Article by Ian Hughes
One of the most exciting/unpredictable things that can
happen during Draft season is the trade of Draft Picks. They become more and
more valuable as the weeks and days count down to the main event. It’s so hard
to judge who will move and where they want to move to. Draft Boards differ from
one team to the next.
One team might think their guy will fall to them at the
bottom of a round, where another team above them feel the need to jump to the
top of the round to get the same guy. I always like the philosophy of sticking
with your pick, or gain as many picks as possible. Trading up to jump a team
can guarantee getting your guy, but it can cost you a fortune in picks. Just
ask the Redskins, who gave up 3 years’ worth of drafts to jump and get RG3, and
look where he is now…
These are my teams that might consider actively changing
their Draft spot in the 1st round.
LA Rams, #15:
The LA Rams are the first of the QB needy teams that aren’t
in position to have a shot at the top 2 Passers on most Draft Boards. #15 isn’t
the worst spot to be coming from but I don’t see them getting all the way into
the Top 5. The target will be to get above the Eagles at #8, maybe even the
49ers at #7. This leave the Ravens as their only real trade partner. Ravens
might be willing, but they will take some persuading. You’ll need to get them
to turn down a possible starting OT or DE.
New York Jets,
#20:
This is a real interesting situation for the Jets. They are
right up against the Cap ceiling, to the extent that right now they would be
able to sign their Draft picks in their current slots. So they have a lot of
shuffling to do, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them slide out of #20 to
save some money. They are in the right position for the second tier QB market
but not really in position for a trade for that position. Where they do sit
nicely, is the Corner market. With Pittsburgh picking #25 and the likes of
Kansas City, Seattle and Carolina all projected to be in the Cornerback market.
Someone could make the jump to #20 to get ‘dibs’.
Green Bay Packers,
#27:
Here is a good one for you. Green Bay need help. They have
been carried by Aaron Rodgers recently without really protecting him. They
could do with both a young pass catcher and OL help. It might be hard to get
into the low teens to compete for with the Lions, ‘Phins and Raiders for one of
the promising Tackles. It would be more reasonable for them to get to the front
of the line for a Wide out. Buffalo could be a possible partner at #19 with
their expected pick being at a very deep position.
Chicago Bears, #11:
My Chicago Bears are currently picking at the #11 slot. They
have been very clever in Free Agency, something GM Ryan Pace has been very wary
of. He has gone out and made sure that he doesn’t have to draft a ‘NEED’ with
his top pick. This makes them a prime mover in the Trade market. The main
position needs are Defensive line and Safety. DL is very deep with no real big
talents expected to be on the board at #11. There is only one nailed on 1st
round Safety and he is going in the first five picks. So the Bears have 2
options open to them. Either Jump up into the expensive picks and go after the
likes of Ramsey and Buckner, or trade down and stash some picks to help the
re-building process that they are currently working through.
Denver Broncos,
#31:
The Broncos currently have the last pick of the 1st
round. They have a very obvious need at the QB position after the loss of Brock
Osweiler to the Texans. #31 could be far too late for the QB they want. It’s
would take a real big jump for them to get safely back into the market but if
John Elway thinks there is a guy worth it, I can see him pulling the trigger on
a big trade. They are still in the Championship window and should be for the
next couple of years. They have all the pieces in all the right places, a young
QB with plenty of potential could see them in the hunt while the team is still
intact. Then carry them while they restock for another run.
The Big Trade I
would love to See but is compete madness???
The New York Jets to
send the 20th pick, 2017 1st
round pick, 51th pick, 2017 2rd round pick and the 83rd
pick to the San Diego Chargers
for the 3rd Pick and the
66th pick.
This would be pure madness but help both teams. The Jets are
right in the window to go to the Super Bowl. Yes, they are tight on the Cap,
but that is fixable by moving around money on some expensive contracts. Jumping
all the way to #3 would give them the best of all world. They could go DE and
Buckner making Wilkerson and his Tag money expendable. They could go Safety and
take Ramsey, filling an area of need in an otherwise solid secondary. They
could even go QB if they don’t get Fitzpatrick or another QB between now and
the draft. OT is even on the cards. San Diego want everything. So why wouldn’t
they want to amass 3 extra picks at the business end of a draft over the next 2
years? Maybe the value isn’t quite there with the picks I put up, but I don’t
think I am far off.
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