No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

Although I've had a difficult time taking Peter King seriously since his bizarre coverage of the Pats in 2007/2008, there's an interesting, if not surprising stat in his latest MMQB

Mark Sanchez, Daniel Snyder, Scott Pioli pivotal in NFL draft - Peter King - SI.com

The stats show that over the last 5 years the Pats are one of the most active trading teams on draft weekend... and of those active teams, out of 11 trades Belichick has only traded up 3 times - a low amount of trades for teams in double digit trading figures, and the lowest percentage of all those teams as well.

So not only can you expect Belichick to be active with trades during draft weekend (and given the number of picks, I'd expect more activity than ever this year) but expect that he'll trade back almost 3/4ths of the time.

... not that I'd rule out seeing him trade UP in the first round this year - I think everything depends on who he values and who's available and how much value he can get for trading back. With so many teams wanting to trade back this year, that may limit the value BB would get for trading back from 23 - and there may be good value available to trade up.

But ultimately everything depends on who BB values and who is available.

(Above the Stat of the Week is another interesting factoid - showing that in seasons in which the Patriots and Colts play each other, the NFL schedule makers favor that coming in sweeps week - again - no surprise)

Re: No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

Ahh, now I understand your title .... when he makes a trade, 73% of the time Belichick trades down.

So what were the trade ups? Ty Warren and Chad (puke) Jackson for sure. Did he also trade up for Branch. Who was the third?

Re: No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

When the trade-down brings a higher pick next year, I'd hardly call it a trade-down. It's just taking advantage of teams too stupid to realize that they are not going to get so much better in the current draft that losing a higher round pick next year won't matter. It ends up being a net negative for them and a net positive for the Patriots franchise.

Flip-flop our third rounders if you throw in your #2 next year? Where do I sign!

Re: No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

Yeah, I second that. Most of those "Trade downs" were really exchanges... down this year, up the next.

Re: No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

So when the Pats traded #7 and #164 to the Saints for #10 and #78, was that considered to only be trading down (from 7 to 10) or was it also considered trading up (from 164 to 78)? I'm guessing that only the earlier draft picks were considered when compiling these stats.

Re: No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

Didn' he trade up for Grahm?

Re: No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

Yes - if folks were under the impression that Belichick or any other coach trades back in one draft in order to get a WORSE pick in future drafts, I guess they're in for a surprise.

Typically, yes, Belichick and most coaches will trade back for what they deem to be more value in that year's or future year's drafts.

I'm generally critical of Peter King but I'm not going to fault him for not illustrating the obvious.

Re: No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

Highest-ranking pick trades BB has been involved in with the Pats, from memory:

Down for Mayo
Up for Warren (trivially)
Up for Graham
Later (i.e., the next year) for Meriweather
Later for Wilfork/Down then up for Wilson
Up for Bethel
Down then up for Light

Re: No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

NOt sure really what it all means...up...down...That he is active up or down..is more important...but I disagree that trading for another pick another year is really trading down. Sloppy stats and misleading.. BUT that is OK..he is a wheeler dealer.

Re: No surprise: Belichick leads league trading down in the draft 73% of the time
 

Well like it or not "trading up" and "trading down" are terms you're going to hear this weekend.

But if Belichick trades #23 for say, #40 this weekend, if it makes everyone happy we can call that "trading up"

Beyond that, it seems like some people are taking offense that Peter King - or anyone for that matter - would show statistics showing that Belichick tends to trade down.

That's not a bad thing people... and no one suggested it was - and it should be common sense that when one does so they're getting something of value in return.