Why don’t teams “protect” future picks in trades?

[BaBaBlacksheep]

So as it’s set right now 4 out of the top 10 picks in the draft will go to other teams in trades. With future 1st round picks in trades becoming more popular over the years why don’t NFL teams protect picks like they do in the NBA? For example: we’ll trade you a first round pick provided it’s not a top 3 pick…. In which case you’d get our first pick the following year. Does the NFL allow this? I don’t really follow the NBA anymore but remember this was pretty common.

 

[bamainatlanta]

So as it’s set right now 4 out of the top 10 picks in the draft will go to other teams in trades. With future 1st round picks in trades becoming more popular over the years why don’t NFL teams protect picks like they do in the NBA? For example: we’ll trade you a first round pick provided it’s not a top 3 pick…. In which case you’d get our first pick the following year. Does the NFL allow this? I don’t really follow the NBA anymore but remember this was pretty common.

I don’t believe so. But I’m sure someone here can look it up.

 

[Milky]

NHL does it too

 

[rawdawg]

I don't know if the NFL allows it. I also don't see much incentive for team to accept a trade like that. The NBA is unique in that you HAVE to have star players to compete. So, teams might make the deal because they know they'll get a star at some point. MLB and NHL has minor leagues, so no rush in rebuilds. In the NFL, there's no long-term rebuilds. I mean the Bears tore down everything, but if they don't take a significant step toward competing next year, everyone will be up in arms. No other sport has that much pressure on to compete so quickly after a rebuild. That's why waiting 2-3 years for a 1st round pick isn't ideal.

 

[Scoot26]

So as it’s set right now 4 out of the top 10 picks in the draft will go to other teams in trades. With future 1st round picks in trades becoming more popular over the years why don’t NFL teams protect picks like they do in the NBA? For example: we’ll trade you a first round pick provided it’s not a top 3 pick…. In which case you’d get our first pick the following year. Does the NFL allow this? I don’t really follow the NBA anymore but remember this was pretty common.

This became common in the NBA after the Lakers and Celtics in the 1980s kept fleecing teams and getting the #1 overall pick after winning a championship, in addition to the NBA lottery coming to be making it uncertain as to what pick these teams would even have. A team with the 7th overall worst record could win the #1 pick, thus made trading these picks riskier.... However it still took another 20 years for protections to be completely common and the norm. Now a days just about every trade involving a draft pick includes some sort of protection, the only times they generally don't are when a superstar is traded (or the GM is a moron). In this case the team trading their picks are confident the superstar is going to keep their team as a contender and thus the picks will always be in the 20-30 range and not that valuable.

Also compared to the NFL, an NBA draft pick isn't very valuable outside of the Top 10, while an NFL 1st round pick is considerably valuable picks through the whole round.

 

[bufordht]

There's no way a team would agree to wait a year, that's crazy.

I could see something like we'll give you X amount of points based on "this" trade value chart. If our first is worth more, then you can either give us a pick to make up the difference or take our 2nd and 3rd or whatever.

I agree though, I'm surprised this isn't a thing. It could go the other way too. You're thinking you're getting a top 10 pick but everything falls right and they stumble into the playoffs, luck into a win and your trade just got a lot worse.

 

[hyatt151]

So as it’s set right now 4 out of the top 10 picks in the draft will go to other teams in trades. With future 1st round picks in trades becoming more popular over the years why don’t NFL teams protect picks like they do in the NBA? For example: we’ll trade you a first round pick provided it’s not a top 3 pick…. In which case you’d get our first pick the following year. Does the NFL allow this? I don’t really follow the NBA anymore but remember this was pretty common.

after looking I can't find anything that says there is a rule against it

 

[hyatt151]

There's no way a team would agree to wait a year, that's crazy.

I could see something like we'll give you X amount of points based on "this" trade value chart. If our first is worth more, then you can either give us a pick to make up the difference or take our 2nd and 3rd or whatever.

I agree though, I'm surprised this isn't a thing. It could go the other way too. You're thinking you're getting a top 10 pick but everything falls right and they stumble into the playoffs, luck into a win and your trade just got a lot worse.

exactly, did anybody think it was possible that the Lions trade with the Rams would result in a top 3 pick this year

 

[hyatt151]

This became common in the NBA after the Lakers and Celtics in the 1980s kept fleecing teams and getting the #1 overall pick after winning a championship, in addition to the NBA lottery coming to be making it uncertain as to what pick these teams would even have. A team with the 7th overall worst record could win the #1 pick, thus made trading these picks riskier.... However it still took another 20 years for protections to be completely common and the norm. Now a days just about every trade involving a draft pick includes some sort of protection, the only times they generally don't are when a superstar is traded (or the GM is a moron). In this case the team trading their picks are confident the superstar is going to keep their team as a contender and thus the picks will always be in the 20-30 range and not that valuable.

Also compared to the NFL, an NBA draft pick isn't very valuable outside of the Top 10, while an NFL 1st round pick is considerably valuable picks through the whole round.

the Motreal Canadiens were notorious for this back in the day as well aka Guy Lafleur

 

[bufordht]

exactly, did anybody think it was possible that the Lions trade with the Rams would result in a top 3 pick this year

They trade conditional picks for players all the time. Seems like the condition could be based on where the team finishes.

