If I was an NFL GM (1 Viewer)

[BGP]

If I was an NFL GM, I would always make the same trade every year. I would shop my current second round pick for someone's first round pick the following year. So this year, I'd trade my 2007 2nd for anyone's 2008 1st. Then in 2008, I shop my 2008 2nd for anyone's 2009 1st. This strategy means I take an initial hit in year 1 in that I do not have a second rounder. But in every draft thereafter I have a natural advantage over everyone else, because I always have 2 first rounders. And some years I may hit the jackpot and wind up with a very high top 5 1st rounder for free.

 

[wannabee]

one problem with this is the cap implications of paying two 1st rounders each and every year. One of the perks of 2nd rounders is that you hope to get a starter at a cheap price for a few years.

 

[Colin Dowling]

Both replies are excellent. In theory, creating a cycle of having extra 1st rounders is a great idea. But eventually, the money would be a problem. Similarly, if you were any good a building a team, eventually your late 2nd wouldn't garner a year+1 first rounder.

 

[Guzalot]

one problem with this is the cap implications of paying two 1st rounders each and every year. One of the perks of 2nd rounders is that you hope to get a starter at a cheap price for a few years.

Exactly. The NFL draft isn't fantasy football, first rounders expect to get paid. The salary cap can be a harsh mistress.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

If I was an NFL GM, I would always make the same trade every year. I would shop my current second round pick for someone's first round pick the following year. So this year, I'd trade my 2007 2nd for anyone's 2008 1st. Then in 2008, I shop my 2008 2nd for anyone's 2009 1st. This strategy means I take an initial hit in year 1 in that I do not have a second rounder. But in every draft thereafter I have a natural advantage over everyone else, because I always have 2 first rounders. And some years I may hit the jackpot and wind up with a very high top 5 1st rounder for free.

I agree, but I would take it a step further.I'd trade this year's second for a first next year. Then I'd trade this year's third for a second next year. Then I'd trade this year's fourth for a third next year, this year's fifth for a fourth next year, this year's sixth for a fifth next year, and this year's seventh for a sixth next year.I'd do it every year.Beginning in six years I'd have 7 firsts every year.

 

[Saints-Man]

Also, you would have to find a team that is willing to give you a #1 next year for a #2 this year. While it has happened, it is not that frequent. If you were a GM, would you take a #2 in the current year for a #1 next year?

This only happens when a team is targeting a very specific player and that player is still available late in the 1st round.

 

[Saints-Man]

one problem with this is the cap implications of paying two 1st rounders each and every year. One of the perks of 2nd rounders is that you hope to get a starter at a cheap price for a few years.

Exactly. The NFL draft isn't fantasy football, first rounders expect to get paid. The salary cap can be a harsh mistress.

I like that. There is a fantasy team name in there somewhere.

 

[Bonfire]

i would trade my 2nd round pick for gold.... but that's just me.

 

[Hobbes]

If I were an NFL GM I don't think I would ever pick in the top 15 of the draft.

With so many busts every year I think you would do better trading back...the cost of the top picks is so out of wack that you can get extra picks with a lower net cost and then use the money you are saving to pay your own players that do pan out and still have money to spend on proven free agents...just my opinion...

 

[Colin Dowling]

i would trade my 2nd round pick for gold.... but that's just me.

That's hilarious. Well played.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

one problem with this is the cap implications of paying two 1st rounders each and every year. One of the perks of 2nd rounders is that you hope to get a starter at a cheap price for a few years.

Exactly. The NFL draft isn't fantasy football, first rounders expect to get paid. The salary cap can be a harsh mistress.

A team will never go broke signing rookies. Players under their rookie contracts are cheap. Larry Johnson was a first-round pick, but he is like the 17th highest-paid player on the Chiefs this year.What breaks a team is having to sign free agent veterans, or give extensions to players at the end of their rookie contracts.

But if you keep accumulating first-round picks, you'll be able to replace guys at the end of their rookie contracts (i.e., in their sixth year in the league) with high-quality young players at a discount.

At the very top of the draft, like in the top five, the players are expensive. But once you get to the middle of the first round, they are pretty cheap. Last year's twelfth pick was Haloti Ngata, who got a five-year contract worth "up to" $14M. That's way cheaper than any starting-quality free agent veteran who was signed this year (e.g., Derrick Dockery got $49M over seven years).

Building through the draft will always be cheaper than building through free agency, even if you are picking nothing but first-rounders all the time (as long as you avoid the top five spots).

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Also, you would have to find a team that is willing to give you a #1 next year for a #2 this year. While it has happened, it is not that frequent.

Bobby Beathard traded away the next year's #1 for a #2 in the current year almost every year. You'd just have to try to get him hired again somewhere and you'd be set.

 

[chris1969]

If I were a GM, I'd trade my 1st every year for 15 7th rounders and hope that just 1 of them is a diamond in the ruff.

 

[Saints-Man]

Also, you would have to find a team that is willing to give you a #1 next year for a #2 this year. While it has happened, it is not that frequent.

