As soon as an NFL trade is made official, the conversation turns inevitably to which side won. With the absence of the multi-team trades that we see in sports like the NBA, NFL trades are generally perceived as something of a zero-sum game. For one side to have gained, the other - so follows the logic - must necessarily have given up too much.
Infamous trades like Herschelle Walker to the Minnesota Vikings creating the Dallas Cowboys dynasty, the New Orleans Saints giving their entire draft class to sign Ricky Williams, and the Indianapolis Colts trading a first round pick for the ghost of Trent Richardson make it easy to lean into the idea of every trade having a winner and a loser.
However, that is not always the case. Sometimes, both sides get what they need.
The Rivers-Manning Trade
On Draft Day in 2004, one of the more dramatic trades in NFL history went down. Quarterback Eli Manning, third son of Hall of Famer Archie Manning and brother of then-Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton, was set to be drafted first overall after four standout years at Ole Miss. The San Diego Chargers had the first pick, and were unconvinced by third year signal caller Drew Brees. It seemed like a perfect move. However, Manning didn't want to go to the Chargers and made it clear in pre-draft meetings that he would not do so.
The New York Giants entered the scene and offered to swap first rounders (the Giants had the fourth overall pick), as well as a third rounder in that year's draft as well as their first and fifth rounders in the following year. Functionally, the Chargers drafted Manning and the Giants picked Rivers but they were swapped on Draft Day.
The Chargers got a 15-year starter, eight Pro Bowl seasons and a dozen franchise records including passing yards (59 271), passing touchdowns (397), and game-winning drives (32). In addition, the picks amounted to Pro Bowl defensive end Shawne Merriman, and Pro Bowl kicker Nate Kaeding, while the fifth rounder was sent to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a later trade.
The Giants also got a 15-year starter, with four Pro Bowls and 20+ franchise records including the unbreakable NFL record for longest completed pass (99 yards). Of course, the Giants also got two Super Bowl wins against the New England Patriots.
Michael Vick for Ladainian Tomlinson
Back in 2001, before the rookie wage scale was implemented, a key aspect of the lead up to the draft was the financial wrangling between teams and their prospective picks. That's part of the reason why the Oakland Raiders famously picked kicker Sebastian Janikowski in the first round of the 2000 draft - they couldn't afford any other positions due to their salary cap situation.
Back to 2001, though. In the weeks before the draft, the San Diego Chargers held the number one pick and wanted to select Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick but they could not reach a contract agreement with him.
The Atlanta Falcons, in desperate need of a quarterback after a 4-12 season with Danny Kanell, Doug Johnson, and Chris Chandler attempting to complete passes, offered the 48th overall pick, the 67th overall pick, and kicker/wideout Tim Dwight. The Chargers accepted and used the picks to select running back Ladainian Tomlinson, cornerback Tay Cody and wide receiver Reche Caldwell.
Tomlinson was a generational talent, a perennial Pro Bowler, and franchise legend. The other players didn't amount to much, but Tomlinson alone was worth it. The Chargers still didn't have a quarterback, but they got one in Rivers the following season.
In exchange, the Falcons got Vick.
Vick was a revelation at quarterback. Equally devastating as a runner and passer, Vick helped the NFL's evolution to a more dynamic style of offense and earned three Pro Bowl invitations before his legal troubles.
Brady gets Gronk in Tampa
When Tom Brady made the shock move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, ending a 19-year association with the New England Patriots, he began recruiting like an SEC booster.
The Bucs picked up wide receiver Antonio Brown, running back duo Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy, and tackle Joe Haeg. The Bucs were suddenly stacked on offense, but had a weakness at tight end.
Brady got on the phone to retired former teammate Rob Gronkowski.
Gronkowski had been a regular First-team All Pro selection but spent a year out of the league after retiring due to injury.
Brady convinced him to come back. Still technically under the control of the Patriots, Gronk needed to convince New England to trade him.
The Bucs agreed a deal to send a fourth round pick to New England in exchange for Gronk.
After a year of recovery, Gronkowski returned to something approaching his best in Tampa, starting all 20 games as the Bucs won the Super Bowl. The next season he played another 14 games before retiring for a second time.
The future Hall of Famer racked up over 1600 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns, while helping Brady find his feet at a new team. You certainly can't put a price on a franchise's second Super Bowl. New England only got a fourth round pick, but Gronkowski was retired and resolutely refused to play for them again, so something is better than nothing.
Diggs wants out of Minnesota
A star wide receiver suddenly deciding he wants a new team? A tale as old as time.
That's exactly what happened with Stefon Diggs in the summer of 2020.
Following yet another playoff stumble by the hapless Vikings the previous season, Diggs had enough and asked for a trade.
The Vikings agreed a hefty trade package with the rising Buffalo Bills, who agreed to send a host of picks in exchange for Diggs. The Vikings got a 2020 first round pick, as well as fifth and sixth rounders, and a fourth round pick for 2021.
The first of those picks became Justin Jefferson, an immediate hit wide receiver currently on a Hall of Fame track, with 5,396 receiving yards through three and a half seasons.
The Bills got a motivated star in Diggs who ascended to another level with signal caller Josh Allen. Allen's booming arm corresponded perfectly with Diggs' skillset and the receiver led the league in receptions and receiving yards in his first season. He has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons in Buffalo.
Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff
After stumbling at the final hurdle in 2019, losing to the New England Patriots in an underwhelming Super Bowl, coach Sean McVay realised that he needed a new quarterback. After three seasons with former Berkeley Bear Jared Goff, the Rams wanted a more reliable play caller to execute McVay's offense.
In March of 2021, they agreed a deal to trade for veteran Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Goff went the other way, along with 2022 and 2023 first rounders and a 2021 third round pick. The Rams had given up a big haul of draft picks, but the gamble paid immediate dividends. Stafford fitted in seamlessly to the Rams offense and helped them to a Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Stafford suffered injury issues in year two, but has recovered in his third season in Los Angeles and looks to be returning to his best.
The Lions added Goff, and the picks amounted to Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Brodric Martin.
Many of those players, particularly the resurgent Goff, have been central to the Lions enjoying their best run in decades.
After a rough 3-13 start, Goff helped the Lions to second place in the NFC North in 2022 and has them on top of the division midway through the 2023 season. He returned to the Pro Bowl in 2022.
The Rams arguably still 'won' this one, given they added a Super Bowl title and still have a top 10 quarterback in Stafford, but Detroit look to be a team of the future thanks to their willingness to move their star QB.