Wild trades happen a good bit in the NFL, but we take wild to the next level with these three insane trades to truly shake up the league for years to come. There is still plenty of time for teams across the league to pull off some insane trades. As of now though, I think clubs are turning their primary focus to the 2024 NFL Draft, but you never know.
With teams trying to build Super Bowl teams at a quicker pace than in previous eras, there are bound to be some aggressive moves from time to time. In recent seasons, we've seen quite a bit of quarterback movement, but other positions have been targeted in trades as well.
In this article, we'll look at three insane trades that would truly shake up the NFL.
3 insane trades that would shake-up the NFL in 2024 and beyond
The first major trade is the Cincinnati Bengals reuniting Joe Burrow with his college teammate, who just so happens to be the best player in the NFL in Justin Jefferson. So, the Minnesota Vikings still have not been able to come to an agreement with Justin Jefferson on a contract extension, and this could make even more sense as Bengals WR Tee Higgins did request a trade from the team.
So, in this outrageous trade scenario, the Bengals reunite Jefferson with Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, while also sending Tee Higgins and two additional first-round picks to the Vikings. It sounds like an insane deal that would never happen, but heck, never say never!
3 insane trades that would shake-up the NFL in 2024 and beyond
I just don't think this is what Davante Adams has signed up for when he was shipped from the Green Bay Packers to the Las Vegas Raiders a couple of years ago. His best buddy, Derek Carr, isn't even on the team anymore, and Adams' production dipped a bit in 2023. He turns 32 at the end of the 2024 NFL Season but clearly still has something left in the tank.
He caught passes from current New York Jets' QB Aaron Rodgers from 2014-2021. During that time, he hauled in 669 receptions for 8,121 yards and 73 touchdowns. In five separate seasons in Green Baty, he caught double-digit TD passes, which is just insane production. Well, with the Raiders in a new regime and surely planning on resetting at QB, their better long-term plan than keeping Adams would be shipping him to an interested team.
With Rodgers having a bit of a stranglehold on the Jets franchise, being sent to NY makes some sense. A post-June 1st trade would give the Raiders over $17 million in cap savings, so it'd be a financial move that made sense. For the Jets, they are searching for a second option at WR beyond Garrett Wilson, and while Adams wouldn't likely be there for more than a couple of years, he'd give the offense a new wrinkle, and his chemistry with Rodgers and OC Nathaniel Hackett is obvious.
How about this wild trade? The Miami Dolphins currently have a hair under $14 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, and they are also projected to have several players with massive cap hits in 2025. Tyreek Hill's 2025 cap hit is over $30 million. Bradley Chubb's is almost $30 million. Terron Armstead's is over $20 million. Jalen Ramsey's is over $25 million.
Both Austin Jackson and Jordyn Brooks have at least $10 million cap hits in 2025. While I think the Miami Dolphins are satisfied with Tua Tagovailoa, the injury concern is certainly still relevant, and concerns about whether Tagovailoa is simply good enough to make progress in the loaded AFC is also something to note.
So, why not reset at QB with a young, cost-controlled passer, and send him to a team likely desperate for a QB? Tagovailoa does fit Sean Payton's offense, and since he is a shorter QB, everyone and their mother made their comparison to Drew Brees when he was coming out of college. Tua Tagovailoa can play on time and in rhythm, and like Payton's offenses, Mike McDaniel comes from the Kyle Shanahan tree, where receivers can be schemed open.
I do think it could be a win-win for both sides. But how likely is it that this trade happens?