Ranking the 10 Best NFL Draft Trades of All Time

As if NFL draft season isn't already interesting enough, trades add a fascinating variable to the excitement.

In reality, most agreements don't amount to meaningful results. Making an NFL impact is incredibly tough, and many of the swapped picks become players who ultimately don't have long careers.

But the best trades? Those can reshape a franchise.

The following deals—which sometimes led to a very one-sided outcome—all involved some of the biggest names in NFL history.

10. Patriots Steal Moss (2007)

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Had Randy Moss worn out his welcome with the Oakland Raiders? Sure. He had publicly said he didn't want to return in 2007.

But, whew, is this trade horribly ugly in hindsight.

Oakland sent Moss to the New England Patriots for a fourth-round pick, which the Raiders used on cornerback John Bowie. He ended up totaling two tackles in five appearances for Oakland.

Moss, meanwhile, reclaimed his dominant form while catching passes from Tom Brady. Moss set a single-season NFL record in 2007 with 23 touchdown catches, earning first-team All-Pro honors.

In three-plus years on the Pats, the Hall of Fame wideout collected 259 receptions for 3,904 yards and 50 scores.

9. Ravens Gamble on Lamar (2018)

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Despite his excellence in a pro-style Louisville system, Lamar Jackson headed to the NFL draft as a polarizing prospect.

On that Thursday night in April 2018, the electrifying quarterback waited patiently—or maybe not so patiently—to hear his name called. Finally, it happened with the final pick of the opening round.

Jackson went to the Baltimore Ravens, who packaged three picks to send to the Philadelphia Eagles for the No. 32 slot and a third-rounder.

That calculated risk has paid off beautifully.

In just seven seasons, Jackson has secured two league MVPs and earned first-team AP All-Pro honors three times while guiding the Ravens to four AFC North crowns and six playoff trips.

8. Seahawks Land Future Hall of Famer Jones (1997)

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To ascend from the No. 12 pick to sixth overall and select Walter Jones, the Seattle Seahawks only needed to tack on a third-round selection.

To say it was worth it would be a massive understatement.

During a 12-year career all spent in Seattle, Jones locked down the left side of the offensive line. He garnered AP All-Pro honors six times, including first-team recognition in four seasons.

Jones, a nine-time Pro Bowler, was a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee as part of the 2014 class.

7. Steelers Pick Up Polamalu (2003)

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In the middle of 2003's opening round, the Pittsburgh Steelers jumped from the 27th pick to 16th in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. The move cost Pittsburgh a third- and sixth-round choice, as well.

The reason: Troy Polamalu.

The result: One of the best defenders in NFL history.

During his 12 seasons, the ferocious safety made 783 tackles, intercepted 32 passes, secured All-Pro recognition five times and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. Polamalu was a part of two Super Bowl-winning teams, as well.

Kansas City netted a few short-term starters—running back Larry Johnson, most notably—with the group of picks, but the Steelers found a legend.

6. Chiefs Add Tony Gonzalez (1997)

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Fear not, Kansas City fans, you've got a couple of major wins.

The first one happened in 1997 when the Chiefs packaged four selections to receive the 13th choice (and a fourth-rounder) from the Tennessee Titans. Kansas City plucked a tight end named Tony Gonzalez out of Cal.

All he managed to accomplish in 17 seasons was become the most prolific player at his position in NFL history.

Gonzalez landed AP All-Pro recognition in nine of his 12 years on the Chiefs, along with 10 Pro Bowl nods. He became a no-doubt Hall of Famer despite KC's prolonged struggles in his time, making the playoffs only twice.

Nevertheless, he retired with all-time TE bests of 1,325 receptions, 15,127 yards and 111 touchdowns—the first two of which remain his records today.

5. Manning, Rivers and the QB Swap (2004)

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Rarely does a draft-centered trade work out so well.

Yes, we could nitpick the comparison. Eli Manning won a couple of Super Bowls for the New York Giants, and the San Diego Chargers—later in Los Angeles—never won on the biggest stage with Philip Rivers.

Rivers, however, still put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career. He holds the franchise records in passing yards (59,271) and touchdowns (397), both of which are ranked sixth in NFL history. Los Angeles won four AFC West titles and appeared in the postseason six times with Rivers.

The catalyst of the trade, Manning refused to play in San Diego and wound up going to New York. He played 16 seasons with the Giants, throwing for 57,023 yards and 366 scores—both ranked 11th all-time.

Don't forget San Diego also turned the Giants' 2005 first-rounder into Shawne Merriman, an immediate star before injuries ruined his career.

4. Bucs Build the Defense (1995)

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Landing one Hall of Famer in any draft ever? Awesome.

Selecting two during the same round of a single year? That's a truly spectacular blend of scouting and draft execution.

Initially, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers held the seventh pick in 1995. They moved back to 12th and added defensive tackle Warren Sapp, and then they used the additional capital to trade up and snag linebacker Derrick Brooks at No. 28.

Sapp was a six-time AP All-Pro selection, the 1999 Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the 2013 HOF class. Brooks was a nine-time All-Pro, the 2002 Defensive Player of the Year and a 2014 HOF inductee.

Most memorably, they won a Super Bowl together in 2002 as part of one of the best defenses in league history.

3. 49ers Rise for Rice (1985)

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Ten years earlier, the San Francisco 49ers secured a wide receiver who developed into the most prolific pass-catcher ever.

San Francisco sent first-, second and third-round choices to New England for a first- and third-rounder. With the 17th overall pick, the Niners snagged Jerry Rice out of lower-division Mississippi Valley State.

Rice wasted no time making his presence known.

After a promising rookie year, Rice tallied 86 catches for 1,570 yards and 15 touchdowns to earn his first All-Pro honor in 1986. The recognition just never stopped for Rice, who garnered first-team status 10 times, two Offensive Player of the Year accolades and top-three MVP finishes in four seasons.

Rice set still-standing career records with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns in 20 seasons and celebrated three Super Bowl wins.

2. The Herschel Walker Heist (1989)

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Herschel Walker made his NFL debut in 1986 and quickly became a force on the Dallas Cowboys. The running back peaked in 1988, amassing 2,019 scrimmage yards and finishing fifth in MVP voting.

But in 1989, the team began to shop him around. Ultimately, the Minnesota Vikings sent a monster offer to acquire Walker.

The trade, via conditionals, ended up sending eight draft picks—including three first-rounders—to the Cowboys. After that 1-15 campaign, Dallas used the newfound draft capital to reshape the roster in a hurry.

With the help of a few future deals, the Jimmy Johnson-led Cowboys added all-time leading NFL rusher Emmitt Smith and three players—defensive tackle Russell Maryland, cornerback Kevin Smith and safety Darren Woodson—who were part of three Super Bowl winners.

Minnesota went 10-6, 6-10 and 8-8 in Walker's three seasons and lost 41-13 during its lone playoff appearance with him on the roster.

1. Chiefs Move for Mahomes (2017)

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Only eight seasons into his career, Patrick Mahomes is already a two-time league MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion.

And he didn't even start immediately.

Kansas City had a veteran QB in Alex Smith yet invested heavily in Mahomes. On draft day in 2017, the Chiefs paid a hefty price—a pair of first-rounders and a third-round pick—to acquire the 10th selection from the Buffalo Bills.

Mahomes spent his rookie year as the backup, but a loss in the playoff opener signaled the end of Smith's tenure.

Kansas City shifted to Mahomes, who's a perfect 7-for-7 in winning AFC West titles and making the AFC Championship Game. So far, the Chiefs have appeared in the Super Bowl five times with a 3-2 record on that stage.