There were only two trades on Thursday night, but the activity picked up significantly last night. Let’s go through all the trades through the first three rounds of the 2015 draft.
1) San Francisco trades the 15th pick to San Diego for the 17th and 117th (4th) picks, and a 2016 5th round selection
The Chargers traded up for Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, while the 49ers took Oregon’s Arik Armstead, a 3-4 defensive end, two slots later. According to my chart, San Francisco picked up 136 cents on the dollar on my calculator (using the 150th overall pick as a proxy for the 2016 5th), while the trade was essentially even on the traditional calculator, with the 49ers getting 99 cents on the dollar.
2) Detroit trades the 23rd pick to Denver for the 28th and 143rd (5th) picks in the 2015 draft, a 2016 5th round pick, and guard Manny Ramirez
The Broncos traded up for Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray, who led the SEC in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (22) last year; meanwhile, while Detroit settled for Duke guard Laken Tomlinson five slots later. Detroit received a whopping 133 cents on the dollar (assuming the 2016 pick is the same as the 2015 pick) on my calculator, and that’s without counting Ramirez. On the traditional calculator, the Lions picked up 96 cents before valuing the veteran addition. Ray, like Gordon, was one of those players that were probably all over draft boards. I’m sure San Diego and Denver were very high on those players, and were more than happy to “overpay” once they started slipping.
3) Tennessee trades the 33rd pick to the Giants for the 40th, 108th (4th), and 245th (7th) picks
As you would suspect, the Titans cleaned up on my chart, picking up 130 cents on the dollar. But on the traditional chart, this trade was perfectly even, with each team giving up 580 points of value. New York was desperate at safety, so one can imagine the team was overjoyed to see Alabama safety Landon Collins still around at the top of the second round. But it was Tennessee who pulled off the sexiest pick of the second day, taking former number one high school prospect Dorial Green-Beckham with the 40th selection. DGB is an unbelievable athlete, and could wind up being the favorite target of the team’s new quarterback, Marcus Mariota.
4) St. Louis trades the 41st pick to Carolina for the 57th, 89th (3rd), and 201st (6th) picks
The Rams picked up a whopping 143 cents on the dollar by trading down, and grabbed Wisconsin right tackle Rob Havenstein sixteen picks later. The Panthers traded up to select Michigan wide receiver Devin Funchess, and according to the traditional chart, Carolina actually won this trade by a hair (St. Louis received 99 cents on the dollar).
5) Cleveland trades the 43rd pick and 229th (7th) picks to Houston for the 51st, 116th (4th), and 195th (6th) picks
According to my chart, the Browns killed it, gaining 140 cents on the dollar. On the traditional chart, it was basically an even trade, with Cleveland getting 99 cents on the dollar.
Houston sent those picks to move up for Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney, while the Browns drafted Utah’s Nate Orchard (18.5 sacks last year) eight picks later.
6) Miami trades the 47th and 191st (6th) picks to Philadelphia for the 52nd, 145th (5th), and 146th (5th) picks
On my chart, the Dolphins picked up 136 cents on the dollar by trading down; according to the traditional chart, it was a perfectly even deal.
The Eagles were not willing to wait any longer for another Pac-12 player — this time, Utah defensive back Eric Rowe — while Miami drafted Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips five picks later.
7) Arizona traded the 55th pick to Baltimore for the 58th and 158th (5th) picks
The Cardinals received 122 cents on the dollar on my chart, and 99 cents on the dollar on the traditional chart. Baltimore was trading up to grab Minnesota TE Maxx Williams (perhaps ahead of the rival Steelrs) while the Cardinals took Missouri edge rusher Markus Golden three picks later. And yes, Missouri sure does seem to have a lot of those.
8) Indianapolis trades the 61st and 128th (4th) picks to Tampa Bay for the 65th and 109th (4th) picks
The Colts won this trade, but just barely, on my chart, gaining 105 cents on the dollar. The same is true on the traditional chart, where the Colts picked up 101 cents. The Bucs were trading up to grab Division III offensive lineman Ali Marpet, while the Colts took FAU defensive back D’Joun Smith four picks later
9) Washington traded the 69th pick to Seattle for the 95th (3rd), 112th (4th), 167th (5th), and 181st (6th) picks
According to my chart, Washington picked up an absurd 180 cents on the dollar; yet on the traditional chart, Washington actually lost the trade, gaining just 95 cents. That said, I don’t hate the trade for Seattle, who went all in to get Tyler Lockett, a wide receiver who could be one of the steals of the draft. Given the depth of the Seahawks, they are one of the few teams that can trade up, knowing the likelihood of getting one of these late picks into their starting lineup is pretty low. Washington, in desperate need of picks, still hit a home run on this deal, though.
10) Jets trade the 70th pick to Houston for the 82nd, 152nd (5th), and 229th (7th) picks, and wide receiver Devier Posey
Even ignoring the veteran acquisition, New York picked up 122 cents on the dollar here according to my chart; meanwhile, the Jets got just 88 cents on the dollar (while not considering Posey, which is probably wise) on the traditional chart. Houston traded up to take Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong, while New York took 3-4 outside linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin (Louisville) 12 picks later.
11) Minnesota trades the 76th pick to Kansas City for the 80th and 193rd (6th) picks
The Vikings picked up 110 cents on the dollar on my chart, compared to just 97 cents on the traditional chart. Kansas City traded up for Georgia Chris Conley, while Minnesota chose to trade down some more. Conley, you may recall, posted the 2nd best scores in the vertical jump, 3rd best in the broad jump, and the 7th best adjusted time in the 40.
12) Minnesota trades the 80th pick to Detroit for the 88th and 143rd (5th) picks
My draft chart loves this trade for the Vikings, who gain 136 cents on the dollar; combined with the earlier trade, and Minnesota picked up 146 cents on the dollar by trading down from 76. The traditional chart didn’t love this deal, tho, giving Minnesota just 97 cents on the dollar.
The Lions traded up for Stanford cornerback Alex Carter. Minnesota, after dropping from 76 to 80 to 88, ended with Danielle Hunter, the defensive end out of LSU.
13) New England trades the 96th pick and 219th pick (7th) to Cleveland for the for the 111th (4th), 147th (5th), and 202nd (6th) picks
You won’t be surprised to learn that the Patriots cleaned up, getting 143 cents on the dollar in my calculator. However, the traditional chart was less impressed, suggesting that New England received only 96 cents on the dollar. Cleveland traded up for Washington State defensive tackle Xavier Cooper.