[h=1]Draft trades that make sense[/h][h=3]Shrewd moves could get the Texans Clowney and QB of the future[/h]By Mark Dominik | ESPN Insider
Draft-night trades take place every year, and there surely will be a handful in the 2014 draft that shake up the first few rounds. Predicting where they will take place can be very difficult, but for the purposes of this article, I've come up with some potential deals that would make sense and serve both trade parties well.
Here are four draft trades that I'd like to see on May 8:
Houston Texans trade the No. 33 and No. 65 picks to the Kansas City Chiefs for the No. 23 and No. 124 picks
The Texans are in a unique position. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is the best prospect in the NFL draft, yet they already have the best defensive lineman in the NFL in J.J. Watt. Houston is in dire need of a quarterback, and an ideal situation for them would be to move down from No. 1, add some picks and get their quarterback a little further down in the order.
<OFFER>However, in the absence of a lucrative trade offer for the top overall pick, the Texans should draft Clowney at No. 1 and then look to trade back into the first round by offering their picks at the top of the second and third rounds so that they can grab the QB they are looking for in Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel or Derek Carr (assuming Blake Bortles is off the board by this point). They'd come away with the best player in the draft and their quarterback of the future. It's hard to beat that in terms of draft impact.
For the Chiefs, the move would allow them to sleep on the draft for a night and make the first pick on Day 2 (a valuable selection to have) while adding the first pick in the third round to help make up for the second-rounder they gave up to the 49ers in last year's Alex Smith trade. That makes it a good deal for them as well.
Cleveland Browns trade the No. 26, No. 71 and No. 83 picks to the St. Louis Rams for the No. 13 pick
The Browns head into the draft with a lot of picks (two selections apiece in the first, third and fourth rounds of the 2014 draft, giving them seven total selections in the first four rounds) and a roster that already has talent at key positions, including CB Joe Haden, OT Joe Thomas, TE Jordan Cameron and WR Josh Gordon. Getting quality out of their picks is going to be more important than quantity, which is why I think they should be aggressive in packaging their picks to move up.
Cleveland could take one of the top players with the fourth overall pick -- possibly Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins -- and then look to grab their QB of choice at No. 13 rather than reaching for one at No. 4.
The Rams have been aggressive in the draft over the past couple seasons, all from the draft picks originally acquired from the Washington Redskins for the No. 2 overall pick in 2012, which the Redskins used to draft Robert Griffin III. With this year's No. 2 pick in hand from that trade, it gives the Rams some flexibility with their No. 13 pick to add even more talented players to their roster. The 13th pick is a prime spot for the Rams to consider moving back in this draft, with QB-needy teams such as the Browns looking to move up. In this potential deal, the Rams should then look to deal one of the newly acquired third-rounders for a 2015 second-round pick, giving them draft power in another draft class. With the No. 2 overall selection and their other picks joining a talented roster, the Rams should be in a position to not only compete in the NFC West, they should have a chance to win it.
Carolina Panthers trade the No. 28 and No. 92 picks to the Green Bay Packers for the No. 21 pick
The Panthers enter the draft with pressing needs on the offensive line and at wide receiver, but coming off a strong 2013 campaign, they are drafting 28th overall, which isn't a good spot to be in when you're looking to land a top-level prospect at either position. Carolina made good use of its draft picks last year on defense in Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short, so it can afford to be aggressive in giving up an extra pick to get an impact player on offense. I think they would be targeting Notre Dame tackle Zack Martin or Tennessee tackle Ja'Wuan James, although a receiver would be a possibility as well.
For the Packers, this move would only require them to move down a few slots and take the best player available or fill a need while adding an extra third-round pick in a deep draft that should still offer plenty of value at that point.
San Francisco 49ers trade the No. 30 and No. 56 picks to the Baltimore Ravens for the No. 17 pick
The Niners are in prime position to trade up in the 2014 draft. They already have a very physical football team on both offense and defense, but the area they might be looking to upgrade is a vertical threat at wide receiver who can also be an impact return man on special teams. The offense has an athletic quarterback in Colin Kaepernick and tight end in Vernon Davis, a tough runner in Frank Gore and bigger-bodied receivers such as Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree, and adding a legit vertical threat would create 16 regular-season headaches for opposing defensive coordinators.
They aren't likely to find that guy with the 30th pick, but there should be some appealing options at No. 17. A guy like Oregon State's Brandin Cooks or LSU's Odell Beckham Jr. would transform a very good offense into an explosive one.
For the Ravens, this would give them the opportunity to add a second-round pick in a really deep draft, and they can still get a very good player with the 30th overall pick. General manager Ozzie Newsome has done a great job at finding value outside of the top few picks in the draft -- Ray Lewis, Todd Heap, Ed Reed and Jimmy Smith are some notable examples -- which is another reason for them to feel good about moving back in this scenario.
