I remember when the NFL trade deadline would creep up in the news and everybody would be making bets on who would get traded, how many picks would be involved, and so on. That was then—now, with salary-cap restraints and the compression of the senior football analyst’s jobs, trades are tougher to pull off and that means fewer of them. So how many first round picks can you trade in the NFL?
Well, when I first started following the NFL, teams were allowed to trade up to three first-round picks in one season. It seemed like a lot, given the number of picks teams are now allowed—seven per year—but it was a way to build up a team’s talent base quickly. You simply traded future picks for current picks.
Of course, the CBA changed things up. Now, teams can only trade away one first round pick in any given season, and two if the team has a total of two first round picks that year. So if you want to move up in the draft, it’s going to cost you much more than it used to—unless you’ve been able to acquire extra picks throughout the regular season.
As for trading away first-round picks, the CBA also states that teams are not allowed to trade more than two first-rounders in any two-year period. That was put in place to prevent teams from stockpiling draft picks and then dumping them all in one season to move up in the draft. So if you’re looking to trade away your first round pick, better think twice and be sure you’re not leaving yourself without future options.
Now, if you want to move up in the draft, it’s often done by trading away late-round picks. The NFL cap, however, limits the number of late-round picks a team can trade away—one per season— but that’s a small price to pay if you want to move up.
In summary, teams are limited to trading away one first round pick per season, and two if they have a total of two first round picks. Additionally, teams are not allowed to trade away more than two first rounders in a two-year period.
Now, if you want to trade up in the draft, you’re still allowed to do that, but it will cost you more. To move up, you’ll only be allowed to trade away late-round picks, as the NFL cap only allows for one trade away of a late-round pick in any given season.
And a lot of times trading up isn’t even feasible anyways, as teams have to be in the same draft slot to be able to make a trade, so if you’re wanting to make a big jump for a great prospect, it’s probably better to just take your chances in the lottery and hope you win that pick.
One way teams do manage to move up in the draft is by trading away a player for a higher pick. This often happens in the late rounds when teams have needs and no other players available that bring the same value as a prospect they could select in the draft.
Additionally, teams can also trade future picks for current picks, meaning teams can trade away picks from future drafts to move up in the current one. This can be beneficial for teams that want to make a splash in the present, but teams have to be wary of going too far and jeopardizing their future success.
Finally, teams are able to trade away players in pursuant of draft picks. And while that often results in some sad and painful goodbyes, it can help teams move up in the draft to snag a player they otherwise wouldn’t be able to select.
Now, the NFL has a plethora of rules that restrict the number of first-round picks teams can trade away, but that isn’t stopping teams from trying to make moves. As the salary cap continues to compress jobs, teams have to find creative ways to trade and maneuver their way up in the draft in order to acquire the best players possible.
That being said, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for teams to pull off trades, and teams are relying more and more on the draft in order to find talented players to add to their roster. It may not be the most exciting or innovative way of procuring talent, but at the end of the day, it’s the only surefire way for teams to find the best players out there.