Ranking the 10 Biggest Blockbuster Trades in NFL History

June 1 brought a pair of NFL trades, one expected and one a blockbuster surprise. While most anticipated the deal that sent A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots, the Los Angeles Rams' trade for Myles Garrett was a bombshell.

To acquire the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, the Rams sent edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick to the Cleveland Browns.

Given the size of the deal, its potential impact on the league and the star power involved, it's easy to consider the Garrett trade one of the biggest blockbusters in NFL history.

Just where does it rank on the all-time list? Here, you'll find our picks for the top 10 historic blockbusters, based on factors like overall impact, compensation value, player profile and anything trade-specific.

We're specifically looking at trades involving established players, so draft trades— like the New Orleans Saints' 1999 deal to land running back prospect Ricky Williams—weren't considered.

10. Carolina Panthers Trade Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Christian McCaffrey

49ers Received: RB Christian McCaffrey

Panthers Received: 2023 2nd-, 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-round picks

The Rams are obviously hoping that trading for Garrett adds the final piece to their Super Bowl puzzle. The San Francisco 49ers likely held the same view when they acquired Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey ahead of the 2022 trade deadline.

At the time, McCaffrey was coming off back-to-back injury-plagued seasons, but he was also a former NFL rushing champion and still just 26 years old. San Francisco avoided sending out a first-round pick but still gave up four draft picks to acquire him.

Of course, the fact that McCaffrey was dealt in-season made this more of a headline-grabber than the trade value—or the fact that a struggling Panthers team was willing to part with its biggest star.

Adding McCaffrey hasn't gotten San Francisco another Lombardi Trophy, but it's helped the 49ers appear in one Super Bowl and two NFC Championship Games since. McCaffrey has earned two first-team All-Pro nods, one Offensive Player of the Year award, and one Comeback Player of the Year award since joining the 49ers.

9. Indianapolis Colts Trade Marshall Faulk to St. Louis Rams

AP Photo/Chuck Robinson

Marshall Faulk

Rams Received: RB Marshall Faulk

Colts Received: 1999 2nd-round pick, 1999 5th-round pick

Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk wasn't traded during the season, and he didn't land the Indianapolis Colts a massive haul when they dealt him in 1999. However, this trade was still a stunner that went on to change the course of NFL history.

Faulk was an established star by 1999. The three-time Pro Bowler was coming off a season with 2,227 scrimmage yards and had never failed to reach 1,000 scrimmage yards in any one of his five NFL campaigns to that point.

The Rams were able to land Faulk for a relative bargain because he was seeking a new contract, and the Colts were looking to get younger at running back. Indy drafted Edgerrin James with the fourth overall pick in 1999.

Faulk went on to become a centerpiece of the Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" alongside Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. The Rams won the Super Bowl in Faulk's first season with the franchise and he was the league MVP in 2000.

Faulk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

8. Las Vegas Raiders Trade Khalil Mack to Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Joe Mahoney

Khalil Mack

Bears Received: Edge Khalil Mack, 2020 2nd-round pick, conditional 2025 5th-round pick

Raiders Received: 2019 1st- and 6th-round picks, 2020 1st- and 3rd-round picks

We've become accustomed to seeing star running backs being traded or reaching the free-agent market. However, top-tier pass rushers rarely change teams while they're still in their prime.

That's part of the reason why the Garrett trade was so shocking. It's also the main reason why the Las Vegas Raiders' decision to deal Khalil Mack in 2018 was such a stunner.

Mack was just 27 years old at the time and was still very much in his playing prime. He had just completed his third straight Pro Bowl campaign and was only a year removed from being named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

The fact that Las Vegas was willing to move its best player—and do it just before the start of the regular season—took many folks by surprise.

The trade didn't go according to plan for Chicago, which made just two playoff appearances and traded Mack after four seasons without a postseason win. The Raiders ultimately didn't do much with their return either, but the deal was certainly a blockbuster at the time.

