The Broncos and Jets’ Zach Wilson trade means four members of the five-QB 2021 first round are now finishing out their rookie contracts elsewhere. This offseason has brought more activity in terms of quarterback trades, with a handful of 2021 and ’22 QB draftees being dealt. The 2020s have presented a hotbed for deals involving former first-round QBs, but a number of trades relocating former top passing prospects have come to pass over the past two decades.
Beginning with a rather eventful sequence during the 2004 draft, here are first-round passers chosen since 2000 who have been traded:
2004
- Draft-day exchange sent No. 1 overall pick Eli Manning‘s rights to Giants; Chargers received rights to No. 4 choice (Philip Rivers), 2004 third-round pick, 2005 first-, fifth-rounders
2006
- Jets obtained Patrick Ramsey from Washington for 2006 sixth-round pick
- Dolphins acquired Joey Harrington from Lions for 2007 fifth-round pick
2009
- Bears landed Jay Cutler, 2009 fifth-round pick from Broncos for Kyle Orton, 2009 first-, third-round picks, 2010 first-rounder
2010
- Broncos added Brady Quinn from Browns for RB Peyton Hillis, 2011 sixth-round pick, 2012 fifth-rounder
- Steelers acquired Byron Leftwich from Buccaneers for 2010 seventh-round pick
- Raiders landed Jason Campbell from Washington for 2012 fourth-round pick
2011
- At trade deadline, Raiders end Carson Palmer‘s retirement stay by sending Bengals 2012 first-round pick, 2013 second-rounder
2012
- Shortly after Peyton Manning‘s free agency decision, Jets acquired Tim Tebow, 2012 seventh-round pick from Broncos for 2012 fourth-, sixth-rounders
2013
- Chiefs acquired Alex Smith from 49ers for 2013, 2014 second-round picks
- Cardinals obtained Carson Palmer, 2013 seventh-round pick from Raiders for 2013 sixth-rounder, 2014 seventh
2014
- 49ers added Blaine Gabbert from Jaguars for 2014 sixth-round pick
2015
- Eagles acquired Sam Bradford, 2015 fifth-round pick from Rams for Nick Foles, 2015 fourth-round pick, 2016 second-rounder
2016
- Broncos obtained Mark Sanchez from Eagles for conditional 2017 seventh-round pick; pick was not conveyed due to Sanchez not making Denver’s 53-man roster
- Vikings traded 2017 first-round pick, 2018 fourth-rounder to Eagles for Sam Bradford
2018
- Washington brought in Alex Smith from Chiefs for CB Kendall Fuller, 2018 third-round pick
- Saints obtained Teddy Bridgewater, 2019 sixth-round pick from Jets for 2019 third-rounder
2019
- Broncos added Joe Flacco from Ravens for 2019 fourth-round pick
- Titans obtained Ryan Tannehill, 2019 sixth-round pick from Dolphins for 2019 seventh-rounder, 2020 fourth
- Dolphins acquired Josh Rosen from Cardinals for 2019 second-round pick, 2020 fifth-rounder
2021
- January agreement sent Matthew Stafford to Rams; Jared Goff, 2021 third-round pick, 2022, ’23 first-rounders dealt to Lions
- Colts landed Carson Wentz from Eagles for 2021 second-round pick, 2022 first-round choice
- Panthers picked up Sam Darnold from Jets for 2021 sixth-round pick, 2022 second-, fourth-rounders
- Broncos acquired Teddy Bridgewater from Panthers for 2021 sixth-round pick
- Jets reacquired Joe Flacco from Eagles for 2022 sixth-round pick
2022
- Commanders obtained Carson Wentz, 2022 second-, seventh-round picks from Colts for 2022 second-, third-rounders, 2023 third
- Browns win Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, acquiring QB, 2024 sixth-round pick from Texans for 2022 first-, fourth-round selections, 2023 first-, third-rounders, 2024 first-, fourth-rounders
- Colts acquired Matt Ryan from Falcons for 2023 third-round pick
- Months-long talks end with Panthers obtaining Baker Mayfield from Browns for 2024 fifth-round pick
2023
- Lengthy talks end with Jets acquiring Aaron Rodgers, Nos. 15, 170 overall from Packers for Nos. 13, 42, 207, along with 2024 second-round pick
- Cowboys obtained Trey Lance from 49ers for 2024 fourth-round pick
2024
- Jaguars acquired Mac Jones from Patriots for 2024 sixth-round pick
- Eagles obtained Kenny Pickett, 2024 fourth-round pick from Steelers for 2024 third-rounder, two 2025 sevenths
- Steelers landed Justin Fields from Bears for conditional 2025 sixth-round pick
- Broncos added Zach Wilson, 2024 seventh-round pick from Jets for 2024 sixth-rounder
Example #1 why more expansion is a bad idea. NCAA can’t support the current 32 teams, so add more (in Europe)?
Yeah, you need to have enough good starting QBs or the products starts to diminish. Adding four more teams, especially in Europe, will lose a lot of casual American fans. Not to mention, it will be terrible for the players to have to take 8-hour red eye flights after every game.
“Raiders end Carson Palmer‘s retirement stay by sending Bengals 2012 first-round pick, 2013 second-rounder”
Every time I read this, I throw up a little bit in the back of my throat.
Very, very few success stories here. Alex Smith to the Chiefs, Ryan Tannehill to the Titans, Matthew Stafford to the Rams (short term).
Jay Cutler and Carson Palmer results could be considered mixed (a solid winning season scattered among the losing seasons).
I don’t count the draft day trade of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, which obviously worked out for both clubs. Neither player ever played for his drafting team.
Good, thought provoking article.
It would’ve made more sense had PFR not been allergic to using Redskins in the entries for 2006, 2010, and 2018.
broncos everywhere on this list. yowzzers.
Every QB except for Manning and Rodger’s are busy but teams still trade for them that’s crazy .