2015 NFL Draft: Who Trades Up, Who Trades Down?
By Erik Lambert
Jan 29, 2015; Chandler, AZ, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks to reporters during the New England Patriots press conference at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Part of the allure of every pro football draft is how unpredictable the picks can become. Not just in terms of the players picked, but also who is doing the picking. Trades are arguably the most exciting part of any off-season and it won’t be any different for the 2015 NFL draft. Fans continue to debate whether their teams should trade up or down when the clock starts this April. Smart money says it’s going to happen. It’s only a matter of when and who.
With that in mind, here are some teams to watch that could trade up and some who could trade down.
Movin’ On Up
St. Louis Rams
Jeff Fisher and Les Snead have done a good job of infusing the St. Louis Rams roster with a wealth of young talent on both offense and defense. However, they still haven’t been able to produce a winning season. The primary reason is constant turnover at quarterback. The time is right for them to go after a difference-maker, which is why they are a serious threat to move up on draft day for one.
Cleveland Browns
The reasoning behind the Cleveland Browns moving up is because they, more than any other team are equipped to do so. Thanks to a trade the previous year, the Browns hold two 1st round picks (12th and 19th). That kind of ammunition would enable them to make a significant jump up the board for a player they have eyes for. Perhaps that would be a quarterback, a wide receiver or one of the top pass rushers.
Denver Broncos
John Elway has never proven shy when it comes to being aggressive during the off-season, free agency or the draft. With a new coaching staff in place, the Denver Broncos may be of the mind that 2015 is their very last chance to make something happen with Peyton Manning as so will pursue the best possible player they can get, or perhaps even a replacement for Manning not named Brock Osweiler.
Break It Down
Oakland Raiders
Reggie McKenzie has already shown once before that he doesn’t mind moving back in favor of more picks. Based on the Oakland Raiders and their position, such a move may prove more beneficial given their needs. That is how they played it in 2013 and it helped them land quality young tackle Menelik Watson.
Chicago Bears
What new GM would love to take over a team devoid of front line talent and hold only six picks? Not many. Ryan Pace has to be thinking the Chicago Bears need a bigger youth infusion than six picks can provide, which is why trading down makes far more sense for them. They hold the 7th overall pick so they sit in a good position to do, especially if one of the top quarterbacks or pass rushers falls to them.
New England Patriots
By this point everybody has learned the MO of the New England Patriots. They are generally of the belief that holding more picks allows for a team to remain consistently good year after year. Based on their success, it’s hard to argue with that. Regardless of which pick they hold following the Super Bowl, the 31st or 32nd, don’t be surprised if they just move back into the 2nd round of the 2015 NFL draft.