NFL Trades That Dropped More Jaws Than Super Bowl XXXVIII

Football | 10/24/23

NFL franchises usually have a pretty good grasp on analyzing potential, but that doesn't always guarantee success. We're sure if the Atlanta Falcons knew Brett Favre only needed someone believing in him for him to become the player he became, they wouldn't have traded him his first year on the team. Shocking, isn't it? Well, the NFL has a lot of mind-blowing trades that left fans in an uproar. Take a read and find out what they were.

Brett Favre To The Jets

favre to jets-82219100
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Brett Farve had a stellar career for the Green Bay Packers. He won them a championship, he threw an insane amount of touchdowns, and he became a Green Bay hero. His downfall came after he repetitively kept playing with his retirement.

The front office didn't like that too much, and they decided to ship Favre to the New York Jets. He still had on one shade of green, but he couldn't match the same success he had as a Cheesehead.

ADVERTISEMENT

Marshawn Lynch To Seattle

ADVERTISEMENT
lynch to the seahawks
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Buffalo Bills haven't been a threatening team in the NFL for quite some time. Rebuilding is a term organizations use when it's time to unload their current players, in hopes of starting new and younger.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mid-way through the 2010 season, the Bills began the process, and none other than Marshawn Lynch was a part of the fiasco. They sent him to the Seattle Seahawks for a bag of chips and a bar of soap (a couple of draft picks). We then witnessed Lynch become Beastmode in the Northwest.

ADVERTISEMENT

Marshall Faulk To The Rams

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
marshall faulk
Todd Warshaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Todd Warshaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In what could be the best trade in NFL history, the Indianapolis Colts got the short end of the stick with this one. In 1999, the Colts wanted to get rid of Marshall Faulk so they could draft Ricky Williams.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Rams couldn't resist and landed the future Hall of Famer for a second and fifth-round pick. The first year he played there, the Rams would go on to win the Super Bowl. Faulk retired with 12,279 career rushing yards.

ADVERTISEMENT

Joe Montana To The Chiefs

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
chiefs
Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images
Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It's always tough for franchises to move on from a player that's a legend and provided so much value over their tenure. That was the case for the San Francisco 49ers and Joe Montana when he wasn't ready to retire, but Steve Young was ready to take over.

ADVERTISEMENT

Think of it like Peyton Manning with the Colts as Indianapolis wanted to draft Andrew Luck to replace the decaying (but still highly effective) icon. The Niners ended up sending Montana and David Whitmore to the Kansas City Chiefs for their first-round selection in 1993.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jalen Ramsey To The Rams

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
the rams
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The defending NFC champs were on a three-game losing streak after winning their first three games of the 2019-20 NFL season. Due to this, they had to make an aggressive roster move to help restore order. Hello there, Jalen Ramsey.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ramsey is the only cornerback to hold quarterbacks below an 80.0 passer rating when they throw his direction since the 2016 season. Ever since acquiring the all-pro defender, the Rams have been unstoppable. They hope to make another run to the Super Bowl.

ADVERTISEMENT

Randy Moss To The Vikings

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
vikings
Anthony J. Causi/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images
Anthony J. Causi/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

There aren't many receivers in the history of the league as talented as Randy Moss. His legend is still prevalent; whenever someone makes a miraculous catch over a defender, the defenseman gets "Mossed."

ADVERTISEMENT

Due to his many moods, the New England Patriots sent him back to the Minnesota Vikings (where he started his career) in 2010. He wanted more money on his contract, but the Patriots couldn't give the man what he desired. The Patriots received a third-round 2011 pick for the star.

ADVERTISEMENT

Carson Palmer To The Raiders

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
oakland raiders
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

To say the relationship between the Bengals and Carson Palmer was in a bad place would be a vast understatement. Simply put, the quarterback held out, saying he'd rather retire than play for the Bengals, a few weeks into the season he received a text to head over to Oakland.

ADVERTISEMENT

Palmer desperately wanted to get traded from Cincinnati, and the Oakland Raiders were able to grant his wish after the Bengals looked as if they weren't going to allow him to leave.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jimmy Garoppolo To The 49ers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
press conference for Jimmy G
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

At one point in time, it looked like the Patriots had a replacement ready for Tom Brady, in the event that he eventually became mortal. This replacement was Jimmy Garoppolo, who even played backup to Tom Brady in two Super Bowls.

