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CardinalChris

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In the weeks leading up to draft day, rumors and innuendos can run rampant. The latest such rumbling has the Houston Texans willing to trade up to the No.1 spot to nab Michigan State receiver Charles Rogers.

The validity of any rumor is always in question, but this one has Lions president Matt Millen nervous, believing that someone will try to leapfrog Detroit at No. 2 to pick Rogers.

"Personally, I think somebody's going to go get him," Millen told the Detroit News.

The Bengals were recently named in another trade rumor involving the first pick and Warren Sapp. But unlike that tall tale, this one actually could happen.

The Texans are suitable partners for a draft day trade. The NFL gave the second-year franchise 14 draft picks, one of which has already been dealt. Among that throng of selections, three are in the third round. In order for the Bengals to make a move, they would have to get at least one more pick on the first day to justify moving down, albeit only two spots.

The Bengals are not opposed to trading the pick, so long as the offer is right. That's because they have targeted four players worthy of the first overall pick, USC's Carson Palmer, Marshall's Byron Leftwich, Kansas State's Terrence Newman and Rogers. If they did trade with the Texans, at least two of those players would still be available. It's conceivable that should that trade occur, Palmer could still be around when the Bengals pick third.

So Cincinnati could get a player that some believe is their first choice and still get extra picks. Of course, the Lions are so in love with Rogers (and the thought of giving Joey Harrington a dangerous weapon) that should they lose out on the Michigan State receiver they might trade down themselves to a team that wants Palmer. However, a more likely scenario has them addressing their secondary with the selection of Newman.

While such a scenario favors Cincinnati, it does fly in the face of their wish to settle on a player within the next week so they can begin contract negotiations -- similar to what the Texans did with David Carr. But a deal with the Texans would be hard to pass up.

On the other side of the ledger, such a bold move by the Texans doesn't make much sense. If they really covet a receiver, they can select Miami's Andre Johnson. He's big and fast, although his hands and route-running have been questioned. But with the Texans a few years and a slew of players away from the playoffs, he'd have time to develop and wouldn't cost them a valuable pick.

So unless the Texans are confident that Rogers is going to be head and shoulders above Johsnon, it makes no sense for them to make this move.

Interesting Article......... That bodes well for Arizona that no talk of Suggs in there. There's still Chicago and Dallas to worry about, but this scenario could help.
 

Pariah

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I don't think it does bode well for us. If Houston moves to the #1 spot to take Rogers, I think Detroit will take Suggs.
 

BACH

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Originally posted by Pariah
If Houston moves to the #1 spot to take Rogers, I think Detroit will take Suggs.

I'm pretty sure they'll take CB Terence Newman if Rogers is gone.
 

Pariah

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Originally posted by JeffGollin
I think Detroit will take Suggs.
Why wouldn't they take Andre Johnson?

I don't think Johnson is nearly the player Rogers is right now. His hands and routes are suspect. I don't think teams simply look to fill a position with the number two pick--they want to get value. Newman could happen, but I think Johnson would be a stretch at #2.
 

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