The Trade Chart
Part II - Take It or Leave It
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The Startup Draft sets the tone for the league. From the onset, those with a champion mindset want to pursue every advantage they can. Trading during the Startup is one way contenders separate themselves from the rest of the league. Trading up at a value for a cornerstone player or trading back to accumulate assets are great paths toward imposing your will on the league. All juggernaut teams are conceived during the Startup Draft. This article will explain how you can navigate through the frenzy of the draft and position your team for future success.
Things to Remember
The best trades are often the ones you don't make - There are so many trades we wish we could take back, and there are many other deals we look back on that we're grateful never came to fruition. Unless you love the trade, don't go through with it.
Prep - To get the most out of this article, it is essential to do some prep beforehand. A great place to start is with Part I of this series, Snake Draft Checklist. But at the very least, it is pivotal that you map out your favorite and least favorite rounds of the draft based on consensus ADP. There is no point to a Trade Back Chart if you don't know what rounds you want to capitalize on and which you want to avoid.
Let It Be Known - Right before the draft kicks off, declare in the chat, “If anyone wants to trade during the draft, come to me first!” You want to communicate that you’re open to trading and have come prepared to make the deal as painless as possible.
KEYNOTE—The following charts are a starting place for your trading considerations. You want to use these as a framework based on the rounds you’re targeting to avoid being exploited through improper compensation.
Image created by T-Rock
Image created by T-Rock
Image created by T-Rock
KEYNOTE—About the Startup Values Chart, it is important to remember that these values are an approximation. When you trade a pick away, you are also trading away the “player” that could have been selected at that spot (e.g., if you trade away the 1.01, you are trading away Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, or Jayden Daniels). So make sure that your compensation for the pick you are trading away is equal to the value of that player.
When Trading…
The first four rounds are the most important of the Startup Draft. If you trade in these rounds, be sure to have at least two rounds of selections at your disposal before you decide to trade away another pick (e.g., if you trade away your 1st, do not trade away your 2nd or 3rd).
Do not trade away any picks in consecutive rounds through rounds 5-8 (e.g., if you trade away your 5th, do not trade away your 6th).
After round 8, feel free to trade in consecutive rounds (e.g., if you trade away your 9th, you may also trade away your 10th).
Do not ever trade back more than 2 consecutive rounds (e.g., if you trade away your 11th, DO NOT trade away your 12th and 13th as well).
Do not trade away more picks than what you receive back in compensation (i.e., do not send away 3 picks to get only 2 picks back).
Pay attention to what part of the round the picks are located (i.e., is their selection in the beginning with slots 1-4, the middle with 5-8, or at the end with 9-12).
If the pick you are sending away is early (slots 1-4), then ask if the last pick in your compensation package can be moved up (e.g., if you trade away the 1.01, instead of asking for their 2nd, 4th, and 8th in return, ask for their 2nd, 4th, and 7th as compensation).
The Dossier
Image created by DK