7. St. Louis Rams Trade Eric Dickerson to Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Eric Risberg

Eric Dickerson

Colts Received: RB Eric Dickerson

Rams Received: 1988 1st- and 2nd-round picks (via Colts), 1988 1st-round pick (via Bills), 1989 1st-round pick (via Bills) and two 1989 2nd-round picks (via Colts and Bills), RB Owen Gill, RB Greg Bell

Bills Received: Rights to LB Cornelius Bennett

The Rams' 1987 trade of Eric Dickerson didn't exactly come as a shock, even though it occurred during the regular season. Dickerson had led the league in rushing during three of his first four years, but he had long engaged in a well-publicized contract dispute that began with a 1985 holdout.

What made this deal a true blockbuster was the sheer number of pieces involved and the Buffalo Bills' involvement as a third team.

The Colts also managed to offload linebacker Cornelius Bennett, whom they drafted second overall that year but failed to reach a contract agreement with. (The rookie wage scale wasn't implemented until 2011.)

Indy got 61 regular-season games, two Pro Bowls and one playoff appearance out of Dickerson, while the Bills got a bona fide star in Bennett. The Rams failed to maximize their return, but the size of this deal still seems staggering nearly 40 years later.

6. Dallas Cowboys Trade Micah Parsons to Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Micah Parsons

Packers Received: Edge Micah Parsons

Cowboys Received: 2026 1st-round pick, 2027 1st-round pick, DT Kenny Clark

If not for the Garrett trade, the Micah Parsons deal from 2025 might stand as the biggest blockbuster involving a pass rusher in NFL history.

At the time, Parsons was seeking a contract extension, and the Cowboys were taking their time to give it to him. The then-26-year-old had certainly earned it, with four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro nods in four seasons.

However, Dallas seemed content to let Parsons play out his rookie deal and then potentially play on the franchise tag twice.

"We've really got three years to work this thing out," franchise owner Jerry Jones said on Michael Irvin's YouTube channel shortly before Parsons was traded (h/t ESPN's Todd Archer).

Jones' public stance on Parsons made the late-August trade a fairly significant surprise. Some were also surprised that Dallas didn't get more out of a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate, although the Cowboys did get a Pro Bowl defensive tackle and two first-round picks in the deal.

We still have to see how this trade plays out for the Cowboys and the Packers, but it already stands as one of the biggest blockbusters in recent memory.

5. Cleveland Browns Trade Myles Garrett to Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/David Dermer, File

Myles Garrett

Rams Received: Edge Myles Garrett

Browns Received: Edge Jared Verse, 2027 1st-round pick, 2028 2nd-round pick, 2029 3rd-round pick

We won't know how the Garrett trade pans out for the Browns and Rams for several more seasons. However, the names, timing and potential impact of this deal make it one of the biggest blockbusters in league history regardless.

The fact that the rebuilding Browns decided to cash in their biggest trade chip wasn't the surprising piece of the deal. What was surprising was that Garrett requested a trade last season and was instead placated with a four-year, $160 million extension.

Cleveland repeatedly said it wouldn't trade Garrett, and it watched him set a new single-season sack record in 2025, only to deal him a few months later.

"As we embark on a new era of Browns football with a young core and a replenished asset base, we felt this move was important to our transition," Browns franchise owner Jimmy Haslam said in a statement.

The Browns at least got a solid return for the 30-year-old Garrett. Verse, who will only turn 26 in November, is already a two-time Pro Bowler. Cleveland also got some premium picks for its ongoing rebuild.

Meanwhile, the Rams added the game's most dominant defender coming off a career-best season. They should now be considered the NFL's team to beat, even over the rival and reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

4. Seattle Seahawks Trade Russell Wilson to Denver Broncos

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Russell Wilson

Broncos Received: QB Russell Wilson, 2022 4th-round pick

Seahawks Received: 2022 1st-, 2nd- and 5th-round picks, 2023 1st- and 2nd-round picks, QB Drew Lock, TE Noah Fant, DL Shelby Harris

The Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions, and their 2022 trade of quarterback Russell Wilson helped them reach the NFL zenith.

Seattle had won the Super Bowl in 2013 with Wilson at the helm, and it reached the big game again in 2014. However, while Wilson had earned his ninth Pro Bowl nod in 2021, the Seahawks hadn't advanced past the divisional round since 2014 and were clearly looking for a fresh start.

