The opening days of the NFL offseason have not only been defined by heavy spending in free agency, but also by a series of notable trades that have seen key playmakers swap franchises.

Several teams moved aggressively to acquire established starters, while others happily accepted the chance to stockpile draft capital ahead of April’s draft.

One of the most eye-catching — and unexpected — deals involved Kansas City cornerback Trent McDuffie, who was traded to the Los Angeles Rams as part of a package that included multiple draft picks, among them a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. The move reflects the Rams’ continued willingness to sacrifice draft capital in pursuit of proven talent as they attempt to remain competitive in the NFC. In all, L.A. coughed up the 29th overall pick in this year’s draft, plus 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks and a 2027 third-rounder.

Another major transaction, albeit less unexpected, finally saw star edge rusher Maxx Crosby dealt by the Las Vegas Raiders. As anticipated, there were several teams interested in landing the defensive threat, but the asking price of two first-round draft picks deterred most. The Baltimore Ravens, however, were prepared to pay the not insignificant price to acquire one of the league’s premier pass rushers, adding an established defensive cornerstone as they look to strengthen an already formidable defense.

The Dallas Cowboys were also active in the trade market, acquiring pass rusher Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a fourth-round pick — again appearing to ‘win’ the trade in much the same way as they did when sending Micah Parsons to Wisconsin ahead of the 2025 campaign. The addition of underlines Dallas’ determination to strengthen its defensive front as they attempt to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign blighted by defensive weaknesses.

Elsewhere, the Pittsburgh Steelers moved to bolster their receiving corps by acquiring wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr from the Indianapolis Colts. With Indy locking up fellow WR Alec Pierce, Pittsburgh quickly committed to their other veteran pass catcher, agreeing a three-year extension worth $59m shortly after completing the trade.

These trades follow hot on the heels of David Montgomery being sent from Detroit to Houston in the wake of the NFL Scouting Combine, and D.J. Moore moving from Chicago to Buffalo in a deal that appears to benefit both the receiver and his new team.

Houston wasn’t shy about making moves on the offensive side of the ball — center Juice Scruggs formed part of the compensation for Montgomery — but also moved OL Tytus Howard to Cleveland for draft pick comp. Meanwhile, another center in the shape of Garrett Bradbury was dealt from New England to Chicago as the Bears look to cover the unexpected retirement of Drew Dalman, who only moved to the Windy City in last year’s free agent frenzy.

A swap of defensive talent occurred between the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans, with DE Jermaine Johnson leaving the Big Apple in exchange for DT T’Vondre Sweat, and was followed by another involving CB Minkah Fitzpatrick, who swaps AFC East allegiances to free up cap room in Miami. Green Bay and Indianapolis also indulged in defensive moves as the former acquired LB Zaire Franklin for DL Colby Wooden. Buffalo, meanwhile, sent CB Taron Johnson to Las Vegas along with a swap of draft picks.

Taken together, the flurry of deals underlines how willing teams have become to use trades as a primary roster-building tool. With the new league year underway and the draft still weeks off, further movement around the league remains likely as front offices continue reshaping their squads for the 2026 season.