Top Team looking to trade down?

[ND72]

In the wake of Cleveland’s ‘win’ over Tampa Bay in the coin flip that gave the Browns the 3rd pick at this year’s draft, the emerging consensus around the NFL seems to be that Cleveland is leaning toward taking Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson with that pick. However, at a post-flip press conference Browns’ G. M. Phil Savage let it be known that the third pick could be for sale. “We're going to keep that option open to us" said Savage when saying that getting the third pick put the Browns in a better position to trade down. At the same time, there have been rumors that the Browns might also make an attempt to try and trade up in order to select LSU QB Jamarcus Russell who is expected to be the first player taken this year. Savage said that it was doubtful the Browns would move up, but wouldn’t rule it out. One team that might be inclined to move up to the third spot is Atlanta, which has the tenth pick overall, but would like to get hometown WR Calvin Johnson. The Falcons do have an extra 4th round pick to work with however the Browns may not want to drop down quite that far, if they did, though, Cleveland might still get a top offensive line prospect like Levi Brown of Penn State.

[ND72]

Washington, which doesn’t have picks in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th rounds this year, may be another team looking to trade down. The Redskins have the 6th pick overall and have indicated they may be interested in moving the pick in order to order to acquire additional picks further down in the draft. In fact, there is an interesting scenario developing for the Redskins, especially if Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn is still on the board when the Redskins make the 6th pick. If Washington stayed at #6 the Redskins reportedly would be most interested in taking Clemson DE Gaines Adams. However, there is a better than even chance that Gaines will go earlier than that – either to Arizona at #5 or even Detroit with the second pick. And if Quinn were still available at the #6 spot the three teams that pick right after Washington – Minnesota, Houston and Miami which pick 7th through 9th respectively – are all reportedly interested in Quinn. That could open the door for Washington to trade the pick to the highest bidder, drop down several spots and still get one of the top defensive linemen in this year’s draft such as Michigan DT Alan Branch or Arkansas DE Jamaal Anderson.

[Fritz]

Cool biz, but none of this concerns the Pack directly. Maybe only insofar as the numbnuts in Detroit and Minnesota can figure out how to muck it up.