You don’t need to think of the most lopsided trades in NFL history. The Herschel Walker, Deshaun Watson, Brett Favre, and Steve Young trades quickly come to mind. One team emerged as a winner in those deals, and the other a loser.

But in this list, we’re looking at instances where a blockbuster trade turned out to be a lose-lose. Here are 10 NFL trades where both teams inexplicably got worse.

Which NFL trades ended up as duds for both teams involved?

The RG3 2012 Draft Blockbuster

Oct 4, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III stands the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Rams held the No. 2 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, a class headlined by two can’t-miss QB prospects in Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Baylor’s Robert Griffin III. But having used the No. 1 pick on Sam Bradford two years earlier, the Rams were open for business and fielded the best offers for the second-overall selection.

Knowing the Colts would take Andrew Luck with the top choice, Washington was still happy to pay an arm and a leg for the Rams’ pick. They gave up the No. 6 and 39 picks that year, along with first-rounders in 2013 and 2014, for the No. 2 selection.

The trade looked good for Washington right off the bat with RG3 winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and leading his team to a surprise NFC East division crown. Unfortunately, Griffin’s rookie year was his absolute peak.

Griffin’s career was quickly derailed by the injury bug, thanks mainly to the misuse of him by Washington’s coaches and medical staff, who showed zero regard for his well-being when he was dealing with a serious knee issue in his rookie year.

After disappointing 2013 and 2014 seasons, Griffin lost his starting job to Kirk Cousins in 2015 and was released. The franchise would cycle through quarterbacks for the next nine years before finally hitting on Jayden Daniels in 2024.

The Rams did no better with their haul, drafting mostly busts, non-impact players, and dudes who were out of the league relatively quickly.

2 For 1: Antonio Brown Burns Steelers & Raiders

Aug 22, 2019; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs a pattern during warmups before a game against the Green Bay Packers at Investors Group Field. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers were willing to put up with Antonio Brown’s immature me-first behavior if it meant they were still winning. For all the baggage he carried, Brown was by far the NFL’s best receiver during a five-year stretch from 2014 to 2018 — and easily on a Hall of Fame trajectory.

However, Brown’s personal relationship with teammate Ben Roethlisberger imploded before their Week 18 must-win game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He no-showed the game and demanded a trade, which the Steelers were happy to do.

Pittsburgh traded AB to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for 2019 third—and fifth-round picks. Brown should have welcomed the fresh start and the chance to play with the ultimate players’ coach, Jon Gruden.

But as we all know, Brown just couldn’t behave and play football like a normal person. He almost fought his own GM, Mike Mayock, who threatened to retire because his preferred helmet style was banned, and received frostbite after failing to wear the proper footwear in a cryotherapy.

Brown was released by the Raiders before the season started, thus leaving them without a WR1 receiver — having traded Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys a year earlier.

Pittsburgh got a future Pro Bowl wideout in Diontae Johnson with the third-round pick from Oakland, but he never got close to becoming the game-changing force AB was. The Steelers have been mired in mediocrity ever since the trade, unable to replace the talents of the mercurial wide receiver.

Vikings & Raiders Team Up For Failed Randy Moss Blockbuster

Sep 17, 2006; Baltimore, MD, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss (18) looks on against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK
Like so many other stud wide receivers, Randy Moss’s diva antics and me-first behavior became too problematic with the Minnesota Vikings. His Hall of Fame talents be damned.

In the 2005 offseason, the future Canton member was dealt to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for the No. 7 pick that year, a seventh-round selection, and linebacker Napoleon Harris. With the No. 7 pick, Minnesota took South Carolina wideout Troy Williamson.

Williamson never topped 455 receiving yards in a season with Minny. Harris was also a non-impact player, and the Vikings went from perennial Super Bowl contender to mired in mediocrity for the better part of the next decade-plus.

Moss totaled 102 receptions for 1,558 yards and 11 touchdowns in two years with the Raiders. Tired of his antics and lackluster production, Moss was traded to the New England Patriots for a fourth-round pick. If our memory serves correctly, Moss and Tom Brady were a pretty good tandem together.

But the Moss trade involving both the Vikings and the Raiders was a lose-lose all around.

Falcons Flip Matt Ryan To Colts

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan (2) walks on the sideline Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

After the failed one-year Carson Wentz experiment, the Colts traded him to the Washington Commanders and snagged longtime Atlanta Falcons starter Matt Ryan in a 2022 offseason blockbuster. In return, the Falcons got a third-round pick.

