Why the Flurry of Trades this Year

[HawkGA]

Seems like trades for players were very few and far between a few years ago but this year there seems to be a flurry of them. What gives?

Seahawks have been involved in a couple already, but there's certainly a lot more happening with other teams too.

 

[Spin Doctor]

The Clowney trade was simply due to his price being to good to pass up at a position of need. We got him for a third rounder. If he walks we're likely going to get a third round value as a compensation pick. Vannett being traded away was simply because he wasn't a good player and another team wanted him. Hollister was a prospect at TE and he came at a bargain. The most recent trade was done out of need. Tedric Thompson, and McDougald have been bad this season, so we needed somebody that was able to stop the bleeding from a gaping wound. Personally I think this most recent trade is a bit of a hail mary -- but we'll see.

So to sum it up, a mixture of good value and necessity.

 

[BocciHawk]

The Clowney trade was simply due to his price being to good to pass up at a position of need. We got him for a third rounder. If he walks we're likely going to get a third round value as a compensation pick. Vannett being traded away was simply because he wasn't a good player and another team wanted him. Hollister was a prospect at TE and he came at a bargain. The most recent trade was done out of need. Tedric Thompson, and McDougald have been bad this season, so we needed somebody that was able to stop the bleeding from a gaping wound. Personally I think this most recent trade is a bit of a hail mary -- but we'll see.

So to sum it up, a mixture of good value and necessity.

Let's also be frank about the recent trade. Giving the Lions a 5th and getting back a 7th is not super meaningful. The Seahawks have hit on several 7th round picks, and have only done slightly better with 5th round picks as a rule. Most of what we had to do for this trade was take on salary, and the new guy Diggs comes at a reasonable cost given his versatility... he can fill in at either safety spot and can play nickle cornerback as well, if that makes sense given who we have healthy and who we are playing against. He's also under contract with us for next year too, which could really help in negotiations with the defensive players who are going to become free agents...

 

[SantaClaraHawk]

Because tankfortua is a trend in current year. Teams just think that there's no difference between 2-14, 5-11, 8-8 and if that's looking more possible than not, might as well clear contracts and have a fire sale if they aren't gonna make The Playoffs.

 

[WestcoastSteve]

The last three years the deadline was moved. Back when it was in week 5/6, no one was ready to concede the season. Now that it's weak 7/8 - you have a few teams that go into sell mode

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Does seem like a lot more trades than normal. I think it was a smart move to move it to later in the season. Especially since teams will have a lot better idea of their playoff chances by having half of their season under their belt before the deadline next week.

 

[Popeyejones]

The last three years the deadline was moved. Back when it was in week 5/6, no one was ready to concede the season. Now that it's weak 7/8 - you have a few teams that go into sell mode

I think it's mostly this, but also some teams in the last couple years recalibrating and realizing that draft picks had been overvalued and mid-career vets had been undervalued. That not everybody has made that move yet means both sides think they're getting value.

Again though, fully agreed that it's mostly just moving the deadline. :2thumbs:

 

[truehawksfan]

Funny. ESPN discussed this recently. Two things. If you’re an elite player, you can force a trade. And, teams are willing to trade picks for need/win now mentality.

Clowney did this. Houston had a deal w/Miami but he basically poo-poo it. He didn’t sign the franchise tag and appeared ready to sit out the season. So, Houston had little leverage when a deal with the Hawks were made. The same can be said about Jalen Ramsey. He basically quit on the Jags w/made up injuries. This forced the Jags to make a trade. This trend is worth watching.

The Pats traded a 2nd Rd pick for a WR because their WR room is decimated with injuries. The Niners did the same thing. We’re no different since we need help in the secondary. All were in exchange for draft picks. This trend is a huge change in philosophy since draft picks were considered a high value commodity. Now, you have two sides, win now/tank the season. Winning teams are willing to give up their future and losing teams are willing to trade players to build their roster next year. This trend is also worth watching.

 

[Attyla the Hawk]

The last three years the deadline was moved. Back when it was in week 5/6, no one was ready to concede the season. Now that it's weak 7/8 - you have a few teams that go into sell mode

I think it's mostly this, but also some teams in the last couple years recalibrating and realizing that draft picks had been overvalued and mid-career vets had been undervalued. That not everybody has made that move yet means both sides think they're getting value.

Again though, fully agreed that it's mostly just moving the deadline. :2thumbs:

Agreed. I think there are multiple factors at play.

First and foremost:

1. Moving trade deadline back. Teams that are not likely to contend are more willing to part with talent. Teams that are still contending are more in the market where there was previously none.

2. Tradeable comp picks. Most contending teams also work the comp pick formula to their advantage. So they have spare picks to work with (or in most cases fall back onto).

These two things both create a market, as well as draft stock with which to fund the market.

3. Copycat league. Once a few teams started having success with mid season picks, they broke through the hesitancy of making such moves.

4. Disciplined cap management. As in point #2, teams that are run well, understand cap flexibility. Allowing them to add salary (usually with little to no dead money risk) in the short term. And they budget their caps in August. Evidence for this being that you usually see the same teams buying during this window year to year.

5. Better understanding of pick value. Teams have a better understanding of just what pick value means. What kind of return a 3rd/4th or 5th round pick truly entails. For most good teams picking late -- it's littered with players that are less than 50% likely to make the team and even then more likely to require 16-24 games and a couple of OTA/TCs to become valuable starters. For teams in the hunt, these picks are not all that valuable. Seattle is very much an exception to the league. Good thing since their day 1 and early 2 picks are usually worse than their late day 2, early day 3 selections.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

I think it's two fold;

1. This year more than ever it's a league full of haves and have nots. Most years there's a bunch of teams in the middle that still think they're fighting for WC spots. Not really this year, lots of REALLY bad teams, and lots of good teams. Means more teams are sellers.

2. NFL contract structuring. Ever since the rookie salary cap was agreed upon slotting every draftee's salary into manageable slots for the first four years it's easier to make trades. Even for vets, with contracts front loaded, once a player is past those first two years of new deals, there's far less risk trading for them.

 

[SantaClaraHawk]

Can someone explain exactly whether and/.or how trades get done AFTER the trade deadline? Injuries pile up. Players can regress. Trent Williams, OL Pro Bowler, still sitting there. It is not like those issues will go away as of 10/29 at 1 p.m. Can transactions continue to be made and if so how?

 

[Sgt. Largent]

Can someone explain exactly whether and/.or how trades get done AFTER the trade deadline? Injuries pile up. Players can regress. Trent Williams, OL Pro Bowler, still sitting there. It is not like those issues will go away as of 10/29 at 1 p.m. Can transactions continue to be made and if so how?

New bargained rule was put in place I think last year or 2017, no trades after October 29th.

I think before you could make a trade after the deadline, but the player had to clear waivers. But not anymore, this is it.

 

[truehawksfan]

I know I maybe saying the same thing but in a different way.

Coaches and GMs will determine if they plan to keep/sign a player. Perfect example is Nick Vannett. He’s in a contract year. Not in the teams future. Trade him now with a guaranteed draft pick (5th RD).

Now, one can argue the Hawks could let Vannett play out this year and get a comp pick when he signs elsewhere. However, the Hawks have a lot of cap space next year and what if PC/JS decide to sign a lot of FA? Based on the comp formula we may not get one.

 

[chris98251]

Watching this it is becoming very much like MLB in August.