Nowadays, trades are fairly common. Every year, however, some trades steal the show. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of the top NFL trades for 2022.
NFL Trades can be a business decision or an opportunistic move. Nonetheless, it never fails to evoke a mix of happiness and sadness in the league and its fans.
As a result, during the offseason, all eyes are on the team’s general manager for making a difficult decision to improve their roster.
Some teams give too much and receive less, whereas others give less and receive more.
As a result, with the offseason and trade deadlines completed, we have ranked the top five NFL trades of the 2022 season thus far. So, without further ado, let’s get right into the top NFL trades for this season.
So Far, the Top 5 NFL Trades of the 2022 Season
The top NFL trades listed below were chosen based on the roster talent, star power, and media attention generated by the trade.
The majority of them are based on Nfl.com, Bleacherreport.com, Espn.com, and Sportskeeda.com.
Before we get into the specifics of the top NFL trades, let’s take a look at the names on the list.
| Player Name |
Traded From |
Traded To |
| 5. Michael Brockers | Los Angeles Rams | Detroit Lions |
| 4. Sam Darnold | New York Jets | Carolina Panthers |
| 3. Carson Wentz | Philadelphia Eagles | Indianapolis Colts |
| 2. Julio Jones | Atlanta Falcons | Tennessee Titans |
| 1. Matthew Stafford | Detroit Lions | Los Angeles Rams |
5. Michael Brockers
Hats off to Detroit for pulling off such an incredible trade. Michael is a fantastic defensive end who spent nine years with the Rams and is eager to help the Lions.
The Rams selected the defensive end with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Brokers was the first defensive end drafted that night.
Michael was having a fantastic season with the Rams, but his efforts were overshadowed by Aaron Donald’s presence on the same defensive line.
A combination of the two could result in a near-perfect iron wall, but only one can play a primarily defensive role.
And if you watch NFL, you’ll understand why Donald is the Los Angeles Rams’ preferred defensive end.
As a result, despite having 395 total tackles, 62 quarterback hits, and 48 tackles in 138 career games, the league failed to recognize his potential.
Nonetheless, with the Detroit Lions, the defensive end can truly thrive and receive the recognition he has long deserved.
Furthermore, he will be a veteran leader for the young Detroit Lions team, which struggled to stop rushing yards the previous season.
Not to mention that the Lions surrendered the fifth-most rushing yards in the league last season. As a result, they are poised to improve their record with a promising run-stuffer in the middle.
Overall, this was a great trade for the Lions because they only had to give up a seventh-round pick in 2023 to get a player of his caliber.
4. Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold had a terrible season with the New York Jets. Fans expected Darnold to be a great fit for the Jets after being selected third overall in the first round of the 2018 draft.
However, this was not the case, as he struggled to give the team his best shot. It was not his fault because he joined a dysfunctional and unstable team.
The Jets have fired two head coaches and one general manager in the last three years. As a result, the coaching was also subpar because nothing was working for the team.
In addition to being injured, the quarterback was unable to start his engine. However, judging a player based on three years seems unreasonable.
This is particularly unusual for a lottery pick, as such players are typically traded instead of blockbuster players, rather than draft picks.
Regardless, the chemistry between Darnold and the Jets was never there, which led to his trade to the Panthers.
However, both parties would benefit from a fresh start. Furthermore, this is a trial period for the quarterback. Darnold will not be alone, as he will be assisted by D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey.
Overall, this was an expected and excellent trade for the Carolina Panthers, who received a second and fourth-round pick in 2022, as well as a sixth-round pick this year.
Statistically, the addition of a quarterback with a career completion percentage of less than 60% bodes well for the Panthers.
3. Carson Wentz
The trade involving Carson Wentz between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Indianapolis Colts appears to be a win-win situation for all parties.
With the Eagles, Wentz had one of his worst seasons. Furthermore, the leaks from the Eagles locker room criticizing the quarterback made matters worse.
As a result, there was no reason for the quarterback to remain on the team. It was a mutual agreement between the two to part ways.
Despite being a top quarterback in the league, his talents were the wrong fit for the Eagles.
Of course, Wentz led the Eagles to a Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots, but that was a different team and era.
As a result, the Eagles made an excellent decision in trading him for a conditional 2021 third-round draft pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick.
Furthermore, the trump card in the trade is the conditional pick, which could become a first-round pick if Wentz stays healthy and productive this season.
Because the quarterback is currently injured, there is a slim chance of that happening.
It goes without saying that if Carson fails to revive his season with the new team, he will be looked down on.
That may not be the case, however, with Wentz reuniting with his former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich, with whom he had the best career outcome.
Furthermore, Reich is overjoyed with the trade and is looking forward to transforming the Colts into a contender.
2. Julio Jones
The trade of Julio Jones is the one shaped by the pandemic’s damage to the league in the list of top NFL trades.
With the short pandemic season and no fans in the arena, most teams’ cap was drastically reduced.
As a result, many teams viewed trading their highest-paid player as the best option.
As a result, the Atlanta Falcons traded their seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick.
The Falcons appear to have lost the best receiver in the league in exchange for second and fourth-round picks.
However, when Atlanta’s motivation is to reduce its cap space, the decision does not appear to be a bad one.
They would have to pay Jones $15.3 million in salary otherwise. As a result, the Falcons have plenty of cap space to manage their roster.
Of course, they could have gotten a first-round pick for a Jones-type player, but other teams were unwilling to make such a deal.
The trade is now an A-grade trade for the Tennessee Titans. They got a star receiver, and they didn’t have to give up much for him.
Some may argue that Jones is quite old and that his time has passed. Nonetheless, his veteran leadership is critical to the team’s success.
1. Matthew Stafford
Both the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams were busy making big deals with each other. So the Rams sent their player to the Lions first, and now vice versa.
Matthew spent his entire career with the Lions attempting to win the Super Bowl. In the 2009 NFL Draft, Detroit selected him first overall.
He has been with the Lions since then, where he has established a legacy. Stafford has been with the team for 21 years and has been the team’s culture since its inception.
Everything, however, must come to an end. As a result, both the quarterback and the Lions agree to part ways.
The new general manager and head coach, who had a different vision for the team, were the primary reasons for such a decision.
In exchange for Stafford, the Lions received first-round draft picks in 2022 and 2023, a third-round pick in 2021, and quarterback Jared Goff.
In terms of analytics, the Rams overpaid for the 34-year-old quarterback. Nonetheless, fans around the world believe Stafford is worth the offer. He is the fastest player to reach 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, and 45,000 career passing yards, for example.
Furthermore, he is the ideal candidate to lead the Rams’ already strong offense. Not to mention that the quarterback may receive his first Super Bowl ring.
Indeed, by trading for Matthew, the Rams have taken a risk, as they will go seven seasons without making a first-round pick.
Nonetheless, they are pleased and optimistic about their decision and are already planning a much more explosive offense.
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Conclusion
Every NFL team wants to improve their roster or reduce their cap space. As a result, every season, teams trade for players.
While most traders appear insignificant, some traders truly astound the fans. Those traders instantly elevate an underdog team to contender status.
As a result, the aforementioned trades have astounded the league and its fans. They are without a doubt the top NFL trades for 2022.
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