The Falcons had no choice but to trade Ryan after awkwardly pursuing the troubled Deshaun Watson, whom the Houston Texans wound up trading to the Cleveland Browns. Ryan was understandably a bit hurt by that and welcomed the move to Indy.

But in hindsight, it was a failure of a trade for both teams. Ryan should have finished his career in Atlanta, and the Colts should have…not traded for another aging signal-caller on borrowed time.

Ryan went 4-7-1 as Indy’s starter with 14 touchdowns against 13 interceptions, getting benched in favor of Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger. Head coach Frank Reich was fired and curiously replaced by Colts legend Jeff Saturday, who had zero NFL coaching experience.

So the Colts moved on from Ryan after the year and tried again at QB by taking Anthony Richardson fourth overall in 2023. The Falcons used the third-round pick acquired in the trade on edge rusher DeAngelo Malone, who never amounted to much.

The Falcons tried out Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke at QB in the first two years of the post-Ryan era. That only led to them overpaying for Kirk Cousins in 2024 free agency, before benching him in favor of Michael Penix Jr.

The Falcons went 7-10 in Ryan’s final year at the helm. The Colts went 9-8-1. And yet, both teams have somehow gotten worse since the 2016 trade involving the 2016 league MVP.

Seahawks Go All-In For Jamal Adams

Nov 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams (33) during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Adams was one of the NFL’s premier defensive players during his three seasons with the New York Jets, earning two Pro Bowl nods plus 2018 second-team and 2019 first-team all-pro honors.

Unhappy with the Jets’ losing culture, Adams requested a trade in the 2020 offseason. Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks were happy to do business, acquiring Adams and a fourth-round selection from the Jets for 2021 and 2022 first-round picks, a 2021 third-rounder, and safety Bradley McDougald.

Adams had one good season in Seattle, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2020 after setting the single-season record for sacks by a defensive back with 9.5. The ‘Hawks won the NFC West division crown but were throttled by the Los Angeles Rams on Wild Card Weekend.

They missed the playoffs in 202 and 2023. Though they snagged a wild-card berth in 2022, Adams suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1, meaning he made no impact over his final three years in Seattle. Less than three years after giving Adams a $70 million extension, the Seahawks released him in the 2024 offseason.

Yes, the Jets would use the first-rounders picked up from Seattle on standout offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker and superstar wideout Garrett Wilson. But the team hasn’t gotten ANY better since trading Adams. Facts are facts.

The Jets were at least a respectable 7-9 in 2019, Adams’ final year with the team. They haven’t had a better single-season finish ever since, which makes you wonder if they should have just built around Adams in the first place.

Dolphins Pass On Drew Brees, Choose Daunte Culpepper

Aug 24, 2006, Charlotte, NC, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback (8) Daunte Culpepper hands off to running back (23) Ronnie Brown in the Dolphins 19-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006 Bob Donnan
Culpepper was one of the NFL’s premier signal-callers during his run with the Vikings. He and Randy Moss were must-watch TV every week, which led to the 2000 NFC Championship Game and ‘04 Divisional Round.

However, after he missed most of the ’05 season, Culpepper and the Vikings disagreed about his injury recovery program and contract status. Culpepper publicly declared he wanted out.

The Miami Dolphins looked at free agent Drew Brees, but had concerns about him recovering from a serious shoulder injury. They passed on Brees who signed with the New Orleans Saints. The rest there is history.

The Dolphins gave up a second-round pick to Minnesota for Culpepper in the ‘06 offseason. The Vikings finished 6-and-10 and 8-8 the next two years, only finding a short-term solution behind center when they got Brett Favre in 2009. And even then, he was only good for a year.

Culpepper played just four games in Miami, with injuries derailing his season. The Dolphins released him in the offseason and finished a league-worst 1-and-15 in 2007. After a surprise playoff appearance in ‘08 they missed the postseason the next seven years.

In other words, the Culpepper trade was a waste of time for everyone.

Trent Richardson For Johnny Manziel

2012: Trent Richardson, RB from Alabama. Drafted No. 3 by the Browns. Indianapolis Colts Beat The Tennessee Titans 41 17

The Indianapolis Colts viewed T-Rich as the missing piece in their offense. Two games into the 2013 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns traded the former No. 3 selection of 2012 in exchange for a 2014 first-round pick.

