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For many years, the NFL trade deadline was a boring affair that didn't see many big names moved. That was until recently, when trades have been made at the deadline left and right. Some teams look for the extra pieces to make a playoff run while others are willing to unload players for future assets.
Regardless of the reason, it is undeniable that the NFL trade deadline is now one of the busiest and most hectic days of the season. This was exemplified by last year's trade deadline, when a bunch of superstars were moved at the deadline. The year before, in 2022, there was even a record number of deals made. The 2024 NFL trade deadline is Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. ET, and with a number of moves expected to happen again this year, we decided to look back at the most impactful NFL trade deadline trades over the last 10 years.
HM. Marcell Dareus joins the Jacksonville Jaguars defense
When Marcell Dareus was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017, he was past his prime. Still, this was an impactful trade as he became yet another piece on a stacked Jaguars defense. The 2017 Jaguars went down as one of the most legendary Jacksonville teams ever, and Dareus came in and became an impactful rotation piece. The two-time Pro Bowler stuck around for two more seasons in Jacksonville as well.
10. Leonard Williams is traded to the New York Giants
Leonard Williams was viewed as an elite prospect when he was drafted by the New York Jets with the sixth-overall pick in 2015. Although he had slightly disappointed in New York, it was still a surprise to see the Jets trade him to the other team in New York in 2019. The Giants acquired Williams for third and fifth-round picks.
Since then, Williams developed into a great defensive lineman and formed one of the best defensive interior units in football with Dexter Lawrence, but he has since been traded to the Seattle Seahawks.
9. Vernon Davis goes to the Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have been one of the most trade-happy teams around the deadline in recent years. In fact, they have made the second most NFL trade deadline trades over the last 10 years. On top of that, most teams didn't get in on the trade deadline action until 2017, but the Broncos were consistently making moves before that. Their first trade within the last decade was for Vernon Davis in 2015. Davis had already put together a legendary career with the San Francisco 49ers, and the Broncos offense was in need of a boost. The defense was the best in the league, but Peyton Manning's offense wasn't living up to expectations.
The Broncos traded two sixth-round picks to bring in Davis in the hopes he could get a talented offense back on track. The team was stacked in the receiver department, but they needed another tight end because Julius Thomas had left the team in the offseason. Davis did not put up crazy numbers for the Broncos, but he helped the team win Super Bowl 50.
While being a piece that helps a team win a Super Bowl is super important, this trade was even more impactful for the precedent it set. It established the idea that contenders should trade for star players to maximize their potential in the present, even if it may hurt them in the future. Almost all Super Bowl contenders make big trades nowadays in order to better their shots at a Super Bowl.
8. Jamie Collins goes to the Cleveland Browns
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots were not afraid to do things differently than most teams when Belichick was running the team. This was illustrated when the Patriots traded Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns in 2016, just half of a season after he was a Second-Team All-Pro member in the third year of his young career.
Collins was one of the rising stars of the NFL, but if you aren't a team-first player that fits Belichick's system, he is willing to move off of you, and that was exactly what happened with the Jamie Collins trade. The Patriots have been a part of some of the most shocking trades over the last decade, and this was definitely one of them.
7. Mecole Hardman reunites with the Kansas City Chiefs
Mecole Hardman made a name for himself as a speed threat in the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs' offense. He eventually left the team for the New York Jets, but he didn't have the same level of success with the team. Due to Aaron Rodgers' injury early in 2023, the Jets playoff hopes faded, and Hardman became expendable.
The Chiefs, who were trying to win back-to-back Super Bowls, wanted to get the missing pieces for their postseason run. They did just that when they re-acquired Hardman. The move paid off, as Hardman ended up catching the game the game-winning catch of overtime in Super Bowl LVIII.
That move alone made the trade deadline deal one of the most impactful ever, as Hardman was responsible for one of the most iconic Super Bowl plays ever. The Chiefs are currently 7-0 ahead of the 2024 NFL trade deadline, and they are trying to become the first team to ever win three straight Super Bowls. Hardman is holding down the fort at the receiver position as fellow pass catchers Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown have suffered injuries.
