The NFL trade deadline is quickly approaching and it's the lone time of year where you can expect mid-season transfers.
We don't know where the chips will fall, but history has dictated that a few contenders could emerge out of nowhere with some seismic moves. Here are the three best trade deadlines in NFL history:
Patriots trade Mike Haynes to Raiders for 1st, 3rd-round picks (1983)
This trade certainly wasn't without controversy as a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order in Haynes' lawsuit against the NFL. Haynes asked a federal court to challenge the application of the league's trade deadline rules after the NFL initially voided the deal between the Patriots and Raiders. The veteran cornerback held out for the first half of the 1983 season in search of a contract that would make him the NFL's highest-paid defensive back. He got more than he bargained for, however.
Haynes formed one of the most formidable cornerback pairings in league history alongside fellow Pro Bowler Lester Hayes and the Raiders continued to steamroll the competition. During Super Bowl XVIII, Haynes recorded an interception as the Raiders routed the Redskins 38-9. Haynes was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Cowboys trade Herschel Walker, 4 picks to Vikings for 5 players, 8 draft picks (1989)
The foundation of the Cowboys' dynasty in the 1990s was built off this trade. Dallas began the 1989 season with a 0-4 record and head coach Jimmy Johnson decided that trading their best player was the only way for drastic improvement. Johnson's instincts proved correct, trading Walker, a 3rd-round, 5th-round, and 10th-round pick, along with another 3rd-rounder in the 1991 NFL draft in exchange for Jesse Solomon, David Howard, Issiac Holt, Darrin Nelson, Alex Stewart, and a host of picks that turned the Cowboys from an afterthought into a powerhouse.
Dallas used Minnesota's 1st-round pick in 1990 to trade up four spots, selecting Emmitt Smith, who became the NFL's all-time rusher. The haul didn't stop there, as the Cowboys used the Vikings' 1st-round pick in 1991 to select Alvin Harper, and their 2nd-round pick in 1992 to take Darren Woodson, a five-time Pro Bowl safety.
The Cowboys ought to pay the Vikings royalties for their worldwide appeal.
Bills trade Marshawn Lynch to Seahawks for 4th-round pick, conditional 5th-round pick (2010)
This is a mistake the Bills will rue for a long time. Lynch was chastised for his off-field indiscretions and was viewed as expendable by Bills management, who traded him to a Seahawks team in search of top-end talent. The rest is history.
Lynch developed into one of the marquee running backs of his generation, recording the iconic Beast Quake and Beast Quake 2.0 runs during his tenure with the Seahawks. The 31-year-old made four consecutive Pro Bowls (2011-2014), led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in consecutive years (2013, 2014) and steered the Seahawks to their lone Super Bowl win in 2013. Lynch turned into an icon for his Super Bowl press conferences, while the Bills made poor use of their draft picks - which amounted to Chris Hairston and Tank Carder.