ADVERTISEMENT

The only thing is that Brady still had a decent amount of gas in the tank in 2017. As a result, the Pats shipped Jimmy G to the 49ers, and the rest was history.

ADVERTISEMENT

Khalil Mack To The Bears

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Khalil
Will Newton/Getty Images
Will Newton/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When the Oakland Raiders first drafted Khalil Mack in the 2014 draft at the fifth spot, many scratched their heads. It wouldn't take long for the Oakland faithful to appreciate the defensive juggernaut and want him protected at all costs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Then, Jon Gruden arrived in Oakland, and one of his first moves was sending Mack to the Chicago Bears. On the surface, it looked like one of the most ludicrous trades ever, but after advanced analytics presided over the exchange, it turned out not to be so bad.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jerome Bettis To The Steelers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
the steelers
G. N. Lowrance/NFLPhotoLibrary
G. N. Lowrance/NFLPhotoLibrary
ADVERTISEMENT

It was draft day 1996, and the Pittsburgh Steelers made a huge move. The St. Louis Rams landed Jerome Bettis, but the Steelers must have deeply wanted The Bus on their team even before he earned that nickname.

ADVERTISEMENT

They sent the Rams second and fourth-round picks for Bettis and a third-rounder. Bettis would go on to post six straight 1,000-yard seasons as he ran his way into the Hall of Fame. The Steelers knew what they were doing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Odell Beckham Jr. To The Browns

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
beckham
Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Surrounding this trade was a vast number of "whys?" Why did the Giants get rid of the man who possibly made the greatest catch in NFL history? Why did New York trade the star for two draft picks and a safety?

ADVERTISEMENT

Also, why did General Manager Dave Gettleman sign Beckham Jr. to a considerable extension and then send him packing within seven months? "I've been to seven [Super Bowls], and every single team had a great locker room," he said. We guess that answers the questions. Beckham has had a history of being a distraction.

ADVERTISEMENT

John Elway To The Broncos

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
broncos
DOUG COLLIER/AFP via Getty Images
DOUG COLLIER/AFP via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Many times, players aren't who they'll be when they come out of college to the league. That wasn't the case for John Elway, who was spectacular right from the jump. When the Colts chose him first overall in the 1983 draft, he refused to sign with the debacle of a team.

ADVERTISEMENT

Elway demanded a trade while his agent said Elway "would be a garbage collector before he'd play for Baltimore." Elway also looked to have a promising career in baseball, so he used that as leverage to secure the deal to the Broncos.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sam Bradford To The Vikings

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
the vikings
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Then Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had a great season in 2016 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. The Vikings, who wanted to make the playoffs, hadn't lost hope, so they contacted the Philadelphia Eagles.

ADVERTISEMENT

The two teams eventually worked out a deal that sent the former first overall pick to Minnesota for a few picks. The Vikings received a filler for Bridgewater that didn't pan out how they expected. It's not fun getting the short end of the stick.

ADVERTISEMENT

Eric Dickerson To The Colts

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
the colts
Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Focus on Sport/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It was a trade that shocked the entire football world. The Los Angeles Rams decided to get rid of all-pro running back Eric Dickerson in a massive ten player, three-team deal involving the Bills and Colts.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Colts cut ties with two players and six draft picks to acquire the talent from the Rams in 1987. The Colts also had to let go of a rookie linebacker by sending him to Buffalo so that they could get a player and more draft picks for the Dickerson trade.

ADVERTISEMENT

Brett Favre To The Packers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
105196802_original
Getty Images
Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Brett Favre makes an appearance again, but this time earlier in his career. The Atlanta Falcons selected the quarterback 33rd overall in the 1991 draft, but it was all for nothing.

ADVERTISEMENT

After starting his career terribly (his first regular-season pass was an interception that almost became a touchdown), the Falcons had enough. The Packers shipped a first-round pick for the future Hall of Famer. General Manager Ron Wolf won this deal as he believed in Favre.

ADVERTISEMENT

Steve Largent To The Seahawks

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
portrait
Contributor/Getty Images
Contributor/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Steve Largent had an interesting start to his remarkable career. After having a college career to brag about at the University of Tulsa, he surprisingly didn't hear his name in the 1976 draft until the 4th round.

ADVERTISEMENT

It took the Houston Oilers only four preseason games to determine that they didn't need his services anymore. Largent was going to get cut, but instead, they sent him to the Seattle Seahawks for a 1977 eighth-round pick. Seattle had the last laugh as Largent went on to have a great career.

