Earlier today, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that the Saints “had talks” about potentially moving up to the No. 1 pick, before Tennessee ultimately sent the pick to Los Angeles. At the time, I noted that it wasn’t clear whether Rapoport was suggesting New Orleans actually engaged the Titans in trade talks, or whether the Saints simply had internal discussions about the possibility.
According to Mike Triplett of ESPN.com, however, a source said the Saints had no talks about trading for the first overall pick. Once again, it’s not entirely clear whether Triplett is referring to discussions between the Saints and Titans, or simply internal conversations in New Orleans, so it’s possible he and Rapoport are on different pages. In any case, it seems as though the team was never serious about the idea of moving way up in the first round.
In fact, that source tells Triplett that the Saints are more likely to trade down than up, adding that the idea of drafting quarterback Paxton Lynch appears to be a long shot, at best. The club is more likely to add a QB in the middle rounds of the draft, says Triplett.
With the start of the draft just a little over two days away, let’s round up several more updates and rumors from around the league…
- The Browns remain “wide open” to the possibility of trading down from No. 8, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. In a full column detailing draft-day trade scenarios for the Browns and a handful of other teams, La Canfora goes into more detail, suggesting that Cleveland wouldn’t mind landing Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell or possibly Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin.
- Speaking today to reporters, including Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune (Twitter link), Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said he has heard from a couple teams about trades involving the No. 23 pick. Both scenarios would involve the Vikings trading down, while one of the two would mean moving out of the first round entirely.
- In his final Scouting Notebook before the draft, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report provides a ton of interesting tidbits, touching briefly on each of the league’s 32 teams to discuss which players or positions they’ll be targeting.
- Clemson safety T.J. Green, Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, and USC linebacker/safety Su’a Cravens are all receiving consideration in the back half of the first round, according to tweets from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, respectively.
Why would you trade down when youre in desperate need for someone with great defensive talent in the d line section? Especially in this draft filled with Pass rushers that the saints clearly need (31-32 defensive rank)
Saints want more draft picks. They can trade down and pick up a 2nd or a couple of other picks and try to build that way. Draft is full of pass rushers this year so later picks wouldn’t be as bad. Personally I’m for them drafting Shaq Lawson from Clemson or Ole miss WR Laquan Treadwell. Need both!!!
Yes true but we need defensive end more than wr in starting round. We can get the 6’4″ reciver from the smaller college that has the body of our last veteran reciever
If Buckner is still available at 8, what would it take for the Bears to move up?
Second round picks and third, most likely
Based on the draft pick trade value chart, it’d take a third and our extra sixth. Moving up from 11 to 8 isn’t even close to far enough of a move to give up “second round picks and third.”
Cravens would be a great pick for Arizona. I think he’d shine as a Arizona Cardinal.