The Most Impactful Draft-Day Trade for Every NFL Team

From Ricky Williams to Patrick Mahomes to Eli Manning, almost every year a memorable trade happens during the NFL draft. There are also the trades that yielded first-round picks, such as the Los Angeles Rams trading picks in 2025 that resulted in the franchise drafting quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 in the 2026 NFL draft. So which draft-day trade has had the biggest impact -- good or bad -- on each NFL franchise? We asked our NFL Nation reporters to look back at each team's most meaningful swap of picks, focused on draft weekend primarily but including big-time moves for first-round picks. Some trades have brought Super Bowl titles, and others brought mediocrity or regret. Either way, all have been unforgettable.

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AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

The trade: The Bills traded up to the No. 7 pick in 2018 to select QB Josh Allen, sending selection No. 12 and two second-round picks (Nos. 53 and 56) to the Buccaneers. The Bills also received pick No. 255. This draft-day trade was actually the Bills' second trade up in the 2018 first round after moving up from pick No. 21 to No. 12 earlier that offseason. The result of the moves netted Buffalo its franchise quarterback for the long haul in Allen and one of the league's best signal-callers. What a pick the 2024 MVP has been for the organization, leading the team to two AFC Championships and five straight AFC East titles along with countless record-breaking statistics courtesy of both his passing and rushing abilities. The team was set on doing what was needed to acquire Allen on draft day and it has paid off in every way.

Miami Dolphins

The trade: In 2001, Miami sent picks Nos. 56 and 122 to the Cowboys in exchange for No. 52, which it used to draft a speedy wide receiver out of Wisconsin, Chris Chambers. The 5-foot-11, 210 pound Chambers set a franchise rookie record with 883 receiving yards and tied the franchise rookie touchdown record with seven. He was a mainstay for Miami during his seven seasons there, notching 5,688 yards and 43 touchdowns before he was traded to the San Diego Chargers midway through the 2007 season. Chambers finished his Dolphins career as the franchise's fourth-leading receiver, with the lone Pro Bowl nod of his career in 2005.

New England Patriots

The trade: New England acquired wide receiver Randy Moss from the Raiders for a fourth-round pick during the 2007 draft. Moss had been looking for a change of scenery and the Patriots' ultracompetitive environment proved to be the right fit. He set the NFL record for most touchdown receptions in a season (23) in his first year in New England. The Patriots posted a 16-0 regular-season record before their magical season ended by being upset by the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

New York Jets

The trade: The Jets made a 2007 draft-day trade with the Panthers, dealing the 25th pick, a second-round pick (59th) and a fifth-round pick (164th) to move up 11 spots in the first round and acquire a sixth-round pick (191st). New York then drafted cornerback Darrelle Revis with the No. 14 pick, and he went on to become arguably the greatest defensive player in franchise history. He was a four-time, first-team All-Pro selection (three times with the Jets, once with the Patriots) and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2023. Thanks to his lockdown play at cornerback, "Revis Island" became part of the football lexicon.

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

The trade: In 2018, the Ravens traded back into the first round, sending two 2018 picks (a second- and fourth-rounder), as well as a second-round selection in 2019, to the Eagles in exchange for the No. 32 pick and a fourth-rounder in 2018. Baltimore then drafted QB Lamar Jackson at No. 32. It was a surprise that the Ravens moved back to get Jackson, who became a two-time NFL MVP and changed the direction of the franchise. After replacing Joe Flacco in the middle of the 2018 season, Jackson turned Baltimore into a perennial playoff team again, leading the Ravens to six playoff berths, five AFC North titles and two No. 1 seeds in the AFC. He established himself as one of the NFL's most exciting playmakers and the best dual threat in the league by setting the most rushing yards by a quarterback (6,522) and ranking No. 1 in career passer rating (102.2) entering the 2026 season. After Jackson was drafted by the Ravens, he said, "They're gonna get a Super Bowl out of me." Eight years later, that remains the only part missing from his Hall of Fame résumé.

Cincinnati Bengals

The trade: In 1995, the Bengals moved up from No. 5 to No. 1 to select former Penn State RB Ki-Jana Carter. Cincinnati traded two picks to the Panthers, which then selected QB Kerry Collins with the No. 5 pick. The Bengals have made very few draft-day trades, and none are as big as the one that landed Carter. Whereas other moves featured notable players (trading down in 1992 for QB David Klingler; Washington took WR Desmond Howard), this was a rare example of the Bengals moving up the board to land their player. Carter was a Heisman finalist in his final season at Penn State in 1994. But injuries kept him from fulfilling his potential as a pro. He suffered a season-ending injury in the first preseason game of his rookie year. He played in 35 games and started in 14 in four seasons with the Bengals.

