In the NFL, a trade is the least-used form of transaction. During an offseason, each team focuses on signing players already untethered from all ties rather than swapping players currently on the roster.
When the NFL Draft rolls around, teams make several trades for picks but usually wait until the later rounds to avoid the uncertainty that comes with dealing with such high value.
Some trades were made because the player refused to play for the team that drafted him, and some were made because the player did not like his contract.
However, there have been bold moves by uncompromising front office executives, with or without the consent of the player and team, that have shaped the NFL as we know it today.
10. Patriots Give Brady the Keys, 2002
New England Patriots receive: 2003 first-round pick
Buffalo Bills receive: QB Drew Bledsoe
After the Patriots won their first Super Bowl title, one huge question loomed over the ensuing offseason: Would New England keep their franchise quarterback in Drew Bledsoe, or trade him and risk it with a young gun in Tom Brady?
Head coach Bill Belichick chose the latter and traded up with that pick to grab defensive lineman Ty Warren, a key piece to their front seven to this day.
Owner Robert Kraft was saddened by the trade that day.
“Let me speak as a Patriots fan,” said Kraft. “Drew Bledsoe is a special player. I have great respect for all he has done for this franchise, not only for his contributions on the field, but also his contributions off the field. He gave our fans some of the greatest memories in the franchise’s history, and there will always be a special place reserved for him in the hearts of Patriots fans. For many reasons, and at many levels, this was a difficult trade to make.”
Brady's play for the better part of the decade, including two more Super Bowl rings and a record-setting year, eased much of that pain.
9. Atlanta Gets Their Dirty Bird, 2001
San Diego Chargers receive: WR Tim Dwight, No. 5 overall pick, third-round pick, second-round pick in 2002.
Atlanta Falcons receive: No. 1 overall pick
The Chargers had said if they could not reach a deal with Virginia Tech QB Michael Vick before the draft, they would trade the draft's top selection. They felt that their man, TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson, would fall as low as No. 5, which was where Atlanta stood.
The Chargers did in fact take Tomlinson, who went on to set the record for most touchdowns in a season with 31 in 2006.
The Falcons wanted a franchise quarterback to replace the aging Chris Chandler, and head coach Dan Reeves had high hopes for Vick.
"We think he's an exceptional young man," Reeves said of Vick. "He's a great football player, but he's an exceptional young man who I think will set this franchise up for a long time to come."
History goes to show that Reeves was a bit off base with his comments.
8. Mike Ditka Breaks the Bank, 1999
New Orleans Saints receive: No. 5 overall pick
Washington Redskins receive: No. 12 overall pick, third-round pick, fourth-round pick, fifth-round pick, sixth-round pick, seventh-round pick; first-round pick in 2000, third-round pick in 2000
New Orleans head coach Mike Ditka wanted Texas running back Ricky Williams so badly that he took a look at his '99 draft board and decided it was expendable.
The Saints traded away their entire allotment of picks in that draft, along with two picks in the following year's draft.
Williams turned out to be a Pro Bowl-type player before leaving for the Miami Dolphins and later heading off to the Caribbean for marijuana freedom. Ditka had been much criticized for the blockbuster trade, and his time in New Orleans did not last long after that.
Meanwhile, the Redskins traded the pick from New Orleans to Chicago for bust QB Cade McNown. In fact, the Redskins only used three of the picks from New Orleans on draft day, trading for future picks.
7. Rams Get Some Horns, 1998
St. Louis Rams receive: RB Marshall Faulk
Indianapolis Colts receive: Second-round pick, fifth-round pick
With fears of disrupting team chemistry, Colts GM Bill Polian traded Faulk to the seemingly hapless Rams, turning the page on the running back situation by selecting Edgerrin James in the first round in that year's draft.
Faulk was the center stone in the Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf," where he eclipsed Barry Sanders' record for all-purpose yards (2,429 yards) and won Super Bowl XXXIV over the Tennessee Titans with the title of NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Faulk went on to win NFL MVP in 2000 and then took his team back to the Super Bowl in 2001, losing to the New England Patriots.
6. Moss Points Toward New England, 2006
New England Patriots receive: WR Randy Moss
Oakland Raiders receive: Fourth-round pick
Thought to be over the hill, Randy Moss wanted to completely reverse his fortunes. In his trade from Oakland to New England, Moss did so in several ways:
- Flipped his jersey number from 18 to 81
- Took a pay cut to play with the Patriots
- Went from perennial losers in Oakland to consistent winners in New England
He also changed his fortunes on the field. He went from a virtual unknown in Oakland to a 23-touchdown receiver in New England, setting a new NFL record, and helped the team to the first ever 16-0 regular season.
Had it not been for the trade, Moss would have left his best days in Minnesota. Playing in New England rejuvenated the career for the "Freak" and reshaped the record books.
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