San Diego moved up seven spots in the 2013 second round to…

The Exchange

San Diego wanted Manti Te'o badly enough to move from No. 45 to No. 38 in the second round of the 2013 draft. Arizona accepted No. 45 and No. 110 in return. The Chargers therefore paid a fourth-round choice to move seven spots, while the Cardinals stayed close to their original draft position and kept another asset to use or move later. Los Angeles Chargers Return The Chargers selected Te'o at No. 38. He became a useful part of the defense and gave San Diego multiple seasons of linebacker play, so the move was not an empty swing. The cost matters, however, because the team did not merely choose between Te'o and another prospect. It also surrendered the No. 110 selection, reducing the total number of chances available to strengthen the roster. Arizona Cardinals Return Arizona selected Kevin Minter at No. 45 and retained control of No. 110, which it later traded. Minter supplied practical defensive value without requiring the Cardinals to leave the second round, and the extra fourth-round asset created another opportunity for roster building. Ryan Nassib was eventually selected at No. 110 only after that choice moved again, so he was not a player directly acquired by Arizona in this deal. Value in Hindsight Both clubs found legitimate football value, which keeps the grade spread modest. Te'o was a real contributor, but Arizona achieved a similar immediate objective at linebacker while also extracting another pick. That is the central advantage of a successful move down: the Cardinals did not have to sacrifice access to a useful player in order to collect additional capital. Final Verdict Arizona earns a B and the Chargers a C+. San Diego landed the player it targeted and received useful service from Te'o, but the price was meaningful for a seven-slot climb. Arizona's combination of Minter and the additional No. 110 asset gave the Cardinals the better overall return without requiring a dramatic drop on the board.