3 NBA-Style NFL Trades That Would Break the League

The NFL may dominate headlines with massive quarterback signings and offseason drama, but when it comes to blockbuster trades, the NBA still reigns supreme. 

So, what would it look like if NFL teams started wheeling and dealing like their basketball counterparts? CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin imagined exactly that: cooking up three wild, NBA-style NFL trades that would shake the league to its core.

1. Purdy, Tua, and Cousins in a Wild QB Carousel

In what Benjamin dubs the Shanahan Shakeup, the San Francisco 49ers trade Brock Purdy to the Miami Dolphins, who send Tua Tagovailoa to the New Orleans Saints, while the Atlanta Falcons offload Kirk Cousins to reunite with Kyle Shanahan. 

The deal also includes a flurry of picks and minor players to balance the books. It's chaotic, sure, but if you’re Miami, the idea of Purdy operating in Mike McDaniel’s timing-based offense is tantalizing. For the Saints, landing Tua could give Kellen Moore a trusted arm to implement his system.

Brock Purdy’s career Passer Rating is 104.9.

Nothing special… only the highest of any QB in NFL HISTORY pic.twitter.com/CKwlIsXRPF

— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) July 5, 2025

2. Justin Jefferson Joins Burrow and Chase

Here’s the boldest move on the board: Cincinnati Bengals swing for the fences and land Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson in a multi-team deal also involving the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns. 

The Bengals give up Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson, but the payoff is enormous: the LSU reunion of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Jefferson. Detroit lands Hendrickson as a pass-rushing upgrade next to Aidan Hutchinson, while the Vikings receive premium picks and plug-and-play defenders. If you’re dreaming of a superteam offense in Cincinnati, this trade delivers it.

WHO WAS A BETTER #NFL WIDE RECEIVER IN THEIR PRIME…?

ANTONIO BROWN OR JUSTIN JEFFERSON

🧐🧐🧐 pic.twitter.com/vfXPI5mAAZ

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) July 7, 2025

3. Lawrence and Mayfield Swap Coasts

Benjamin’s “Florida Flip-Flop” sees the Jacksonville Jaguars send Trevor Lawrence to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Baker Mayfield and a conditional pick. New Jags coach Liam Coen gets to reunite with Mayfield, who thrived under him, while the Bucs get a younger, higher-upside quarterback under contract. 

After watching Mayfield overachieve, Jason Licht might feel confident taking a gamble on Lawrence's long-term ceiling. It's the kind of calculated risk NBA GMs love, and one that could set the Bucs up for another Super Bowl window.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images