How does Jets' deal compare to similar trade-ups in the NFL draft?
The New York Jets made the first blockbuster trade of the 2018 NFL Draft Saturday, acquiring the No. 3 overall pick from the Indianapolis Colts for the No. 6 overall pick and three second-round selections (two in 2018, one in 2019).
On the surface, the price to move up three spots appears hefty for the Jets, but how does this deal compare to other trade-ups into the top five in recent history?
1999 draft
| New Orleans Saints | Washington Redskins |
|---|---|
| No. 5 (Ricky Williams) | No. 12 |
| No. 71 (3rd round) | |
| No. 107 (4th round) | |
| No. 144 (5th round) | |
| No. 179 (6th round) | |
| No. 218 (7th round) | |
| 2000 1st-round pick | |
| 2000 3rd-round pick |
In one of the most memorable trades in league history, New Orleans surrendered all six of their 1999 selections, plus two high picks in 2000 in order to select Ricky Williams fifth overall. Fast forward almost 20 years, it appears NFL teams have learned from the Saints' mistake. Moving up just seven spots commanded a price that fans will almost certainly never see again.
2009 draft
| New York Jets | Cleveland Browns |
|---|---|
| No. 5 (Mark Sanchez) | No. 17 |
| No. 52 (2nd round) | |
| DL Kenyon Coleman | |
| QB Brett Ratliff | |
| S Abram Elam |
We'd be remiss not to mention the Jets' trade for quarterback Mark Sanchez. Looking back on this deal, New York did not give up very much to move twelve selections. Coleman and Elam each spent two unproductive seasons in Cleveland, while Ratliff did not play a single regular-season snap. This was certainly one of the lower returns a team trading out of the top 10 received this century.
2012 draft
| Washington Redskins | St. Louis Rams |
|---|---|
| No. 2 (Robert Griffin III) | No. 6 |
| No. 39 (2nd round) | |
| 2013 1st-round pick | |
| 2014 1st-round pick |
The Redskins parted ways with three first-round picks and a second-rounder for the right to select Robert Griffin in 2012, including a 2014 first-rounder that ended up being a second overall pick for St. Louis. To move up four spots, albeit into the top three, Washington paid a hefty price in a trade that did not land them the franchise quarterback they had hoped for.
2013 draft
| Miami Dolphins | Oakland Raiders |
|---|---|
| No. 3 (Dion Jordan) | No. 12 |
| No. 42 (2nd round) |
At first glance, it appears the Dolphins relinquished an incredibly light load to move up nine selections, especially compared to the other deals listed. It is, however, important to note that the 2013 draft did not feature a consensus first-round quarterback prospect (EJ Manuel was first off the board, 16th overall). The main takeaway from this trade is that quarterbacks clearly impact the return price on draft deals.
2016 draft
| Los Angeles Rams | Tennessee Titans |
|---|---|
| No. 1 (Jared Goff) | No. 15 |
| No. 113 (4th round) | No. 43 (2nd round) |
| No. 177 (6th round) | No. 45 (2nd round) |
| No. 76 (3rd round) | |
| 2017 1st-round pick | |
| 2017 3rd-round pick |
The 2016 draft featured two trades leading up to Day 1. To move up 14 selections, the Rams parted ways with a whopping six picks between rounds one and three. This was certainly a larger haul than the Jets and Dolphins surrendered to move into the top five in 2009 and 2013, respectively.
| Philadelphia Eagles | Cleveland Browns |
|---|---|
| No. 2 (Carson Wentz) | No. 8 |
| 2017 Conditional 5th | No. 77 (3rd round) |
| No. 100 (4th round) | |
| 2017 1st-round pick |
The second overall selection did not appear to cost Philadelphia as much as the Rams gave up in the trade above. The Eagles parted ways with their 2017 first-round pick, but also sent just a third- and fourth-round pick to Cleveland in return. Hopefully, you are beginning to notice a pattern here: the cost of moving into the top five usually includes a future first-rounder.
2017 draft
| Chicago Bears | San Francisco 49ers |
|---|---|
| No. 2 (Mitchell Trubisky) | No. 3 |
| No. 113 (3rd round) | |
| No. 177 (4th round) | |
| 2018 3rd-round |
In a deal that occurred just last year, Chicago moved up just one spot, but had to give up three selections (including two Day 2 picks) in the process. While the Bears did not have to jump other teams to acquire their quarterback of choice, it is interesting to note the price for a deal between two teams selecting inside the top three.
Conclusion
The Jets surrendered three second-round picks to move up three spots in the 2018 draft, including two selections inside the top 50. While this is a notable return for the Colts, New York did not give up a future first-rounder. The Rams, Eagles, and Redskins all relinquished multiple first-round picks to trade into the top three in recent deals.
Indianapolis did well to net three selections in return, but the recent market would have dictated a higher price for the Jets. General manager Mike Maccagnan will be criticized for trading in March without definitive knowledge of which prospects the Browns and Giants will select prior to No. 3, but the deal cost them significantly less than most top 10 draft deals this century.