SB Nation Mock Draft: Buffalo Bills pull off massive trade to pick quarterback Josh Rosen

This time of year, mock drafts are prevalent and most of them don’t allow trades. You plug in team needs at the right value in the first round and get your players. As Buffalo Bills fans, we don’t want to wait until pick number 12 to get the fourth or maybe even fifth quarterback off the board.

Today, the SB Nation writers mock draft kicked off when the Cleveland Browns (over at Dawgs By Nature) selected USC quarterback Sam Darnold. Anticipating this selection, we worked out a deal with the New York Giants (run by Big Blue View) to trade up to the second overall pick.

With the second choice in the hypothetical-if-trades-were-allowed SB Nation writers mock, the Buffalo Bills select UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen.

Rosen presents the best mix of polish and potential available in the 2018 NFL Draft. This move allows Buffalo to get past the New York Jets to take one of the top two players on their board.

In order to make the move, Buffalo gave up picks 12, 22, 53, and 65 in the 2018 draft and a 2019 second round pick. These picks represent an overpayment according to every draft trade chart but are in line with what the New York Jets paid to move up and get to the third pick. But, Buffalo will still have a nearly-complete compliment of 2018 picks, with selections in every round except the seventh. (Another offer was made, as well, that included next year’s first instead of next year’s second and allowed Buffalo to keep pick 65 in 2018.)

“If the Giants really want a quarterback and their top guys is at No. 2, I don’t see them trading out of that spot. Otherwise, I do believe they would be open for business,” says Ed Valentine of Big Blue View. “Would they take one of these offers? In general, I personally do not like the idea of dropping from No. 2 all the way out of the top 10. This, though, is pretty enticing.”

With the picks offered, the Giants could potentially move back up into the top ten to select a player they had their hearts set on after the quarterback dust has settled.

“My preference is the one of your two offers that gives the Giants more in the 2018 draft,” said Valentine. “In that scenario, the Giants end up with six picks in the top 66. They end up with 12, 22, 34, 53, 65, 66. They give up the possibility of drafting Saquon Barkley, Quenton Nelson, or Bradley Chubb -- unless they make a second move back up into the top six or so. Six picks in the top 66, though, should go a long way toward fortifying the roster of a team that went 3-13 a year ago and needs more than one player to turn things around.”

Valentine questioned if Bills general manager Brandon Beane would be willing to make the deal, but he has shown a willingness to make huge moves to get players he wants (or move player he doesn’t want). This comes down to whether Giants GM David Gettleman can get the player he wants later in the first round.

“For the Bills, moving up to get Rosen would be a great move, especially if they didn’t have to give up a 2019 first-round pick,” says Dan Kadar, SB Nation’s NFL Draft expert. “When you don’t have a viable franchise quarterback, trading acquired draft capital to get one is smart. Rosen is the best quarterback in the draft and elevates the teammates around him. He’s a little statuesque in the pocket, but his arm and football IQ make up for it. At the least, he’s a much smarter choice than going after Josh Allen.”

Next Read

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