"Since taking over in 2000, Belichick has now completed 48 draft day trades. After last night, the Patriots have now traded up in the draft 17 times under Belichick and moved back 13 times."

But it does seem like down is more often the direction, because many of the ups have been in lower rounds.

and I think we have noticed that with both the Cowboys and the Pats. The Cowboys in the 90s and the Pats in the 00s turned the draft into rocket science and usually got all the attention for their ability to deal back and accumulate picks. What these teams are finding out is accumulating picks is useless if you can't draft players that will help your team.

I believe in the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) method and it is probably better in the long run. Both the Cowboys and Pats defenses need work and probably wise for them to go get what they need right away.