In the NFL, teams make the most trades during the draft period.
A few days before the 2024 auction, many fans are wondering what their favorite club is up to. While we wait for answers, here are some spectacular trades that were made during a draft:
Manning c. Rivers
In 2004, quarterback Eli Manning made it very clear before the draft: he did not want to be selected by the San Diego Chargers. The Californian club didn’t care and still drafted Peyton’s little brother with the first pick!
With the fourth pick of the first round, the New York Giants have set their sights on Philip Rivers. Only a few minutes later, the Big Apple organization got their hands on Manning in exchange for Rivers, a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick.
This exchange was a win for both teams. Manning played for the Giants for 16 seasons and won two Super Bowls. Rivers was also the center of the Chargers for 16 campaigns, but was never able to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
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Many consider this transaction to be the most significant in NFL history during a draft day.
Jerry Rice
If not for a trade in the 1985 draft, the San Francisco 49ers might have three fewer Super Bowls under their belt.
Before the auction, head coach Bill Walsh fell in love with a wide receiver from Mississippi Valley State University, a certain Jerry Rice. He convinced his organization to improve his first-round selection ranking to get his hands on the future Hall of Famer.
The Niners got the first round pick (16th overall) and a third round pick from the New England Patriots for their first round selection (28th overall), as well as their second and third round picks round.
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Rice won the Super Bowl three times with San Francisco, as well as being named the MVP of Super Bowl XXIII. He also holds the NFL records for catches (1,549), receiving yards (22,895) and receiving touchdowns (197).
Randy Moss
Speaking of star pass catchers, the Patriots took advantage of the 2007 draft to acquire a certain Randy Moss.
After playing rain and shine from 1998 to 2004 with the Minnesota Vikings, Moss was traded to the Oakland Raiders. In two seasons with this team, his performance has greatly diminished and so has his value.
The “Pats” took the opportunity to obtain him for a fourth round pick.
In his first year in New England, Moss and his new teammates had a perfect regular season and lost in the Super Bowl.
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In 52 games over four seasons with the Patriots, the receiver put his hands on 259 balls for 3,904 yards and 50 touchdowns.
Patrick Mahomes
In 2017, no one could have predicted that a trade would completely change the fortunes of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Even though it was counting on Alex Smith as the starting quarterback, the Missouri organization made a trade to get their hands on the 10th overall pick and selected a certain Patrick Mahomes.
The Chiefs traded their 2017 first-round (27th overall) and third-round picks, as well as their 2018 first-round selection, to the Buffalo Bills.
Since then, they have won the Vince Lombardi Trophy three times and Mahomes has been named Super Bowl MVP three times. The pivot also won two season MVP awards (2018 and 2022), in addition to receiving six invitations to the Pro Bowl.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
During the same auction, the Chicago Bears gave up two third-round picks and a fourth-round pick to move from the third to second overall pick to select quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
Ricky Williams
Not every trade made at a draft proves successful. Talk to the New Orleans Saints…
In 1999, they gave a lot to get their hands on Ricky Williams. The Saints obtained the fifth overall pick from the Washington Redskins and selected the running back. However, they gave away their seven picks from the 1999 auction, including the 12th overall pick, as well as first and third round selections in 2000.
Photo taken from the X account @WerderEdESPN
Williams played three seasons with the Saints and did not have the expected success. Fortunately for the organization, it received a nice return for the running back by trading him to the Miami Dolphins for two first-round picks.
The Redskins, who have since become the Commanders, have for their part failed several times with their numerous selections.
2024-04-23 15:38:40
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