5 NFL trades that sent franchises spiraling into disaster ft. Raiders' Antonio Brown gamble
During each NFL season and offseason, trades take place between teams to shake up their rosters. Rebuilding teams may be looking to trade away veterans for draft picks and younger assets. Contending teams may be searching for a finishing piece in the form of a superstar on the move. Trades happen for all different reasons, and their direct impact varies case by case.
While some trades can change the fortunes of certain teams and set them on an upward path, others turn out to be complete disasters. Several trades from NFL history have left such a negative that it derailed the franchise, sometimes for years. Here are five such examples.
#1, Carson Wentz traded to the Colts
Philip Rivers helped the Indianapolis Colts reach the NFL playoffs in the 2020 season. He retired following the campaign, prompting them to acquire Carson Wentz via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Colts had high expectations in 2021, but Wentz failed to lead them to where they wanted to go.
The Colts lost their final two games of the season, including to the NFL-worst Jacksonville Jaguars, forcing them to miss the playoffs. They then traded Wentz to the Washington Commanders and acquired Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons. Less than a year later, the Colts were completely removed from being playoff contenders and coach Frank Reich was fired.
#2, DeAndre Hopkins given away by the Texans
Bill O'Brien made many questionable decisions while serving as both the general manager and coach of the Houston Texans. While his coaching was relatively solid, his front office decisions have sometimes been alarming. The DeAndre Hopkins trade is a perfect example.
He sent the superstar wide receiver away to the Arizona Cardinals during the 2020 season in exchange for running back David Johnson, who appeared to be way past his prime. O'Brien was fired shortly after and was followed by Deshaun Watson playing his final season with the team. They made the playoffs in four of five years before the trade, but have posted just a 11-38-1 record since then.
#3, Raiders take a major gamble on Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown has built a reputation for being one of the most controversial NFL players. The wide receiver forced his way off the Pittsburgh Steelers after publicly feuding with Ben Roethlisberger and the organization. They traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019, where he continued his controversial ways.
Brown missed many practices to protest the new helmet policy and publicly got into confrontations with coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock. He was fined several times before being cut.
#4, Saints go all in for Ricky Williams in 1999 NFL draft
The New Orleans Saints basically risked their future for the right to select Ricky Williams in the 1999 NFL draft. They sent a ridiculous package of eight draft picks to move up to take the highly-rated running back prospect. While he is surely a talented player, he lasted just three years with the Saints.
Coach Mike Ditka was fired from his position just a year after they drafted Williams. It was apparently mostly his idea to go all in for the running back. The trade started a seven-year stretch where they made just one playoff appearance.
#5, Vikings sell their future for Herschel Walker
The Herschel Walker trade is one of the most insane transactions in NFL history. The Dallas Cowboys sent their superstar running back to the Minnesota Vikings in 1990 for a massive package of draft picks and established players, including three first-rounders and three second-rounders. It featured the largest trade in NFL history with a total of 18 picks and players involved.
Owner Jerry Jones executed this landmark deal just a year after he purchased the team. He used all of the picks to build a dynasty as his Cowboys won three Super Bowl rings in the first six years of his ownership. The move didn't have a similar outcome for the Vikings. Walker lasted just three years with the team, and they went on to have a drought of seven years without a postseason victory.