The NFL trade deadline is like a last-minute shopping spree, where teams scramble to land that one player who could change their season. Sometimes, though, these “game-changing” trades turn out to be disasters, leaving fans and teams wondering what went wrong.
With the deadline around the corner, let’s dive into five of the worst trade deadline deals in NFL history. These are the trades that promised a lot but backfired in ways no one saw coming!
5. Buffalo Bills Traded Kelvin Benjamin From Panthers (2017)
The Bills’ decision to trade for Kelvin Benjamin in 2017 was one of those “it could work” trades that just went south. Benjamin, a 2014 first-round pick, had shown potential during his rookie season with the Panthers, logging 73 catches for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns. However, injuries derailed his career – he missed all of 2015 after an ACL tear in training camp, and in 2016, his production dipped.
By 2017, Benjamin was playing okay, though not quite at his rookie level. After eight games, the Panthers decided to ship him off to the Bills in exchange for third- and seventh-round picks in 2018. At first, the idea seemed promising for Buffalo, who were looking to make a playoff push. But Benjamin only played six games before a torn meniscus took him out again. He made it back for Buffalo’s playoff matchup with the Jaguars but contributed just one catch for nine yards in a low-output game.
The next season was no better. Benjamin, playing on his fifth-year option, had 23 catches on 62 targets in 12 games. His catch rate was a horrid 35%, the worst in the league, and Buffalo cut him by the end of the season. Benjamin’s career never recovered, making this trade a short-lived gamble that fell flat.
Also Read: NFL Blockbuster Trades That Are About To Happen Before The Trade Deadline
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
4. Chicago Bears Trade For Chase Claypool (2022)
Chase Claypool had a solid start to his NFL career. A second-round pick for the Steelers in 2020, he recorded 121 catches for 1,733 yards and 11 touchdowns in his first two seasons. But after Pittsburgh drafted receiver George Pickens in 2022, Claypool’s role began to shrink, and he looked like a potential trade piece.
The Bears, needing a spark for their 3-5 team, jumped on the opportunity. They offered their 2023 second-round pick, which ended up being the first pick of the second round. The result? Chicago got 14 catches and 140 yards out of Claypool in seven games. In 2023, he played just three games before expressing frustration with the team, which led to him being traded to Miami.
Meanwhile, the Steelers used Chicago’s pick to select cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who quickly became a promising young star. It’s safe to say the Bears would love a redo on this one.
3. Indianapolis Colts Send First-Round Pick To Cleveland Browns For Trent Richardson (2013)
This trade was head-scratching the day it happened. Trent Richardson, the third overall pick in 2012, was coming off a promising rookie season with the Browns, totaling 950 yards and 11 touchdowns. But it raised eyebrows when the Browns sent him to the Colts two games into the 2013 season for a first-round pick.
In Indianapolis, Richardson immediately struggled, averaging under three yards per carry and scoring only two touchdowns in nine games before being demoted. He played one full season with the Colts before being waived and never returned to the NFL. Indianapolis got little in return for a first-round pick, while the Browns later used that pick to select Johnny Manziel – another infamous move, but at least they got a shot at a QB they wanted.
Also Read: Can The New York Giants Move On From Quarterback Daniel Jones After This Season?
2. Green Bay Packers Thought John Hadl Is Their Franchise Quarterback (1974)
In 1974, the Packers were desperate for a quarterback, and when John Hadl became available, they jumped in with both feet. Hadl had earned All-Pro honors with the Rams in 1973, so the Packers believed he could be their answer. They sent an unprecedented package to Los Angeles: two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a third-rounder.
What followed was one of the worst deals in NFL history. Hadl struggled mightily in Green Bay, leading the team to a 7-12 record over one and a half seasons while throwing just nine touchdowns and 29 interceptions. Meanwhile, the Rams made full use of those picks, building a team that would win six straight NFC West titles and even make a Super Bowl appearance.
1. Minnesota Vikings Trade Their Future For Herschel Walker (1989)
The Vikings’ trade for Herschel Walker is the worst deadline deal in NFL history, and some even argue it’s the worst trade, period. By 1988, Walker was a top player with Dallas, racking up over 2,000 scrimmage yards and making the Pro Bowl. The Vikings, eager to push for a Super Bowl, swung a massive deal: they gave Dallas five players, three draft picks, and extra conditional picks if Dallas cut the players.
When the Cowboys benched those players, they received Minnesota’s first- and second-round picks from 1990 to 1992, plus additional picks. The Cowboys used the haul to build a dynasty, acquiring key players like Emmitt Smith and Darren Woodson, leading to three Super Bowls in the 1990s.
Walker, meanwhile, never topped 850 rushing yards in a season for Minnesota. The Vikings missed the playoffs every year except for his first and watched Dallas become the powerhouse they could’ve been.
Also Read: What Moves Should Every NFL Team Consider At The Trade Deadline?
