Draft Dish: Owners meetings teeming with trade buzz
March 31, 2004 Print it
Because most of the prominent draft prospects have completed their pro days, the NFL owners meetings are alive with draft buzz. As expected, the hottest topics are quarterbacks and trade rumors. Here's some of latest buzz.
ELI OR BEN?
Each of the top four teams -- the Chargers, Raiders, Cardinals and Giants -- has a preferred choice for a quarterback. They just don't know whether they want to pick a quarterback.
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and offensive tackle Robert Gallery are tempting, as is the possibility of trading down. All four teams have a starting quarterback (with varying degrees of experience) and might stay the course for another year or take a quarterback, such as Philip Rivers, with a later pick.
The Chargers, if the were to choose a quarterback, prefer Eli Manning. But the team is plotting an attempt to trade down, passing on the big two quarterbacks, and draft one later. But the Chargers' trade options are limited; it looks as though they could take Manning with the No. 1 pick.
The Raiders prefer quarterback Ben Roethlisberger but likely will opt for Gallery or Fitzgerald unless a deal to trade down comes along -- which is what they would prefer.
The Cardinals like Manning, but it's become more evident they plan to get Fitzgerald.
The Giants prefer Roethlisberger but are trying to send mixed messages to preserve their draft day options and to avoid having to trade up from No. 4 to get their man.
WHO'S WILLING TO DEAL FOR NO. 1?
There is only one way for the Chargers to trade, and it's the direction they prefer: down. The problem is that the Chargers don't want to move down only to get trumped on draft day. Their trade candidates are the Raiders, Cardinals, Giants and Browns.
The Raiders won't move up to No. 1, because they don't have to. They'll be happy with whomever is left after the first pick.
The Cardinals, who have the No. 3 pick, will sit tight. They would rather wait it out and gauge who will be picking ahead of them before making a deal on draft day. If the Cardinals think the Chargers or Raiders -- or one of their potential trade partners -- are interested in Fitzgerald, they are prepared to move up to get him.
But the Cardinals might be able to move down and still get Fitzgerald, depending on who ends up with the first and second picks. Therefore, it's unlikely they'll trade up to No. 1.
The Giants will trade up for the No. 1 pick only if they fear they won't be able to get Roethlisberger, Gallery or Manning (in that order of preference) with their No. 4 pick. But the only way that scenario could happen is if the Cardinals pass on Fitzgerald and take a quarterback or Gallery, which is unlikely, or if the Cardinals trade down to a team that takes a quarterback or Gallery.
The Browns could put pressure on the Giants by trading picks with the Cardinals, although the Cardinals might not be interested in Cleveland's No. 7 pick, which would be too low to get Fitzgerald.
The Giants have to be concerned, however, that all three of their preferred picks could be off the board by No. 4. But, bottom line, the Giants are unlikely to trade up with the Chargers; New York is more likely to trade up to No. 2 or No. 3 to ensure a crack at their top three choices.
The Browns are the best candidate for the Chargers to deal with, because they bring plenty of trade value. Cleveland would package quarterback Tim Couch, wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, the No. 7 pick and additional 2004 picks to get Gallery and fill their biggest need.
The Chargers also would be able to push for a higher ransom, including veteran players (perhaps disgruntled safety Earl Little perhaps) and additional picks in future years, because everyone knows the Browns aren't planning on having Couch and Northcutt back. The problem is Browns owner Randy Lerner and Carmen Policy both have been quoted publicly as saying they will not move to No. 1.
So it seems the Chargers will be forced keep the No. 1 pick. They'll take Manning and put on a happy face to make it look as though it was their plan all along. We know they plan to begin negotiations with the agents for Manning, Roethlisberger, Gallery and Fitzgerald, but that appears to be a futile smokescreen.
FOR NO. 2 ...
The Raiders are at No. 2, a cheaper spot in terms of cash and national scrutiny. They will not trade up, but trading down is a strong possibility. The Raiders will try to move down, maybe more than once, and pick up value along the way.
The Giants and Browns are excellent candidates to move up to No. 2, for all the aforementioned reasons. The possibility of a trade at this spot will remain until the pick is made.
FOR NO. 3 ...
Regardless of who picks at Nos. 1 and 2, one of the big four prospects will be available to the Cardinals at No. 3. But all indications are that Fitzgerald will be available, and the Cardinals will pick him -- unless the Browns or Giants call looking to deal.
If both Manning and Roethlisberger are gone and Gallery is still on the board, the Cardinals will try to convince the Giants they would be willing to deal with the Browns, who desperately seek Gallery. The Cardinals could pick up a lot of loot from the Browns but most likely would lose out on Fitzgerald.
If this scenario plays out the Giants could be convinced easily to flip spots with the Cardinals. This pick also could remain on the block until the clock starts ticking.
FOR NO. 4 ...
The Giants would be willing to trade up to increase their chances of landing Roethlisberger, Gallery or Manning. But if they can't move up and all three players are off the board, the Giants will try to move down in a trade with a team looking to draft Fitzgerald.
The time allotted for the first four picks is 60 minutes -- 15 minutes per selection. When the wheeling and dealing is done, it will be 60 minutes later and the Redskins will be on the clock at No. 5. We might be in for the longest first round in the history of the draft -- approaching seven hours.
