I flat out do not understand how trades work in the NFL. When did it become a league where the value of first round picks only matters in the future? It makes no sense. Ravi always says that he will trade fantasy players for a pack of 1992 Hoops. That may be a better deal than some of the swaps this weekend.
Let me explain. When t
he Seattle Seahawks traded for WR Deion Branch last season, they had to give up their first round pick in the 2007 draft (#24 overall). Randy Moss, despite his antics and troubles, went from Oakland to New England for a fourth round selection (#110 overall) on Sunday. In addition, the Seahawks parted with WR Darrell Jackson for a fourth rounder as well (#124 overall).
While I agree with many that the Hawks overpaid for Branch, this doesn’t explain everything. The Cleveland Browns gave up their second round pick (#36 overall) and next year’s first round selection to grab QB Brady Quinn in the first round at #22. The 49ers gave up pick #100 overall and their 1st round pick next season to move up to #28 to grab OT Joe Staley.
Now on some levels it makes sense. You give up a first round pick next year to grab one this year. Except essentially the team is saying that Joe Staley is worth more than Darrell Jackson. Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t. Or Cleveland says that Brady Quinn is worth four times what Randy Moss is worth.
So why are two players who have yet to play a down in the league more valuable than two receivers who have caught a ton of balls and been to Pro Bowls? That is what I don’t understand.
Apparently teams are ok with trading a first round pick as long as it is in the future. If it is draft day, the highest they will go is the fourth round. Makes very little sense to me.
Here is one thing that I know: The Seahawks overpaid for Deion Branch. He better catch 80 balls this year. The Hawks could have just kept Darrell Jackson, never traded for Deion Branch, and drafted TE Greg Olsen this year. Unfortunately I am not in charge and I don’t have a
time machine (yet), so we are stuck with the real results. Here they are:
2nd Round – CB Josh Wilson, Maryland
3rd Round – DT Brandon Mebane, Cal
4th Round – DE Baraka Atkins, Miami
4th Round – OG Mansfield Wrotto, Georgia Tech
5th Round – LB Will Herring, Auburn
6th Round – WR Courtney Taylor, Auburn
6th Round – WR Jordan Kent, Oregon
7th Round – OG Steve Vallos, Wake Forest
Wilson will contribute right away. I did not know who he was when they picked him, but I did some research. He is short (5’9), so he will only be able to defend slot receivers. Yet he runs a 4.39 40 and is a strong returner. This allows Burleson to be a full time receiver again (something he will need to do with the loss of Jackson).
Mebane and Atkins will help the defensive line. The Seahawks rotate the line throughout the game so they join defensive ends Patrick Kerney, Bryce Fisher, and Darryl Tapp, as well as DTs Rocky Bernard, Chuck Darby, Marcus Tubbs, and Craig Terrill. Most analysts like Atkins more than Mebane. I just know they were both really good in college.
Wrotto and Vallos will add to the depth at guard which is needed. Wrotto could eventually become a starter in 2008 or 2009, replacing Chris Gray and/or Floyd Womack. Rob Sims will be the other guard for years to come. Herring should help on special teams and be a back up linebacker with D.D. Lewis going to Denver.
I don’t expect Taylor or Kent to do anything. Kent cannot catch at all despite his speed. Taylor is a WR from Auburn. Ben Obomanu (2006) and Karstan Bailey (1999) are the other two receivers from Auburn drafted by the Hawks. Neither of them did anything.
Joe Newton, a tight end from Oregon State, did sign a rookie free agent deal after the draft. He should make the team and back up Marcus Pollard this year, with a chance to start in 2008.
Overall the Hawks did ok. The analysts never seem to agree with their picks so I like to wait and see how they pan out. Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill were not considered great picks (Tatupu a stretch in the 2nd round supposedly) and they are starting linebackers.
What else is left to say? GO HAWKS!