 

[cameronkrazie86]

The only reason I can think of why it isn't a 'thing' in the NFL like the NBA is because of how the draft works in relation to record. It seems like it would be really easy to keep a top 5 pick by simply signing and playing terrible guys when injuries pop up. Need to keep that top 5 pick this year? Intentional tank to keep it. Whereas in the NBA with the lottery system, there is still a degree of randomness. You might have the 3rd worst record but you could still theoretically wind up outside the top 5. There's less randomness involved in the way the NFL does things. That's the only thing I can think of.

I am surprised that 'pick swapping' hasn't caught on yet though.

 

[pdxbearsfan]

So as it’s set right now 4 out of the top 10 picks in the draft will go to other teams in trades. With future 1st round picks in trades becoming more popular over the years why don’t NFL teams protect picks like they do in the NBA? For example: we’ll trade you a first round pick provided it’s not a top 3 pick…. In which case you’d get our first pick the following year. Does the NFL allow this? I don’t really follow the NBA anymore but remember this was pretty common.

I think the NFL likes all the wheeling and dealing on draft day because it creates excitement for a top rated program and the protected picks would slow that down, it would piss everyone off like the Browns fully guaranteed contract for Watson.

 

[Adipost]

A 1st round pick in the current season is worth exponentially more than a 1st round pick two seasons later. So trading a protected 1st round pick would net you nothing near the current value. It would be a huge gamble for either team involved, the value is too hard to predict.

 

[Bearly]

A 1st round pick in the current season is worth exponentially more than a 1st round pick two seasons later. So trading a protected 1st round pick would net you nothing near the current value. It would be a huge gamble for either team involved, the value is too hard to predict.

So this. I don't think the Bear will have one of the 1st 2 picks, though it's getting more likely with the dings etc. If they do they need to trade it and if they take a QB to call the rest of the leagues bluff. Trade him quickly on draft day so the other team can make those picks for them and consummate the deal on the next day or after the draft is completed. I believe there's a technicality that you can't officially trade a just chosen player on draft day but it doesn't stop it from happening in a practical sense.

All that said, if you don't think you can get value for that QB on draft day, you leave him on the board and get your guy.

 

[r1terrell23]

In the NBA, the guys winning all the titles are top 10 picks.

Jordan, Shaq, Wade, LeBron, Curry, Duncan, KG, Pierce, Irving, Bosh, Hakeem, etc. And Kobe would have been if he didn't force his way to LA.

In the NFL you can find championship guys after the 10th pick. Teams also will be less likely to want to wait 4 or 5 years for a pick.

 

[JoJoBoxer]

All that said, if you don't think you can get value for that QB on draft day, you leave him on the board and get your guy.

I can only think of two situations where a QB was drafted and was traded during the draft or the day after. Neither QB wanted to play for the team that drafted them, so both were traded.

John Elway - first overall pick for the 4th overall pick LT Chris Hinton, QB Mark Hermann, and a 1st round pick the next year

Eli Manning - 1st overall pick for the 4th overall pick QB Philip Rivers, 3rd round pick that year and a 1st and 5th the following year.

I guess it all depends on if you can get at the trade down spot.

The Colts got the top LT in the draft (though he was no Jimbo Covert) plus an extra first round pick the next year. The Chargers got their 2nd choice QB (Eli was #1 but he didn't want to play there) and an extra 1st round pick the following year.

Those panned out. No guarantees the Bears doing that would, though.

 

[nc0gnet0]

exactly, did anybody think it was possible that the Lions trade with the Rams would result in a top 3 pick this year

the thing is, it would further decrease the value of the future 1st rounder.

 

[bamainatlanta]

In the NBA, the guys winning all the titles are top 10 picks.

Jordan, Shaq, Wade, LeBron, Curry, Duncan, KG, Pierce, Irving, Bosh, Hakeem, etc. And Kobe would have been if he didn't force his way to LA.

In the NFL you can find championship guys after the 10th pick. Teams also will be less likely to want to wait 4 or 5 years for a pick.

Pretty sure Giannis wasn’t a top 10 pick but could be wrong.

 

[Bearly]

I can only think of two situations where a QB was drafted and was traded during the draft or the day after. Neither QB wanted to play for the team that drafted them, so both were traded.

John Elway - first overall pick for the 4th overall pick LT Chris Hinton, QB Mark Hermann, and a 1st round pick the next year

Eli Manning - 1st overall pick for the 4th overall pick QB Philip Rivers, 3rd round pick that year and a 1st and 5th the following year.

I guess it all depends on if you can get at the trade down spot.

The Colts got the top LT in the draft (though he was no Jimbo Covert) plus an extra first round pick the next year. The Chargers got their 2nd choice QB (Eli was #1 but he didn't want to play there) and an extra 1st round pick the following year.

Those panned out. No guarantees the Bears doing that would, though.

True and it's because other teams will expedite that trade to guarantee the acquisition. You do see early players traded but it's because there was a basic agreement in place and the other team makes picks in the spots for the trade partner. It would be very unusual but stuff happens and you need to be ready. You would expect a bidding war for either of the top 2 prospects so like you said, very unlikely.

 

[Bearly]

I suspect it could be done in the NFL since they conditional picks are rather common. Problem is that it devalues a trade too much and in the nFL there's no lottery so you have a better idea of general pick area that you're trading for.

In the NBA you don't even get a starter for every team in the entire draft and the good team is trading away a meh chance at one of those by offering their 1st rounder unless they get very lucky in the lottery which completely unbalances the original trade projection. In a draft with as much contrat from a few elite to good to meh in the 1st round, in a game with 5 starters, the contrast becomes much greater than in the NFL and every NBA team understand why that gets protected.