Washington Redskins Should Trade Down in 2016 NFL Draft
By Andrew Long
The Washington Redskins will likely be in the market for additional picks come draft day. If they trade their first round selection, this is an idea of what they could receive in return.
The Washington Redskins currently possess eight picks in the upcoming 2016 NFL draft, selecting at least once in each of the seven rounds. If the Burgundy and Gold opt to stay put with their current draft picks, the team will be adding eight rookies to their roster at the conclusion of the draft. That being said, it’s unlikely that the Redskins will take this route, as Scot McCloughan, their general manager, is known as a volume drafter, meaning he likes to acquire as many selections as possible.
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In an effort to acquire more talent and youth through the NFL draft, McCloughan may opt to do some trading. If that’s the route the savvy GM decides to take, the team’s first round pick, 21st overall, would be his greatest bargaining chip. According to the draft trade chart from Pro Football Talk on NBCSports.com, a chart that gives value to each selection in the NFL draft, Washington’s first round selection is worth 800 points, meaning they’d try to get similar value in return if a trade were to occur.
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Trading out of the first round may cause Washington to miss out on a supremely talented player, but, at the same time, it would give the team the opportunity to stock up on more players, which would give them a greater chance to hit. If the Redskins trade out of the 21 spot, theoretically, they could acquire an additional second round, third round, and fourth round choice, depending on the team they trade with.
Say Washington decided to trade with the Los Angeles Rams, a team in need of a reliable quarterback and pass-catcher (keep in mind this scenario with the Rams is hypothetical and being used as an example). If Los Angeles opted to draft wideout Josh Doctson at 15, it’s possible they make a move to acquire an additional first round pick to select a quarterback like Paxton Lynch, a player projected to be taken in the mid-to-late first round.
If that were the case, and they chose to trade for Washington’s first round choice, a pick valued at 800 points, the Redskins would be in position to receive the Rams’ second rounder (43rd overall worth 470 points), third rounder (76th overall worth 210 points), and fourth rounder (107th overall worth 80 points). Such a swap would supply the Washington Redskins with 760 total points, a net loss of 40 points.
While Washington would, according to the trade chart, be giving up more than they’re receiving, such a slim margin isn’t all that big of a deal. It’s also possible that McCloughan could work out a deal to receive a late round draft pick in the 2017 NFL draft as a part of the swap, too. With that being said, such a deal would provide the Redskins with ample ammunition to improve their team through the draft.
If the Redskins were to take this approach, their draft board would look something like this:
Second round: 43rd and 53rd overall.
Third round: 76th and 84th overall.
Fourth round: 107th and 120th overall.
Fifth round: 158th overall.
Sixth round: 187th overall.
Seventh round: 232nd and 242nd overall.
Such a large sample of picks, in my opinion, would be better for the team in the long run. Sure, missing out on a player at 21st overall wouldn’t be great for the team’s immediate future, as first round selections usually have the ability to contribute right away. However, by selecting more football players overall, the team’s chances to add quality players to their squad would greatly increase.
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The second, third, and fourth rounds of the NFL draft are packed with talented players, and I believe the Redskins would benefit greatly by adding selections in each of those rounds. Teams can add quality starters in those rounds and general manager Scot McCloughan knows that, so, if a team like the Rams were to approach him about such a trade, expect him to accept the offer.