*Walt taking 2014 and 2018 |
Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst |
2023 NFL Combine Results - Weigh-Ins and 40 Times
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2023 NFL Combine Stock Report:
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Late Round 1 Trades More in Demand than High First
Updated March 5, 2022
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.
Typically, if there is a trade high in the first round of the NFL Draft, it is related to a quarterback prospect. However, the 2022 NFL Draft does not have a consensus quarterback prospect who is viewed as worthy of going high in the first round. Hence, teams picking high in first round told me they do not anticipate much of an opportunity developing for them to move down in the first round. The lack of top quarterback or multiple quarterbacks could lead to a lack of trade action early in the first round, however team sources say that teams picking late in the first round could have some good opportunities to move down into the second day of the draft. They believe that this draft class could prove some good values late in the first round that will be the catalyst for some teams wanting to move up.
“It will be tough for teams high in the first to move down,” said a director of player personnel. “But I think moving down late in the first could have some big interest from teams wanting to move up. The Lions for example, will have a much easier time trading down from pick 32 than they will from pick 2.”
Trading up into the low 30s on the opening night of the draft with Chiefs (30), Bengals (31), or Lions (32) would also net the fifth-year option on the rookie contract. That can provide a franchise big savings and provide more time before doing a large second contract. The cost to trade high in the first round is always expensive and teams are not willing to give those picks away for just a mid-round pick in return. The price to move into the end of the first round is much more reasonable and around the league they believe there could be some good deals offered late in the first round to teams interested in moving down at the end of the opening night of the draft.
