Could we be Getting Ready to Trade Up?

Despite some of the chicken littles getting ready to throw themselves in the harbour, it has to be said, we have a very powerful squad. Yes there are a few areas we need to work on, but we are in a lot stronger position than almost every other team.

Now what we also have are huge amount of draft picks. It could be argued we don't need that many players, just quality ones

Could we be getting ready to trade up in the draft? Could that be one of the reasons we haven't gone mad in Free Agency?

We have never gone "mad" in free agency, so not sure what has changed.

DarrylS said:

We have never gone "mad" in free agency, so not sure what has changed.

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When I say mad, I mean not getting into bidding wars, and letting players go if BB thinks the salary is too much. I know going mad isn't the Patriot Way, but my question related to the amount of draft picks we have, and whether this could be the plan, and whether CB and NT could be dealt with by trading draft picks.

I was waiting for this thread. Happens every year.

Brit patriot said:

It could be argued we don't need that many players, just quality ones

Could we be getting ready to trade up in the draft?

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The thing is, this argument can be made -- and indeed IS made -- about the Patriots every single spring. And if the team had followed it in the past, they wouldn't have the depth of talent they have now.

The draft isn't primarily about plugging holes for this fall, it's the ongoing talent pipeline that is the lifeblood of any well-run team.

As Darryl pointed out, the Pats don't really go mad in free agency when the gun sounds, as many other team do. They are historically more active with the 'value' agent in June 1st cuts.

The last time I can recall the Pats trading up (I assume you are referring to the 1st round) was Jerod Mayo in 2008. The Pats tend to amass draft picks and trade down when possible, following a "best available" player mentality. With all of the claims of a draft rich in possibilities I have heard from the so-called draft experts on radio and in articles, I would be surprised to see the Pats sacrifice picks to snag a specific player.

BB normally goes for value. I can't see him trading up unless a possible CB he really really really likes falls within range. He won't try to move up alot IMHO. Just a few spots to nab a special player he covets.

He's more apt to move down to gather more picks. That is getting more difficult as more teams see the value of that strategy.

I say that Pats just need quality players in a few positions every draft...LOL

I do think we are stronger than we have been most years. Maybe this is the reason I am sat in a shirt changing diapers, and not working as a GM in Foxboro!

What BB understands better than anyone is that the drop-off between player A and player B in any given position is usually nominal, particularly when you have good coaching that will scheme to the strengths of the players.

The weakness of most people is that they want the BEST, period. Apple knows this and so gets the lines with every new product.

It's like a video game that has an in-game, player-run auction house. The top sword or helmet will sell for 10,000 gold, but the tier below it, which are the top items from the previous season and will be just a tick below in terms of quality, have been severely devalued. So that 10k might get you the top helmet, but it could get you the top helmet, the breastplate and the sword from the previous season.

That's where BB shops.

I think the FO is ready to trade up, down, around, whatever. They prepare for every single scenario, but as others pointed out, it's all about value.

It's hard to project a scenario to trade up when we don't even know what player that will be. Moving up for the sake of moving up is silly. It depends on who it's for and what you have to give up. Moving up 4 spots for a specific guy who slid and you think is a tier above others makes sense. Moving up 14 spots in hopes of getting any one of the blue chip guys doesn't.

So I think we'll prepare for a guy we like to slide, figure out how much we're willing to give up to get him and where, and we'll also prep to trade back if nobody is available. What makes BB the best is that he doesn't make up his mind on what to do before the draft starts. Just like in a football game, he'll prepare, but he'll be ready to adjust depending on how it's going, not stubbornly or desperately continue with the original plan.

MassPats38 said:

The last time I can recall the Pats trading up (I assume you are referring to the 1st round) was Jerod Mayo in 2008.

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Small point, but the Pats actually traded down for Mayo. The only recent trades up in the first have been modest moves for Chandler Jones and Dante Hightower.

patchick said:

Small point, but the Pats actually traded down for Mayo. The only recent trades up in the first have been modest moves for Chandler Jones and Dante Hightower.

