2019 NFL Draft: Teams looking to trade down: Jets, Rams, Seahawks
Several teams are looking to make moves down the draft board in round 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft: Who are they, who are their most likely trade partners?
NFL Insider Tom Pelissero indicates there are five teams actively seeking a trade down in round one of the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday.
Teams I’m told have shown the most interest in trading down: #Jets (3), #Lions (8), #Dolphins (13), #Seahawks (21/29), #Rams (31).
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 25, 2019
Trading up, especially into the top 10, has often been perceived as being cost-prohibitive for many teams. Particularly if you’re looking to make a big move (think Kansas City from 27 to 10 to take Patrick Mahomes).
However, to this end, fellow insider Mike Garafolo has also made a proclamation about trades in the 2019 NFL Draft as opposed to years past:
There are so many teams looking to move back, a relative plateau of talent after the first few picks and no mad scramble for QBs like last year. So the cost of moving up might not be as prohibitive as other years.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 25, 2019
With that in mind, let’s take a look at each of the teams he lists: where they’re picking, why they may trade down and who their most likely suitors are.
New York Jets
The Jets are currently slated to pick third overall in Thursday night’s draft. Their dream scenarios are likely that neither quarterback has gone (leaving teams the option of taking their top signal caller), or that both have gone (allowing teams to trade up to take Nick Bosa).
The Jets moving down to secure more picks makes perfect sense; with no second round pick and needs along the offensive line and at wide receiver, it would make sense for New York to look down to position themselves to take some of the top prospects at those positions (with offensive line projected to start going between picks 7-15; and wide receivers projected everywhere from 12-22).
It would make sense for the Jets to be able to convince Oakland to pay to move up one spot for Haskins (if the rumors are true), the Giants to trade up, or Washington to give up a great deal to secure a top passer. Any number of teams could also be interested in trading up for Bosa, including the Giants, Jaguars or Packers.
Percentage chance: 60. There’s enough smoke here, that there’s likely some fire somewhere to justify it.