Forget the draft value chart
Given the urgency of teams at the top of the draft to trade back, you can probably toss the draft value chart today. Ravens director of personnel Eric DeCosta said this morning the Ravens don't follow the chart, but use one of their own as a guideline.
For instance, last year when the Ravens wanted to trade out of the 8th spot to get Joe Flacco, they accepted less from the Jaguars than the chart indicated. DeCosta said it's the difference in genuinely wanting to make a trade or trying to follow an accountant-like process that may not work in your best interest.
In other words, if you really want to trade out, get the best deal you can and ignore the chart rather than take a player you really don't want. Now that the Lions have a contract with QB Matt Stafford, eight of the next nine teams are willing to trade out of their position.
It could get interesting as early as the fifth pick. That belongs to the Browns. Down the line, at No. 17, the Jets are exploring the idea of trading up to get QB Mark Sanchez. The lines of communication should be open because George Kokinis, the GM of the Browns, and Rex Ryan, coach of the Jets, are pretty familiar with each other from their days with the Ravens.
In that event, the Jets aren't going to give the value the chart suggests, and the Browns probably aren't going to ask for it.
Comments
Now if coaches would get some intelligence and throw away those 2 pt charts. Unless it is late in the 4th quarter you should never go for 2 pts since the majority of the time you miss it and it just costs you another point. Arghhh. Billick was one of "those" coaches.
Posted by: Rich | April 25, 2009 12:33 PM
Well ... the Ravens front office just stockpiled a bunch of practice squad players, except for Oher of course; however he is not a definite started and not a future J.O either. Teams like the Jets that understand value do whatever they can to get it. Ravens are stuck on sticking to their guns. Obviously that has not worked well when they draft offensive players. Don't give them too much credit on the Joe Flacco pick either. We all know Matt Ryan was their target. Joe is a product of a genius in Cam Cameron. They should have either drafted a wide receiver in the first round or given the pick to Arizona for Boldin.
And as a side note to those who think that we were 4 minutes away from the Superbowl without Boldin, I say so what. Arizona was one defensive play from winning the whole thing. But guess what they didn't.
Posted by: Nils | April 26, 2009 11:59 PM