1987 NFL trade deadline
The three-team Eric Dickerson megadeal
The Rams, Colts and Bills moved a superstar back, players and a vast draft package through one of the league's most complicated transactions.
Why this window matters
#3 in the Sportsboxd NFL trade deadlines ranking
Dickerson won the rushing title after changing teams midseason, while the package became an early proof of how aggressively elite talent could be repriced.
In the order it happened
The transaction timeline
Major signings, trades and roster decisions are ordered by announcement or completion date. Open linked trades for the original package and every downstream asset.
Deadline eve · Negotiations
Three teams assemble a rare megadeal
Indianapolis pursued Eric Dickerson, Buffalo wanted Cornelius Bennett and the Rams sought players plus draft capital.
October 31 · Three-team trade
Dickerson, Bennett and Bell change teams →The Colts acquired Dickerson, Buffalo landed Bennett and Los Angeles received Greg Bell plus a vast selection package.
After the trade · Immediate impact
Dickerson enters the Colts offense midseason
The star runner changed uniforms without a full offseason and still finished as the league's rushing champion.