#1 – The Lions Will Trade Up In The First Round
The Detroit Lions have everybody, and I mean everybody, thinking that and talking about how they are going to do everything in their power to move down come Thursday night of draft week. And on top of that, everyone seems to think/know that their trade partner is going to be the Atlanta Falcons. Heck; even specific trade compensation is making the rounds!
I have never seen anything like it. Somehow, the Lions’ plans for their first round pick are being thrown about all over the place, despite the fact that general manager Bob Quinn is very strict about leaks coming from his front office. I’m not saying for sure that this is a smokescreen, but never before have I seen the Lions’ draft plans be so widely leaked and broadcasted.
However, if it is a smokescreen, I think it could be in place to fool the other teams into thinking that the Lions have no interest in moving up for a player, when in fact, it is their primary goal. Now, I know what you’re thinking: What?! No! The Lions are clearly trying to move down, even Quinn himself said so!
But again, I have to ask, why would he come out and announce his draft plan so publicly? At this point, I would not at all be surprised to see the Lions try and trade up and grab a top three player on their board. It would be a totally unexpected move and none of the other teams would think that the Lions would be trying to jump ahead of them to snag a top three player in the draft.
The Lions could decide to move up a few spots come draft day by trading up for the fifth overall spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have had their sights set on LSU linebacker Devin White. The Buccaneers could likely trade back to eight and still walk away with White.
The cost of trading up from eight to five, according to the Jimmy Johnson Draft Pick Trade Value Chart, would probably have to include (along with eighth overall) the Lions’ third round pick this year and their third round pick next year in 2020. The Lions could find themselves wanting to make this trade should one of Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams or Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen fall to number five.
One of these players could fall to the fifth overall pick should the top two picks go as planned, Kyler Murray and Nick Bosa, and a quarterback needy team trade up to the third spot with the New York Jets to draft their preferred quarterback. After that, the Oakland Raiders would presumably take one of Williams or Allen, leaving one more available for the Lions to trade up for at pick five.
Trading up for either one of those players in this situation would be a no-brainer in my opinion should one be available and if the Buccaneers were also willing trade partners. Both Williams and Allen would both help to complete the transformation of the Lions’ defense that it is currently undergoing, especially Williams, who is my number one overall player in the draft this year.