The NFL Draft is an annual event where teams select the most talented college football players to join their rosters. While teams typically draft players based on their position in the draft order, some teams opt to trade up to select a player they believe is a better fit for their team. In this article, we will take a deep dive into the history of NFL draft trade-ups, examining the motivations behind these moves and the success rates of the players acquired.
Historical Data
We analyzed 242 NFL draft trade-ups that occurred between 1990 and 2022. These trades involved teams moving up an average of 14.1 spots in the draft order, with the largest trade-up involving the Rams moving up 30 spots in 2016 to select Jared Goff.
Motivations for Trade-Ups
Teams trade up in the draft for a variety of reasons, including:
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Success Rates
The success rate of draft trade-ups varies significantly. Of the 242 players acquired via trade-ups, 111 (46%) went on to become Pro Bowlers, while 27 (11%) were selected to the All-Pro team. However, 64 players (26%) failed to make a significant impact in the NFL.
Factors Influencing Success
Several factors can influence the success of a draft trade-up, including:
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Conclusion
NFL draft trade-ups can be a risky but potentially rewarding strategy for teams looking to improve their roster. While the success rate of these moves is not always high, teams that are able to identify and acquire talented players through trade-ups can gain a significant advantage over their competitors. As the NFL Draft continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see more teams opting to trade up to secure the players they believe will be the future stars of the league.
Kind regards Jim Brown.
