2016 Keepers

The New Number One!

We haven't had a three way trade since 2010's mega doozy, and we haven't had a trade for the #1 overall pick in a draft since, maybe forever? Well, GM Frank of Athena Nike had been talking about Ezekiel Elliot since the beginning of the summer -- and technically tried to draft him last year -- and we were pretty sure he was just Danny Ainge-ing us, with no actual trade in sight. Well, lo and behold, with the clock ticking, Frank pulled off a stunner that may have shifted the CTDB landscape!

Let's take a look at how this deal shakes out for each team, and try to divine where they stand heading into the 2016 draft.

Trade ID#12: 

• Athena Nike receive Buffy 2016 RD1 and 2016 RD3, and Battle Angel 2017 RD2
• Buffy receives Rob Gronkowski, Thomas Rawls, Athena Nike 2016 RD1 and RD2, and Battle Angel 2016 RD1
• Battle Angels receive Kelvin Benjamin, Jarvis Landry, Athena Nike 2016 RD4, Buffy 2016 RD5

Battle Angels: For giving up the #3 overall in this year's draft, along with next year's RD2, last season's 2-11 (worst place) team receives Kelvin Benjamin and Jarvis Landry to bolster their keeper core. Both should be an improvement on alternate keeper selections Golden Tate or Josh Reed. Heading into Drew Brees' last few years, Battle Angel needs to bolster their passing attack quickly to return to playoff contention. Angels also add additional RD4 and RD5 picks in this year's draft, but those feel like more of a toss in to complete draft selections.

Buffy: What a haul for the #1 overall pick! Roger wasn't thinking about dealing away a surefire top running back in Elliot but the offer on the table was just too big to refuse. It was easy for the fan base to go from "Oh man, we're losing Ezekiel!?!" to "Let Gronk Gronk!" By trading down, Buffy picks up the #3 and #7 selections overall, plus an extra RD2 (#17 overall) -- albeit giving up a RD3 in the process. In addition, Buffy bolsters their keeper core by receiving Rob Gronkowski and Thomas Rawls, Marshawn Lynch's heir apparent in Seattle. Getting Gronk alone could make up the difference between #1 and #3 overall, as Gronkowski was a top ten WR/TE last season. After last year's 6-6-1 campaign and a Toilet Bowl win, Roger is fully restocked and ready to head back to the real Bowl this season.

Athena Nike: What does it take to get the rookie running back of your dreams? A hell of a lot apparently! Three picks and four keeper-worthy players later, Frank emerges with 2016's #1 overall pick, Ezekiel Elliot. Was it worth it? Well, we won't be able to tell until Elliot hits the field, but from what all the pundits say, Elliot is the perfect rookie in the perfect situation. We need to step back and look at the bigger picture here, as Frank had an excess of young receivers that he couldn't keep. With roster locks DeAndre Hopkins and Amari Cooper joining Aaron Rodgers, there was only room for two of Rob Gronkowski, Jarvis Landry, Kelvin Benjamin, DeVante Parker, and Kevin White. Well, we know what happened next as Gronk, Landry, and Benjamin were dealt, with Parker and White's potential joining Nike's new lineup.

Time will tell who "wins" this trade, but we're pretty certain CTDB already won just for having another mega-three way deal go down. Thanks for the fireworks gentleman, and good luck in the upcoming season!