The Detroit Lions traded a third-round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for cornerback Carlton Davis III this offseason. ESPN recently published a list of one hypothetical draft day deal for every 32 teams, and they recommend that the Bucs sell that pick… back to the Lions.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a trade in which the Bucs move down three spots with the Lions for the No. 29 pick and their third-round pick at No. 73. In exchange, the Lions would receive the No. 26 and No. 93 picks, which they had previously given to Tampa Bay earlier this offseason.
“The Bucs have multiple needs that might be addressed early on Day 2, particularly on the interior of their offensive line. The Lions, with holes at edge rusher and cornerback and one of the league’s finest offensive lines, are unlikely to think so.
Moving down three spots would give Tampa Bay to add another pick in the top 75, which is normally a good time to get help at centre and inside linebacker. The Lions would reclaim No. 92, which they traded to the Bucs earlier this summer in the Carlton Davis deal.
This would not be an offensive deal, and it would effectively allow the Bucs to move up in the third round while sitting back and waiting for a kid they may be interested in who is still available. Furthermore, Bucs general manager Jason Licht has a history of trading down, so anything like that on draft day is not out of the question.