March 31, 2004 Print it
Because most of the prominent draft prospects have completed their pro days, the NFL owners meetings are alive with draft buzz. As expected, the hottest topics are quarterbacks and trade rumors. Here's some of latest buzz.
ELI OR BEN?
Each of the top four teams -- the Chargers, Raiders, Cardinals and Giants -- has a preferred choice for a quarterback. They just don't know whether they want to pick a quarterback.
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and offensive tackle Robert Gallery are tempting, as is the possibility of trading down. All four teams have a starting quarterback (with varying degrees of experience) and might stay the course for another year or take a quarterback, such as Philip Rivers, with a later pick.
The Chargers, if the were to choose a quarterback, prefer Eli Manning. But the team is plotting an attempt to trade down, passing on the big two quarterbacks, and draft one later. But the Chargers' trade options are limited; it looks as though they could take Manning with the No. 1 pick.
The Raiders prefer quarterback Ben Roethlisberger but likely will opt for Gallery or Fitzgerald unless a deal to trade down comes along -- which is what they would prefer.
The Cardinals like Manning, but it's become more evident they plan to get Fitzgerald.
The Giants prefer Roethlisberger but are trying to send mixed messages to preserve their draft day options and to avoid having to trade up from No. 4 to get their man.
WHO'S WILLING TO DEAL FOR NO. 1?
There is only one way for the Chargers to trade, and it's the direction they prefer: down. The problem is that the Chargers don't want to move down only to get trumped on draft day. Their trade candidates are the Raiders, Cardinals, Giants and Browns.
The Raiders won't move up to No. 1, because they don't have to. They'll be happy with whomever is left after the first pick.
The Cardinals, who have the No. 3 pick, will sit tight. They would rather wait it out and gauge who will be picking ahead of them before making a deal on draft day. If the Cardinals think the Chargers or Raiders -- or one of their potential trade partners -- are interested in Fitzgerald, they are prepared to move up to get him.
But the Cardinals might be able to move down and still get Fitzgerald, depending on who ends up with the first and second picks. Therefore, it's unlikely they'll trade up to No. 1.
The Giants will trade up for the No. 1 pick only if they fear they won't be able to get Roethlisberger, Gallery or Manning (in that order of preference) with their No. 4 pick. But the only way that scenario could happen is if the Cardinals pass on Fitzgerald and take a quarterback or Gallery, which is unlikely, or if the Cardinals trade down to a team that takes a quarterback or Gallery.
The Browns could put pressure on the Giants by trading picks with the Cardinals, although the Cardinals might not be interested in Cleveland's No. 7 pick, which would be too low to get Fitzgerald.
The Giants have to be concerned, however, that all three of their preferred picks could be off the board by No. 4. But, bottom line, the Giants are unlikely to trade up with the Chargers; New York is more likely to trade up to No. 2 or No. 3 to ensure a crack at their top three choices.
The Browns are the best candidate for the Chargers to deal with, because they bring plenty of trade value. Cleveland would package quarterback Tim Couch, wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, the No. 7 pick and additional 2004 picks to get Gallery and fill their biggest need.
The Chargers also would be able to push for a higher ransom, including veteran players (perhaps disgruntled safety Earl Little perhaps) and additional picks in future years, because everyone knows the Browns aren't planning on having Couch and Northcutt back. The problem is Browns owner Randy Lerner and Carmen Policy both have been quoted publicly as saying they will not move to No. 1.
So it seems the Chargers will be forced keep the No. 1 pick. They'll take Manning and put on a happy face to make it look as though it was their plan all along. We know they plan to begin negotiations with the agents for Manning, Roethlisberger, Gallery and Fitzgerald, but that appears to be a futile smokescreen.
FOR NO. 2 ...
The Raiders are at No. 2, a cheaper spot in terms of cash and national scrutiny. They will not trade up, but trading down is a strong possibility. The Raiders will try to move down, maybe more than once, and pick up value along the way.
The Giants and Browns are excellent candidates to move up to No. 2, for all the aforementioned reasons. The possibility of a trade at this spot will remain until the pick is made.
FOR NO. 3 ...
Regardless of who picks at Nos. 1 and 2, one of the big four prospects will be available to the Cardinals at No. 3. But all indications are that Fitzgerald will be available, and the Cardinals will pick him -- unless the Browns or Giants call looking to deal.
If both Manning and Roethlisberger are gone and Gallery is still on the board, the Cardinals will try to convince the Giants they would be willing to deal with the Browns, who desperately seek Gallery. The Cardinals could pick up a lot of loot from the Browns but most likely would lose out on Fitzgerald.
If this scenario plays out the Giants could be convinced easily to flip spots with the Cardinals. This pick also could remain on the block until the clock starts ticking.
FOR NO. 4 ...
The Giants would be willing to trade up to increase their chances of landing Roethlisberger, Gallery or Manning. But if they can't move up and all three players are off the board, the Giants will try to move down in a trade with a team looking to draft Fitzgerald.
The time allotted for the first four picks is 60 minutes -- 15 minutes per selection. When the wheeling and dealing is done, it will be 60 minutes later and the Redskins will be on the clock at No. 5. We might be in for the longest first round in the history of the draft -- approaching seven hours.
if we traded up to #1. I was just thinking how nice it was that people quit wringing their hands over the Cards victory over the Viqueens, costing us the #1 spot.
