The Biggest Trades of 2021
Written by: DatBoiFuzz
“There’s a difference between thinking you can’t be wrong and having no regrets. Wrongness is what occurs prior to empiricism, in hindsight a counterpart of revelation, and revelation is nothing to regret.” – Criss Jami
With our fourth season in the books, it’s time to look back at our second. The following is a list of the biggest trades from that year; the most value exchanged, gained or lost. Each trade will be assigned a winner. My rulings are impartial and final. Let’s get started.
10.
Why Fuzz made the trade: “I was lusting after Darren’s 1st, and Damien Harris was a RB I was willing to tier down with.”
Why Darren made the trade: “I don’t know what I’m doing, so I accepted most, if not all, trades.”
Who won the trade with hindsight: I’m going to rule this as if the 1.01 hadn’t been used for Kenny Pickett, as Breece Hall would have been the pick if I had kept it. Jacobs has been terrific over the past three years, including a 300 point 2022. Yet, Breece is three years younger and coming off a 250 point season. Harris didn’t do enough to push this one over to my side.
My ruling: Even.
9.
Why Fuzz made the trade: “I had been looking to get off of Shenault and Zer had been showing the most interest. We tried a few variations of this trade but just settled on these two straight up.”
Why Zer made the trade: “Was tied to the tracks of a hype train. Deebo had a lot of injuries also.”
Who won the trade with hindsight: Deebo would finish as the WR2 immediately after this trade and help lead the Wimps to the title. Shenault would never match his rookie year production.
My ruling: Fuzz
8.
Why Fuzz made the trade: “I thought Jones was on his way out of the league and Dillon was a career backup. Felt like an easy sacrifice for a distressed top five QB.”
Why Jim made the trade: “Because Deshaun did bad things and did not exemplify the Cheekburger way. Also I was trying to win at the time and didn’t know what his future held.”
Who won the trade with hindsight: Some may call me the eternal loser simply for taking on Watson. But let’s take morals out of this for a moment. Let’s look at the facts. Watson over the last three years: 12 games played and 14.3ppg. Daniel Jones over the same span: 33 games and 15.5ppg. Eternal loser indeed.
My ruling: Jim
7.
Why Brent made the trade: “I was tilted after some others traded less than market value for Darren’s studs, and I needed a win-now piece.
Why Darren made the trade: “To gain more picks because my team sucks. Additionally, I don’t know what I’m doing, so I accepted most, if not all, trades.”
Who won the trade with hindsight: Hopkins was still considered an elite WR when this went down, and while he has been good when he played, he was injured a bit too much, including the fantasy playoffs in ’21. The 2.01 on top of Hopkins made this an easy accept for Brent. But Darren hit on the 1st and the 2nd, making this a big value gain at this point. Brent paid a great price in the moment, but replacing Hopkins with an immediate hit in Olave is hard to beat.
My ruling: slightly Darren.
6.
Why Zer made the trade: “Got a 1st.”
Why Vito made the trade: “I was looking for young RB’s with a lot of upside. Definitely overpaid.”
Who won the trade with hindsight: This was a lot of young players getting shuffled around. Only two guys gained or held value, and both went to one side. Easy call.
My ruling: Zer
5.
Why Zer made the trade: “Look at the beginning of ARSB’s career. Dog shit. Jumped too soon.”
Why Squirt made the trade: “Did not see much value in Curtis Samuel.”
Who won the trade with hindsight: Hindsight is the key word here. ARSB was a 4th round NFL pick and in a bad offense, while Samuel was coming off a WR25 season, his career high. And Franzer gave up a 2nd to make it happen. At least he can rest better knowing the pick didn’t pan out. You win some, you lose some.
My ruling: Squirt
4.
Why Brent made the trade: “Wow, a 27 year old Michael Thomas? Literally can’t go tits up!”
Why Zer made the trade: “Zer love trade.”
Why Squirt made the trade: “Cause Michael Thomas was a real stupid pick in the OG draft lol”
Who won the trade with hindsight: Well the clear loser is Brent. The dice roll on MT went bust, and then his shiny new 1.05 went bust too. Ouch. Zer came out ahead through sheer luck, turning a mid 1st (and future bust) into two hits in the 2nd round. Neither are currently on his team, but still. Yet the trade king of 2021 Squirtle turned a still valuable MT and a bunch of mid picks into two long term starters at WR. This trade was subtly huge for the Burrow of Brooklyn.
My ruling: Squirt.
3.
Why Fuzz made the trade: “I thought CD was overvalued and DJ was undervalued. Turning a 2nd and 3rd into a 1st felt like a nice win to tier down.”
Why Zer made the trade: “Wanted a projected alpha tied to a good offense.”
Who won the trade with hindsight: If you take away who was taken with 1.03 and just look at how valuable that pick was (Stroud 1.04), I would say Zer lost this trade. But the 1.03 was traded again and turned into Bryce Young, and the 3rd turned into Romeo Doubs. CeeDee blossomed into the clear-cut dynasty WR3 this past season, while DJ continues to have poor QB play. Maybe that changes with Caleb Williams. Regardless, I think both teams are okay with how this turned out.
My ruling: Slightly Zer
2.
Why Darren made the trade(s): “To gain more picks because my team sucks. Additionally, I don’t know what I’m doing, so I accepted most, if not all, trades.”
Why Jerry made the trade(s): “I think I originally made the trades in response to Brent’s initial trade with Darren. Ultimately trying to stay competitive with Brent’s team. Just trading for a big time receiver in Mike Evans. Then taking a shot at a younger guy with potential. Also it was kind of a Darren going out of business sale it seemed like. But I still thought I gave up a good amount of assets. Ultimately Evans wasn’t on my team when I finally won but he remained a top-flight receiver while I had him and turned him back into a 1st. Ayuik has been good. I was hoping he would go somewhere to be the number 1 guy. He ended up staying in San Fran but has been a top 15ish receiver.”
Who won the trade(s) with hindsight: All told this is Aiyuk and Mike Evans for two 1sts, two 2nds, two 3rds and a 4th. The picks haven’t fallen out of playoff range, and none have been major hits thus far, although the ’24 picks remain a mystery. Jerry, meanwhile, has made the playoffs each of the past three years and finally took the title last season. Evans has finished as WR8, WR16, and WR5 in those years, and Aiyuk WR35, WR15, and WR14. Darren needs both of those 1sts to hit to make this a even trade, but for now it’s hard to argue with success.
My ruling: Jerry.
1.
Why Vito made the trade: “Lol. He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
Why Nick made the trade: “Fuck them picks bruh!”
Who won the trade with hindsight: Oh boy. This was one of those league-shifting lopsided deals. Nick tried Jerry’s strategy of trading all his future firsts, but fucked it up by using them all on a single player that was already kind of old for a RB at 25. Three years later Dalvin is almost out of the NFL. It was an overpay at the time and has only gotten worse. This trade was the catalyst for Nick leaving the league and Vito’s team becoming the burgeoning behemoth that it is.
My ruling: Vito.