Draft Rumors: Redskins, Trubisky, Browns

The Redskins recently re-signed RB Chris Thompson, but as John Keim of ESPN.com writes, the team wants to add another back to complement Thompson and incumbent starter Rob Kelley. It is unclear whether that will happen in free agency or the draft, but head coach Jay Gruden has said that the team would only select a running back high in the draft if such a running back is a “home run hitter.” Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook certainly fit that description, and Keim believes they could tempt Washington in the first round of this week’s draft. In a separate piece, Keim writes that the Redskins want to draft a difference-making pass rusher “in the worst way,” and given that this year’s draft is rich in pass-rushing talent, they could be picking from a few intriguing options at No. 17 overall. However, they could also consider Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster if he is still available when Washington is on the clock (and he may be, given his recent failed urine test).

Now for more draft-related nuggets:

• Rich Cimini of ESPN.com believes there is truth to the rumors that the Browns and Jets are discussing a deal that would see the Browns send their No. 12 overall pick and multiple other selections to New York in exchange for the Jets’ No. 6 overall selection. Such a deal would likely be contingent on, among other things, Mitch Trubisky‘s still being available, but the teams are talking and Cimini believes the Jets should pull the trigger if they can.
• Speaking of the Browns and Trubisky, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer hears that the Browns’ interest in taking the UNC signal-caller with the No. 1 overall pick is genuine, but she still thinks the team will select Myles Garrett with that choice.
• The Browns are hoping that the Moneyball approach will translate to the NFL, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle writes. Former baseball executive Paul DePodesta has the Browns evaluating things differently and stockpiling picks in a way that we haven’t seen before in the NFL. Heading into the draft, Cleveland has five picks within the first 65 selections this year, including the Nos. 1, 12, 33, 52, and 65 overall picks. That’s not including the 2018 second-round draft pick they received for taking on the contract of quarterback Brock Osweiler. The hiring of DePodesta was met with mixed reactions, but it’s hard to find fault with all of the ammo the Browns currently have, which will allow them to trade up if necessary to land the quarterback they want.
• Steelers WR Martavis Bryant is expected to be reinstated and to contribute in a big way to the Steelers’ passing attack in 2017, but given that he missed all of the 2016 season and has yet to actually be reinstated, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com believes Pittsburgh will approach this week’s draft as if Bryant is not in the mix. The team’s first-round pick is too late to land one of this year’s top WR prospects, but Fowler names Zay Jones, Chris Godwin, and Josh Reynolds as potential fits.
• Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal realizes that the Raiders have not yet acquired Marshawn Lynch, and the team has some questions at right tackle, but the expectation is that GM Reggie McKenzie will devote the majority, if not entirety, of his earliest draft resources to the defensive side of the ball. That trend likely will continue to some degree in the fourth through seventh rounds.

Zach Links contributed to this post.