Midseason NFL trades have risen sharply, reshaping teams with key moves impacting championships.

Midseason NFL trades have surged in frequency, with 50 deals occurring between October 1 and the deadline over the past three seasons—up from 16 in 2015–17—driven by later trade deadlines and bolder team strategies. High-profile moves involving players like Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Williams, and Mecole Hardman have reshaped teams, with some delivering immediate impacts. Historically, trades such as Fred Dean’s 1981 move to the 49ers and Marshawn Lynch’s 2010 trade to the Seahawks helped build championship teams, demonstrating how midseason deals can alter franchise trajectories.