Trying to predict what happens in the NFL draft is an exercise in frustrating speculation. Forecasting potential trades is even more difficult, but that doesn’t stop media and fans alike from concocting various trades up and down the draft boards.
NFL teams do this too. They run various scenarios in their own mock playouts of the draft. GMs lay the groundwork for possible trades throughout the weeks leading into the draft. Most never amount to more than a phone call without definite terms being discussed, but every year trades do go down.
Here are four purely hypothetical trade scenarios that make sense for the Lions during the first couple of rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Lions trade No. 8 and No. 88 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals for Nos. 11, 72 and 110 overall
This one is inspired by the latest mock draft from Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, and it’s a scenario that has been a popular discussion point behind the scenes for the media of both teams involved.
The Bengals would presumably be moving up to snag the QB of their choosing. Birkett hypothesizes Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and that certainly makes sense. Getting in front of QB-needy Denver at 10 would be their motivation.
For the Lions, sliding back three spots — and knowing at least one of those will be a QB — likely doesn’t cost them much in terms of potential impact. The later picks are a swap of third-rounders and the Bengals throwing in this year’s fourth.
Lions trade No. 8 to the New York Giants for No. 17 and a 2020 first-round pick
The Giants pick at No. 6 overall, but they also own No. 17 from the Browns as part of the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. New York has myriad needs, most notably pass rush and a quarterback to eventually take over for Eli Manning. Having two top-10 picks ensures they can get both.
Falling to 17 from 8 is a big descent for the Lions in terms of potential impact talent. But if Quinn and the Lions have enough players ranked in the same basic talent tier, picking up a bonus first-rounder in 2020 is probably worth it. Owning that extra first also provides flexibility to move up or execute other trades this year if a specific target is available.
For Lions fans who are repulsed by the concept of Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson and/or Alabama OL Jonah Williams, this move would almost certainly eliminate them from the draft pool.
Lions trade No. 8 and No. 185 to the Atlanta Falcons for No. 14 and No. 45
This one heavily depends on the Falcons seeking out one specific target, a player widely speculated to be Houston DT Ed Oliver.
While I would prefer Quinn and the Lions to simply take Oliver themselves, adding a second-round pick (while giving back a 6th to create the potential roster space for that extra 2nd) is indeed appealing.
The Falcons have aggressively moved up in past drafts under GM Thom Dimitroff, another descendant (like Quinn) from the Patriots front office.
With both 43 and 45 overall, the Lions would have major flexibility to either pick up a couple of talents in the highly valuable second round, or enough to trade back into the first round for a more premium player and the fifth-year option on that player, not an insignificant detail.
Lions trade No. 43, RB Theo Riddick and next year’s second-rounder to the Kansas City Chiefs for No. 29 overall
The Chiefs are a popular choice in the draft speculation world to want to trade out of the first round. Detroit would have to be bold here in not giving up next year’s first-round choice. Adding Riddick to the pot might be enough to sweeten the prospect for the Chiefs, and he is a really nice fit in their offense.
Of course, the Lions would have to have a specific player in mind at No. 29 to make this move. In most predictions of the draft, the 20-50 overall range is the sweet spot for cornerbacks, safeties and the second tier of tight ends. It’s also an area where interior offensive linemen typically start coming off the board.
