Essendon may have been able to secure a better deal for outgoing ruckman Paddy Ryder last year if clubs were able to trade future draft picks, according to Bombers football boss Rob Kerr.

The AFL is considering introducing the ability for clubs to trade picks from future drafts, after sending a discussion paper to clubs earlier this month.

The Bombers received Port Adelaide's first and second selections at last year's draft (No.17 and 37) for Ryder, but were negotiating in the hope they would be able to get two first-round draft picks for the star ruckman. 

It took until the final day of the trade period for the deal to be sealed – and Essendon then sent pick No.37 to the Western Bulldogs for Adam Cooney – but the ability to trade future picks could have opened up more options during talks, according to Kerr.

"We certainly would've been asking for the two [first-round picks]. It would've helped last year because Port Adelaide has more chips on the table and then Essendon also has more chips on the table," Kerr said.

"They might have said 'We don't want to give you next year's first round pick' and we might have said 'We want it, but we'll give you our third-rounder next year'. It definitely would've helped [to be able to trade future picks]." 

Port Adelaide would have considered giving up its first pick in the 2014 and 2015 drafts had the system been in place last year. 

Ryder will play for the Power against the Bombers for the first time when the teams meet at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. 

Kerr believes the new bidding process for academy and father-son players will see some clubs essentially be able to commit future picks to players, so would support the proposal being established this year. 

"I can understand from a recruiting point of view you might have some reservations, but from a trading and list management point of view, it does put more flexibility into the system," he said. 

"Clubs are able to turn up to the trade table with more commodities to trade. I've always maintained you only really turn up with your first and second-round picks that other clubs are interested in. And nobody wants to give up the first round unless it’s an exceptional player."

AFL.com.au reported this week as part of the League's proposal, the concept of 'protected picks' had been raised. 

The idea would allow clubs who trade future draft picks to attach conditions to the pick so it does not become a much earlier pick than the one intended at the time of the original deal. 

Kerr said he expects some tweaking to the system once it is put in place.

"I think that's the difficult part of it, and what will evolve more over time, in terms of what you do for pick protection and the like. It's rare you get these things right first time around," Kerr said.