ADVERTISEMENT

Steve Young To The 49ers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
young on the 49ers
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The 49ers trading for Steve Young ultimately contributed to them shipping out Joe Montana. They probably had a better sense than any fan if Montana was on the decline, so they did what was best for the business.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 49ers gave the Buccaneers a second-round pick, $1 million, and a fourth-round selection in exchange for Young. Up until that point, Young was only 3-16 as a starter and had ten more interceptions than touchdowns. That didn't matter because he went on to become a legend.

ADVERTISEMENT

Atlanta Gets Julio Jones From Cleveland

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
julio jones looks up
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Browns made a costly mistake at the 2011 draft. They swapped picks with the Atlanta Falcons, only to miss out on juggernaut Julio Jones. Cleveland received five draft picks in return. Those picks turned out to be non-notables including Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson.

ADVERTISEMENT

Neither player or the remaining picks would leave a lasting impact. As for Jones, he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career receiving yards, accomplishing the feat in 104 games.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Herschel Walker Trade

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-484247547
Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images
Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It's the most historic trade the NFL has ever seen. Dallas sent Minnesota standout running back Herschel Walker along with three draft picks. The Cowboys ended up with four players and eight picks, using one of those picks to draft the legendary Emmitt Smith.

ADVERTISEMENT

Plus, Dallas got their hands on defensive tackle Russell Maryland and safety Darren Woodson. That would be enough to build a dynasty in the nineties. As for Walker, he only played two and a half seasons with the purple and gold.

ADVERTISEMENT

Antonio Brown To The Raiders

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
106142910-1569165557313gettyimages-1169918846
Getty Images
Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Yes, there was severe off the field issues going on between Antonio Brown and the Steelers, but his talent seemed to matter more. After many tweet-then-delete messages from Brown, his public statements concerning Big Ben, and saying he wanted to leave, Brown finally got his wish.

ADVERTISEMENT

As messed up as things were in Pittsburgh, there could have been a way to keep the all-pro talent who led the league in pretty much every stat pivotal to the wide receiver position. All the Steelers received in return form Oakland was a third and fifth-round pick.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trent Richardson To The Colts

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
trent richardson was shockingly traded to the colts
Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images
Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Cleveland Browns selected Trent Richardson as a top-three pick in the 2011 draft. The Alabama product quickly gave the Browns the impression he wasn't going to turn out to be the generational talent they might've hoped him to become.

ADVERTISEMENT

They sent him to the Indianapolis Colts in 2013 as a result. Once he landed with the Colts, his career began to fizzle out and it looked the Browns finally made a great business move for once.

ADVERTISEMENT

Julio Jones Didn't Return The Falcons A First-Round Pick

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
julio jones of the falcon
David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In 2021, under a massive salary cap crunch that would make it impossible to sign their draft picks, the Atlanta Falcons traded Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans for a 2022 second and fourth round draft pick.

ADVERTISEMENT

When it was first announced Jones was on the trade block, it was believed the Falcons' wanted to be blown away with an offer than included at least a first round pick. When push finally came to shove, however, Atlanta was forced to take what they could get.

ADVERTISEMENT

Terrell Owens To The Eagles

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
on the eagles
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

One of the most polarizing figures in sports history is, without a doubt, Terrell Owens. The wide receiver played for a handful of teams throughout his career and found a way to impact them all, even if it was negatively.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 49ers ended up sending a pick they acquired from the Ravens, back to Baltimore, and traded Owens to the Eagles for defensive end Brandon Whiting. The Eagles would end up going to the Super Bowl with the combination of Owens and Donovan McNabb.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chandler Jones To The Arizona Cardinals

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-900946578-23206
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Bill Belichick has a long history of trading players in their contract years. For the most part, it's worked in the coach's favor. In 2016, the New England Patriots struck a blockbuster deal with the Arizona Cardinals that didn't follow the trend.

ADVERTISEMENT

The team traded pass rusher Chandler Jones in exchange for offensive lineman Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick. Jones has reached three consecutive double-digit sack season in the desert. As for Cooper, he was released by the Patriots in 2016.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chicago Bears Gave Away Greg Olsen

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-896247044-71407
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Most people might not remember that Greg Olsen spent four seasons in the Windy City. He wasn't able to find consistency with either Kyle Orton or Jay Cutler as his quarterback. That would lead the Bears to send him to the Carolina Panthers for a third-round pick in 2012.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chicago flipped the pick to the San Diego Chargers. As for Olsen, he found a new life with Cam Newton as his go-to target. He managed to reach three 1,000-yard seasons from 2012-2014.

