In the latest installment of Monday Morning Quarterback (MMQB), Albert Breer is reporting that the Detroit Lions are one of two teams that are aggressively looking to trade back in the upcoming NFL Draft.
“It’s not unusual that you’d have more teams looking to move down than up in April,” Breer wrote, “but it certainly seems like that’s even more the case this year than it has been before. The reason? There’s not much difference, as most teams see it, between the No. 10 and No. 15 picks. I had one team tell me over the weekend that the second round, based on grades, and depending on where the quarterbacks go, starts for them around the No. 12 or 13 pick.”
While this draft has some strong defensive options at the top, the real depth of this year’s class in on Day 2, when Lions most significant team needs — cornerback, wide receiver, tight end and right guard — can be found in abundance.
“In an effort to build capital in that area,” continued Breer, “I’m told that two teams will be aggressively looking to deal down in the first round: the Lions and Seahawks.”
Lions general manager Bob Quinn general approach to the NFL Draft is to keep his options open so he can make the best decision possible, while also thoroughly preparing for multiple scenarios, examining the best path to value.
If Quinn is truly looking to trade back it likely means one of two things — he is doing his due diligence to have options or through his scenario’s he has determined he won’t get value from the players he expects to be available at pick 8.
With only a handful of elite level prospects, don’t be surprised Quinn is active on draft day and does eventually trade out of the eighth overall spot.
