3 NFL trades looking horribly one-sided in 2022 so far
Trades don’t always work out in the NFL, to state the obvious, but some trades just go extremely poorly for one of the two teams typically involved. There was certainly no shortage of big trades throughout the 2022 NFL offseason, including some blockbuster names getting moved like quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams. There were plenty of trades made, and plenty to consider when trying to discover what might be the most “one-sided” as we look back now 12 weeks into the 2022 NFL season.
Approaching Week 13, which three trades from the last year or so look the most one-sided? Let’s take a look.
3 NFL trades looking one-sided late in the 2022 season
1. Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos
Broncos received:
- QB Russell Wilson
- 2022 4th-round pick
Seahawks received:
- 2022 1st-round pick
- 2022 2nd-round pick
- 2023 1st-round pick
- 2023 2nd-round pick
- 2022 5th-round pick
- QB Drew Lock
- TE Noah Fant
- DL Shelby Harris
As of right now, this trade is looking like it could end up being one of the worst in NFL history for the Denver Broncos. Unfortunately, Russell Wilson has been terrible in the 2022 NFL season, the Broncos have been terrible as a result, and if the season ended today (November 30) they would be sending the Seattle Seahawks the 3rd and 34th overall picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Yikes.
Not to mention, this trade has already helped Seattle net starting left tackle Charles Cross as well as edge rusher Boye Mafe. They will have the chance to get two more building blocks in 2023 with the picks Denver sends them. Even if the Broncos are able to win a handful of games down the stretch, at this point, the Seahawks will have nothing worse than a pick in the teens.
2. AJ Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles
Eagles received:
- WR AJ Brown
Titans received:
- 2022 1st-round pick
It felt like the Tennessee Titans panicked during the first night of the 2022 NFL Draft. Instead of getting great value from the Philadelphia Eagles for star wide receiver AJ Brown, they traded him away for pennies on the dollar.
While other star receivers were commanding multiple first-round picks or multiple high picks, the Titans just traded AJ Brown straight up for a mid-1st-round pick from the Eagles. That pick for the Titans ended up being used on Treylon Burks, who has 334 yards and no touchdowns through seven games this season.
Meanwhile, AJ Brown has seven touchdowns for the Eagles at almost 16 yards per catch, and he’s been every bit the top-flight receiver they hoped he could be when they acquired him. This trade looked bad for the Titans at the time, and it’s been worse seeing how well Brown has played this season.
3. Saints weird first-round trade with Eagles
Eagles received:
- 2022 1st-round pick
- 2022 3rd-round pick
- 2022 7th-round pick
- 2023 1st-round pick
- 2024 2nd-round pick
Saints received:
- 2022 1st-round pick
- 2022 1st-round pick
As a general rule of thumb, I guess you shouldn’t be picking up the phone whenever Howie Roseman calls on NFL Draft night, should you? The Eagles wound up manipulating the entire first round of the 2022 NFL Draft and part of Roseman’s master manipulation involved a trade with the New Orleans Saints that looks hysterical in hindsight.
The Eagles traded away two picks — 16th and 19th overall — to the Saints in exchange for the 18th overall pick (which was used to trade for AJ Brown) as well as a ton of additional picks into the future that are going to significantly help the Eagles continue building an already great roster.
If the 2022 season ended today, the Eagles would receive the 6th overall pick from the Saints in the 2023 Draft from this trade. The Saints don’t have a QB of the future right now, and with no picks in the 2023 first round, they’re in a really bad position.