Cleveland Browns

The trade: Last year, the Browns traded the No. 2 pick and the Nos. 104 and 200 picks to the Jaguars for a haul that included the No. 5 pick, No. 36 and No. 126 and a 2026 first-round selection. Cleveland passed on the opportunity to take one of the most unique prospects ever in two-way star Travis Hunter, instead trading the pick to the Jaguars. The trade netted the Browns the fifth pick (DT Mason Graham), the No. 36 pick (RB Quinshon Judkins), the 126th pick (RB Dylan Sampson) and a 2026 first-rounder, which the Browns used to select Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion in last week's draft. It remains to be seen how things will play out for both teams, but Cleveland's 2026 haul -- thanks in part to the trade with the Jaguars -- could help usher in a new era of Browns football.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The trade: The Steelers sent their 27th, 92nd and 200th picks to the Chiefs in exchange for No. 16 in 2003. It's hard to find a more impactful draft-day trade in Steelers history than the one that landed them Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu. Though Steelers general manager Omar Khan has been more aggressive in moving around during the draft, the previous regime typically held pat. That wasn't the case in 2003 when Pittsburgh snagged the USC safety on Day 1. Polamalu went on to win two Super Bowls, earn four All-Pro nods and the 2010 AP Defensive Player of the Year. The Chiefs' end of the trade turned out OK, too. They drafted running back Larry Johnson at No. 26, and he was a solid back in seven seasons with the Chiefs.

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

The trade: In 2023, the Texans traded up nine spots to select pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 3 pick. After drafting quarterback C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 pick, the Texans made an aggressive gamble to trade back up to No. 3 to land the Alabama defensive star, doubling down on a bold, franchise-altering vision. Since the arrival of both Stroud and Anderson, Houston has gone 32-19 in the regular season, captured two AFC South titles and secured three playoff victories. Anderson is an All-Pro and recently signed a three-year, $150 million contract that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback.

Indianapolis Colts

The trade: In a 2018 draft-day trade with the Jets, the Colts moved back from No. 3 to No. 6 to select Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson. With Andrew Luck still under center, the Colts weren't in the market for a quarterback and took advantage by swapping with the Jets. That allowed New York to move up for QB Sam Darnold, who infamously struggled during his three-year tenure. Meanwhile, with the No. 6 pick, the Colts grabbed Nelson, who is already on a Hall of Fame trajectory. The Colts also drafted tackle Braden Smith with one of the three second-round choices they netted, and he went on to become an eight-year starter.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The trade: In 2008, the Jaguars gave up their first-round pick (No. 26), two third-round picks and a fourth-round pick -- all of which were in the first 125 selections -- to Baltimore for the No. 8 pick, which they used on defensive end Derrick Harvey. The Jaguars watched QB Tom Brady go 26-for-28 in a divisional playoff loss the previous season and believed improving their pass rush was the key to a Super Bowl run. Harvey held out for 38 days, had 3.5 sacks as a rookie and totaled just 8.0 sacks and 21 QB hits in three seasons before being cut with two years remaining on his contract to go down as one of the biggest busts in franchise history.

Tennessee Titans

The trade: Tennessee sent the No. 1 pick of the 2016 NFL draft, along with its fourth- (No. 113) and sixth-round (No. 177) picks to the Rams in exchange for Los Angeles' first-round pick (No. 15), two second-round selections (Nos. 43 and 45) and a third-round pick (No. 76) in 2016. The Titans also picked up the Rams' first- and third-round picks in 2017. This blockbuster trade set the Titans up for their playoff run to the AFC Championship Game in 2019 and the No. 1 seed in the AFC in 2021. In that same 2016 draft, the Titans traded up to the No. 8 pick, sending their No. 15 pick to Cleveland, and selected Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin. Running back Derrick Henry (No. 45 in 2016) and wide receiver Corey Davis (No. 5 in 2017) were also selected with the picks the Titans acquired. Henry went on to lead the league in rushing in 2019 and 2020.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

