Quote:My only assertion is that he should have been able to make the same trade with Miami that Oakland made. What I see as Caldwell's biggest (maybe only) failing is his total passivity in any attempts to trade down. In both 2013 and 2015 the Jags would have been better off trading down. Maybe even in 2014 if Bortles would have fallen to 9th, and, if not, apparently Carr would have been a fine consolation prize. (OK, Caldwell's choice of head coach sucked too so ineptness in trading down isn't his only failing, but he's really good at picking players and reasonably good at free agency).


 

As far as Baltimore is concerned, I only used the Ravens because they were the team that traded for Monroe, and presumably therefore needed a LT. It didn't have to be Baltimore, I just used them as an example. Caldwell had the #2 pick in the draft as trade bait. Most GMs would be willing to trade a future 1st round pick plus some other picks for a high 1st round pick in the current draft. With the new CBA the salaries of top ten picks is no longer a concern like it used to be.

Got it.

 

Still have problems with your rationale on this point.  Just because the Ravens had an interest in Eugene Monroe doesn't mean they were willing to trade up to #2 overall to get him or Joeckel.  The top of that 2013 draft was bad, and did not command a lot in terms of demand for those top picks.  Miami moved up to three, but I think they paid less than optimal value to move up that high in that draft.  In another year with more talent at the top, more teams would have been willing to move up and would have paid more to do it.

 

Besides, if Caldwell was less than impressed with Monroe and was in a position to presumably draft his replacement, why would he get less value to trade down and miss out on him?  At least getting less than optimal value for trading away Monroe, you still have his replacement on the roster.

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