Let me explain. When t
he Seattle Seahawks traded for WR Deion Branch last season, they had to give up their first round pick in the 2007 draft (#24 overall). Randy Moss, despite his antics and troubles, went from Oakland to New England for a fourth round selection (#110 overall) on Sunday. In addition, the Seahawks parted with WR Darrell Jackson for a fourth rounder as well (#124 overall).While I agree with many that the Hawks overpaid for Branch, this doesn’t explain everything. The Cleveland Browns gave up their second round pick (#36 overall) and next year’s first round selection to grab QB Brady Quinn in the first round at #22. The 49ers gave up pick #100 overall and their 1st round pick next season to move up to #28 to grab OT Joe Staley.
Now on some levels it makes sense. You give up a first round pick next year to grab one this year. Except essentially the team is saying that Joe Staley is worth more than Darrell Jackson. Maybe he is. Maybe he isn’t. Or Cleveland says that Brady Quinn is worth four times what Randy Moss is worth.
So why are two players who have yet to play a down in the league more valuable than two receivers who have caught a ton of balls and been to Pro Bowls? That is what I don’t understand.
Apparently teams are ok with trading a first round pick as long as it is in the future. If it is draft day, the highest they will go is the fourth round. Makes very little sense to me.
Here is one thing that I know: The Seahawks overpaid for Deion Branch. He better catch 80 balls this year. The Hawks could have just kept Darrell Jackson, never traded for Deion Branch, and drafted TE Greg Olsen this year. Unfortunately I am not in charge and I don’t have a
time machine (yet), so we are stuck with the real results. Here they are:2nd Round – CB Josh Wilson, Maryland
3rd Round – DT Brandon Mebane, Cal
4th Round – DE Baraka Atkins, Miami
4th Round – OG Mansfield Wrotto, Georgia Tech
5th Round – LB Will Herring, Auburn
6th Round – WR Courtney Taylor, Auburn
6th Round – WR Jordan Kent, Oregon
7th Round – OG Steve Vallos, Wake Forest
Wilson will contribute right away. I did not know who he was when they picked him, but I did some research. He is short (5’9), so he will only be able to defend slot receivers. Yet he runs a 4.39 40 and is a strong returner. This allows Burleson to be a full time receiver again (something he will need to do with the loss of Jackson).
Mebane and Atkins will help the defensive line. The Seahawks rotate the line throughout the game so they join defensive ends Patrick Kerney, Bryce Fisher, and Darryl Tapp, as well as DTs Rocky Bernard, Chuck Darby, Marcus Tubbs, and Craig Terrill. Most analysts like Atkins more than Mebane. I just know they were both really good in college.
Wrotto and Vallos will add to the depth at guard which is needed. Wrotto could eventually become a starter in 2008 or 2009, replacing Chris Gray and/or Floyd Womack. Rob Sims will be the other guard for years to come. Herring should help on special teams and be a back up linebacker with D.D. Lewis going to Denver.
I don’t expect Taylor or Kent to do anything. Kent cannot catch at all despite his speed. Taylor is a WR from Auburn. Ben Obomanu (2006) and Karstan Bailey (1999) are the other two receivers from Auburn drafted by the Hawks. Neither of them did anything.
Joe Newton, a tight end from Oregon State, did sign a rookie free agent deal after the draft. He should make the team and back up Marcus Pollard this year, with a chance to start in 2008.
Overall the Hawks did ok. The analysts never seem to agree with their picks so I like to wait and see how they pan out. Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill were not considered great picks (Tatupu a stretch in the 2nd round supposedly) and they are starting linebackers.
What else is left to say? GO HAWKS!
1 comment:
I will take the 1992 Hoops if I get to feel which pack (I learned how to detect the gold cards, but alas, maybe that dominate skill set is gone).
NFL trades around the draft time are ridiculously difficult to comprehend.
Told Dave this yesterday. I am pretty sure that if you figured out how to master the draft day valuation and trade process, you'd rule the world.
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