Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan has gone on the record saying he hopes to trade down and acquire more picks in this week's NFL Draft. The easiest path to accomplishing that is by trading Washington's No. 5 overall pick. This would potentially take the Skins out of the running for one of the draft's elite players, but it would enable the team to infuse more much needed youth into this roster.
But pulling off such a move is easier said than done; the board has to break just right with a player falling who another team is willing to move up for. If it does, Grantland's Bill Barnwell lays out a trade scenario that seems to benefit all parties involved. The Redskins would send the No. 5 pick to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for the No. 10 pick, a fourth-rounder and a 2016 second-rounder.
"I have to admit that I want to see the tables turn between these two, with the Rams trading up and sending extra picks to Washington after enjoying the bounty of picks provided to them by Daniel Snyder in the RG3 trade," Barnwell wrote. "New Washington general manager Scot McCloughan has to acquire extra picks to make up for the selections that the previous administration sent to St. Louis, and here, he gets the second-rounder the Eagles sent to the Rams in the Sam Bradford-Nick Foles trade.
"The Rams, on the other hand, have a deep roster in need of a few game-changing contributors. While they've invested six draft picks in the first four rounds on wide receivers in their last four drafts, St. Louis still lacks a no. 1 wideout. The Rams could roll into 2015 with Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, and Tavon Austin in the slot, but by trading up here, they could add White or Cooper to the mix as another weapon for Foles. With Jeff Fisher and les Snead possibly fighting for their jobs this year, the Rams should be all in to win in 2015."
The Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 3) and Oakland Raiders (No. 4) are both in need of wide receivers, but it's difficult to see USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams falling past either team. That means that Alabama's Amari cooper or West Virginia's Kevin White should be available when the fifth pick is on the clock. Both players would immediately become the most talented wide receiver on St. Louis' roster.
Remember, this is just a hypothetical situation. But it does make a certain amount of sense for both teams.
