NFL Trade, Draft Formulas Different
Friday - August 17, 2011
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Del.icio.usIt is always fascinating to watch trades in the NFL, where you frequently see a productive starter traded for a second-, third- or fourth-round draft pick.
And yet, when some team wants to trade up in the draft, it often has to fork over multiple picks just to jump a few spots.
The untested seem to somehow have a higher value than the proven entity.
When the Atlanta Falcons wanted to move from the 27th position to the No. 6 spot, they had to give Cleveland five draft picks their first-, secondand fourth-round picks this year, and their firstand fourthround selection next year.
This for a player, wide receiver Julio Jones from Alabama, who has yet to catch an NFL pass!
But when the Saints traded Reggie Bush to the Dolphins, Miami parted with only backup safety Jonathon Amaya, primarily a special teams player. And Bush may not have lived up to his Heisman hype, but he’s still a game-breaker with breathtaking speed and terrific moves.
Considering how many rookies end up as busts, the formula seems skewed.
* So let’s play G.M.
Most analysts have Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck as the best at the position, at least since Peyton Manning, and some say Luck is the best ever.
I posed this question on the radio. As G.M., you have a choice:
Take either Andrew Luck or Rams quarterback Sam Bradford. Seven of eight NFL fans would choose Bradford on the basis of his proven record.
Asked then to choose Luck or Lions QB Matthew Stafford, six of eight chose Luck.
And when asked to select between Luck and Jets QB Mark Sanchez, all took Luck.
The only part that really surprised me was the lopsided majority that chose Bradford.
Maybe these Hawaii fans have a better handle on all this than actual GM’s, most of whom sound ready to offer their first-born plus the farm to get an obviously gifted but unproven player.
* If I were Giants quarterback Eli Manning, I might have some issues with my front office.
First, the Giants cut two of his offensive linemen in center Shaun O’Hara and guard Rich Seubert.
Then they let free agent tight end Kevin Boss get away to the Raiders.
And to really put the capper on, they let wide receiver Steve Smith, one of the best thirddown receivers in the NFL, go to division rival Philadelphia.
And outside of San Francisco center David Baas, they really haven’t added much.
With the Eagles adding players left and right, the Giants’ inability to pull the trigger on its own free agents, except for Ahmad Bradshaw, or to improve by adding some from other teams has to be disappointing and perplexing.
Do you think Eli feels like a target?
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