As the NFL draft draws closer and closer here are some questions that are circulating that pertain to prospects and their draft stock as well as their potential and projected impacts at the next level.
What are some potential trades that could happen on the opening night of the draft?
The first round of the draft is littered with trades throughout the night with teams trading up and down from the top 10 where teams try to leapfrog each other for the draft’s elite prospects to the bottom of opening round when teams trade back into the first to get a coveted prospect and their fifth-year option that comes with being a first rounder.
Typically, there is a lot of shuffling in the first round because of the teams that are trying to draft their franchise quarterback and this year is no different. Many believe that a lot of the shakeup in the first round this year is contingent upon what the Cardinals do with the first overall pick and whether they intend on using it on Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray. Here are some potential trades that could very well happen on the first night of the draft on April 25:
• Cardinals trade out of the No.1 pick: If the Cardinals don’t do what every pundit has seen as no-brainer ever since Murray officially measured in at 5-10&1/8 the Combine then they could collect a king’s ransom for the top pick if another team is willing to accommodate what will surely be a hefty price to entice them from not staying put.
• Dolphins trade up for a QB: Since they have officially moved on from Ryan Tannehill after trading him to the Titans and signing 15-year journeyman to a two-year deal, there is growing speculation that they are going to select a quarterback in this year’s draft.
Since they currently hold the 13th overall pick, both Murray and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins are expected to be long gone by then so if they want and one of the top two prospects at the position, they might have to trade into the top five to do so.
• Patriots trade up for a tight end: Following Rob Gronkowski’s retirement, New England now has to add the tight end position to their laundry list of needs on both sides of the ball following their third Superbowl championship in the last five years.
There are three talented and dynamic tight ends that have first round grades on them in Iowa’s TJ Hockenson and Noah Fant, as well as Alabama’s Irv Smith. Since they hold the last pick in the first round at 32nd overall, they might have to trade up to secure one of them.
• Ravens trade back: The Ravens only have eight picks in this year’s draft and none in the second round where there are expected to some premier prospects at positions of need for them following a bevy of departures in free agency.
They rarely pick at their original draft slot and have a history of trading back multiple times as they did in last year’s draft to accumulate more picks. First year General Manager Eric DeCosta, who is forging a name for himself and making a name for himself, will likely follow the blueprint that he helped his predecessor put together and move back to get more.
• Raiders trade up for a QB: If the Cardinals are willing to part with the first overall pick, the Oakland Raiders have enough draft capital with three first round picks and several others in the early rounds to make an aggressive offer.
If the rumors surrounding Derek Carr’s unsolidified status with the team and Head Coach Jon Gruden’s affinity for Kyler Murray are indeed true enough then that they might lead to the bold transaction coming to fruition.
• Someone trades for Josh Rosen: As soon as the doubts and questions surrounding Murray’s height were put to bed, the debate and speculation on where Arizona’s top 10 pick from just a year ago in quarterback Josh Rosen will get traded to if and when Murray goes to the Cardinals at No.1 overall. The early favorite to land Rosen was teams the Washington Redskins prior to the Case Keenum trade.
However, in recent weeks other teams have been linked as likely landing spots for Rosen. Joel Klatt of FOX Sports reported that the teams with the most interest in facilitating the trade as of late are the Los Angeles Chargers, the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, all of which have starting quarterbacks over the age of 36.
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