3)Trading down: Honestly, I could have very easily put this at the top of the list. I’m a HUGE fan of trading down. As far as I’m concerned, if your team has a ton of a holes, it would make sense to try and get as many picks as possible. So, what could the Bills get with the 3rd pick? Well, when the Jets swapped picks with the Browns two years ago (17th for the 5th), Cleveland got the Jets 2nd round pick. I don’t know about you, but getting 3 picks within the first 50 selections would be quite an accomplishment.
Alright, I know, that doesn’t sound sexy. However, a number of teams have gone the route of trading down to build their franchises. The Pats have been notorious for doing that since Belichick has been the coach. They have 6 picks in the first 3 rounds this year, which is insane. We all know how the Cowboys built their Super Bowl teams. They did it via the draft and constantly trading down. Trading down is always the best route to go.
Why?
Because every time a team does it. It’s considered a great move. Seriously, how many years now have we heard experts talk about how amazing the Pats strategy has been? Hell, two of their additional picks for this year were a part of deals that were done two years ago. Its been a celebration since the Richard Seymour trade to Oakland, and the Pats are finally going to cash in this year. OK, the last paragraph was kind of a joke.
Anyways, besides the history of trading down, the other factor you can look at is that the Bills are in need of help on the defensive line. Everyone knows that this draft is deep with defensive linemen. Lets say the Bills trade out of the top 3 and get a pick at the 12th spot (Hey, Vikings need a QB), to go along with Minnesota’s 2nd round pick. With the first pick, the Bills could draft Cameron Jordan and that would all but eliminate the need for a defensive end. Pat Moran from Buffalosportsdaily.com, has been harping about the Bills interest in Jordan for over a month now. I’m not sure if he’s right, but if the Bills are high on him, it would make sense for them to trade down.
Then, with the two 2nd round picks, they could draft QB Christian Ponder and someone like Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA. Right then and there, the Bills could eliminate 3 of their needs. You also have three guys, who could start next year at some point (Depending if Fitzpatrick struggles).
I don’t know about you, but those are some nice picks if you ask me. Of course, they have to be hits.
Hell, the Bills could keep on trading down and grab another 2nd round pick and pick a defensive linemen later. There’s a lot of options. The Pats do the same thing every year. They will have the 10th pick from a previous trade and then trade down until they have the 30th selection to go along with 4 other draft picks. Of course, there’s always the money factor. Right now, there’s still a possibility that the NFL season may go on without a CBA for one year and they could go back to the old rules, meaning that rookies could get like 50-million guaranteed with the 3rd spot. I don’t know about you, but do you think Ralph wants to hop along that money train?
Mike Williams anyone?
Plus, if it’s a one time draft, in which all these rookies will have a huge payday without playing a down, you know their agents will be going for broke. Hell, the Jerry McGuires of the world, would want to live off that one last rookie commission.
Now, the reason why this option is listed 3rd is because it’s the least likely scenario for the Bills. The assumption is that the Bills aren’t moving. Yes, Buddy Nix was a part of the front office in San Diego that traded down to select LT, Phillip Rivers and Shawne Merriman, but those happened because Eli didn’t want to play in So. Cal and Mike Vick wanted too much money as a rookie.
Yes, this is my favorite scenerio, but it’s a very unlikely one.
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