(03-19-2021, 01:53 PM)Bullseye Wrote:

(03-19-2021, 12:43 AM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: Looking at all the teams picking ahead of us in the draft and seeing how so many of them have a need at OT, I am changing my stance on trading up. Normally, I am totally against trading up and more often than not, I'm an advocate for trading down. This situation is different though. In the last 2 seasons Cam Robinson has given up the 2nd most QB pressures in the NFL and Jawaan Taylor has given up the most, by a significant margin. We HAVE to upgrade at least one of them. I would package pick #25 and #33 to get up as high as we possibly can to target Penei Sewell, Rashawn Slater or Christian Darrisaw. I'd even throw in Taylor as well. Many of us have absolutely no faith that our current OT duo will keep Lawrence safe in 2021.

As I said in a thread in the main forum, the one position that makes sense to move up for from a positional, draft choice compensation and a financial standpoint is T.

Tackles, especially left tackles, usually populate the top half of the first round every year.  However, this is an unusual year in that there are possibly four, maybe even five QBs that will be drafted in the top ten.  In fact, it's possible the top four picks will be QBs.

1.  Jaguars-Trevor Lawrence
2.  Jets-  Zack Wilson
3.  Miami-----???
4.  Atlanta
5.  Cincinnati
6.  Eagles
7.  Detroit
8.  Carolina
9.  Denver
10.  Dallas
11.  N.Y. Giants
12.  San Francisco
13.  L.A. Charger
14.  Minnesota

One strange thing about this draft is that the teams from picks 2-5 arguably do not have need at LT.  The Jets have Mekhi Becton who played well at LT.  Miami just drafted Jackson last year.  Atlanta has Jake Matthews signed and sealed, and Cincinnati just signed Riley Reiff.  While Philly at 6 could use a LT, Detroit is pretty solid at LT with Decker.

The way I see it, the highest we could possibly trade up is #3 to Miami.  But the likelihood of that happening is low, because QB starved teams will look to get into that spot to get one of the top four signal callers.  Miami would likely get more from them to not fall so far.  I would assume either Carolina, Houston (if they trade Watson) or, at worst, San Francisco moves up into that spot. 

Accordingly, I think the 6, 7 and 8 slots represent the best chances to move up into the top ten, and of those slots, Detroit would be the sweet spot.  First, Detroit has, at least in the short term, their QB spot secure with Goff.  I am not a fan, but their new GM came over from the Rams, and he helped draft him there.  Second, they are set at LT.  Their biggest needs are WR and LB, both of which are positions that, in this draft, can be found later.  Furthermore, thanks to the Stafford-Goff trade, they are loaded with high picks the next two years.  They could make it three years with a lot of higher picks by trading back.

According to trade value charts like this one https://walterfootball.com/draftchart.php , the #7 pick is worth 1500 points.  The Jaguars could send the #25 (720 points), #45 (450) and #65 (265) and get the Lions #7 and roughly a 4th.  That would still leave the Jaguars with the #33 in the second round.  I would be willing to leave off the 4th in return if we could keep #33, because we could always trade back from 33 and recoup a 3rd or add an extra 4th, depending on how far we move back.

To get to Cincy at 5 (1700 points), we'd have to give up #25 (720) and both second round picks-#33 (580) and #45 (450) just based on the trade value chart.  But considering there still may be teams like Carolina and San Francisco angling to trade up to to get to Cincy's spot, depending on what happens with the QBs, it could be more expensive because they may not want to move that far back.

 A trade along the lines of pick # 7 for pick # 25, # 45, and # 65 would be one I hope the Lions make, with the possible exception that LSU WR JaMarr Chase is still available with pick # 7. 

 In addition to WR and LB, with Safety and Nickel CB also currently huge Lions needs, a trade like this would be a great fit for the long term building process of the new regime.

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