They got it by dealing Wilson and a 2022 fourth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for a massive haul. The Seahawks' return netted key contributors to their 2026 run, including outside linebacker Derick Hall, edge rusher Boye Mafe, offensive tackle Charles Cross, and cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

In other words, Seattle flipped Wilson to help build a new core, then added the finishing piece by signing quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency.

Things didn't work out nearly as well for the Broncos, who got a mere 11 wins out of Wilson and cut him after just two seasons. Of course, we're here to discuss blockbuster trades, not necessarily deals that were great for all parties involved.

3. Houston Texans Trade Deshaun Watson to Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Deshaun Watson

Browns Received: QB Deshaun Watson, 2024 6th-round pick

Texans Received: 2022 1st-round pick, 2022 4th-round pick, 2023 1st-round pick, 2023 3rd-round pick, 2024 1st-round pick, 2024 4th-round pick

Speaking of deals that didn't work out well for all parties involved...

There are two ways to look at the 2022 trade that sent Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans to Cleveland, but it was a blockbuster from any angle.

From the Texans' perspective, the trade was an all-time terrific deal. For the Browns, it was arguably the worst trade in NFL history.

The Browns already had a quarterback in Baker Mayfield who had led them to the playoffs. They decided to give up on the then-26-year-old to add Watson, who had refused to play the previous season and who was facing multiple lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual assault or misconduct.

The Browns gave up a ridiculous haul for Watson before signing him to an unprecedented, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. In return, they've gotten 19 starts over four years and a whole lot of bad football.

Watson will have one last chance to salvage his career under new Browns head coach Todd Monken. However, Watson has been a bust to this point, and the cost of adding him is why the Browns are rebuilding without Garrett rather than chasing the playoffs with him.

2. Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams Swap Starting QBs

AP Photo/Brian Blanco

Matthew Stafford

Lions Received: QB Jared Goff, 2021 3rd-round pick, 2022 1st-round pick, 2023 1st-round pick

Rams Received: QB Matthew Stafford

The 2021 trade that sent Jared Goff and draft picks to the Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford was a monumental blockbuster for multiple reasons.

For one, the Rams and Detroit Lions swapped starting quarterbacks, which is something NFL teams rarely do. Secondly, the trade has become one of the biggest win-win deals in modern NFL history.

Los Angeles won the Super Bowl in its first year with Stafford under center, and it just watched him win his first league MVP this past season. The Rams are now going all-in on the 2026 season—they traded for Garrett and Trent McDuffie this offseason—and may get another Super Bowl out of Stafford.

The Lions, meanwhile, got a Pro Bowl-caliber starter in Goff and turned the draft capital into key contributors such as running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta and wide receiver Jameson Williams. They still haven't gotten to the Super Bowl with Goff, but the Lions have had a winning record in four of the five seasons since this deal went down.

1. Dallas Cowboys Trade Herschel Walker to Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Steve Krauss, file

Herschel Walker

Vikings Received: RB Herschel Walker, 1990 3rd-round pick, 1990 5th-round pick (via Chargers), 1990 10th-round pick, 1991 3rd-round pick

Cowboys Received: 1990 1st-, 2nd- and 6th-round picks, 1991 1st- and 2nd-round picks, 1992 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-round picks

When it comes to NFL blockbusters, there have been none bigger or more impactful than the Cowboys' 1989 agreement that sent Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings.

As everyone now knows, the deal was a bust for Minnesota. However, it helped jump-start a Dallas dynasty.

The initial deal involved Minnesota's 1990 first-, second- and sixth-round selections, along with Jesse Solomon, David Howard, Darrin Nelson, Issiac Holt and Alex Stewart. However, all five players were tied to conditional draft picks that the Cowboys would receive if they were cut before February 1, 1990, which they were.

The end result was a bevy of high draft picks that became stars like running back Emmitt Smith, cornerback Kevin Smith and safety Darren Woodson.

The Cowboys went on to win three Super Bowls in the early 1990s, a run for which this trade served as a catalyst.