Teams deal way to record 34 trades on draft weekend

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NFL decision-makers were a finicky lot at the NFL draft, making a record 34 trades on Saturday and Sunday, surpassing the previous record of 28 from the 2004 draft.

The swap meet got under way when New England traded down from the seventh spot on Saturday, giving it to New Orleans along with its fifth-rounder in exchange for the Saints' No. 10 overall and a third-rounder. The Saints used the pick to take defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis from Southern California.

An even dozen trades came in the first two rounds on Saturday. Sunday, fittingly, began with a trade, as Detroit moved up to begin the day by taking running back Kevin Smith, who almost broke the college rushing record of former Lions star Barry Sanders.

At one point the New York Jets traded themselves a pick. On Saturday, the Jets traded up to Green Bay's No. 30 spot, giving up their second rounder and their fourth-rounder, No. 113 overall.

On Sunday, the Jets traded with the Packers again, giving Green Bay the 102nd pick to get back No. 113, along with a fifth-round pick.

The Jets used the 113th pick to take defensive back Dwight Lowery from San Jose State.

Cleveland managed to do the same thing in the sixth round, washing the 191st overall pick through Philadelphia to net them receiver Paul Hubbard from Wisconsin.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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