Nattering E Trades #6: Trades Involving Draft Picks Part 1 Eli & Philip

What up world it's your boy E coming at you from the Nattering With E studios. After a brief break to battle off a bout with laryngitis, we are back with our next NFL chapter of Nattering E Trades! Earlier this week, the NBA not the NFL had one of the most intriguing trades we'll probably go back and look at in a couple of years from now. No active players were traded between the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz, only draft picks. The Jazz traded three first-round draft picks this year, the 2027 and 2029 drafts for Phoenix's unprotected 2031 first-round pick. The deal wasn't unprecedented but signaled to the rest of the league that the Suns are probably looking to pull off a bigger deal later. So you might wonder, what does this have to do with the NFL? Well, I'm glad you asked, as today in part 1 of a 6 part series we'll be looking at the three best trades to involve draft picks in the NFL. In three weeks we'll be looking at the three worst draft pick-related trades in NFL History. TOP 3 TRADES Involving Draft Picks The Best: Number 3 Eli for Philip 3. The year is 2004 and after having bad seasons in 2003, the New York Giants and San Diego Chargers pull off a trade that essentially allows each to acquire picks that'll eventually turn out to be two hall of fame caliber quarterbacks. The San Diego Chargers had the first overall pick in the 2004 draft and took Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning the younger brother of Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos great Peyton Manning. Going into the draft it was well known that Eli had no intention of playing in San Diego, despite them owning the first overall draft choice. Enter the New York Giants. Finishing with the fourth worst record in the NFL in 2003 and thus the fourth overall selection in 2004, the Giants took NC State quarterback Philip Rivers fourth overall. They then would broker a deal with the Chargers, to send the aforementioned Rivers along with a third round selection in 2004 and first and fifth round picks in 2005 to the Chargers for the disgruntled Eli Manning. While the trade is mostly seen as a success for the Giants, who received Manning who would lead them to two Super Bowls and win two MVP awards, the Chargers did pretty well themselves. Rivers is also considered a hall-of-fame quarterback despite never making it to the Super Bowl, he often led the league in passing yards and touchdowns. The Chargers also were able to draft kicker Nate Kaeding with the third-round selection in 2004, and the first-round pick in 2005 got them linebacker Shawne Merriman to bolster the Chargers defense for most of his six seasons. He also led the league in quarterback sacks in his first three seasons with 39.5 and was the defensive rookie of the year.