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The transaction calendar, curated

The greatest NFL trade deadlines.

Ranked by league-wide movement, championship consequences, star power and how completely one transaction window changed what came next.

Every deadline by year →

#1

1989 NFL trade deadline

The trade that built the Cowboys

Minnesota acquired Herschel Walker while Dallas engineered conditional roster clauses into an unprecedented collection of draft capital.

Walker to MINThree first-round pathsThree second-round pathsDallas converts conditions

The resulting tree helped produce Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith and Darren Woodson—the spine of a three-title dynasty.

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022022 NFLContenders discover the deadlineChristian McCaffrey reached San Francisco, Roquan Smith joined Baltimore, T.J. Hockenson crossed the NFC North and Miami added Bradley Chubb.McCaffrey to SFSmith to BALHockenson to MINChubb to MIARead the full timeline →031987 NFLThe three-team Eric Dickerson megadealThe Rams, Colts and Bills moved a superstar back, players and a vast draft package through one of the league's most complicated transactions.Dickerson to INDCornelius Bennett to BUFGreg Bell to LARDraft haul to LARRead the full timeline →042017 NFLQuarterbacks and contenders move lateSan Francisco acquired Jimmy Garoppolo, Philadelphia added Jay Ajayi and Seattle landed Duane Brown in a deadline full of recognizable starters.Garoppolo to SFAjayi to PHIBrown to SEABenjamin to BUFRead the full timeline →052019 NFLRamsey, Sanders and an NFC escalationThe Rams paid a premium for Jalen Ramsey, the 49ers added Emmanuel Sanders and New England acquired Mohamed Sanu as contenders filled specific needs.Ramsey to LARSanders to SFSanu to NEDrake to ARIRead the full timeline →062018 NFLThe receiver market comes aliveDallas acquired Amari Cooper while Golden Tate, Demaryius Thomas, Dante Fowler Jr. and Damon Harrison joined playoff races.Cooper to DALTate to PHIFowler to LARHarrison to DETRead the full timeline →072024 NFLThe expanded deadline opens the marketDavante Adams, Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins, Marshon Lattimore and Za'Darius Smith moved during the first season with a post-Week 9 deadline.Adams to NYJCooper to BUFHopkins to KCLattimore to WASRead the full timeline →082023 NFLPass rushers headline a seller's marketChicago added Montez Sweat, San Francisco acquired Chase Young and Seattle landed Leonard Williams as contenders reinforced their fronts.Sweat to CHIYoung to SFWilliams to SEADouglas to BUFRead the full timeline →

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The archive preserves every year in the collection, while this page keeps the editorial ranking intentionally selective.

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