ADVERTISEMENT

49ers Hand Over Alex Smith To Kansas City

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-895857066-84140
Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Alex Smith was concussed in 2012, opening the door for Colin Kaepernick. Coach Jim Harbaugh went with the hot hand, leading to a Super Bowl appearance. Following the season, the 49ers sent the former first overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for two draft selections.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 49ers turned it into four additional picks, including Carlos Hyde. Smith led the Chiefs to five winning seasons. He is credited for quickly transitioning a franchise into a winner that had struggled for most of the 21st century.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dallas Cowboys Get Amari Cooper

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1079978686-24156
Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images
Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

It's too early to say the Oakland Raiders lost on the Amari Cooper trade. While the team is in rebuild mode, they did get a 2019 first-round draft pick for fourth overall selection from the 2015 draft.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cooper quickly established himself as Dallas' new number one wide receiver, working alongside Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. The Raiders, as they did with Khalil Mack, wound up trading another young star in his prime. Hopefully, they can make up for it at the draft.

ADVERTISEMENT

Colts Send Marshall Faulk To St. Louis

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-110323997-63025
Dilip Vishwanat/Sporting News via Getty Images
Dilip Vishwanat/Sporting News via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Hall of Famer was a huge part of the Colts offense from 1994 to 1998. As soon as Peyton Manning came to town, the offense had limitless potential.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, Faulk would be on the short end of the stick as the team traded him to the Rams for draft picks that would become Mike Peterson and Brad Scioli. Faulk was on "The Greatest Show On Turf" offense with Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce, eventually winning Super Bowl XXXIV.

ADVERTISEMENT

New England Patriots Handed The 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1043689430-26601
Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Jimmy Garoppolo showed his worth in two starts with the Patriots while Tom Brady was suspended. Belichick, always an opportunist, opted to trade the young quarterback at the 2017 trade deadline. He sent the East Illinois alum to the San Francisco 49ers for their 2018 second-round draft pick.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Jimmy G" would win his first six starts for the 49ers. In return, the team handed him a five-year extension worth $137.5 million. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in Week 3 and he missed most of the 2018 season.

ADVERTISEMENT

Buffalo Bills Get Shady For LeSean McCoy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1081792704-73956
Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Bills hit a home run when they landed LeSean McCoy in 2015. The Blockbuster trade saw the running back be shipped from the Philadelphia Eagles for linebacker Kiki Alonso. The Eagles rolled with DeMarco Murray and Ryan Matthews at running back, who both flopped in the City of Brotherly Love.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meanwhile, the Pro Bowl running back became Bill's top offensive threat with two 1,000 rushing yard seasons under his belt. But, at least the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018.

ADVERTISEMENT

Miami Dolphins Got Tired Of Jarvis Landry

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1089443042-96543
Jason Miller/Getty Images
Jason Miller/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

There's no denying that the Dolphins haven't developed superstar players since Dan Marino. At LSU, Jarvis Landry was a nightmare of a matchup for opposing defenses. After a few underwhelming season in the NFL, the Dolphins decided to trade away the flashy playmaker to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fourth and seventh-round selection.

ADVERTISEMENT

In Cleveland, Landry produced at a high level, especially with Baker Mayfield as his quarterback. The Browns' were so happy they even handed him a $75 million contract extension. Meanwhile, the Dolphins seem to be regressing in yet another full-on rebuild.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chargers Trade Up For Ryan Leaf

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-142847612-78916
David Madison/Getty Images
David Madison/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

This one is a doozy. The 1998 NFL Draft saw Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf as two-franchise changing quarterbacks. The Indianapolis Colts selected the future Hall of Famer while the San Diego Chargers took a chance on Leaf.

ADVERTISEMENT

Initially, the Chargers swung a deal with the Cardinals to climb up into the second overall position, in exchange for two firsts and a one-second round draft pick. Football fans know Manning's status, but for Leaf, he became one of the biggest draft busts ever.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bears Land Khalil Mack For Beans

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1080053866-67708
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Khalil Mack was a fan favorite for the black and silver, and this trade was a clear win for the Bears. It drastically improved their defense. The Raiders received four draft picks for Mack, including two first-rounders, but that still isn't enough.