6. Roquan Smith joins the Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens seemingly always have elite middle linebackers, so it made perfect sense that the team traded for Roquan Smith in 2022. Smith's tenure with the Ravens is still young, but it seems like he should be a high-impact player on an always great defense for a long time.
Since being traded to the Ravens, Smith has already been named a Pro Bowler and First-Team All-Pro member. Smith had teamed up with Patrick Queen to form arguably the best middle linebacker tandem in football, but now he is the sole side at the off-ball spit in Baltimore. Smith has a case as not only one of the best middle linebackers in the sport, but one of the best players overall, regardless of position.
5. T.J. Hockenson is traded to the Minnesota Vikings
The 2022 trade deadline deal involving T.J. Hockenson was a rare one because it was an inner-divisional trade involving a superstar. It was also a rare trade that worked out for both sides. The Detroit Lions found a great tight end replacement in Sam Laporta, and they've become arguably the best offense in football even after Hockenson's departure.
The Minnesota Vikings are also playing elite football, though, and now Hockenson is slated to return from injury. The tight end's return will give the Vikings another layer on offense in their pursuit of a Super Bowl, as Hockenson was playing like one of the best tight ends in the NFL in 2023 prior to his injury.
4. Bradley Chubb heads to Miami to play for the Dolphins
When the Denver Broncos traded Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins in 2022, it was viewed as one of the biggest trades in recent memory. Chubb has been good but not great in Miami. While he has been a solid player, he has still underperformed in comparison to expectations. Still, Chubb's addition in Miami was supposed to make the Dolphins Super Bowl contenders.
The team made other big trades involving players such as Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey. The Dolphins have had their moments with this core, but the team has not lived up to expectations. The Dolphins have enough talent to turn things around, but the team will need Chubb to return from injury and get the defense back on track.
3. Kyle Van Noy becomes a New England Patriot
Kyle Van Noy's career was fading into oblivion with the Detroit Lions. Then, he got traded to the New England Patriots in 2016. Not only were deadline trades rare at the time, but Van Noy's trade seemed like a minor deal that wasn't going to impact the league all that much.
That did not end up being the case, though. Van Noy's career skyrocketed with the Patriots, and he became a key piece to some great Patriots defenses. He even won two Super Bowls with the Patriots. Van Noy was a staple on the Patriots' defense in his first stint in New England, and his success with the Patriots led him to re-sign with the team after a year on the Miami Dolphins.
2. Jimmy Garoppolo becomes the San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Not often is a prized quarterback traded during the NFL trade deadline, but you can never guess Bill Belichick's next move. The New England Patriots showcased Jimmy Garoppolo in 2016 before getting a second-round draft pick for him at the 2017 trade deadline. It was a surprising move by both teams. Garoppolo was supposed to be the eventual Tom Brady replacement for the Patriots, and the San Francisco 49ers turned heads by giving up a valuable trade chip for a guy with only two career starts to his name.
Garoppolo would end up starting for the 49ers for six seasons, leading them to the Super Bowl once and the NFC Championship an additional time. Injuries led to the Niners eventually moving off of Garoppolo, but when he was on the field, all he did was win football games. The fact that he plays the quarterback position and was still traded made this one of the most impactful and important trade deadline trades ever.
1. Von Miller joins the Los Angeles Rams
Von Miller already had a Hall of Fame career with the Denver Broncos, but the Los Angeles Rams wanted his Super Bowl pedigree. That is exactly what the Rams got out of the former Super Bowl MVP when they traded second and third-round picks for Miller. The Broncos had to press the reset button after years of mediocrity following their Super Bowl 50 win, and the edge rusher had the most trade value on their team.
The Rams had already made big moves to give themselves a chance at the Super Bowl, including trades that brought in Matthew Stafford and Jalen Ramsey, so it made sense for Les Snead to bring in one more piece. Snead is known for being active in the trade market, and the trade for Von Miller paid off as he helped the team win Super Bowl LVI. Miller ended up leaving Los Angeles in the offseason, but his experience and talent were huge in earning the Rams their second Lombardi Trophy.