Draft-night trades take place every year, and there surely will be a handful in the 2014 draft that shake up the first few rounds. Predicting where they will take place can be very difficult, but for the purposes of this article, I've come up with some potential deals that would make sense and serve both trade parties well.
Here are four draft trades that I'd like to see on May 8:
Houston Texans trade the No. 33 and No. 65 picks to the Kansas City Chiefs for the No. 23 and No. 124 picks
The Texans are in a unique position. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is the best prospect in the NFL draft, yet they already have the best defensive lineman in the NFL in J.J. Watt. Houston is in dire need of a quarterback, and an ideal situation for them would be to move down from No. 1, add some picks and get their quarterback a little further down in the order.
<OFFER>However, in the absence of a lucrative trade offer for the top overall pick, the Texans should draft Clowney at No. 1 and then look to trade back into the first round by offering their picks at the top of the second and third rounds so that they can grab the QB they are looking for in Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel or Derek Carr (assuming Blake Bortles is off the board by this point). They'd come away with the best player in the draft and their quarterback of the future. It's hard to beat that in terms of draft impact.
For the Chiefs, the move would allow them to sleep on the draft for a night and make the first pick on Day 2 (a valuable selection to have) while adding the first pick in the third round to help make up for the second-rounder they gave up to the 49ers in last year's Alex Smith trade. That makes it a good deal for them as well.
Cleveland Browns trade the No. 26, No. 71 and No. 83 picks to the St. Louis Rams for the No. 13 pick
The Browns head into the draft with a lot of picks (two selections apiece in the first, third and fourth rounds of the 2014 draft, giving them seven total selections in the first four rounds) and a roster that already has talent at key positions, including CB Joe Haden, OT Joe Thomas, TE Jordan Cameron and WR Josh Gordon. Getting quality out of their picks is going to be more important than quantity, which is why I think they should be aggressive in packaging their picks to move up.
Cleveland could take one of the top players with the fourth overall pick -- possibly Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins -- and then look to grab their QB of choice at No. 13 rather than reaching for one at No. 4.
The Rams have been aggressive in the draft over the past couple seasons, all from the draft picks originally acquired from the Washington Redskins for the No. 2 overall pick in 2012, which the Redskins used to draft Robert Griffin III. With this year's No. 2 pick in hand from that trade, it gives the Rams some flexibility with their No. 13 pick to add even more talented players to their roster. The 13th pick is a prime spot for the Rams to consider moving back in this draft, with QB-needy teams such as the Browns looking to move up. In this potential deal, the Rams should then look to deal one of the newly acquired third-rounders for a 2015 second-round pick, giving them draft power in another draft class. With the No. 2 overall selection and their other picks joining a talented roster, the Rams should be in a position to not only compete in the NFC West, they should have a chance to win it.
Carolina Panthers trade the No. 28 and No. 92 picks to the Green Bay Packers for the No. 21 pick
The Panthers enter the draft with pressing needs on the offensive line and at wide receiver, but coming off a strong 2013 campaign, they are drafting 28th overall, which isn't a good spot to be in when you're looking to land a top-level prospect at either position. Carolina made good use of its draft picks last year on defense in Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short, so it can afford to be aggressive in giving up an extra pick to get an impact player on offense. I think they would be targeting Notre Dame tackle Zack Martin or Tennessee tackle Ja'Wuan James, although a receiver would be a possibility as well.
For the Packers, this move would only require them to move down a few slots and take the best player available or fill a need while adding an extra third-round pick in a deep draft that should still offer plenty of value at that point.
San Francisco 49ers trade the No. 30 and No. 56 picks to the Baltimore Ravens for the No. 17 pick
The Niners are in prime position to trade up in the 2014 draft. They already have a very physical football team on both offense and defense, but the area they might be looking to upgrade is a vertical threat at wide receiver who can also be an impact return man on special teams. The offense has an athletic quarterback in Colin Kaepernick and tight end in Vernon Davis, a tough runner in Frank Gore and bigger-bodied receivers such as Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree, and adding a legit vertical threat would create 16 regular-season headaches for opposing defensive coordinators.
They aren't likely to find that guy with the 30th pick, but there should be some appealing options at No. 17. A guy like Oregon State's Brandin Cooks or LSU's Odell Beckham Jr. would transform a very good offense into an explosive one.
For the Ravens, this would give them the opportunity to add a second-round pick in a really deep draft, and they can still get a very good player with the 30th overall pick. General manager Ozzie Newsome has done a great job at finding value outside of the top few picks in the draft -- Ray Lewis, Todd Heap, Ed Reed and Jimmy Smith are some notable examples -- which is another reason for them to feel good about moving back in this scenario.
