After a blockbuster trade between the Rams and Titans, the Buccaneers may find themselves in a situation where trading up is vital.
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This draft is an important one for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There’s no getting around that. I, for one, have preached the importance of not throwing away picks to trade up into the first round. However, the Bucs may find themselves in a situation where trading up is a necessary evil.
See, for a team still rebuilding, draft picks are the most important commodity. That being said, giving up a few picks for a franchise changing player is worth it. So what could happen to force the Bucs to make this move? Well, with Los Angeles moving to the number one spot for a quarterback, there will be a ripple effect felt throughout the rest of the top ten.
If the first pick is Wentz, or Goff, that could lead to the Browns panicking and taking the other top quarterback. With the Chargers at three, they can go a few different ways. One would venture to guess if quarterbacks go one and two, San Diego would select Tunsil to protect Rivers, and any quarterback that follows him over the course of the next decade.
Here’s where it gets tricky; the Dallas Cowboys. If the Cowboys take Ezekial Elliot, Myles Jack, DeForest Buckner, or trade down to another quarterback needy, panicking team, that means that both Joey Bosa and Jalen Ramsey would fall to number five and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Now, the Jags have no need for a defensive end, but they could take Ramsey. Depending on Jacksonville’s price tag, the Buccaneers may attempt to trade into the five spot for Bosa or Ramsey. If the Jags feel Ramsey is their guy, it’s up to Tampa to get to number six in a deal with Baltimore.
If you look at the draft value chart, which is a decent gauge to judge potential trades with, it shouldn’t cost the Bucs more than their third round pick to move up three spots to number six for Joey Bosa. The value of pick number six is 1,600. The value of pick nine is 1,350, so the Bucs only need to make up 250 points. Their third rounder, pick 74, is worth 220 points. With only 30 points left, you’re looking at a swapping of late round picks to make up the difference.
I’m still not a huge proponent of giving up picks, but for the right player it might be worth it if you’re talking about trading up three, maybe four spots for a major difference maker. The way this draft appears to be shaking out, the Buccaneers may find themselves compelled to trade up, or might just have an elite player fall right in their lap.
Next: Braxton Miller To Tampa?
What do you think? What would be worth trading up for and for what price?