By trading Jeff Okudah to the Falcons, the Lions shipped out a top-five draft pick just three years after selecting him. Since 2011, when the NFL instituted its rookie wage scale, teams have seldom traded first-round draft picks during their initial four-year rookie contract or fifth-year option.
When such a trade does take place, it often happens three years into a player’s career, around the time a team must decide whether to pick up the fifth-year option. Occasionally it happens after a player’s fourth year even though the team already had committed to a fifth year, something that would happen if the Buccaneers accommodate a trade request by linebacker Devin White.
Here are the most recent top-five draft picks to be traded before they hit free agency or received a second contract.
