst thing in any sport. Sometimes your favorite team lands a player who can help win a Super Bowl, and sometimes that same team trades for a prospect who turns out to be a draft day disaster. Here are the 25 worst trades in NFL history. Agree? Disagree? Leave your comments and let’s discuss!
25. Cincinnati Bengals trade up for Ki-Jana Carter (1995)
Bengals’ Ki-Jana Carter (#32) shown during practice at Crew stadium. Dispatch photo by Fred Squillante. PLEASE TAKE IMAGE FROM LEAF DESK.
This trade turned disastrous as Carter injured his knee in a preseason game prior to his rookie season
24. Denver Broncos trade for Russell Wilson (2022)
KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 12: Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos looks towards the sideline against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Russ was never able to cook under Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett
23. Washington trades up for Robert Griffin III (2012)
Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduces Robert Griffin III (Baylor) as the number two overall pick to the Washington Redskins in the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
RGIII started out great until a knee injury derailed his career
22. Detroit Lions trade two picks for Pat Swilling (1993)
Oct 2, 1994; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Lions linebacker Pat Swilling (56) in action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium. FILE PHOTO; Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Swilling was never the same after he left the Bayou
21. San Francisco 49ers trade five draft picks for O.J. Simpson (1978)
Simpson went home to the Bay Area but never came close to producing like he did in Buffalo
20. Indianapolis Colts trade a first-round pick for Trent Richardson (2013)
2012: Trent Richardson, RB from Alabama. Drafted No. 3 by the Browns.
Indianapolis Colts Beat The Tennessee Titans 41 17
Richardson had a great rookie season for Cleveland, but was a huge bust after arriving in Indianapolis
19. Miami Dolphins trade Wes Welker to New England for picks (2007)
Dec 23, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker (83) returns a punt past Jacksonville Jaguars defensive back Antwon Blake (38) during the second half of the game at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Welker went on to redefine the slot position in New England paving the way for Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman
18. Los Angeles Raiders acquire Antonio Brown for two draft picks (2019)
Dec 9, 2018; Oakland, CA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) before the start of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Brown never played a snap for the Raiders
17. San Diego Chargers trade up for Ryan Leaf (1998)
Sep 27, 1998; San Diego, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; San Diego Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf (16) in action against the New York Giants at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego moved up to #2 overall to take Ryan Leaf; they should have tried harder to get to #1 and take Peyton Manning
16. Oakland Raiders trade Randy Moss to New England for a fourth-round pick (2007)
New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss catches a late 1st half TD pass from New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to go up 14-7 as New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis defends on Sept. 19, 2010 in East Rutherford, N. J.
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Moss left the Raiders and went on to lead the NFL in receiving TDs with the Patriots
15. Chicago Bears trade up to draft Mitch Trubisky (2018)
Apr 27, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Mitchell Trubisky (North Carolina) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell (right) as he is selected as the number 2 overall pick to the Chicago Bears in the first round the 2017 NFL Draft at Philadelphia Museum of Art. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Passing on Patrick Mahomes to take Trubisky is like the Portland Trailblazers passing on Michael Jordan to take Sam Bowie
14. St. Louis Rams trade Jerome Bettis to Pittsburgh (1996)
Pittsburgh Steeelers running back Jerome Bettis runs upfield in a 20 to 3 win over the New York Jets on October 8, 2000 at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Tracy Frankel/Getty Images)
The Bus helped Pittsburgh win Super Bowl XL
13. Dallas Cowboys trade for Roy Williams (2008)
Nov 21, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams (11) catches a pass against the Detroit Lions cornerback Chris Houston (23) at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit got three picks for a wide receiver who didn’t score more than 10 TDs as a Cowboy
12. Green Bay Packers trade for John Hadl (1974)
Dec 14, 1975; Los Angeles, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Green Bay Packers quarterback John Hadl (21) in action against the Los Angeles Rams at the Coliseum. The Rams defeated the Packers 22-5. Mandatory Credit: Darryl Norenberg-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay traded five picks for Hadl who won seven games as the Green Bay starting QB
11. Indianapolis trade Marshall Faulk to the Rams (1999)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 30: Kurt Warner #13 of St. Louis Rams turns to hand the ball off to Marshall Faulk #28 against the Tennessee Titans during Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome on January 30, 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Ram won the game 23-16. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Faulk went on to become one of the key pieces to the “Greatest Show on Turf”
10. San Francisco trade up with Miami to select Trey Lance (2021)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: Trey Lance #5 of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
San Francisco trades three first-round picks for an overrated small-school QB
9. Houston Texans trade DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for David Johnson (2020)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 20: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
This trade ended the Bill O’Brien era as Coach/GM of the Texans as Johnson proceeded to get injured and Houston could not find a replacement for Hopkins
8. Houston Oilers trade Steve Largent to the Seattle Seahawks for an eighth-round pick (1976)
Nov 25, 1984; Denver, CO, USA; FILE PHOTO; Seattle Seahawks receiver Steve Largent (80) is chased by Denver Broncos defensive back Mike Harden (31) at Mile High Stadium. Mandatory Credit: MPS-USA TODAY Sports
Largent went on to have a Hall of Fame career as a member of the Seahawks
7. Atlanta Falcons trade Brett Favre to the Green Bay Packers for a first-round pick (1992)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 26: Brett Favre #4 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XXXI January 26, 1997 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana . The Packers won the game 35-21. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Atlanta took Tony Smith with the pick they received while Favre won three MVPs and a Super Bowl ring with Green Bay
6. Indianapolis Colts trade John Elway to Denver (1983)
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 25: John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos turns to hand the ball off to a running back against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Broncos won the Super Bowl 31-24. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Indianapolis floundered for years after Elway strong-armed the trade that sent him to the Rocky Mountains
5. Tampa Bay trades Steve Young to the San Francisco 49ers (1987)
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 29: Quarterback Steve Young #8 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates as he runs to the sideline against the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX at Joe Robbie Stadium on January 29, 1995 in Miami, Florida. The 49ers defeated the Chargers 49-26. (Photo by Joseph Patronite /Getty Images)
Tampa received two draft picks for a player who won two MVP awards as well as a Super Bowl ring
4. Carolina Panthers trade for the first overall pick in the 2023 draft and take Bryce Young (2023)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 27: (L-R) Bryce Young poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall by the Carolina Panthers during the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft at Union Station on April 27, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
It would be generous to say the jury is still out on Bryce Young, but Carolina gave up D.J. Moore and as well as four early round picks to take him
3. Cleveland Browns acquire Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans (2022)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 24: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns passes during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Titans 27-3. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Not only was it a disaster to trade five draft picks to get Watson, but Cleveland also gave him a $230 million deal hampering the franchise for years
2. New Orleans Saints trade up to take Ricky Williams (1999)
Oct 29, 2000; Tempe, AZ, USA; FILE PHOTO; New Orleans Saints running back Ricky Williams (34) in action against the Arizona Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK
Mike Ditka decided to trade New Orleans’ entire draft (except for a second-round pick) to Washington for Williams who only stayed with the team for three years. Awful overpay.
1. Minnesota Vikings acquire Herschel Walker from the Dallas Cowboys for five players and eight draft picks (1990)
Unknown date; Atlanta, GA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Minnesota Vikings running Herschel Walker (34) in action against the Atlanta Falcons during the 1991 season. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas traded away Walker and essentially reshaped their franchise as most of the players they selected helped set the foundation for their 1990’s dynasty and three Super Bowl wins
