[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Well you have to factor them in somehow. A pick's value just doesn't magically disappear.

Scouts Inc. devised a formula that takes trades into account:

2010 NFL draft: Scouts Inc. offers up the results of its unique formula for evaluating each team's draft performance. - ESPN

I'll read the Scouts Inc. article because I <3 formulas, but I don't think trading for a player with an existing contract is anything like drafting your own talent at all. The trade for veteran talent can be good, or it can be bad, but it always costs draft value.

To me, that's the one constant on trading picks for players: you're costing yourself draft value, so the return must be very high to justify it.