Why and How to Trade Back in Your Rookie Drafts

For many of us in the dynasty community, the end of the NFL Draft signals the official beginning of rookie draft season. The NFL Draft ends on Saturday, and many leagues start drafting on Monday morning. I’ve heard of some who start as early as Saturday night.

I know it can be enticing to mortgage your future and trade up for a top-three pick, but sometimes it’s important to act like an adult and think of all possibilities. Trading back and acquiring future second-round picks might not be the sexiest approach to dynasty, but it might just be the most profitable.

Why Trade Back?

Asking why is a fundamental truth of human existence; we’ve been asking why for thousands of years and it is one of the main reasons we developed into who we are as a species. Understanding “why” allows us to truly master a concept. Many dynasty managers will tell you that trading back is good with one breath, but these same people, with their next breath, will also insist on trading up to acquire an “elite” prospect. That’s because they haven’t bothered to ask why.