Bucs Should Have Trade-Down Options

April 19th, 2013

TCDominik11One of the most unpredictable drafts in history keeps throwing more curveballs as more teams leak their interest in trading up in the first round.

The Vikings are now in the trade-up mix, via ProFootballTalk.com and NFL Network yesterday, along with the hated Dixie Chicks (aka Falcons) and others. After sending Percy Harvin to Seattle, the Vikings allegedly are interested in the West Virginia wide receiver the Bucs don’t need: Tavon Austin.

So what’s the Bucs’ 13th overall pick worth?

Last year offered a great benchmark. The Eagles traded up three spots to the No. 12 pick in order to select Mississippi State DT Fletcher Cox. Philly sent its first-round pick (15th), a fourth (114th) and a sixth (172) to Seattle to get Cox.

Minnesota, with this year’s Nos. 23 and 25 overall picks, surely would have to give up a bigger ransom to the Bucs than just a first, fourth and sixth round picks. Perhaps a first, third and a fourth would be enough for rockstar general manager Mark Dominik to pull the trigger?

That would give the Bucs a big stable of picks (they already have two fourth-rounders now) to potentially trade back into the first round, up in the second round, or dangle in front of the Jets.

Joe watched the entire Jets pre-draft news conference this week, and Team Idzik went on and on and on about the depth of this draft. Perhaps, if the Bucs pulled off a trade-down move like this with the Vikings, Dominik could squeeze out Revis for a second round pick in 2013, two-third-rounders and a fourth rounder.

28 Responses to “Bucs Should Have Trade-Down Options”

  1. BigSombrero Says:

    I agree with that. If a dt or cb of value that they want isnt available then trade down. Everyone seems to be in agreement that this is a deep draft and not really top heavy anyway.

  2. st augustine Says:

    not so sure ….going down from 13 to 23 is a significant leap! i would take minny’s 23 and 25. or 25 and their second (we have the leverage).

  3. Huey Says:

    “the Vikings allegedly are interested in the West Virginia wide receiver the Bucs don’t need: Tavon Austin.”

    Really? The Bucs don’t have any need for a player like Tavon Austin? Are we that talented at KR/PR and in the slot that we don’t need the most dynamic player in the draft?

  4. Kurius Boy Says:

    I wouldn’t mind trading down 4 or 5 spots if DT’s Star or Floyd isn’t there. Hopefully we can still pick up CB’s Trufant or Rhodes is still there to grab. Then we can use that extra 2nd round pick to trade back into the 1st round for another needed position

  5. 4everBucsFan Says:

    That’s still to much compensation for Revis. I would only offer our 2nd and one of our 4th’s and that’s it, take or leave it. If they don’t like it, then wait till next year and get him in free agency.

  6. stevek Says:

    Huey,

    Exactly!

    The Bucs could use the best play maker in the draft.

    May the best pick available be the selection every time up to the podium.

  7. Meh Says:

    That’s a huge drop in drafting position. I wouldn’t do it unless we’re really getting a haul.

  8. Meh Says:

    And yes, Joe seems to hate the idea of Austin to the Bucs. I think he’d be great here, even though I’d much rather us go defense.

  9. the_buc_realist Says:

    If we could trade the pop-star of a late 7th round pick, then the 2013 draft would be a success for the Bucs

  10. Macabee Says:

    I printed off a copy of the Bucs Schedule last night and I keep going back and forth trying to assess what we may do this year. Then I looked at the Bucs roster and we don’t look very different from last year.

    If we’re going to be competitive, we’re putting a lot of faith in a few rookies from this years draft. I think back and try to see what players have we gotten beyond the 3rd round that have made a contribution. As I continue to look at the schedule I’m not worried, but I’m not feeling overly confident either.

    It makes the Revis trade seem like a must do with similar luck in the draft as we had last year. We’ve got to draft starters to have a chance at the playoffs. Maybe we already have players that are ready to step up, but I’d hate to hang our fortunes on that. We’re going to need a little luck here too!

  11. Sneedy16 Says:

    There will not be any trades until draft day rolls around. Most likely the Bucs will see who is on the board at the time and go from there. I like Travon Austin, but the Bucs will not draft a part slot guy in the 1st round, maybe in the 2nd.

  12. Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    Star and Floyd will be long gone, by the time we pick, but so will our 13th pick hopefully, if we are able to secure Revis.
    Hopefully, the Jets will flinch, but they need to win now as well, or this will be Ryans last year.

  13. Andrew 2 Says:

    I would like to trade down with SF

    Give up #13 for
    #31
    #34
    and a 3-5 round pick…that would be awesome

  14. abdominal snowman Says:

    though its unlikely i would prefer to trade back and acquire another 2nd or 3rd if possible. we could then use our late first for a TE, DT, or OT. Then use our 2nd and newly acquired 2nd or 3rd to try and grab Hayden and Mathieu, two play makers at CB with huge upside. If the draft went like that it would be a huge success in my mind, and in all likelihood would solve our CB woes.