Richardson flopped in Indianapolis, rushing for 977 yards and six touchdowns in 29 games. He averaged 3.1 yards per carry and fumbled four times. Yes, the Colts won the AFC South crowns in 2013 and 2014 and reached the AFC Championship game in the latter year.

But Richardson had nothing to do with that success, and the Colts burned a valuable potential franchise-changing pick. They proceeded to miss the playoffs each of the next three years.

The Browns got the No. 26 pick of 2014 via Indianapolis but traded it to the Philadelphia Eagles to move up and take Johnny Manziel. The media darling and former Heisman Trophy winner was a mega flop in Cleveland, making just eight starts in the pros.

The Browns remained the NFL’s laughingstock for the next five years, including a one-win season in 2016 and a 0-and-16 season in 2017. Maybe if they took Derek Carr or Teddy Bridgewater with that first-round pick instead of Manziel…

Revis Island Relocates To Tampa Bay

Nov 17, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 41-28. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Darrelle Revis was the NFL’s best cornerback during his first run with the Jets. They boasted one of the league’s best defenses and reached consecutive AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010, thanks to Revis putting the opposing No. 1 receiver on his personal island.

The Jets didn’t want to pay Revis top dollar on his new deal, so he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013 in exchange for the No. 13 selection and a 2014 fourth-rounder. Revis then signed a six-year, $96 million extension with his new team.

Revis was supposed to help Tampa emerge as a playoff team, having finished a respectable 7-9 the year before. Revis was solid but not the complete game-changer we saw with the Jets, and the Bucs cut him after just one year following a 4-12 finish.

The Jets used the No. 13 pick from the Bucs on future Pro Bowl defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, but he didn’t move the needle as much as prime Darrelle Revis did. The Jets have recorded ONE Winning season since the Revis trade, when they finished 10-6 in 2015.

To make matters worse, Revis won a Super Bowl 49 ring with the archrival New England Patriots in 2014. Then the Jets brought Revis back in 2015 free agency on a $70 million deal, only to cut him with three years left on the contract.

Bears Trade Up For Justin Fields

Jan 7, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) looks to throw a pass during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Having given up on Mitch Trubisky, the Chicago Bears went all-in to move up and select Justin Fields in a 2021 draft-day blockbuster with the New York Giants.

The Bears acquired the No. 11 pick to snag the Ohio State signal-caller, with the Giants getting the No. 20 and 164 selections plus 2022 first and fourth-round picks.

Chicago was coming off an 8-and-8 season and a surprise wild-card appearance when it traded for Fields. Over the next three years, it went 6-11, 3-14, and 7-10 before giving up on Fields and trading him to the Steelers in 2024 so it could use the No. 1 pick of that year on Caleb Williams.

The Giants would use the pair of first-rounders from Chicago on Florida wideout Kadarius Toney and Alabama tackle Evan Neal. Both went on to become big-time busts, and the G-Men continue to finish as a bottom-five team in football.

Other than that, the Fields trade wasn’t so bad for anyone!

Cowboys & Lions Swing-And-Miss On Roy Williams Deal

Dec 7, 2008; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Dallas Cowboys receiver Roy Williams (11) pre-game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Cowboys already had Pro Bowl safety Roy Williams leading the secondary. They had their eyes set on the OTHER Roy Williams, a Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Detroit Lions.

During the 2008 season, the Lions sent Williams, the receiver and a seventh-round pick, to the Cowboys for their first, third, and sixth-round picks in 2009. Dallas, coming off consecutive playoff berths and a 13-win 2007 NFL season, had another big-time weapon to help the Tony Romo-led offense.

But the Cowboys inexplicably unraveled late in the year and finished 9-7, missing out on the postseason. They won the NFC East and a Wild Card Game in 2009 but followed that up by missing the postseason in the next four years. In two-and-a-half years with Dallas, Williams registered just 94 receptions for 1,324 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Those Lions, by the way, went on to finish the season 0-and-16. So yeah, they definitely missed Williams. They used those picks from Dallas on tight end Brandon Pettigrew, wideout Derrick Williams, and running back Aaron Brown. None of them made an impact, and the Lions remained a laughingstock before unexpectedly reaching the postseason in 2011.