NFL Draft day is part strategy, part chaos, and all about playing the long game. While some teams make moves that leave fans scratching their heads, others pull off heists that only look more brilliant as time passes.
These trades aged like fine wine, where one team zigged while everyone else zagged—and walked away with a cornerstone player or significant draft capital. Whether it was a risky move up the board or a smart slide down, these front offices made decisions that paid off big-time.
15. Bills Trade Up for Josh Allen – 2018
Buffalo moved up to No. 7 to grab a quarterback with all the tools but many question marks. That gamble turned into one of the most dangerous players in the league.
14. Vikings Get Extra First-Rounder for Percy Harvin – 2013
Seattle gave up a first for Harvin, who barely made it through one season. Minnesota used that pick to reload and left with the better long-term deal.
13. Eagles Trade Up for DeVonta Smith – 2021
Philly jumped the Giants and Cowboys to grab Smith, who’s become a reliable weapon. That move added a dynamic playmaker to their offense and broke a division rival’s heart.
12. Chiefs Move Up for Patrick Mahomes – 2017
Kansas City went from steady with Alex Smith to spectacular with Mahomes. Trading up to No. 10 didn’t just change their team—it altered the league.
11. Ravens Land Lamar Jackson – 2018
Baltimore maneuvered late in the first to take a quarterback many had written off. A few years and one MVP later, that move looks smarter every season.
10. Cowboys Trade Herschel Walker – 1989
This wasn’t on draft day, but the picks Dallas got built their ’90s dynasty. Minnesota got Walker; Dallas got three Super Bowl rings. Easy math.
9. Patriots Trade Down for Rob Gronkowski – 2010
New England moved back in the second round and still got Gronk. That’s how you win the draft without needing a flashy top-10 pick.
8. Seahawks Trade for Marshawn Lynch Picks – 2010
Buffalo offloaded Lynch, and Seattle used the draft capital to build a formidable, physical roster. That deal helped shape the Legion of Boom era.
7. 49ers Trade for Jerry Rice – 1985
San Francisco moved up to snag a receiver from a small school in Mississippi. That pick became the most excellent wide receiver of all time.
6. Steelers Move Up for Troy Polamalu – 2003
Pittsburgh jumped 11 spots to get a safety they needed. Polamalu became the best of their defense for over a decade.
5. Giants Land Lawrence Taylor After Saints Trade Up – 1981
New Orleans moved up for George Rogers, leaving LT on the Giants’ board. It was a franchise-altering misfire for one team and a gift for the other.
4. Texans Get Deshaun Watson – 2017
Houston traded with Cleveland to grab Watson, who immediately changed their offense. Off-field issues aside, the on-field return was undeniable early on.
3. Packers Move Up for Clay Matthews – 2009
Green Bay traded back into the first round to land a high-motor pass rusher. Matthews became a face of the franchise and a Super Bowl champion.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Smartest NFL Quarterback Draft Picks of All Time
2. Cowboys Land Emmitt Smith – 1990
Dallas moved up to get Smith, even though some teams thought he was too slow. He only became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher—no big deal.
Read More: 15 Blockbuster Trades That Devastated Fanbases
1. 49ers Get Joe Montana in the Third Round – 1979
Okay, not a trade, but the pick was made with an extra selection acquired in a previous deal. Landing Montana in the third round with a bonus pick was flat-out legendary.
Read More: 10 Times an NFL Team Destroyed Its Future with a Bad Trade
