NFL Draft 2009: Six Draft-Day Trades That'd Make Sense

I've done seven mock drafts now, many of which have come with both praise and criticism. Many of the reasons for the criticism is that one cannot assume trades when putting together a mock draft.

But here, I'm going to step back from the mock draft format and look at a few deals that just might make sense for the teams involved. Some are trades to move up to get a specific player, while others are driven by economic factors. And then there are the token few that are done because franchises are in the hands of mental midgets.

So here we go—my take on some potential draft day trades that make sense.

Cincinnati Trades the No. 6 Pick to the Jets for the No. 17 and a Third-Round Pick

Why the Bengals should do the deal:
They, as of right now, have kept Chad Johnson and brought in Laveranues Coles to play wide receiver. While they might be tempted to take Michael Crabtree or a big offensive tackle, there's a strong chance that Andre Smith is available at No. 17 after his poor pro day this week.

If the Bengals want a tackle other than Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe, they can probably get them at No. 17 and get additional talent with the third round pick.

Why the Jets do the deal:
The Jets are looking for a marquee quarterback. Period. If the Lions aren't sold on Matthew Stafford, (since continued mixed signals add to one's suspicion that they aren't), then there's a really good chance he falls to No. 6, where the Jets could pick their franchise signal caller.

If he goes first, then the Jets would be able to assure themselves of getting Sanchez by trading up into the top 10.

Oakland Trades the No. 7 Pick to Philadelphia for No. 21 and a Second-Round Pick

Why the Raiders do the deal:
If Al Davis wants to get talent on the field, he needs picks, since free agents aren't flocking to Oakland these days. By trading down to No.21, he can still get a top wide receiver (Darrius Heyward-Bey perhaps), while the additional second round pick helps them add more talented players to their roster.

Why the Eagles do the deal:
Michael Crabtree. That's it. Looking at the top six picks, there's a decent (I'd say 60 percent) chance that Crabtree falls to seven. If he does, the Raiders will have a tough decision to make. If the Eagles offer them a first and second rounder, that might get it done.

For the Eagles, if Donovan McNabb wants a playmaker then there isn't a better one in this draft than Crabtree. The Eagles haven't won any friends with their veteran exodus this winter, so this might be what it takes to get the bandwagon moving again.

Chicago Trades CB Nathan Vasher and Pick No. 18 to San Francisco for Pick No. 10 and a Fourth-Round Pick

Why the Bears do the deal:
They have some depth at corner, so Vasher (and his contract) become expendable. If the Bears want to make a move for a top tier receiver (Maclin) or a free safety to replace Mike Brown, they might try to move up into the top ten for a shot at CB/S Malcolm Jenkins from Ohio State.

Why the Niners do the deal:
They, like the Raiders, need to add talent across the board. In Vasher they would bring in a starting corner from day one, and at the 18th pick they can likely still get a solid defensive end or receiver. They wouldn't get a starting player in the fourth round, so that pick for Vasher is an upgrade on their depth chart.

San Diego Trades the No.16 Pick to New England for Picks No.23 and No. 47

Why San Diego does the deal:
The Chargers have a lot of talent, but have dealt with injuries. They're also in a smaller market and are strapped for cash; they just renegotiated LaDainian Tomlinson's deal to save money. By trading down for multiple picks, they save money and can add depth. They're in a mindset to tweak, not overhaul. They can do that for a few million less later in the round.

Why New England does the deal:
Looking at the teams ahead of San Diego, there's a decent chance Jeremy Maclin falls to 16. But once you get to the Jets and Bears, the need for receivers starts to intensify. There's a chance the Patriots want to add a dynamic playmaker to their return game and, with Wes Welker and Randy Moss getting older in "receiver years," they've always had an eye on talented skill position players.

Remember, they still have the second pick of the second round (No. 34 overall, from Kansas City for Matt Cassel), so they still have the chance to pick up a safety or linebacker at that point.

Cleveland Trades QB Derek Anderson to the Jets for the No. 52 Pick

Why Cleveland does the deal:
First off, they do this deal because Anderson probably isn't worth a second round pick, even if it is in the bottom third of the round. But to solve an inevitable headache that new coach Eric Mangini probably doesn't want to go through after a year of Brett Favre, they move Anderson for a pick that brings another talented player onto a roster full of underachievers.

Why the Jets do the deal:
If they make a deal up in round one for Sanchez of Stafford, they'll want insurance. If they don't, they still need a quarterback. This gives them a known commodity for a lower price than moving into the top seven would.

SHOCKER: Tennessee Trades QB Vince Young to Minnesota for Pick No. 22

Why Tennessee would do the deal:
Until there's resolution to their quarterback issue, Young will be the elephant in the room and on the sidelines in Nashville. They brought back Kerry Collins, showing that they're still not sold on Young being the face of their franchise in 2009 or maybe even 2010. They could get the player they had their eye on at No.30 now at No.22, and hit the reset button on their Quarterback of the Future search with Josh Freeman at No.30.

Why Minnesota does the deal:
If Sanchez and Stafford are gone, they need a quarterback still. Sage Rosenfelds? Seriously? In Young they would bring in a premier talent and surround him with quality players and people on offense in Adrian Pederson and Bernard Berrian.

Because of the Vikings' solid offensive line and top running attack, Young would have more flexibility and less weight on his shoulders than he did in Tennessee. The wild card would be how he performed under the same pressure that may have killed the career of Tavaris Jackson.