5 biggest NFL Draft Day trades of all-time
The NFL Draft is a time of opportunity for every single team in the league. The draft order is set ahead of time, but as fans know, it is subject to change very fast. Trades happen every year that involve established players, along with draft capital used on potential future stars.
Not all trades end up amounting to much. However, some stand out in the history of the NFL Draft because of how they changed the landscape of the league. So, here is a list of the five biggest NFL Draft Day trades:
#5 - Patriots acquire Randy Moss
This shocking deal came during the 2007 NFL Draft. The then-Oakland Raiders wanted nothing to do with Randy Moss and were looking to dump him to another team. This was an elite receiver who was already one of the best the game had ever seen.
Naturally, Bill Belichick was able to swoop in and make a deal. So did it cost a large ransom? No, as the New England Patriots got their star receiver for a measly fourth-round pick. Moss showed up that year and posted a record 23 touchdowns, proving the Raiders totally blew it in the deal.
#4 - Chargers and Giants swap quarterbacks
The 2004 NFL Draft has gone down in history because of the quarterbacks selected. Eli Manning went No. 1 overall and had a legendary career with the New York Giants. Yet, fans cannot forget that he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers.
This came after Manning made it clear that he did not want to play for that franchise. Thus, the Giants agreed to draft Philip Rivers and the two teams swapped quarterbacks.
Manning went on to win two Super Bowls with the Giants, while Rivers had a long and successful run that never ended with a title. Would things have been different if he had played in New York? This blockbuster trade keeps that question as a hypothetical forever.