The biggest in-season NFL trades of all time

There have been plenty of big in-season trades over the years. These are 30 of the biggest in-season trades in NFL history.

Sanders had quite a six-year run with the Broncos, winning one Super Bowl and making two Pro Bowls. He struggled to stay healthy late in his tenure with Denver but was still productive, apparently necessitating the 49ers to swap third and fourth-round picks for Sanders and a fifth-rounder. Sanders help San Francisco advance to the Super Bowl before leaving in free agency.

Sanu was just Atlanta's No. 3 wideout, but the talented receiver had his best season in 2018 with 838 yards receiving. Desperate for receiver help, the Patriots traded a second-round pick to the dying Falcons. He struggled to stay healthy in his first half-season with New England.

Ramsey demanded a trade early in the year and then proceeded to sit out several games with a "back injury." Finally, the Jaguars gave up, shipping the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback to the Rams for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick. Ramsey's back issue was apparently just fine after the deal, as he immediately took the field in Week 7.

The tanking Dolphins waved the white flag after only two games, trading Fitzpatrick, the 11th overall draft choice just one year prior, along with fourth- and seventh-round picks to the Steelers for first-, fifth-, and sixth-rounders. The timing of the deal was also curious for the Steelers, who historically have not traded first-round picks, just days after losing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the season.

Cooper looked like a star two years into his career in silver and black, making consecutive Pro Bowls. However, his rhythm with quarterback Derek Carr was broken in 2017, and the two still couldn't get on the same page in 2018 when head coach Jon Gruden came on board. Jerry Jones came calling, shipping the Cowboys first-round pick to Oakland for Cooper. The wideout sparked the Dallas offense with 725 yards receiving and six touchdowns in nine games, helping send the team to the playoffs.

The Ajayi trade looked much bigger at the time than it actually turned out to be. Less than a full year after Ajayi rushed for 1,272 yards and eight scores with the Dolphins, he was traded to Philly for a conditional fourth-round pick. He added to the Eagles running back rotation in their Super Bowl season, with 408 yards in seven games and a nice playoff contribution, but he suffered a serious knee injury the following season.

Despite offensive line issues, the Texans traded the disgruntled Brown and a fifth-round pick to the Seahawks for second and third-round picks. The veteran tackle still made his fourth Pro Bowl in 2017 and has remained a staple on the Seattle offensive line.

The young Garoppolo showed great flashes backing up Tom Brady in New England, but it was clear the Patriots wouldn't be able to retain the quarterback as he approached free agency. They were able to salvage a second-round pick from the 49ers at the trade deadline, and Garoppolo went on to go 5-0 with the 49ers to close out the year. After missing most of 2018 with a knee injury, he led the team to the Super Bowl in 2019.

The still competitive Panthers shocked the football world when they traded Benjamin to the Bills for a third- and seventh-round pick at the 2017 trade deadline. As it turned out, Carolina was selling high on the former 1,000 yard receiver, as he had only 217 yards in six games with the Bills and was released after 12 games the following year.

Despite making the Pro Bowl the previous year and starting six games in early 2016, the Patriots traded Collins to the lowly Browns for a third-round pick. Collins signed a contract extension with Cleveland following the year but was cut only two years into the deal, returning as a top performer in 2019 for the Pats.

As they often do, the Patriots bought low on a disappointing player in Van Noy, sending a sixth-round pick to the Lions for the third-year linebacker. Van Noy went on to become one of the most important pieces of the Patriots defense, contributing well in every facet.

Just one year after selecting Richardson third overall in the draft and seeing him run for 950 yards and 11 scores during his rookie season, Cleveland traded the young running back to the Colts for a first-round pick only two weeks into the 2013 season. It was a trade that shocked the league, but the Browns would end up the clear winners after Richardson struggled with the Colts over two seasons. Richardson was cut after the 2014 season and never played another down in the NFL.

Talib was an excellent cover corner early in his career but had trouble staying on the straight and narrow, suspended in 2012 after testing positive for PEDs. The Bucs traded him to the Patriots for a fourth-round pick during the suspension. He got on track in New England, making the Pro Bowl in 2013 before signing a lucrative deal with Denver in 2014.

Palmer helped pull the Bengals organization out of the depths, but the disgruntled quarterback insisted he would retire in 2011 rather than return to the team. Apparently Cincinnati was able to get its asking price for Palmer in mid-October, netting a first- and second-round draft pick from the Raiders for Palmer. The quarterback couldn't do much in two seasons as a Raider with a limited supporting cast, but he did eventually revitalize his career after Oakland traded him to the Cardinals following the 2012 season.