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The only significant trade up in Bill's tenure was #32 to #21 for Daniel Graham. The rest are of the Ty Warren variety.

But somehow it's a question that pokes it's head out and looks for a shadow every April.

convertedpatsfan said:

It's hard to project a scenario to trade up when we don't even know what player that will be. Moving up for the sake of moving up is silly.

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Just wanted to highlight this awesome point. It doesn't even make sense to me to think of trading up as a goal or strategy heading into a draft; that's like saying "I don't know what I'm shopping for, but I'd like to pay as much as I can." You trade up if there's a particular player available who you think is well worth the investment.

(If anybody sees such a player and wants to talk names, come on over to the draft board!)

patchick said:

Small point, but the Pats actually traded down for Mayo. The only recent trades up in the first have been modest moves for Chandler Jones and Dante Hightower.

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Large point.

I forgot they had the Niners 7th pick in the draft (recalled it was lower). And thanks for the history reminder on Jones and Hightower. I couldn't recall a recent shift in the 1st round.

patchick said:

The thing is, this argument can be made -- and indeed IS made -- about the Patriots every single spring. And if the team had followed it in the past, they wouldn't have the depth of talent they have now.

The draft isn't primarily about plugging holes for this fall, it's the ongoing talent pipeline that is the lifeblood of any well-run team.

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And the other thing that's said every year is that the Patriots have been amazingly consistent in hitting on their first-rounders. OK, some may have been a shade disappointing (Meriweather, Maroney, Ben Watson, arguably) but none have been flat-out busts and almost all of the rest have been more than worth the pick.

What they haven't done since maybe Seymour (pick no. 6) is draft a player who can single-handedly wreck a game -- J.J. Watt, DeMarcus Ware, Calvin Johnson-style. But that's very hard to do if you're as successful as the Patriots. No complaints about that from me!

EDIT: Should have said "draft a player in the First Round who can single-handedly wreck a game". Gronk!!!

OK, I'll fantasize about us being awarded the Jets #1 pick and then trading up for Leonard Williams.
Weeeeeeeeee! That was fun!

convertedpatsfan said:

I think the FO is ready to trade up, down, around, whatever. They prepare for every single scenario, but as others pointed out, it's all about value.

It's hard to project a scenario to trade up when we don't even know what player that will be. Moving up for the sake of moving up is silly. It depends on who it's for and what you have to give up.

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Yes, pretty much exactly this (post snipped to show my favorite part.) They plan for contingencies and react to the draft as it unfolds.

If someone they like a lot gets close enough to #32 that the value of losing multiple picks to pay the price to get access to the player is overcome by how much they like that player, they'll do it. Trading before then would be premature since they'd be paying a price based on nothing more than a guess as to what player(s) would be there. It'd be like agreeing to pay some (probably high) price for a house but you don't know where it is, how many bedrooms it has, etc.

I do give OP credit that maybe they're laying groundwork for some trades now, but I also think there's a big element of keeping their draft plans very close to the vest for as long as possible. It's a copycat league and few teams have been trendsetters over the last 15 years to the degree the Patriots have.

All of this points to the difficulty of testing our " Patriot Fanaticism" in March, instead of December, January and sometimes February...

It is easy to be a Jets, Buffalo or Miami team now, more difficult at the season grinds on..

The Patriots are not preparing in March to trade up in the draft on April 30th. At #32 you really have to see how the draft falls and what players that you rate highly drop to a few slots above you.
The same can be said about trading down. If a team calls about a player that you won't take then you make the deal, but that is not done until just after he team in front makes their pick.

Brit patriot said:

I do think we are stronger than we have been most years. Maybe this is the reason I am sat in a shirt changing diapers, and not working as a GM in Foxboro!

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You don't seem old enough to be in diapers.