The story of choice # 2 has its ups and downs. Some players were scouts, while others were busts.
More interesting, however, are the exchange packages that the teams have rendered to move on to the second overall choice. Seven teams reached second place, with four of them winning a highly coveted defender.
While the Jets could easily use the choice to do just that – Justin Fields and Zach Wilson are the main targets of the draft – Joe Douglas will likely weigh all of his options before pulling the trigger. This includes exchanging choice # 2 for more draft selections or perhaps for a player like Deshaun Watson.
Either way, Douglas could win a win for No. 2. Teams are usually given three to five choices for the ability to move into that slot. Here is a retrospective of seven times when choice # 2 was negotiated …
2017: Bears switch to Trubisky
(Nam Y. Huh-AP)
In a bewildering move, the Chicago Bears moved up just one position in the 2017 draft from No. 3 to No. 2 to select Mitchell Trubisky. The Bears exchanged choices for the first round with the San Francisco 49ers and also gave up a choice for the third round (No. 67), one for the fourth round (No. 111) and a choice for the third round of 2018 (No. 70) .
After all the dust had settled, the 49ers ended with the defensive side Soloman Thomas (No. 3), linebacker Reuben Foster (after returning to the first round with the 111th choice), receiver Dante Pettis (2018) and linebacker Fred Warner (2018)
Trubisky had flashes for the Bears, but he has always been a failure in his four seasons in Chicago.
2016: Eagles climb to Wentz
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The Eagles gave up a lot of picks to move from 8th to 2nd place in the 2016 draft. In an agreement with the Browns, Philly negotiated his first, third and fourth round choices in 2016, as well as his first round of 2017 and his second round of 2018. The return: Cleveland’s No. 2 pick and a fourth round of 2017.
This trade had wide-ranging ramifications that had a ripple effect on the league. Not only did the Eagles catch Carson Wentz, but the Browns basically ended up with receiver Odell Beckham Jr., cornerback Denzel Ward and defensive tackle Jordan Elliott after everything was said and done.
2012: Washington moves up to RGIII
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Washington moved up just four positions, but sent three other premium choices for the right to take quarterback Robert Griffin III in 2012. Washington sent Rams its No. 6 and No. 39 choices in 2012, as well as its first-round pick in 2013 (No. 22) and 2014 (No. 2).
Griffin won the Rookie of the Year award in 2012, but was released in 2016 after injuries damaged his career. The Rams, in turn, turned the exchange into nine players, some of whom had been in the starting lineup for some time.
1998: Porters take Leaf in second overall
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The Chargers gave the Cardinals three choices and two players to move up one position and take quarterback Ryan Leaf with second overall choice in 1998.
Leaf ended up being one of the biggest draft prisons of all time and commerce has become one of the worst ever. The Cardinals finished with the Chargers’ third and 33rd overall choice and a first time in 1999, along with RB / WR Eric Metcalf and linebacker Patrick Sapp.
1985: 2nd choice changes hands twice
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That choice was all about Bernie Kosar, which is strange because he wasn’t even placed second overall.
The Vikings originally traded their first and second round choices in 1985 for the Oilers’ second overall choice. Originally, this was so that Vikings could recruit Kosar, who was not eligible for selection after his paperwork was not processed in time. The Browns ended up recruiting him months later in the supplementary draft.
As Kosar was unavailable, Minnesota switched that choice to the Falcons, who moved up from fourth option to catch guard Bill Fralic. Atlanta also gave up its choice of the third round, in addition to the first round, to grab Fralic, who went to four Pro Bowls and made two All-Pro teams.
1983: Rams swaps a seat for Eric Dickerson
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The Rams had its running back franchise and the Oilers had two extra choices in the fourth round to move back one position. Houston switched back from third choice to ninth and still managed to grab Hall of Fame player Bruce Matthews.
The Rams still had a better ending, as Dickerson won the Rookie of the Year in 1983, went to six Pro Bowls, won five All-Pro nominations and was the leader of the NFL Rushing four times.
1977: Cowboys draft Tony Dorsett
(Ken Levine-Allsport)
The Cowboys sent their first four choices in the 1977 draft for the Seahawks to move from No. 14 to No. 2. Fortunately, Dallas had three choices in the second round, and it cost them all to complete the switch.
The Cowboys grabbed the running back Tony Dorsett with the pick. He had a career in the Hall of Fame that included Rookie of the Year, four Pro Bowls, an All-Pro selection, a Super Bowl ring and 12,036 race yards over 11 seasons in Dallas. The Seahawks summoned Steve August, point guard Tom Lynch and linebackers Terry Beeson and Peter Cronan. Everyone, except Cronan, had solid careers in Seattle.