Quote:It doesn't matter..my point is we'd be better off as a franchise with the #1 overall pick.  Whether we draft someone or trade back and collect more picks, we would be better in the future having the #1 pick versus ~5.

 

The draft will take care of itself.  The quality of the players drafted does not equal where they are taken in the draft when looking back.  I realize that better players are GENERALLY taken higher, but when we're talking about a few spots we'll likely still have a shot to get one of the best players in the draft if not the best as long as scouting and evaluations are better than most other teams.

 

Also, in looking back at NFL drafts in history I was not able to find an example where the 1st overall pick was traded away prior to the pick happening.  The only examples of it happening are after a team has taken a player that doesn't want to play for the team who picked him (i.e. Elway and Eli Manning).  And Tampa traded their 1st round pick in the '84 draft prior to the '83 season before they knew they would end up with the 1st overall pick in '84.  So if we end up with the 1st overall pick hoping to trade it away, I think the market for that will end up not being very good.

 

The point is, if Caldwell covets a guy high in next year's draft it won't likely be at QB and we'll probably have a shot to get whoever it is at 4 or 5 as the other teams picking in the top 5 need QBs and there are two big names coming out next year.  I think we'll be fine in the draft.  Winning 1 or 2 more games won't change that.  The "win the game and hand your division rival Andrew Luck" scenario is rare and I don't think Andrew Luck is in next year's draft.  And Andrew Luck has been throwing pick 6's lately.

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