Four years after Branch was traded from New England to Seattle, the Seahawks returned the favor. Acquired for a fourth-round pick, he effectively replaced Randy Moss and showed he wasn't finished in the NFL. Branch had 706 yards receiving and five touchdowns in only 11 games for New England in 2010 and continued to play well the following season.

Moss had a terrific three-year run in New England, including a historic 2007 season, but he got off to a slow start in 2010. In early October, the Patriots traded Moss to Minnesota for a third-round pick. The wide receiver lasted less than a month with the Vikings before he was waived due in part to a disagreement with head coach Brad Childress. He finished the year with the Titans.

Lynch had an up-and-down, three-plus years to start his NFL career in Buffalo before the Bills traded him to Seattle for a fifth-round pick. The trade was arguably the greatest move in Seahawks history, as Lynch turned into a star, making four straight Pro Bowls and helping the team win a Super Bowl.

Brown was a star early in his career with Cleveland, but his performance with the team fizzled by his fifth season. Edwards was traded after four games in 2009 to the Jets for Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik, and a third-round pick. He was relatively productive with his new team, finishing with 541 yards in 12 games the rest of the year and 904 yards and seven touchdowns during 2010. However, Edwards left via free agency in 2011.

The Cowboys acquired Williams, a former Texas Longhorn, from the Lions in October, 2008, for a first-, third- and sixth-round pick. The former Pro Bowl wideout wasn't able to come close to matching his early career performance while with the Cowboys and was released following the 2010 season.

Chambers had a good six-plus year run in Miami before the team traded him to San Diego in 2007 for a second-round pick. Already familiar with head coach Norv Turner's offense, Chambers finished out the year with 555 yards and four scores in 10 games with the Chargers. However, he struggled with the team in 2008 and the start of 2009 before he was released.

These days Anthony "Booger" McFarland mans the "Monday Night Football" broadcast booth, but the defensive tackle was part of a huge trade during his final NFL season on the field. He reunited with head coach Tony Dungy, who drafted him in Tampa Bay, for a second-round pick and was able to win a Super Bowl with the Colts.

Branch held out at the start of the 2006 season before getting traded on Sept. 11 to the Seahawks for the first-round pick. He spent four-plus seasons in Seattle but never had more than 725 yards in a season before he was traded back to the Patriots four years later.

At age 42 and in his final season, this trade was just a footnote for the greatest wide receiver ever. In his fourth season with Oakland, Rice was shipped north to Seattle after he requested a trade due to his role on the team. Seattle shipped a seventh-round pick to the Raiders, and Rice finished his career with 25 catches for 362 yards and three scores over 11 games with the Seahawks.

McCardell held out at the start of the 2004 season after an 1,100 yard season in 2003. Finally, the Bucs traded him to the Chargers for third- and fifth-round picks. McCardell played seven regular-season games and one playoff game for San Diego that year and went on to play two additional seasons with the team.

Cleveland and Dallas swapped wideouts after Bryant had a public dispute with Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells. Morgan had only 22 receptions for 260 yards in nine games with Dallas before moving onto Pittsburgh in 2005, while Bryant had 546 yards and four scores in 10 games during the 2004 season before reaching 1,000 yards for the first time in 2005 with the Browns.

Cowboys head coach Jimmie Johnson completed one of the most famous and lopsided trades in NFL history when he traded Walker to the Vikings for five players and eight draft picks, including three first-rounders. Walker rushed for 1,000 yards only once more in his career after 2.5 years in Minnesota, while the Cowboys built a dynasty by using the draft picks on Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith and Darren Woodson.

Dickerson led the NFL in rushing in three of his first four seasons, but a contract dispute caused the Rams to trade him early in the 1987 season. The three-team deal netted the Rams two running backs, three first-round picks and two second-round picks, with Dickerson going to Indianapolis and linebacker Cornelius Bennett going to Buffalo. Dickerson spent the following four full seasons in Indianapolis and led the NFL in rushing yards once more.

Haynes made the Pro Bowl in six of his first seven seasons, but his contract was awarded to the Los Angeles Raiders after a contract dispute in 1983. The Raiders sent first and second-round picks to New England in return. Haynes went on to play seven seasons for the Raiders, making three more Pro Bowls and winning one Super Bowl.

The Rams got a huge return from Green Bay during the 1974 season for the 34-year-old Hadl, with five draft picks. Hadl finished the season 3-3 as a starter but struggled the following year, going just 4-9 in 13 starts.

After winning three championships in Detroit, Layne was traded to the Steelers for young quarterback Earl Morrall. Layne played the rest of his career in Pittsburgh, going 27-19-2 over five seasons. Morrall had a long career that ended after the 1976 season.