As the NFL's trading deadline -- Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 4 p.m. ET -- approaches, we propose five explosive, albeit unlikely, possible deals.

Proposed trade No. 1:

Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson to New England Patriots for a second-round draft choice

In an eerie parallel, the same thing actually happened (more or less) eight years ago.

Wide receiver Randy Moss had 88 touchdowns in nine seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders. But at age 30, after making nearly $100 million, he decided that a Super Bowl ring was No. 1 on his wish list.

With two years and $20 million to go on his contract, Moss agreed to a trade with the New England Patriots and took a drastic pay cut with a relatively modest $3 million deal, plus the ability to make an additional $1.75 million in incentives.

In 2007, Moss caught 98 balls from Tom Brady, for 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns -- a season record that has never been equaled. Oh, and New England won all 16 of its regular-season games. Despite falling just short of a championship, Moss was part of one of the most explosive offenses ever.

Now, Megatron joins the parade of Pro Bowl veterans -- including Corey Dillon, Rodney Harrison, Darrelle Revis, et al. -- who cast their talented lot with the Patriots and won their first title. Johnson, like Moss was, is 30 years old and has made close to $100 million.

This almost makes too much sense.

First of all: The Patriots, according to ESPN Stats & Information, have made the most non-draft-day trades of any NFL team over the past three years (15), and the most this year (seven).

NFL's Most Trade-Happy Teams The most active teams on the trade market over the past three years (excluding draft-day deals). Team 2015 '14 '13 Total New England 7 6 2 15 Philadelphia 4 4 6 14 San Francisco 5 3 5 13 Tampa Bay 3 6 4 13 Baltimore 5 2 5 12 Seattle 5 3 4 12 Indianapolis 2 2 7 11 Houston 6 3 1 10 ESPN Stats & Information

Second, at 1-6, the Lions have little chance of making the playoffs; shockingly, they could snag the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2016 and must start thinking about the future. Johnson, with 43 catches for 574 yards, carries an unsustainable $20.5 million salary cap hit this year, $24 million the next and $21 million in 2017, with no guaranteed money due.

The Patriots? In Week 7, Brady dropped back to throw more than 90 percent of the time against the Jets and was the team's leading rusher. With Megatron on the field, it could be 100 percent. Imagine tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola flanked by Johnson and a healthy Dion Lewis. After watching No. 3 receiver Brandon LaFell botch six catches against the Jets, you can bet Belichick has dreamed of that scenario. With Brady turning 39 next season, this is the time to keep his narrowing window wide open. If anyone can work Johnson into the salary cap, it's the Patriots, who are paying their running backs a ridiculous total of $3.4 million.

"If he's moderately healthy, I'd do that one," said one NFL personnel man. "Not sure it would be fair to the rest of the league, though."

And, Belichick, being Belichick, seals the deal with an offer Megatron can't refuse: He and his elusive advisor Ernie Adams find a position for his fiancée, Brittney McNorton, who is a promotions manager in the Lions' front office.

And her new $10 million salary doesn't count against the cap.

Also: Lions general manager Martin Mayhew went out of his way to deny that Johnson would be traded on Friday morning, but his comments seemed to add credence to our scenario!