4. Indianapolis Colts trade future NFL MVP Marshall Faulk to the St Louis Rams
Ahead of the 1999 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts decided to send running back Marshall Faulk to the St. Louis Rams.
In exchange for the legendary back, the Colts received a second-round and a fifth-round draft pick from the Rams, which the Colts used to draft defensive end Brad Scioli and linebacker Mike Peterson. The Colts also spent their first-round pick on running back Edgerrin James.
Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!
Marshall Faulk was incredible in St. Louis, winning three-straight NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards and the NFL MVP award in 2000. He, alongside QB Kurt Warner, went on to become the key components of the Rams team dubbed 'The Greatest Show on Turf,' as the franchise tasted Super Bowl glory in 2000.
The Colts did eventually lift the Lombardi trophy, but not until 2007 when the likes of Edgerrin James had long since moved on.
Colts fans have had to learn this the hard way that it's never a good idea to trade a Hall of Fame running back, and that's why this one makes the list of the five worst trades in NFL history.
3. Steve Young Traded to the 49ers by the Buccaneers
Legendary 49ers QB Steve Young's trade to the San Francisco 49ers makes the list at number three.
To be fair to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Young didn't exactly set the world ablaze down in Florida back in 1985-86. Though Young had shown glimpses of promise, his career record for the Buccaneers was a lowly 3-16 as a starter.
Not many expected Young to end up in the NFL Hall of Fame back then, so it came as little surprise when he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in return for a second- and fourth-round pick in 1987.
After waiting in the wings behind one of the greatest QBs to ever don the cleats, Joe Montana, Young seized his opportunity to play when his mentor (Montana) was out for 2 years with an elbow injury from 1990-1992.
San Francisco opted to stick with the younger man in the pocket, trading Montana to the Chiefs ahead of the 1993 NFL season.
Young handled the pressure of being the 49ers' main man with ease and led the team to victory over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX (1995). The left-hander threw for a record-setting six touchdowns in that game, earning himself the Super Bowl MVP award, too.
The Buccaneers did go on to taste Super Bowl glory a near-decade after allowing Young to move to California, but they didn't come close to having a QB of Young's ability until last season when Tom Brady joined.
Dallas Cowboys Fans! Check out the latest Cowboys Schedule and dive into the Dallas Cowboys Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.