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Football

Why do NFL teams trade up and down in the draft?

Why do NFL teams trade up and down in the draft?DAZN

The NFL Draft is a fascinating game unto itself, with general managers and head offices taking all sorts of variables into account before ultimately making their selections.

But there are often times when teams will trade away or acquire picks in the hours or even minutes leading up to their scheduled selections.

Why do teams do that?

Well, there are a number of reasons why a team would be active in the trade market in the lead-up to the draft. Here are some of them.

Why do NFL teams trade up and down in the draft?

Building a roster is a neverending process involving dozens of moving parts, and GMs have to play the role of chessmaster as they try to move their pieces around in the most advantageous way possible.

A team with a high pick may choose to trade down because they are comfortable with a player (or players) on their roster who plays the same position as their expected selection. Or they may simply be looking for more assets as they aim to rebuild quickly (teams with high picks are usually the ones who finished low in the standings during the previous season).

On the flip side, a team may trade up the draft in order to pursue a player that they covet. Usually this means giving up more assets in return, as the team with the higher pick holds the position of strength and will need convincing to part with their more valuable place in the draft order.

Oftentimes teams will package a combination of picks, future considerations and even other already signed players in order move into the ideal spot in the draft. 

When is the 2024 NFL Draft?

The draft takes place over three days.

  • Round 1:  Thursday, April 25 (8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. BST)
  • Rounds 2-3:  Friday, April 26 (7 p.m. ET / 12 a.m. BST)
  • Rounds 4-7:  Saturday, April 27 (12 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. BST)

2024 NFL Draft: How to watch

U.S.: ABC, ESPN and NFL Network
UK: Sky Sports NFL and DAZN
Canada: DAZN  

Other regions not listed above will need to check their respective local schedules. 

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