Bobby Beathard traded away the next year's #1 for a #2 in the current year almost every year. You'd just have to try to get him hired again somewhere and you'd be set.

True, true.

 

[ditka311]

If I were an NFL GM I don't think I would ever pick in the top 15 of the draft.With so many busts every year I think you would do better trading back...the cost of the top picks is so out of wack that you can get extra picks with a lower net cost and then use the money you are saving to pay your own players that do pan out and still have money to spend on proven free agents...just my opinion...

This seems to be the Bears position. While they could get #6 for Briggs, they would have to shell out similar money for an unknown. That makes no sense.

 

[Couch Potato]

If I were a GM, I'd trade my 1st every year for 15 7th rounders and hope that just 1 of them is a diamond in the ruff.

Good plan."OK, Raiders, you get 1/15th of my first rounder. Lions, you get 1/15th also. Browns, you do too. Bucs, ditto..."

 

[Hobbes]

If I were an NFL GM I don't think I would ever pick in the top 15 of the draft.With so many busts every year I think you would do better trading back...the cost of the top picks is so out of wack that you can get extra picks with a lower net cost and then use the money you are saving to pay your own players that do pan out and still have money to spend on proven free agents...just my opinion...

This seems to be the Bears position. While they could get #6 for Briggs, they would have to shell out similar money for an unknown. That makes no sense.

I would trade for the #6...why not if Briggs really doesn't want to be there...in the end they have to pick and choose which players they will spend the big bucks on anyway and he is at best #3 in the priority list behind Urlacher and Harris. Of course then I would take the #6 and trade back a couple of times...see if I can end up with a mid-first, and a couple of extra seconds...or a second and a third. 3 first day picks for Briggs seems like a good deal to me especially when you consider that the total spent on those 3 players will be 2-2.5 million a year vs. the 8 million tender (or the 10 million Briggs is probably asking for).

 

[chris1969]

If I were a GM, I'd trade my 1st every year for 15 7th rounders and hope that just 1 of them is a diamond in the ruff.

Good plan."OK, Raiders, you get 1/15th of my first rounder. Lions, you get 1/15th also. Browns, you do too. Bucs...

What? It's can be done! It's just a much more complex version of a 3 team trade

 

[ditka311]

If I were an NFL GM I don't think I would ever pick in the top 15 of the draft.With so many busts every year I think you would do better trading back...the cost of the top picks is so out of wack that you can get extra picks with a lower net cost and then use the money you are saving to pay your own players that do pan out and still have money to spend on proven free agents...just my opinion...

This seems to be the Bears position. While they could get #6 for Briggs, they would have to shell out similar money for an unknown. That makes no sense.

I would trade for the #6...why not if Briggs really doesn't want to be there...in the end they have to pick and choose which players they will spend the big bucks on anyway and he is at best #3 in the priority list behind Urlacher and Harris. Of course then I would take the #6 and trade back a couple of times...see if I can end up with a mid-first, and a couple of extra seconds...or a second and a third. 3 first day picks for Briggs seems like a good deal to me especially when you consider that the total spent on those 3 players will be 2-2.5 million a year vs. the 8 million tender (or the 10 million Briggs is probably asking for).

Briggs wants at least Porter money. We are talking $20mil. It has been discussed that the Bears would do the deal if they could trade down but that is an unknown. This has happened before with them with less hoopla. See Warrick Holdman or Roosevelt Colvin.

 

[Hobbes]

If I were a GM, I'd trade my 1st every year for 15 7th rounders and hope that just 1 of them is a diamond in the ruff.

Good plan."OK, Raiders, you get 1/15th of my first rounder. Lions, you get 1/15th also. Browns, you do too. Bucs...

What? It's can be done! It's just a much more complex version of a 3 team trade

I get it...a 32 team trade where everyone gets to move up 1 spot in the first round in exchange for their 7th round pick...which would go to the raiders. They could remake their whole team in 1 year...

 

[womb]

one problem with this is the cap implications of paying two 1st rounders each and every year. One of the perks of 2nd rounders is that you hope to get a starter at a cheap price for a few years.

Exactly. The NFL draft isn't fantasy football, first rounders expect to get paid. The salary cap can be a harsh mistress.

A team will never go broke signing rookies. Players under their rookie contracts are cheap. Larry Johnson was a first-round pick, but he is like the 17th highest-paid player on the Chiefs this year.What breaks a team is having to sign free agent veterans, or give extensions to players at the end of their rookie contracts.

But if you keep accumulating first-round picks, you'll be able to replace guys at the end of their rookie contracts (i.e., in their sixth year in the league) with high-quality young players at a discount.

At the very top of the draft, like in the top five, the players are expensive. But once you get to the middle of the first round, they are pretty cheap. Last year's twelfth pick was Haloti Ngata, who got a five-year contract worth "up to" $14M. That's way cheaper than any starting-quality free agent veteran who was signed this year (e.g., Derrick Dockery got $49M over seven years).

