9 NFL Trades That Would Break The Internet If They Happened Today
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Listening to sports fans sitting at home watching a game or tapping away on their keyboards, one often hears them proposing trades for their favorite NFL teams or players.
Most of their ideas are completely nonsensical, such as, “my favorite team should trade our backup quarterback, fullback, 2nd string safety, long snapper, and a 6th round draft pick to Baltimore for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.”
So, in an attempt to be one of ‘those guys,’ here are 10 trades that would break the internet. Please be aware that there are no rumors to support any of these. These are just ideas intended for entertainment purposes only.
Which trades in the NFL would instantly become the talk of the country?
Raiders Finally Trade Maxx Crosby
Back in March, the Raiders agreed to trade star defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens for two NFL 1st round draft picks, but the deal was shortly nixed when the Ravens had concerns regarding Crosby’s failed physical. However, since Crosby was almost traded once, there’s no reason to think that he won’t be traded twice.
The defensive end requested a trade because he was tired of the constant losing and turmoil with the Raiders and wanted to play for a winner. Enter Houston. The Texans are a potential Super Bowl contender, but they still have some holes to fill. Unfortunately, most of those holes are on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, the Texans have one of, if not the, top unit in the NFL.
So, if you can’t make multiple moves to improve the offense, why not double down on your team’s biggest strength? Adding one of the best defensive ends in the game to one of the best defenses in the game would allow Houston to truly limit opposing offenses, making its adequate offense seem more potent. Since the Texans are entering a win-now mode, perhaps they’d be willing to meet the Raiders’ demand of two 1st round picks for Crosby.
Brandon Aiyuk Shuffled Off to Buffalo
There are no current rumblings linking San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to any trade, but the situation warrants watching. As of the beginning of June, Aiyuk is in an ugly contract standoff with the 49ers. He is currently still under contract to San Francisco, but they have voided his guaranteed money for 2026 and have placed the wide receiver on the reserve/left squad list.
The pair is heading towards a divorce, so a trade seems like the most likely solution, and if you’re a star player, you want a trade to a contender. While Aiyuk currently plays for a Super Bowl contender in San Francisco, could he be the missing piece for a Bills team desperate for its first title? With Buffalo, Aiyuk would be paired with one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Josh Allen.
The Bills already house a potent offense, with running back James Cook III, and a solid receiving corps of Khalil Shakir, newly acquired DJ Moore, and tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox. Adding a 1,000-yard receiving threat like Aiyuk, who is coming off an injury and might be had for cheap, would cause a sensation.
Giants Get Fred Warner From San Francisco
The New York Giants have always been known for having a suffocating defense. With a lineage that includes Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, Carl Banks, and Michael Strahan, the Giants have had defensive stalwarts throughout their history. In fact, several of the Giants’ Super Bowl victories have been built on the back of their defense.
In fact, over the past several years of futility in New York, a stout defense has been one of the things they’ve been lacking. A player like Fred Warner would go a long way towards reestablishing the Giants defensive dominance.
Warner has spent the past 8 seasons terrorizing opposing offensive players, and while he may not be a sack machine, he will punish anyone who crosses the middle of the field, especially when paired with a head coach like John Harbaugh, whose teams are known for their defensive abilities (remember Ray Lewis?). The Niners have absolutely no reason to trade Warner, as they have Super Bowl visions of their own in the upcoming NFL season, but imagine if the Giants could get him.
Micah Parsons Shipped to the Motor City
The Detroit Lions have been on the periphery of a Super Bowl for the past few years. The 2023 and 2024 seasons were the closest this franchise has come to reaching the Super Bowl. Although they took a step back in 2025, finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs. Despite the disappointing end to last season, the Lions return a stacked lineup to the field in 2026 that should realistically compete for the Lombardi Trophy.
Offensively, the Lions are in great shape, but they need help on the defensive side of the ball. In fact, the biggest need Detroit has is for a lockdown edge rusher, and Micah Parsons is one of the best in the league today. In just 5 short seasons in the NFL, Parsons has averaged 14 sacks a season and earned numerous accolades.
The 3x All-Pro and 2021 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year would instantly elevate the Lions’ already formidable defense. Of course, this trade has a zero percent chance of happening, as there is absolutely no way that the Green Bay Packers would trade a player of Micah Parsons’ caliber to their division rival, the Detroit Lions. Which is why, if it did happen, this trade would break the internet.
Bengals Acquire Kyle Pitts
Entering the league as the 4th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Kyle Pitts came out of college with a lot of hype. It’s not often that a tight end goes that high in the draft; in fact, Pitts is the highest drafted tight end in NFL history. Despite the hype and promise, the Florida Gators product hasn’t quite lived up to the hype.
