NFL Draft 2024: What Are the Best Draft Day Trades of All Time?

What happens in the upcoming NFL draft can make or break a team. Throughout the years, legends like Randy Moss, Jerry Rice, Jerome Bettis et cetera have proved that the right choice of players can make a team legendary. We can look at teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, who got Patrick Mahomes as a trade and now are on their way to possibly becoming a dynasty.

But these players were not drafted, they were acquired as a part of the draft day trade. For some teams, giving these players was a huge mistake, but those on the receiving end of the deal made the most out of them. In the wake of this upcoming draft, it’s only fair to take a trip back in time to jog our memories.

The most famous trades of the NFL Draft

It would only be fair talk about San Francisco 49ers Jerry Rice. It was in 1985 when the 49ers sent second and third-round picks to the Patriots to make the trade and they also got the Patriots 3 round pick in return. Rice ended up being 3x Super Bowl Champion, 11-time All-Pro, and Super Bowl MVP.

Another name to be mentioned here is the Dallas Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith after the Cowboys sent a third-round pick to the Steelers to move to the 17 spot instead of their 21 overall pick. Smith finished his career with more than 18k rushing yards and 164 rushing touchdowns. Later, he became the first ballot Hall of Famer.

How can we forget the Eli Manning trade? In 2004, Eli Manning was traded to the New York Giants, courtesy of the San Diego Chargers. He initially got drafted by the Chargers but didn’t want to play for them. At the same time, the Giants had Phillip Rivers. They traded the QB shortly after. The NY team sent Rivers, along with a third-round selection, and 2005 third and fifth-round picks to the Chargers in exchange for Manning.

But obviously, countless others fit the bill as well.

Honorable mentions

Patrick Mahomes has to be mentioned in this conversation. It was in 2017 when the  Chiefs traded places to secure a franchise QB. The Chiefs gave up their 27 overall pick, a third-rounder, and a 2018 22 overall pick to move up to No. 10 to secure Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes was named to the Pro Bowl and even became a league MVP at one point. Not to mention the three Super Bowl championships under his belt.

Also, it would be unfair to forget Randy Moss. The New England Patriots acquired him for a fourth-round pick on the final day of the 2007 draft. At one point he helped the Patriots with a 16-0 season and took them to a Super Bowl, which they eventually lost to the NY Giants. The All-Pro receiver is a Hall of Famer now!

READ MORE- Following Tyreek Hill’s Munich Surprise, Dolphins WR Dresses Up as Old Man to Prank Strangers

Who are some of your favorites that didn’t make it to the list? Let us know below.

READ MORE- “He’s Broke”: Travis Hunter’s Fiancée Leanna Humorously Exposes Colorado’s Millionaire Athlete Losing Her $200 Birthday Money