NFL Trades Surpass Historical Averages
Sixty deals occurred this calendar year, nearly double the decade-old norm, as coaches and owners face mounting pressure to win immediately.
By Alina Campbell ·
The NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m. ET, is poised to shatter recent records. ESPN Research reports 60 trades have occurred this calendar year through October. That total is the fourth highest since 1990 and nearly double the annual average recorded between 2007 and 2016.
Executives expect double-digit deals to occur between now and the deadline. The Bears recently signed defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, signaling that fewer players are off limits. Seven in-season deals have already taken place this year.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane cited a generational shift in mindset. "It's like an unspoken understanding of this new generation of GMs. We're going to make trades," Beane said. "People have been more creative. Pick swaps have allowed more opportunity."
In 2015, there were no deadline-day trades and only one deadline-week deal. By 2025, that number grew to eight deadline-day trades and 14 deadline-week deals. At least six trades have occurred on deadline day in each of the past four seasons.
Ten head coach changes in the 2026 offseason signaled that patience is gone. One AFC executive noted that coaches are getting fired quickly, forcing teams to act. "You don't have the luxury to wait around to see if a player can figure it out," the executive said.
Teams are trading premium draft capital for proven talent. From 2012 to 2016, the average number of trades involving first- or second-round picks was 13.8 per year. Over the past five years, that average has jumped to 20.4 per year.
Players have gained leverage through social media and agent influence. The Cowboys traded for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. after his contract standoff with the Steelers. Beane noted that raw player emotions are visible in real time, impacting trade decisions.
Salary cap maneuverability drives these moves. The cap has grown from $34.6 million in 1994 to $301.2 million today. Browns general manager Andrew Berry traded Myles Garrett to save $20-30 million. Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi traded Jeffery Simmons for two first-round picks and cap savings.
The average annual cap increase over the past five years is about 10.6%. This growth allows teams to absorb veteran salaries. Beane explained that trading involves complex financial calculations, such as converting base salary into bonuses to make players more affordable for other teams.
