The old saying that strong defenses win championships continues to drive NFL front offices to make bold moves in pursuit of elite defensive talent.
Professional football teams are demonstrating increased willingness to surrender premium draft capital for standout defenders, marking a notable shift in league trading patterns.
Exchanging two first-round selections for a single player has historically been uncommon, with less than 20 such transactions occurring over four decades. Yet three of these rare deals have taken place within the last six and a half months, all involving exceptional defensive stars.
The Baltimore Ravens completed the most recent blockbuster move Friday evening, obtaining five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for two top draft picks, according to two sources familiar with the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press.
Both sources requested anonymity since the deal cannot be officially announced until the league year begins next week.
Recent Super Bowl outcomes have reinforced the value of dominant defensive units. Seattle’s “Dark Side” defense overwhelmed Drake Maye with six sacks during their 29-13 championship victory over New England last month.
The previous year saw Philadelphia’s defense sack Patrick Mahomes six times in the Eagles’ commanding 40-22 Super Bowl win against the Chiefs.
Acquiring Crosby represents a major enhancement for Baltimore, a franchise that has experienced playoff disappointments despite regular season success behind two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson.
The 28-year-old edge rusher addresses a significant weakness for the Ravens, whose defense managed only 30 sacks in 2025, ranking tied for 28th league-wide. Crosby should flourish under new head coach Jesse Minter, who previously served as a defensive coordinator.
Several other notable trades involving dual first-round picks have occurred recently:
Indianapolis shipped two first-rounders plus wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets for two-time All-Pro cornerback last November. Despite sitting at 7-2 when the trade occurred, injuries to quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Gardner contributed to the Colts’ season collapse.
Green Bay surrendered two first-round selections and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to Dallas for three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons one week before last season’s start.
Parsons recorded 12.5 sacks across 14 contests, helping the Packers achieve a 9-3-1 record. However, Green Bay failed to win any games after he suffered an ACL tear.
The Denver Broncos executed a massive trade in March 2022 to land 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson, sending Seattle two first-round picks, two second-rounders, a fifth-round selection, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, and defensive lineman Shelby Harris. Wilson posted an 11-19 record during just two Denver seasons before his release.
Cleveland completed what became one of the NFL’s most disastrous trades in March 2022, acquiring Deshaun Watson and a 2024 sixth-round pick from Houston in exchange for three first-round picks, one third-round pick, and two fourth-rounders.
The Browns subsequently signed Watson to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract. He has appeared in merely 19 games across four seasons, compiling a 9-10 record.
The Los Angeles Rams dealt quarterback Jared Goff, two first-round picks, and a third-rounder to Detroit for Matthew Stafford in January 2021. The three-time Pro Bowl signal-caller guided the Rams to a Super Bowl championship that season and earned AP NFL MVP honors in 2025.