The trade: The Broncos moved up twice -- once as the first round unfolded -- to get from the No. 29 pick to No. 11 where they selected quarterback Jay Cutler in the 2006 draft. Calm yourself because, yes, the franchise's trade to acquire QB John Elway will always be the most impactful trade in the Broncos' history. But they didn't acquire Elway on draft day; the Colts selected Elway No. 1 and he was traded to the Broncos a week later. In 2006, coach Mike Shanahan moved from No. 29 to No. 15 in a trade with the Falcons in March and then moved from No. 15 to No. 11 during the first round. Shanahan, after the team had lost in the AFC Championship Game to close out the 2005 season, was looking for another long-term quarterback. Shanahan was fired after the 2008 season and Cutler was traded by the Broncos to the Bears in 2009 by newly hired Josh McDaniels -- without McDaniels ever coaching him in a single meeting or practice.

Kansas City Chiefs

The trade: In 2019, the Chiefs executed their greatest trade on opening night of the draft. Moving up 17 spots, the Chiefs traded first- and third-round picks and another first-round pick in 2018 to move up from No. 27 to No. 10 to select Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Since the trade, the Chiefs have emerged as the league's newest dynasty, becoming the first franchise in two decades to win consecutive championships. In a six-year stretch, Mahomes led the Chiefs to five Super Bowl appearances, a record for the most in a six-year period. Mahomes has led the Chiefs to three Super Bowl victories, has won three Super Bowl MVPs and earned two league MVP trophies.

Los Angeles Chargers

The trade: The Chargers traded quarterback Eli Manning in 2004 to the Giants for quarterback Philip Rivers, a 2004 third-round pick (kicker Nate Kaeding) and the 2005 first-round (linebacker Shawne Merriman) and fifth-round pick (tackle Roman Oben). This trade gave the Chargers perhaps the greatest quarterback in franchise history in Rivers, who led the Chargers to four straight AFC West titles from 2006 to 2009. Merriman quickly became one of the league's best linebackers, winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and earning All-Pro honors in his second and third seasons. This move was a franchise-altering trade that resulted in some of the most successful years in team history.

Las Vegas Raiders

The trade: In 2018, the Raiders traded away their No. 10 pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for picks No. 15, a third-round pick (No. 79) and a fifth-round pick (No. 152). The Raiders used the No. 15 pick to select left tackle Kolton Miller. While the Cardinals traded up to select quarterback Josh Rosen, a move that ended up being a disaster for the franchise, the Raiders selected Miller, who has been a stable presence on the offensive line for nearly a decade. Miller has started in 111 of 113 career games for the Raiders and signed a three-year extension ahead of the 2025 season. However, by trading away the No. 10 pick, the Raiders missed out on an opportunity to take either defensive tackle Vita Vea, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, or safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection.

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

The trade: In 1990, Dallas traded its first- and third-round picks to the Steelers to move up four spots to No. 17 to take Emmitt Smith. Perhaps the 2021 trade down in the first round that allowed the Cowboys to select Micah Parsons could have taken this spot had the Cowboys had playoff success and not such a public divorce in 2025 with the edge rusher. But likely the trade to get Smith, who became the NFL's all-time leading rusher and completed the Triplets with Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman to deliver three Super Bowls in the 1990s, holds the title of the most impactful draft-day trade. The Cowboys had hoped to select linebacker James Francis in the first round when the draft began, but he went to Cincinnati with the No. 12 pick. Smith kept dropping, so the Cowboys made a move for Smith -- a Hall of Famer, MVP, Super Bowl MVP and eight-time Pro Bowler. The Cowboys' path to a Super Bowl can be traced to the Herschel Walker trade, but the deal for Smith cemented their chance to win the titles.

New York Giants

The trade: As mentioned for the Chargers, the most impactful trade for the Giants includes their trading of Philip Rivers, a third-round pick in 2004, and first- and fifth-round picks in 2005 to the San Diego Chargers for Eli Manning. This deal probably took longer than both sides wanted on draft day in 2004. That is because Chargers GM A.J. Smith kept asking for Osi Umenyiora to be included, and the Giants refused. Eventually, the sides agreed on the trade that gave the Giants their second franchise quarterback. Manning went on to lead the Giants to two Super Bowl victories, including the 2007 season when New England went 16-0 and Manning led the Giants to a stunning upset in Super Bowl XLII. Manning was named MVP of both Super Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.