Titans-Rams trade and the history of trading the first pick in the NFL Draft

The Titans pulled off a trade today with the Los Angles Rams for the first overall pick. You can get all of the details on the haul the Titans got from the Rams here. Quick, before reading any further, when was the last time the first pick was traded? How many times has it been traded in the last 20 years?  If you answered 2004 and three you are almost correct. The Giants traded for Eli Manning in 2004, but it wasn't until after the Chargers had already taken him with the first pick.

This is the first time the top overall pick has been traded (there is a lot of good info in that article) before a player was selected since 2001 when the Falcons traded up with the Chargers to get Michael Vick. The Chargers ended up picking LaDainian Tomlinson with the 5th pick.

My mind is still blown that Titans GM Jon Robinson was able to pull this off, and especially with two weeks left before the draft. This gives him so much time to evaluate his options and possibly make more moves. You can tell that he learned a lot during his time with the New England Patriots.

Now he just has to hit with these picks!