With the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft just hours away there are many teams looking to trade up or down on opening night that will have their phone lines open in seek of a deal for more picks or a player that they really covet. Here are some potential trades that could go down tonight:
Reskins trade up for Haskins:
Washington is no stranger to mortgaging the house, in terms of future high round pick, for what many experts consider the second-best quarterback of the draft. They did exactly that when they traded three years’ worth of first and second round picks to select quarterback Robert Griffin III out of Baylor at No.2 overall in the 2012 draft. While that deal resulted in some prolific immediate gratification after Griffin turned out one of the best rookie seasons in league history that resulted with an NFC East division crown and him winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, it also saw him suffer a knee injury that would make his meteoric rise to stardom come to back to earth.
However, Griffin’s playing style has always been contingent on his ability to run and use his legs to contribute and make plays. Recent rumors have been circulating that the team has their eye and heart set on Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins with their first-round pick, whether it is at their original pick at 15th overall or if they have to trade up to get him.
What makes the former Buckeye different from Griffin is that he did nearly all of his damage from behind the line of scrimmage and inside the pocket so it’s not as much as a cautionary tale as some might insinuate if they do indeed make this move. Haskins made the most of his one year as Ohio State’s starting quarterback and became a Heisman finalist by leading the nation in passing touchdowns with 50 and breaking several program as well as Big 10 conference record along the way.
Owner Dan Snyder was the one who pulled the trigger on the massive trade for RG3 eight years ago and according to reports for Grant Paulsen of The Atlantic, Snyder is in solely in charge of what the team is going to do with their first-round selection. While team spokesman Tony Wyllie called the report “categorically false”, it wouldn’t be the first time that Snyder took the reins of the top pick.
They might not want to risk the chance of Haskins not being on the board by the time they are on the clock at 15 so they might have to package a bunch of early picks in this year’ and future year’s drafts to jump up to at least the fifth overall pick on the outside chance that the Giants and General Manager Dave Gettleman has been deploying smoke and mirrors with their recent lack of interest of taking him or a quarterback period at No.6 overall.
Potential trade: Redskins trade No.15 overall, No.76 and 2020 first round pick to the New York Jets for No.3 overall.
In a perfect world, they would like to not have to give up anything and just wait impatiently for their next franchise quarterback to fall into their lap at No.15 overall. However, just in case they don’t want to take that gamble, they might have to jump into the top five to just about ensure that it doesn’t happen. The Jets are rumored to be seeking a trade partner in the teens to strike a deal with and they’d be satisfied with this haul.
Possible pick:
No.3- Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State: They finally use a first-round pick to find their franchise quarterback instead of relying on a pricey veteran option. Haskins won’t end up like the last quarterback they too in the first round because they fundamentally play the game differently.
Texans trade up for a top tackle:
Houston will be looking to upgrade their offensive line as they look to provide young franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson who is entering his third year in the league and has been one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the league over that span. They could very well land a day one starter on the offensive line at their actual first round pick at 23rd overall but they might want to move up to take one of the top three talents at the tackle position in the top 15 picks.
They might target Andre Dillard of Washington State, Jonah Williams of Alabama or Jaawan Taylor of Florida. All three of them could go as high as the top 10 so the Texans might have to jump up at least 13 or 14 spots to get their man. Dillard is viewed as the best pure pass blocker in this draft, Taylor is rated as the top right tackle prospect and a lock to be taken in the 10 and Williams ability to play both guard and tackle on either side of the line could be too enticing to pass up.
Potential trade: Texans send No.23 overall, No.55 and No.86 to the Detroit Lions for No.8 overall
This is the highest they could jump up to ensure that they could have a chance to have a choice between at least two of the top three tackles without surrendering all of their picks in the top 100 selections. The Lions have plenty of needs to fill so they’d welcome the opportunity to trade back in the first and accumulate more picks in the first three rounds.
Possible Pick:
No.8- Jonah Williams, Alabama: Even though Dillard is considered the best pass blocking offensive lineman in this year’s draft, Williams’ ability to line up and dominate on either side of the line would make him a more attractive option with the mobile Watson under center.
Ravens trade out of the first round:
Baltimore has made it no secret that they want to acquire more picks in this year’s draft as they continue to build around their young electrifying franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson as he heads into his second year. As of right now they currently hold eight picks in total and none in the second round after trading their pick in that round to the Philadelphia Eagles in last year’s draft to get back into the first round to select Jackson.
The Ravens have a desperate need at the wide receiver position since they only have just three receivers on the roster that have caught a pass in a regular season game. Historically they have been poor drafters of receivers in the first round. Luckily for them, this year’s receiving class is loaded with a plethora of different type of receivers that fit their offense and could aid the development of Jackson as a passer, a topic of much debate this offseason.
Unluckily for them, the cream of the crop at the receiver position is expected to come off the board in the bottom of the first to the mid-second round where experts anticipate a run on receivers to occur. Since they don’t have a pick in that range or in the second round, they could do what they have done twice before in franchise history and trade out of the first round entirely to acquire one or more picks on the second round.
Potential trade: Ravens send No.22 overall to the New England Patriots for No.56 and No.64
Since Rob Gronkowski retired last month, the reigning Superbowl champions are now in need of a new dynamic tight end. They are tied with the New York Giants for the most picks in this year’s draft, so they have the ammunition to move up if they chose. If one of the top-rated tight ends in this year’s class such as the two studs from Iowa or Irv Smith Jr. falls to 22, the Patriots could package these two picks and the Ravens would graciously accept that offer.
Possible picks:
No.56 – WR Deebo Samuels, South Carolina: He can run crisp routes all over the field, is dangerously elusive with the ball in his hands and can return kicks.
No.64 – LB Mack Wilson, Alabama: They lost one stud Alabama middle linebacker in free agency when CJ Mosely signed with the Jets and they could plug in another one in the interior of their defense.
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