(03-14-2021, 08:54 PM)Bullseye Wrote:

(03-14-2021, 08:34 PM)TheDuke007 Wrote: I wouldn't go into the draft particularly expecting to trade.  I don't like the idea of trading away any of our first five picks as I think they can be five starters.  If I traded up, I only would want to use our 4th rounders or later as part of the deal.  The one exception would maybe be left tackle if we don't acquire one during free agency.  That would be a huge need at an important position.  If we could trade up and get one of the good tackles, I'd consider it.

As for trading down, I don't see a strong reason to do so.  We already have extra draft picks.  In this case, I'd prefer quality over quantity.  The main reason I trade down is if need doesn't coincide with value at the pick.  However, this team has so many needs, that I think we can make need and value line up together.  We also have extra picks.  If the position we ideally want at 33 isn't available, then we wait until 45, etc.  Of course, if a team gives a deal "too good to pass up", you consider it.

If it was up to me, I would likely stay put.

If you would only use a 4th round pick or later, chances are you aren't looking to move up very far. Fortunately, that may be all it takes to get the player you want.

As for moving down, I suppose it would depend of the success of free agency and how deep they think the draft is.

Given Baalke's history, and Meyer's consulting with Jimmy Johnson and his friendship with Belichick, I wouldn't be surprised to see them trade down.  Would I expect is?  No.  Trades are far easier to make on a message board than in real life.  But Baalke seems inclined to move up and down the board, and he has the picks and the needs to do so.

I was speaking in terms of what I would do and not necessarily what I think Meyer/Baalke would do.  I realize trading late round picks won't change your position much.  My goal wouldn't be to change to a significantly different location of the draft.  It would be to leapfrog teams ahead me if I saw a player dropping in the draft that I considered to be a steal at a position of need and I thought one of those teams ahead of me would take him.

I wrote that message prior to free agency.  I opposed trading down at the time unless there was a significant disconnect between need and value.  After free agency, I'm even less inclined to trade down.  While I was disappointed we didn't get more high end quality players in free agency, we did acquire quantity.  I believe the count is currently 12 and we're not necessarily done.  We need quality.  In fact, I'm even questioning my prior position regarding trading up.  Maybe we should rethink it and be more aggressive and trade up in order to get some high end players.  After free agency, the team actually has pretty good depth in most areas.  

This is just pure speculation, but I wonder if Meyer/Baalke acquired so much depth in free agency because it is their plan to trade up on draft day.

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