Denver Broncos legend and team president John Elway once said that “deals you don’t make are the best ones.”
It depends which side you’re on, of course. For example, the Green Bay Packers were smart to not trade Aaron Rodgers while he was their backup. Other teams were silly for not ponying up a big package for him.
Over the past few years, there were a number of MAJOR NFL trades that came so close to taking place. They would have changed the NFL landscape, but the pen never signed the paper.
Today we present 10 recent NFL trades you didn’t know almost happened.
A.J. McCarron to Cleveland
A former star at Alabama, A.J. McCarron has had to accept life as Andy Dalton’s backup in Cincinnati. McCarron has shown flashes here and there, and probably could start on a bad team.
The Cleveland Browns nearly made a deal for McCarron at the 2017 trade deadline, reportedly prepared to part with two draft picks. But in typical Browns fashion, they found a way to screw up.
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Apparently, the executives got too excited about the trade and forgot to call the NFL to announce it. So it fell through. Classic Browns, eh?
Malcolm Butler Becomes a Saint
It’s been a nice journey for Malcolm Butler. After becoming an unexpected Super Bowl 49 hero, Butler was named to two Pro Bowls and helped the Patriots win a second championship. He’s one of the top corners in the game.
But Bill Belichick opted to play hard ball with Butler during negotiations. He signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a $65 million contract, and Butler tried drawing a trade to the Saints.
Ultimately, he came back to the Pats on a cheap one-year deal worth $3.91 million. No big payday for you, Malcolm.
Brandon Marshall To the Patriots
As if Tom Brady didn’t have enough weapons, perennial Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall nearly joined up.
During a 2015 interview with ESPN 1000, Marshall admitted that the Chicago Bears nearly dealt him to New England. The reason? He said there was tension in the contract talks. Ultimately, he was traded to the New York Jets. Poor Marshall.
Revis Island Relocates To Denver
Following a brutal 2012 season, the New York Jets were ready to trade franchise superstar cornerback, Darrelle Revis. In 2013, the Broncos were reportedly interested in trading for Revis, and the ultra-aggressive John Elway had his chance to make a play for the star.
But the Jets ultimately dealt him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he’d spend one year before being released.
Jim Harbaugh To the Browns
Despite leading the San Francisco 49ers to three NFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl 47 berth, Jim Harbaugh was disliked in San Francisco. The players couldn’t stand him, and nearly moved him despite his impressive three-year tenure on the west coast.
Pro Football Talk reported in 2014 that the 49ers nearly traded Harbaugh to the Cleveland Browns for draft choices, but he didn’t have any intention to leave the 49ers.
Poor Browns. They just can’t seem to make a trade happen.
Richard Sherman To the Dark Side?
Countless NFL players have openly discussed how much they despise the Patriots. Seattle Seahawks star corner Richard Sherman is one of them, constantly taking shots at Tom Brady. Sufficed to say, the idea of these two playing together sounds awkward and scary for the rest of the league.
But during the 2017 offseason, Seattle was shopping Sherman. Reports said he wanted to play there, and the team was interested in making a deal.
Nothing happened, though, and Sherman remained with Seattle. 30 other teams breathed a sigh of relief.
Jimmy Garoppolo Becomes a Brown
After two great performances in the 2016 season, Jimmy G became a popular trade candidate for QB-hungry teams. At the 2017 trade deadline, he was dealt to the San Francisco 49ers for a second-round pick.
But NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said that the Browns “made a stronger offer” to the Patriots for Garoppolo than the 49ers. For whatever reason, Bill Belichick didn’t bite on it. And we must say this again…
Poor Browns!
Larry Fitzgerald Flies To Philly
Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald has spent his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals. What can we say? The man knows what loyalty is.
During the 2012 season, however, Fitzgerald dropped a bomb of a story. He told CSN Philly that the Cardinals nearly traded him to Philadelphia in 2008 for first and third round draft picks.
HE didn’t specify why it didn’t go through but he wound up signing a four-year extension with the Cardinals. And as luck would have it, Arizona would beat Philly in the 2008 NFC Championship Game. Imagine how things could have been different if Fitz went to the Eagles.
Ben Roethlisberger Leaves the Steel City
Big Ben won two Super Bowl championships with the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was even 27 years of age. He’s since become arguably the greatest quarterback in franchise history, setting most of the team’s QB records.
In 2010, NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported that the Steelers tried trading Big Ben to the Rams. They hoped to move up to the top drafting spot but the Rams foolishly said no.
A trade to the Oakland Raiders was also rumored, but that also fell through.
Silly Steelers. Trying to trade one of the best quarterbacks in the league. You guys got lucky on this one.
Aaron Rodgers Joins the Raiders
Aaron Rodgers is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL. The Oakland Raiders have been one of America’s worst sports teams over the past 15 years.
Well, Rodgers could have been the franchise-saving hero. In 2007, Packers’ Qb Brett Favre pushed hard for the team to land fading star, Randy Moss.
The Packers were prepared to offer Rodgers for Moss, but they also wanted draft picks. But Oakland owned the top pick in ‘07, and wound up drafting JaMarcus Russell. So that trade never materialized.
So Oakland wound up with one of the biggest busts ever. The Packers kept the guy we may call the GOAT some day.