Sure, he flashed his potential with over 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie season, but he followed that up with 3 subpar seasons before rebounding with a very respectable 2025 season. That inconsistency points to two potential causes: either that’s who he is as a player, or it’s the result of playing for the Atlanta Falcons. I’m going to go with the latter. If he can get out of Atlanta, perhaps Pitts can unleash his full potential, and Cincinnati seems like a good place to do just that.
The Bengals should come out of the AFC North with a playoff spot, and a Super Bowl appearance wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility. The Bengals have a potentially potent offense, but they do have one major weakness. It’s at tight end where they currently have Mike Gesicki. Acquiring Kyle Pitts could change the trajectory of the Bengals season.
Miami Trades De’Von Achane to the Broncos
The Broncos are on the verge of winning a Super Bowl. After only 2 seasons under center, it is clear that Bo Nix is the answer at quarterback in Denver. In 2025, Nix led the Broncos to a 14-3 record, which was good enough for 1st place in the AFC West and a trip to the AFC Championship game.
Unfortunately, Nix was hurt the week before, leading Denver to an overtime victory over the Bills, and was unavailable for their loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship. In the offseason, Denver bolstered their receivers room with the acquisition of Jaylen Waddle from the Dolphins, adding the young star to a group that includes Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Jr., and tight end Evan Engram.
Since Miami and Denver have already made one trade this NFL offseason, why not make another? Denver could use an upgrade over J.K. Dobbins at running back, and De’Von Achane would certainly accomplish that. Not only is Achane one of the best running backs in the league, but he’s also one of the best at catching passes out of the backfield.
While it would be hard for the Fins to give up a player of Achane’s caliber, they are in a complete rebuild, and by the time they are ready to win, Achane might be out of his prime. It might be best to get him something of value now. If the Broncos could somehow trade for Achane, they could be unstoppable.
T.J. Watt Traded to Chicago
The Steelers are another team that is caught between mediocrity and rebuilding. Pittsburgh might make the playoffs in 2026, but are they a true Super Bowl contender? No. What about after 2026? Will the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers retire, and if so, will he announce it early or hold the team hostage through free agency as they await his decision?
And all of this with a new coach! That’s a lot to deal with, and considering the age factor, not just at quarterback, it might be wise for the Steelers to think about selling off veteran assets as they look to regroup. Over his 9 years in the Steel City, T.J. Watt has racked up a borderline Hall of Fame career, but he’s almost 33 years old, and he carries a large salary for the next 3 years.
Chicago, on the other hand, is a young team on the rise and could use a leader like T.J. Watt, not only in the locker room but on the field as well. One of the biggest holes that the Bears have is with their pass rush, and there’s no doubt that Watt would solve that problem instantly, as well as shock NFL fans.
Vikings Send Justin Jefferson to Kansas City
This trade won’t happen in the NFL, but I can see several reasons why it should. First of all, the Chiefs need a true number one wide receiver. It is something they’ve lacked since Tyreek Hill left, and looking at their current receivers, they desperately need it.
Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy are reliable receivers, but neither is a number one. Additionally, for years, the Chiefs’ leading receiver has been tight end Travis Kelce, but he’s not what he once was. His days of 100+ receptions and 1,000+ receiving yards a season are over. He will turn 37 years old shortly into the 2026 season and, as he enters what will most likely be his final year, his skills are in decline. Having another weapon would also help with the transition for new running back Kenneth Walker III and ease the burden on returning Patrick Mahomes.
A wide receiver like Justin Jefferson would solve all of those issues. As for the Vikings, they are a team whose title window may have closed before it really opened. Their quarterback situation is in flux, with options including J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray. At 27 years of age, Jefferson is entering his prime, and if he wants to win, getting out of Minnesota might be the way, and KC would be a great place for him.
Browns Acquire A Franchise Quarterback
First of all, let me state that this trade will never happen. Patrick Mahomes is not going anywhere, and the Chiefs would be stupid for entertaining the idea. A quarterback like Mahomes does not come along often, and when one does, you hold on to him for his career, especially after what happened in 2025.
Mahomes was lost for the season with a severe knee injury, and Kansas City saw what a future without its star franchise quarterback would be like. It wasn’t pretty, so again, let me state this trade is not or will not happen. But… could you imagine if it did? Arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the league today, and a future Hall of Fame inductee, is being sent to the worst team in the league. There’s no denying that the Browns need a franchise quarterback, as they haven’t had one since Bernie Kosar (and that might be pushing it), but if it’s not Kosar, then they haven’t had a franchise guy under center since Otto Graham in the 40s and 50s.
Without a doubt, a trade of Patrick Mahomes to anyone would shock the world, but a trade to the Cleveland Browns would break everyone, including the internet.
