Is trading down in the 2016 NFL Draft the safest move
By Will Lomas
It isn’t far off now, the 2016 NFL Draft is just weeks away with all eyes on what the Tennessee Titans will do. Will they take Laremy Tunsil or Jalen Ramsey, both are can’t miss prospects right? Well, not so fast.
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While I think Tunsil and Ramsey are both destined for great careers in the NFL, the idea of the Tennessee Titans trading back in the NFL Draft is what gets me most excited. Just a few years ago the Buffalo Bills traded their 1st round pick in 2014, their 1st round pick in 2015 and their 3rd round pick in 2015 just to move up 6 spots in the draft to take Sammy Watkins.
While the Titans would only move 6 spots back in the NFL Draft if they traded with the San Francisco 49ers (which I believe could happen) this cost is the bare minimum of what they would ask for. A move like that can change the franchise.
The question is, can you pass up the chance at a “can’t miss prospect” to gain draft capital for now and in the future. In short: yes. If you have read “War Room” a great book that gives behind the scenes details on how the New England Patriots built their dynasty, then you now that they love to trade.
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That is important because you may remember that new Titans GM Jon Robinson is from the New England Patriots front office and he even uses the same prospect grading system that they reference in that book. So, it stands to reason that he is very likely to have similar ideas about trading.
So, now that we know they could do it, should they? Well first let’s take a look at some “can’t miss prospects” from the past few years.
2013
Offensive tackles Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel were supposed to be the next big things at offensive tackle. Both were mammoths that had impressive resumes. Fisher was dominant for a smaller school and had dominated at the Senior Bowl.
Joeckel on the other hand had played for Texas A&M where Johnnny Manziel was beginning his reign as the must-watch prospect in college football. He anchored the blind side there and he and future 1st rounder Jake Matthews looked like they were stone walls protecting Manziel.
Well, fast forward to today and both are stretching to touch the league average line in the NFL.
Jonathan Cooper and Chance Warmack were also in this class. It was unheard of for a guard to go in the top 10, but it happened twice in 2013 with both going to the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans respectively.
Well, Cooper just got thrown in a trade as an afterthought and Chance Warmack was on the league’s worst offensive line last year. So again, can’t miss can definitely miss.
2014
Jadeveon Clowney and Greg Robinson went first and second in the 2014 NFL Draft. I really don’t need to say much more about them, one has barely seen the field and the other is a magnet for penalties. Both have all the potential in the world and people were clamoring about how one was a future perennial 10+ sack pass rusher, while the other was supposed to be the best run blocker since Orlando Pace.
Like I said, I believe in Laremy Tunsil and Jalen Ramsey, but I am afraid of crowning them before they take a snap. This team needs impact players at several positions, and a future 1st round could be a huge help, as could some extra high picks in the 2016 NFL Draft.