The Worst NFL Trade Of All Time

[Two Cents]

What has been the worst trade in NFL history up until this point? I thought this topic could definitely use its own thread right about now....

Debate away!!

[Oddball456]

Watson has been HORRIBLE and came with off the field baggage, Wilson was just a bad performer.

[MacDaddy123]

One could make an argument for the Panthers trade up for Young last year.
I mean Bryce Young for 2023 pick 1.09, 2023 pick 2.30, 2024 pick 1.01, 2025 2nd round pick, and DJ Moore.
Young will never be able to live up to that value.

Panthers acted like there was a generational QB prospect in the 2023 QB class, and there was not.
HUGE overpay for the 2023 1.01, and almost everyone knew it long before draft day.

Another honorable mention might be the Titans trading AJ Brown to the Eagles essentially for Treylon Burks.

[KingsKing]

Hershel Walker trade

[MacDaddy123]

Hershel Walker trade

Damn, great one!!! We have a winner!!!
Cowboys built a dynasty out of that one trade!!

NO team would trade three 1sts, three 2nds, one 3rd and one 6th for one RB in today's NFL!!!

[BlackOmega]

Hershel Walker trade

Damn, great one!!! We have a winner!!!
Cowboys built a dynasty out of that one trade!!

NO team would trade three 1sts, three 2nds, one 3rd and one 6th for one RB in today's NFL!!!

As a lifelong Vikes fan I would also choose this trade, Walker did next to nothing for us and Jimmy snookered the Vikes by not playing any of the players he received so he could get picks instead.

[tstafford]

One could make an argument for the Panthers trade up for Young last year.
I mean Bryce Young for 2023 pick 1.09, 2023 pick 2.30, 2024 pick 1.01, 2025 2nd round pick, and DJ Moore.
Young will never be able to live up to that value.

Panthers acted like there was a generational QB prospect in the 2023 QB class, and there was not.
HUGE overpay for the 2023 1.01, and almost everyone knew it long before draft day.

Another honorable mention might be the Titans trading AJ Brown to the Eagles essentially for Treylon Burks.

The B.Young one looks super bad in hindsight because of the 1.01 this season (although I guess that's not technically locked in yet). I'm still hopeful that Young can turn it around. A lot of QBs have had tough seasons especially when drafted near the top of the first round.

[TheTroll]

This one is easy. The Ricky Williams Trade!!!!

Traded to New Orleans

1999 first round pick (5th overall, Ricky Williams)[13]


Traded to Washington[13]

1999 first round pick (12th overall, later traded to Chicago, used to select Cade McNown)[14]
1999 third round pick (71st overall, later traded to Chicago, used to select D'Wayne Bates)[14]
1999 fourth round pick (107th overall, used to select Nate Stimson)[15]
1999 fifth round pick (144th overall, later traded to Chicago, used to select Khari Samuel)[16]
1999 sixth round pick (179th overall, later traded to Denver, used to select Desmond Clark)[15]
1999 seventh round pick (218th overall, later traded to Denver, used to select Billy Miller)[15]
2000 first round pick (2nd overall, used to select LaVar Arrington)[13]
2000 third round pick (64th overall, used to select Lloyd Harrison)[13]

[tstafford]

This one is easy. The Ricky Williams Trade!!!!

Traded to New Orleans

1999 first round pick (5th overall, Ricky Williams)[13]


Traded to Washington[13]

1999 first round pick (12th overall, later traded to Chicago, used to select Cade McNown)[14]
1999 third round pick (71st overall, later traded to Chicago, used to select D'Wayne Bates)[14]
1999 fourth round pick (107th overall, used to select Nate Stimson)[15]
1999 fifth round pick (144th overall, later traded to Chicago, used to select Khari Samuel)[16]
1999 sixth round pick (179th overall, later traded to Denver, used to select Desmond Clark)[15]
1999 seventh round pick (218th overall, later traded to Denver, used to select Billy Miller)[15]
2000 first round pick (2nd overall, used to select LaVar Arrington)[13]
2000 third round pick (64th overall, used to select Lloyd Harrison)[13]

The Williams and Walker trades show how much the NFL has changed.

[Jigga94]

Ricky and Hershel of the past were crazy trades. Russ and then Watson combined with the contracts they got are up there. If Bryce is a bust and that 1st turns into a stud, it will be up there as well

[Pac_Eddy]

Hershel Walker trade

Damn, great one!!! We have a winner!!!
Cowboys built a dynasty out of that one trade!!

NO team would trade three 1sts, three 2nds, one 3rd and one 6th for one RB in today's NFL!!!

As a lifelong Vikes fan I would also choose this trade, Walker did next to nothing for us and Jimmy snookered the Vikes by not playing any of the players he received so he could get picks instead.

Walker was a decent RB for the Vikings for a couple seasons. Still a terrible trade overall.

[Cameron Giles]

Maybe unpopular, but I don't think the Wilson trade is that bad. Considering what we knew at the time, it was fair value for a player who was considered a franchise QB at the time. Yeah, everything fell apart after, but it's very much a hindsight thing. Nobody really saw this outcome as likely.

I don't think it belongs with Walker and Williams, which were inexplicably awful when it happened and proved to be so even more after.

The Walker trade is still the standard though. Minnesota made 6 of the 9 draft picks in that trade conditional on cutting the NFL players that Dallas acquired. I don't think that deal happens if Minnesota knew there was a good chance of those players being cut. Three years of first and second round picks for a 28 year old RB.

[murphysxm]

You are showing your age if the Walker trade isn't your pick. That trade single handedly built a dynasty. Also it is way too early to consider the Bryce Young trade in this discussion.

[Ruggenater]

Definitely the Herschel Walker trade.

For “among the worst” consideration, how about three firsts for Trey Lance?

[Valhalla]

Herschel Walker is the name that instantly comes to mind for me as well.

This isn't a "worst trade of all time" trade, but it's painful to remember. Moss for Troy Williamson.