That happens every year.  So I ask, what stops a team from trading away a back end pick for a higher one next year, and then doing that every year until you basically have a conveyor belt of picks that you are trading away until you get an extra 1st or 2nd round pick every year?

Granted it would take three or four years until it started to pay dividends, but you could essentially get yourself an extra 1st or 2nd round pick every year by only giving up a late round pick (say a 6th) every year.  but as we've seen the last two drafts, its pretty easy to get back any late round picks you give away.  this year we picked up an extra 7th by trading down 10 spots in the 5th.  last year we gave away three 6th rounders for one 5th.

so anyways, for example, lets say you trade away your 6th rounder for a 5th next year.  then next year you trade that extra 5th rounder and your 6th for a 4th and a 5th the following year.  the following year you trade your extra 4th and 5th as well as your 6th for a 3rd, 4th, and 5th.  etc... 

I realize you may not always be able to give away your 4th for a 3rd next year.  so maybe youd have a "hole" or two in your conveyor belt of picks.  But you always see a fair number of trades like this every year even though most teams arent thinking about giving away a pick for a future one.  most teams are trying to acquire more picks for this year and have to be blown away by a deal to give up a pick without seeing an instant gain.  but thats exactly what we'd be trying to do.  and teams would realize that and probably be more likely to make a deal with us.

so obviously this would take some patience the first few years.  but lets say you wanted to trade away a 5th every year, it would only be three years into this plan until you get an extra 2nd every single year.  so you are basically converting a 5th into a 2nd every single year.  and from there maybe you can convert that 2nd into a 1st the following year.  maybe you can trade that 2nd for another 2nd and a 3rd like the Ravens did this year.  the only catch is that you can find a team willing to trade.  But I dont think itd be that hard cuz most teams are looking for instant gratification and we'd be willing to accept future picks for a pick they could use right away.

the patriots have started giving away picks for future the ones the last few years.  but not to this degree.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS    Joined: 10/1/2000 12:00:00AM

Imagine if the Jags targeted just two players in each draft and these players were such as to have a significant impact on your roster. You had better guess right when you have so few picks, but if you do then you can create an extraordinary roster full of young Superstars.

As you fill your roster with young stars you trade away older stars for future draft picks that will be used to target future Superstars in subsequent draft classes.

My guess is that is probably is not prudent to do this every year but perhaps at least every third year so as to mix in good depth with the Star talent.

I would go ga-ga if this team ever got themselves into a position of having two Firsts, and they essentially did this past draft but it was more due to a player falling than anything else.

Like Stigma said, if you focus your draft on the upper rounds (and isn't the draft all about acquiring the best talent that you can?) you can have yourself a super-stocked roster after a few years. The issue with that, and the reason why I think that we haven't been doing this until now, is that you can't really develop roster depth. However, since I feel like we are at almost a critical mass with the roster, I can see the team moving more and more towards this mindset.

Sacrifice depth for quality, it's been 7-8 years now, but are we finally at that point?

Go heavy early. You do not maintain perfection, you work for it everyday.

I think this was kind of an odd year though.  we've all mentioned how lucky we were that all it costs us in moving up in the 1st was two 3rds and a 4th.  it should have cost us a lot more.  and we were also lucky in the sense that we were able to move up in the first two rounds because we had so many picks going in.  we had two 3rds, a 4th, and three 5ths.  that allows for a lot of maneuverability.  frankly any other year moving up from 26th to 8th should have essentially cost us our entire draft(assuming we dont have additional picks).  that should cost you your 2-7 round picks and possible even more.  so unless you have a lot of draft picks, ie a lot of maneuverability, im not sure you could really even target two different players and guarantee you get them.  cuz depending on where you need to move up, you may not have enough ammunition. 

I think the ideal strategy, which really isnt a strategey i guess, is to have as many picks as you can.  its kinda hard to acquire 1st rounders.  but the rest of the draft isnt too difficult.  I think if a team really tried, theyd be able to go into every draft with two picks in every round save for the 1st.  especially if you add in all the compensatory picks.

I know if i were running the show, id be a madman when it came to maneuvering around the draft and acquiring as many picks as you can.  everyone keeps talking about how brilliant the chiefs draft was.  gimme a break.  they had 6 picks in the first three rounds.  any one of us could have put together a great draft with that many high picks.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS    Joined: 10/1/2000 12:00:00AM

    Related to the various draft strategies mentioned in this thread,    another strategy that I would put a major emphasis on is on trading down.    Unless a player stands out above the rest at a need position,    trading for extra picks makes plenty of sense.    One or more of the acquired picks can be in the next draft.      Especially if your team has a deep roster.      The emphasis on trading down strategy would provide more flexibility to accomplish the strategic objectives that were touched on this thread.      Including having enough picks to trade back up when an excellent opportunity presents itself and / or trading a pick in the current draft for a higher pick in the following draft.   

David Memories of 2-6-05: Jax Super Bowl and the BIG 43

This seems to be the strategy used by Philly the past two drafts and by the Redskins in this past draft class. Typically getting more picks works when you are attempting to rebuild your roster. Trading down to accumulate future picks also has risks.

In my mind the only strategy that works the best is to target the players you want and then go get them. Hopefully you have done your homework so when you have them they perform.

      Even if both the Eagles and Panthers make the playoffs next year,    Philadelphia will now have the resources to trade up in the top 10.    

    As for the Redskins,    their trade with the Falcons paid off,   as they still were able to draft Devin Thomas in the upper part of Round 2.      Time will tell though if the Fred Davis selection later in the round was a good decision.    I have my doubts.    

David Memories of 2-6-05: Jax Super Bowl and the BIG 43

nope.  not i.  dont listen to prisco.  although i am moving but not to clearwater.  athens, ga.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS    Joined: 10/1/2000 12:00:00AM