ADVERTISEMENT

In Chicago, Mack had over 10 sacks and six forced fumbles, becoming the leader of the NFL's best defense. All the best to Mark Davis who will have to find his replacement as soon as possible to keep his fans happy.

ADVERTISEMENT

Browns Help Eagles Draft Carson Wentz

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1077782744-92203
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In 2016, the Browns had the second overall pick of the draft. But, in true Clevland fashion, they swapped picks with the Eagles. The Browns ended up with Corey Coleman and DeShone Kizer, terrible trade for Cleveland.

ADVERTISEMENT

As for the Eagles, they selected Carson Wentz with the second pick. The quarterback would emerge as an MVP candidate, and likely would have won had he not torn his ACL late in the 2017 season. It's a good thing he has so many years ahead of him.

ADVERTISEMENT

Oakland Lands Mike Haynes

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-98885101-50095
Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Focus on Sport/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Throughout the seventies and eighties, Mike Haynes was a dominant cornerback. He was one of the few standouts who played for a struggling Patriots franchise. Haynes would be named to six Pro Bowls during his tenure in New England.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, the team shipped him to the Los Angeles Rams during the 1983 season for two draft picks. Haynes continued to show his dominance with the black and silver, reaching a Super Bowl title along the way. Now, he's enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bears Trade For Rick Mirer, Because Of Course They Do

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-147749319-24199
Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Seattle Seahawks were in need of a franchise quarterback. They selected Norte Dame alum Rick Mirer with the second selection in 1993. Mirer struggled endlessly in his four years there.

ADVERTISEMENT

When the Bears saw something in him, they swung a deal with the Seahawks. Chicago acquired the quarterback for a 1997 first-round draft pick. Mirer would play one disastorous season in the Windy City. As for the Seahawks, they used that pick to select future Pro Bowl cornerback Shawn Springs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bucs Hand 49ers Steve Young

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-962545268-74963
Doug Pensinger/Allsport/Getty Images
Doug Pensinger/Allsport/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In 1984, Tampa Bay selected Steve Young in the Supplemental Draft. The lefty never developed in Florida, which is why he was traded to the 49ers in 1987, receiving four draft picks in return.

ADVERTISEMENT

From that point on, Young became Joe Montana's understudy and eventually took over the starting role in 1991. He would help the team win a Super Bowl with two MVP awards along the way. Young kept the dynasty going, and eventually was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ricky Williams Failed His Teat In The Big Easy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-893020-54937
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

New Orleans had their eyes set on drafting Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams. The Saints gave up all of their 1999 draft selections, along with first and third-round picks in 2000 for him.

ADVERTISEMENT

After two seasons, the team sent Williams to the Dolphins before the 2002 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, the Redskins move around the draft board and ended up with cornerback Champ Bailey. Plus, they selected a standout linebacker, LaVar Arrington.

ADVERTISEMENT

Patriots Gift 49ers Jerry Rice

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-902464844-45647
George Gojkovich/Getty Images
George Gojkovich/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The 49ers knew it was crucial to find Joe Montana another great pass-catcher. At the 1985 Draft, the 49ers made sure to get Jerry Rice when they traded two draft choices to the Patriots to move up.

ADVERTISEMENT

New England used those picks Trevor Matich and Ben Thomas, none of whom became impact players. As for Rice, he led the 49ers to three Super Bowl championships and retired as the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

ADVERTISEMENT

Brett Favre Heads To Lambeau Field

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-459957190-76343
Sporting News via Getty Images
Sporting News via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Atlanta Falcons drafted the Hall of Famer with the 33rd pick in 1991. Then coach Jerry Glanvile was never sold on Favre, though. After his rookie year, the quarterback was shipped to the Green Bay Packers for the 19th pick of the 1992 draft.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Falcons selected Tony Smith, who totaled over 300 rushing yards in three seasons with the team. Well, for Favre, just about every football fan knows what he did. Even with stops in New York and Minnesota, he's still one of the greatest of all-time.

ADVERTISEMENT

John Elway Didn't Want To Be A Colt

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-515240642-64276
Bettmann/Getty Images
Bettmann/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The Baltimore Colts drafted quarterback John Elway with the first overall pick in 1983. Elway's issue was that he had zero interest in playing for the blue and white. So, the Colts traded away Elway to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Chris Hinton and Mark Herrmann.

ADVERTISEMENT

The deal would be a significant franchise change for the Broncos while the Colts regressed until Peyton Manning came along. Elway would go on to win two Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998.