Can the NFL Team Trade Picks During the Draft? NFL Draft Rules Explained for Detroit 2024

Which team will make the move first? How much time will be allocated to each team during their picks? What are the eligibility criteria for players to be drafted? Specific rules set by the NFL answer every question of the NFL Draft.

This year, the 2024 NFL Draft will take place from April 25 to April 27, 2024, at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan. NFL Fans can experience the event on ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network. And they can stream on Fubo as well. This offseason, there are reportedly over 200 players available for the draft this offseason. Now the question arises: whether an NFL team can trade picks during the draft.

The NFL and their trade rules!

The answer to whether there is an option to exchange a draft pick with other teams while the draft is ongoing is a “yes.” After teams are given their draft positions, each pick is like a valuable resource. The team’s executives can either select a player or trade the pick to another team to improve their position in the current or future drafts.

As per NFL rules, trades can be discussed and finalized before and during the draft, and teams can exchange draft picks or even current NFL players they have the rights to. During the draft, when teams agree to a trade, both teams first need to inform the league officials. The league’s staff monitor the phones at the head table to ensure fairness in the pick.

Additionally, both teams must provide identical trade details to the league to get the trade approved. Once approved, a representative from the Player Personnel department shares the details with the league’s broadcast partners and all 32 clubs. A league official then announces the trade at the draft venue for the media and fans to know about it.

So, yes, the team can draft their picks during the ongoing draft, but will have to follow some NFL rules. But how common is this practice among teams to trade picks?

Instances when NFL players were traded shortly after being drafted

It’s not very common, but sometimes a player drafted by a team refuses to sign with them. John Elway and Eli Manning are famous examples of this. Elway was picked by the Baltimore Colts, however, later traded to the Broncos. Manning was selected by San Diego, but just after 45 minutes he was traded to the Giants.

Another quarterback involved in a similar situation was Philip Rivers, who had his rights traded right after being drafted (from Giants to San Diego). Since 1967, the NFL Draft’s no. 1 pick has been traded 13 times. It all started when the Saints traded it to the Colts for Gary Cuozzo. The Colts then chose Bubba Smith.

So, let’s see whether such instances happen this 2024 NFL draft season or not, especially in the case of the Bears and the Panthers.

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