Potential Draft Day Trades

Story posted April 10, 2017 in CommRadio, Sports, NFL Draft by Zach Seyko

For as long as football fans can remember, there have always been draft day trades that go down, causing everyone to applaud or scratch their heads. This year is no different, as teams have a plethora of needs. Potentially, we could see quite a few teams trade back for extra draft picks like the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears, while teams like the Houston Texans, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals could trade up to acquire better quality picks. Here are three trades that could be executed on the first night of the NFL Draft. 

The Browns get their QB of the future in the top five through a deal with the Titans –,

BROWNS RECEIVE: Titans’ 5th overall pick

TITANS RECEIVE: Browns’ 12th overall pick, 33rd overall pick

Cleveland is going to make noise on draft day, and it is going to be via trade with Tennessee. While the Titans could take an elite corner at No. 5, due to their abysmal pass defense in 2016, they will find it more beneficial to acquire an extra pick from the Browns. North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky is No. 1 at his position in the draft, but he is not one of the best passers to come out of school in recent memory. Trubisky possesses a high ceiling, though, and would provide a long-term answer at quarterback for the Browns. At No. 6 overall, the Jets are expecting Trubisky to fall, where they can snatch him up without making any moves. But, the Browns like what they see in the signal-caller and pull off the deal with the Titans, hoping to end the long line of unsuccessful Cleveland quarterbacks.

The New York Jets swap top 10 picks with the Chicago Bears – 

JETS RECEIVE: Bears’ 3rd overall pick

BEARS RECEIVE: Jets’ 6th overall pick, 70th overall pick 

The Bears have a conundrum with the third overall pick, especially after their moves in free agency. While they were not the sexiest of signings, the Bears filled needs at quarterback, cornerback, and wide receiver. At third overall, whomever the Bears would draft is a reach at that spot. On the other side of the deal, the Jets need a quarterback and a running back, two of the most important positions in football. While they have Matt Forte under contract, the aging back underperformed in 2016 and could produce similar seasons for the remainder of his deal. A lot of mock drafts are projecting former LSU running back Leonard Fournette to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 4 overall. Hypothetically, it is in the best interest of the both the Bears and the Jets to swap picks, if the Jets are seriously targeting Fournette in the top five. 

The Buccaneers jump ahead of the Eagles and snag running back Dalvin Cook –

BUCCANEERS RECEIVE: Cardinals 13th overall pick

CARDINALS RECEIVE: Buccaneers 19th overall pick, 84th overall pick

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a running back now that Doug Martin is an uncertainty heading into 2017. With offensive-minded head coach Dirk Koetter at the helm, the Bucs will stay in-state and draft Florida State product Dalvin Cook. Not only will former Seminole Jameis Winston fall in love with this pick, but also the Tampa Bay offense will add another dimension to an already dynamic group. Cook does not have to assume the starting role right away and can be eased in, while learning behind Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers. The Cardinals had a down year due to injuries and do not possess many glaring needs other than a quarterback. The Eagles have been scouting Cook for a very long time and like what they see, which will prompt the Bucs to jump ahead and snatch him away.

 

Zach Seyko is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in communication arts & sciences. To contact him, email zachseyko@msn.com.