The Biggest Midseason NFL Trades in the Past Decade

Not only did Christian McCaffrey's move to the San Francisco 49ers make headlines because he's a star player, but part of the appeal was also because of the deal's rarity.

Unlike the NBA, big-name NFL players typically don't traded in midseason. So, when they do, it's a big deal.

The past decade has featured a handful of notable moves. Some very much did not work out—looking at you, Trent Richardson—but others included players who had All-Pro seasons at their new football homes.

While the list is organized chronologically, it's based on the largest trade compensation.

During the 2012 NFL draft, the Cleveland Browns used the third overall pick on Trent Richardson. But just two games into the 2013 season, they stunningly dealt him to the Indianapolis Colts.

Really, the trade flopped for both sides.

Richardson trudged to 3.1 yards per attempt, totaling 977 yards in a disappointing 27-game stretch with the Colts. He didn't make another NFL appearance after the 2014 season.

Cleveland, meanwhile, landed a first-round pick. On paper, that seems like a clear win. But the Browns ultimately packaged that selection to trade up for Johnny Manziel, who never developed into the franchise quarterback they hoped he'd become.

The most expensive part of this transaction wasn't the price.

Yes, the San Francisco 49ers sent the New England Patriots a second-round selection for Jimmy Garoppolo. That was a substantial pick to give up for a player with two career starts.

After the 2017 season, though, the Niners signed him to a five-year contract that eventually paid out more than $100 million. Garoppolo's effectiveness—and health—wavered, but San Francisco won an NFC title in 2019.

Through a series of trades, the Patriots wound up with running back Damien Harris and cornerbacks Duke Dawson and Joejuan Williams, among others.

In desperate need of a star receiver for Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys swung for the fences. They landed Amari Cooper in a swap with the Oakland Raiders.

Unlike the Richardson deal, the gamble paid off.

Cooper immediately became a fixture of the Dallas offense in 2018, racking up 53 catches for 725 yards and six touchdowns in nine games. He averaged 79.7 receptions, 1,056 yards and seven touchdowns over the next three seasons with the Cowboys.

Oakland used the first-round selection on Johnathan Abram. Although the safety notched 202 tackles in 2020 and 2021 combined, the Raiders declined his fifth-year option for 2023.

In 2019, the Miami Dolphins were unashamedly tanking and tearing apart the roster. It took Minkah Fitzpatrick one disastrous loss to the Baltimore Ravens to understandably request a trade.

Fitzpatrick felt misused in the 59-10 dismantling, and the Dolphins quickly found a trade partner: the Pittsburgh Steelers.

So, yeah, it's worked out for Pittsburgh.

Fitzpatrick has twice earned first-team AP All-Pro recognitions and amassed 121 tackles in the other year. During the 2022 offseason, he signed a four-year, $73 million extension with $36 million guaranteed.

Miami turned the Steelers' first-round pick into Austin Jackson. He may still develop into a quality starter but has bounced around the offensive line to this stage of his career.

At the same time as the Fitzpatrick trade, the relationship between corner Jalen Ramsey and the Jacksonville Jaguars devolved to the point he, too, asked to be dealt.

The result was a true blockbuster.

Jacksonville received two first-round selections and a fourth-rounder from the Los Angeles Rams. The ensuing selections were edge-rusher K'Lavon Chaisson, running back Travis Etienne and edge Jordan Smith.

While it's too early to make complete judgments on the Jags' picks—though Chaisson has undeniably struggled to date—Ramsey has lived up to the substantial price.

Ramsey garnered first-team All-Pro honors in 2020 and 2021, also helping the Rams win a Super Bowl in the latter year.

"Going for it" is always admirable. While sometimes not the smartest course of action, it certainly makes for entertainment.

That's the quick summary of the Niners adding Christian McCaffrey.

The positive side is he's one of the most versatile running backs in NFL history. McCaffrey topped 1,000 rushing and receiving yards in 2019. The upside in Kyle Shanahan's creative offense is clear.

On the other hand, McCaffrey is an expensive player who cost several pretty pennies. In return, the Carolina Panthers added a second, third-, fourth-round pick in 2023 and a fifth-rounder in 2024.