  15. Couch Fan Says:

    It amuses me how people try to play imply our offense is set and doesnt need or cant use a player like Austin. If and when we draft defense and we go 3 and out 50 percent of the time…. what will your excuses be then? Freeman isnt good enough… and he wont be good enough unless we surround him with the best possible weapons, right now he has very limited weapons. He needs more… to over look and deny this is silly.

  16. BigSombrero Says:

    I really dont get the love affair bucs fans have with Austin. Will he be a successful nfl player? Maybe. But we are so bad off at corner and pretty weak at th d line position as well while we kind of have a wealth of talent at the wr position.

    We cant win games if we cant stop anyone on defense. Our offense is fine, it could improve, but its fine. Our defense was pathetic, it needs help. Im not interested in just scoring more points, im interested in winning more games.

  17. BigSombrero Says:

    @Couch – Come one man, Freeman isn’t good enough so we have to keep surrounding him with even more weapons until he is?

    Drafting Austin is not going to make Freeman more accurate. Austin is not going to fix Freeman. Its up to Freeman to improve or we need to replace him. Ignoring our D completely because our QB is inaccurate is not the way to the super bowl.

  18. Northend Says:

    Austin= wonderlic of 7.didnt we already go down this road with benn.except thus one is 5.8.offense not a problem we need to shore up pass rush.

  19. Bucoholic Says:

    Joe,

    I was thinking the same thing with Minnesota being a trade partner. I would take the vikings 1st rd (25th), 2nd rd (52nd), and a 5th rd (155th) pick. Then after the draft if you didn’t get your stud CB trade conditional pics to the jets in next years draft!

  20. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    I’ve been saying this for awhile now. Trade back pick up some additional picks (This draft is that deep)

    * I KNOW THIS SOUND CRAZY-BUT I WOULD EVEN TRADE THE 2014 1ST ROUND PICK (Since in essence; we make the playoffs it will be worth a late round pick anyway)

    *The consensus is that 49ers are looking to acquire 1st in 2014. For their 2nd & 3rd or 4th round pick in 2013.

    1
    2
    2
    3
    3
    4
    4
    5
    6
    6

    We should be able to completely reload the roster with this scenario .

  21. Couch Fan Says:

    @Sombrero

    I agree Freeman does need to improve. Drafting Austin would not be just for Freeman. We would be adding another talented piece to our offense in general. A piece that we do need, Slot WR, KR and PR… thats 3 phases of the game he would be effecting. Getting more weapons for our offense isn’t a bad thing. ALL the good offenses have multiple weapons. Right now we are limited. If we choose to go offense in the first round. And this guy is available…. Its a no brainer.

    But what do I know im just a couch fan.

  22. stevek Says:

    Good point Couch,

    I don’t understand the lobbying and putting prospects on a pedestol.

    May the best player available be the pick, each pick.

    Tavon Austin is going to be sensational, and we would be lucky to nab him up with the 13th selection.

  23. Biff Barker Says:

    @ McAbee.

    A bit gloomy on the outlook.

    We’ll be a much better team this year than last.
    We are over learning the new staff, offense and defense. Not a small thing.
    Having a healthy Joseph, Nicks, Clayborn and Bowers should help.
    Freeman is in a contract year and is playing for his life to remain an NFL starter.
    Coordinators will be able to tweak and make adjustments.
    Yeah, we’ve got issues…bur so do most other teams. Draft like we did last year and I see brighter days ahead.

  24. stevek Says:

    Hope you are right, Biff Baker.

    I long for the Bucs to get back to the playoffs and have an “exciting” team.

    I am hoping for Revis, another solid draft, and a 2013 playoff appearance.

    This will be the 5th, and telling, year of out GM and starting QB, time to play up to the “rockstar” monniker (may the media have another reason to hype it up some more.)

  25. Buc Fan #238 Says:

    The Bucs need to trade back to aquire more picks. It is a sound move that adds more picks by using their position. Their current position holds intrinsic value. That value is worth something to the teams behind them. That is why it is usually ideal to trade back and aquire more picks. No matter who is available, that pick and player is never guarenteed.

    Trade back with Minny for both 23 and 25 and give them 13 and our 3rd round pick.

    Then, use those 2 picks on the best 2 CBs available… or trade one of those picks with the Jets for Revis and use the other one on the best CB/DT available.

  26. Macabee Says:

    Hey Biff,

    Not intending to be gloomy, just looking for the silver lining. As I read your last paragraph, I kinda think we’re saying the same thing!

  27. Sneedy16 Says:

    @Buc Fan #238

    Minnie will not give up both 1st to our first. Maybe a 1st and a 2nd.

  28. Capt. Tim Says:

    I agree with trading back.. But going to be hard to do. This is an excellent and deep draft for very good players, but very few game changing players.
    The experts are all saying That this draft is loaded with good CBs, DTs, Ots, LBs, and Safeties- but doesn’t have a Player like Mo Claibourne, Luke Kueckly, or Justin Blackmon.

    More picks in this draft is definitely better!