Trade down please.....

[Mvp2014]

Nope, rook pay scale will happen with a signed CBA, which means no rooks will be signed until after then.

If that's the case I could see someone trading up and us getting compensated very well

[Kevin Greene]

There is a strange assumption out there that no teams will want to trade up to the #1 slot. I think that is simply incorrect. There are plenty of teams that will want to trade up to #1, the only question is "at what cost?". Teams no longer have to worry about the huge cost of the first pick with the new rookie pay structure going into place.

I am of the opinion that we should target a team in the mid first round to trade up to the #1 pick but throw in not an additional first rounder from next year, but a second and third rounder from this year. That would give us 4 early round draft picks this season, something we desperately need, and still give us a J-Stew/Beason type selection.

Take San Diego for instance. They have the 18th pick. They also have 2 second round selections. It would be a win/win all around for them to move up to #1 and give up that extra second rounder and a third rounder.

Think about it, 4 picks in the top 3 rounds. That would go a long way in raising the talent level of this team.

An extra 2nd and a 3rd would definately help. Since the Top Prize Andrew Luck goes to next years worst team we almost have to do this to compensate for Hurney giving away the 33rd pick this year for a box of Cracker Jacks.

Hurney has a good track record with 1st round selections. The question is can he trade down and make this draft have the impact in the later rounds to turn this roster around?

We have no choice but to try.

[mav1234]

We do have other choices. There are other options at QB. The question is if the value will be there. How serious is JR about really changing the team? Was that all just when he thought he was getting Luck? He has said he wants to address QB, but he won't sign FAs until the CBA. Draft is the most sensible place to do it.

If we can get back into the 2nd there are some real good chances of a QB project falling that far if we want to take that risk, though I'm not sure we do with Clausen & Pike already being projects.

Fairley could return to school. A poster here at Auburn says he is on the fence. Same with Cam Newton. That could reduce trade value of the #1 significantly.

Combine will change everything. There may be a new consensus #1, and it may be a QB, after the combine. Gabbert's rise into the Top10 is impressive and he could vault his way to #1 with impressive showings at the combine and on other metrics.

[Zaximus]

Football smarts, it's a good idea. But business, it isn't. This fan base is flat right now. It wasn't a diehard fanbase to begin with, but the Super Bowl run gave it some life and people are now tied of winning season, losing season, winning season, losing season, and now a couple losing seasons. This isn't a Steelers fanbase that will weather some storms.

Best way to get people in the seats right now? Draft someone like Cam. Completely different player than we've ever had as a QB, explosive, etc.

Plus, we don't even know who our coach will be, or our offense, we may have a West Coast and keep Jimmy. Who knows.

Not sure which route they'll take.

I'm sure it'll be the cheapest for JR though.

[Woodie]

For everyone that thinks no team will trade up to #1, you have to remember that we haven't had any all-star games, the combine, or personal workouts yet. It happens every year leading up to the draft, some player blows up out of nowhere and becomes the next great hype. And this year there are some candidates that have the potential to jump aboard the hype train.

For example, Blaine Gabbert. With QB being such a premium, he's in position to really improve his stock in the combine and workouts. He's already jumped into the top five fray, just by declairing, even though there was little hype until recently. And his skill set is perfect for these arenas. He has great size, decent athleticism, a lightning quick release, cannon for an arm, and is very accurate when he doesn't have someone in his face. And those traits are things that will likely shine through in workouts. However, he also plays in a spread offense, is only required to read half the field, loses accuracy in the face of pressure, and can make some bad decisions. But those are not things that will be an issue in the draft workouts. So it is entirely possible someone will fall in love with him and give us a good package to move up.

[kdrh5]

I'm thinking that if any team would trade up, its San Francisco

[rayzor]

if you can pull it off great. i just don't see it happening.

any trade out of first overal that doesn't include a 2012 1st rounder isn't all that appealing to me.

i'm not really all that concerned with keeping that #1 though. not really anyone worth it.

[Millions]

Unless a couple of QB's stock rise after the workouts San Fran can get there QB for cheaper right where they are though.

[holderoftruth]

Teams will want to trade up to the #1 pick, the key to pulling off a trade is the FO cannot ask for a kings ransom.

[rayzor]

i can't really see anyone screaming to hold on to the #1 overall pick. it isn't as big of a deal as it was before luck decided to be a nerd. really isn't much debate on whether we should trade down anymore. the only debate is whether or not someone would want to move up to that spot.

[Ruff]

If Cam Newton's stock rockets between now and then, we could possibly tempt the Bengals into trading up from number 3, and giving us their second rounder to take him. But, is that likely? Maybe not.

The San Diego scenario that Zod posted is intriguing.

[mav1234]

If Cam Newton's stock rockets between now and then, we could possibly tempt the Bengals into trading up from number 3, and giving us their second rounder to take him. But, is that likely? Maybe not.

The San Diego scenario that Zod posted is intriguing.

Why Bengals? They're happy with Palmer. I would think they would address other areas if they had the #1.

Honestly, I just don't know if we can find a suitable trade partner. I guess we'll see.

[Ruff]

Why Bengals? They're happy with Palmer. I would think they would address other areas if they had the #1.

Honestly, I just don't know if we can find a suitable trade partner. I guess we'll see.

There were serious concerns about Palmer this season. Marvin Lewis was actually questioned about it on Mike and Mike, and he said that Carson was his guy, but everyone knows that the Carson train is about to depart Cinncy.

The Bengals also don't hold character issues as highly as the Panthers, JR. So, the slights against Cam Newton wouldn't be that big of a deal to them, like it would this Front Office. (However big or small they may be.)

So, I think that's why Cincinnati would want the number one pick, and Cam Newton.

[MrBubba]

Who knows what will happen. If a partial cap is in place you still might be looking at 35-40 mil for the number one pick for the 2011 draft. Before a full rookie cap goes into effect in 2012. The past several years lots of talk for the number one pick getting traded but never happens. Yes if a rookie cap is a lock, you get more takers; but if CBA is still in air, dampens it because owners don't like unknowns. I recall a few years ago, talk of Detroit trading down with Tampa, I think so the Bucs could get Calvin Johnson. They offered the fifth pick I think and a couple of high picks but they turned it down.