Building through the draft will always be cheaper than building through free agency, even if you are picking nothing but first-rounders all the time (as long as you avoid the top five spots).

I totally agree with this statement. And if you were in the very unfortunate position of acquiring top 5 picks every year that will doom your franchise towards cap hell, I think you can safely trade down to the teens and heck grab even more second round picks.

 

[ditka311]

one problem with this is the cap implications of paying two 1st rounders each and every year. One of the perks of 2nd rounders is that you hope to get a starter at a cheap price for a few years.

Exactly. The NFL draft isn't fantasy football, first rounders expect to get paid. The salary cap can be a harsh mistress.

A team will never go broke signing rookies. Players under their rookie contracts are cheap. Larry Johnson was a first-round pick, but he is like the 17th highest-paid player on the Chiefs this year.What breaks a team is having to sign free agent veterans, or give extensions to players at the end of their rookie contracts.

But if you keep accumulating first-round picks, you'll be able to replace guys at the end of their rookie contracts (i.e., in their sixth year in the league) with high-quality young players at a discount.

At the very top of the draft, like in the top five, the players are expensive. But once you get to the middle of the first round, they are pretty cheap. Last year's twelfth pick was Haloti Ngata, who got a five-year contract worth "up to" $14M. That's way cheaper than any starting-quality free agent veteran who was signed this year (e.g., Derrick Dockery got $49M over seven years).

Building through the draft will always be cheaper than building through free agency, even if you are picking nothing but first-rounders all the time (as long as you avoid the top five spots).

I totally agree with this statement. And if you were in the very unfortunate position of acquiring top 5 picks every year that will doom your franchise towards cap hell, I think you can safely trade down to the teens and heck grab even more second round picks.

And more importantly, if they pay out, you have the flexibility to re-sighn them.

 

[Biabreakable]

This thread is gold.

 

[BGP]

If I was an NFL GM, I would always make the same trade every year. I would shop my current second round pick for someone's first round pick the following year. So this year, I'd trade my 2007 2nd for anyone's 2008 1st. Then in 2008, I shop my 2008 2nd for anyone's 2009 1st. This strategy means I take an initial hit in year 1 in that I do not have a second rounder. But in every draft thereafter I have a natural advantage over everyone else, because I always have 2 first rounders. And some years I may hit the jackpot and wind up with a very high top 5 1st rounder for free.

I agree, but I would take it a step further.I'd trade this year's second for a first next year. Then I'd trade this year's third for a second next year. Then I'd trade this year's fourth for a third next year, this year's fifth for a fourth next year, this year's sixth for a fifth next year, and this year's seventh for a sixth next year.I'd do it every year.Beginning in six years I'd have 7 firsts every year.

I knew someone was going to say that one.

 

[BGP]

one problem with this is the cap implications of paying two 1st rounders each and every year. One of the perks of 2nd rounders is that you hope to get a starter at a cheap price for a few years.

Exactly. The NFL draft isn't fantasy football, first rounders expect to get paid. The salary cap can be a harsh mistress.

Perhaps but I also never have a second round pick so all of the money that would have gone to that player would help sign the extra 1st. I think the real impact is it reduces your ability to sign free agents somewhat. But I'm obviously building thru the draft, anyway.

 

[BGP]

Both replies are excellent. In theory, creating a cycle of having extra 1st rounders is a great idea. But eventually, the money would be a problem. Similarly, if you were any good a building a team, eventually your late 2nd wouldn't garner a year+1 first rounder.

The bolded part is the real problem. I know its not realistic. If you have the 2.08, finding a club willing to part with a first next year to get your pick is far easier than if you have the 2.30.

 

[BGP]

Another idea is to always trade your 1st every year for someone's second that year and 1st the next year. So for example in 2007 you trade your 2007 1st for someone's 2007 2nd plus their 2008 1st. Every year thereafter you have one 1st and two 2nds. You also have the flexibility of choosing which one of your 1st round picks you trade away each season.

 

[Despyzer]

Also, you would have to find a team that is willing to give you a #1 next year for a #2 this year. While it has happened, it is not that frequent.

Bobby Beathard traded away the next year's #1 for a #2 in the current year almost every year. You'd just have to try to get him hired again somewhere and you'd be set.

And then you'd have to pray he did something better with that 2nd rounder than drafting Ryan Still, Freddie Jones, and Mikhael Ricks in consecutive years or he won't be around to take advantage of for very long.

 

[JayMan]

Also, you would have to find a team that is willing to give you a #1 next year for a #2 this year. While it has happened, it is not that frequent. If you were a GM, would you take a #2 in the current year for a #1 next year?

This only happens when a team is targeting a very specific player and that player is still available late in the 1st round.

... to make a financial analogy... as a portfolio manager, it's easy to come up with thousands of ideas that will make you money in the long run... the hard part, is finding a counterpart that is willing to lose that money...

 

[JAA]

I am a NFL GM and I do this every year ...

... in Madden