The first day of the 2018 NFL Draft, when first round selections are made, shapes up to be one wild spectacle. I saw one forecaster who’s predicting that more than a half-dozen last-minute draft pick trades will be made concerning first-round picks alone.
The teams holding the first 15 or so picks are in a delightful position for this year’s draft. Even the Packers are rumored to be ready to move up or down the list, depending on who’s available. The Packers are in a tricky situation, as they have needs for a top-notch recruit for at least three positions. That does, however, give them a great variety of trading options.
My theory is that the team seeking the trade is almost always going to get the better of such deals. If so, it might be in the Packers’ best interests to see who wants to move up to the No. 14 spot and just how eager they are to do so.
I’m guessing there will be a number of teams punching in the Packers’ phone number on April 26. I’m also thinking that only three or four teams holding one of those first 15 choices will have any interest in trading. Most of them probably are already drooling over the player they plan to choose. I’m further thinking that Green Bay is going to be one of those three or four receptive suitors.
One deduction leads to another: that 14th pick could plausibly wind up being used on either the fourth or fifth quarterback taken on this most intriguing of draft nights – and it just might be the Patriots making that trade and selection.
The speculation is that the Pats got that 23rd pick in the Brandin Cooks trade as an intermediate step toward moving further up in the first round. I doubt that they’ll be able to trade up to a top-five selection and it’s there that the first three quarterbacks will probably be taken. The Browns, Giants, and Jets all need a franchise QB in the worst way.
Put the beer in the fridge and get ready for some fireworks on April 26. The show starts at 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, or 6:00 depending on your U.S. time zone.
If the Packers stay at 14, the names I’d expect to see there would be Marcus Davenport, Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James.
If we were to trade-up with our arsenal of 12 picks, I’d prefer a Roquan Smith or a Denzel Ward, the top CB & LB in the draft.
If we trade-back, I’d like to us take DJ Moore, Mike Hughes or Josh Jackson… the #2/3 WR & CBs in the draft. Either way, we’re at a good spot at 14 for the first time since 2009 especially considering that QB-needy teams will take 4-5 picks before us
I hope we don’t trade down. We need difference makers on the cheap (i.e., rookie contracts). The last seasons had us drafting as playoff teams, when we weren’t true contenders there. This time we have a high pick, the chance of getting a highly talented contributor. Let’s effin’ use it! Why would we want to trade down, to where talent value begins to cluster around the average?
I’d listen to trade offers in Rd1 the talent in this draft is very equal in a lot of areas, meaning there’s lots of good players but not elite players to be had. When a RB is considered the top player in a draft, it’s not filled with elite talent just good solid guys.