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Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.

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March 30, 2009 10:00 AM

Trading down: The start of a discussion

There has been more discussion about the possibility the Seahawks will trade down in the draft order from their current spot at the No. 4 pick.

Trades certainly are frequent. Last year, 14 first-round picks changed hands, most since 2004 when 17 first-round picks were swapped.

But those trades tend to happen later in the first round. Recent history says it's unlikely for a pick like No. 4 to get swapped. Here's a a breakdown of the past six drafts with the number of first-round picks traded and the highest pick to be swapped:

YEAR	1ST ROUND TRADES	HIGHEST PICK TRADED
2008	14	No. 7 (Saints from Patriots)

2007	7	No. 14 (Jets from Panthers)

2006	9	No. 11 (Broncos from Rams)

2005	8	No. 7 (Vikings from Raiders)

2004	17	No. 1 (Giants from Chargers)

2003	15	No. 4 (Jets from Bears)

For the Seahawks' purposes, the 2003 draft provides the best measure of what the No. 4 pick might command in terms of compensation. That year, the Jets gave up two first-round picks (No. 13 and No. 22 overall) to acquire that No. 4 pick.

The results: The Jets chose Dewayne Robertson, a defensive lineman from Kentucky. The Bears picked Michael Haynes (DE, Penn State) at No. 13 and Rex Grossman (QB, Florida) at No. 22.

There are two teams that currently hold multiple first-round picks in the 2009 draft: Detroit (No. 1 and No. 20) and Philadelphia (No. 21 and No. 28).

The question is why there haven't been more trades at the top of the draft order, and I think that gets to the economic reality of high picks in the draft. You're paying that player a big chunk of change.

Last year's No. 4 pick -- running back Darren McFadden -- signed a six-year contract guaranteed to pay him at least $26 million and as much as $60 million, according to this story from the San Francisco Chronicle.

The No. 4 pick in the 2007 draft -- defensive end Gaines Adams -- signed a six-year deal worth at least $18.56 million and as much as $46 million, according to this story from ESPN.com.

So it's not just picks a team must give up to rise in the draft order, it's big fat sacks of cash and the lack of trades into the top five recently can only be seen as a reflection that NFL teams do not feel the sacrifice of both picks and money is worth it.

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Comments (6)

Use #4! Stafford, J Smith & Curry would all be fine additions. I still like Crabtree if the other 3 are gone. I guess there are cases... Posted on March 30, 2009 at 1:54 PM by GrnLkSlacker. Jump to comment

The only way I think the hawks should trade down is if Curry is gone at 4. Everyone is so dead set on either a receiver or a tackle, and for good... Posted on March 30, 2009 at 12:54 PM by lmbrennan. Jump to comment

where's former athlete? THIS POST is EXACTLY what I was talking about last week when I said the Hawks would NEVER draft Curry, after... Posted on March 30, 2009 at 8:23 PM by '93dawg. Jump to comment

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