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NFL Draft ’08 – Trades

Sat, 04/26/2008 - 14:07 — Draft Insiders

NFL Draft ’08 – Trades could Decide Early Selections

Baltimore Moving Up for QB Matt Ryan, Jeremy Shockey to Buffalo

The NFL Draft ’08 weekend is here and clubs have worked the phones more than usual this year with several big deals in the making. Three clubs in the top ten, Oakland, Kansas City and New England are all interested in moving back in the first round for the right offer. Baltimore and New Orleans are the only clubs attempting to move up from their current selection. Oakland is one of the wild card selections in the first round. They hold the 4th overall pick and have many needs and they do not have a #2 or #3 selection because of prior deals. They love DT Glenn Dorsey and runner Darren McFadden here, but still need to recover top 100 selections to address their many need areas. They will sit on the pick until QB Matt Ryan is off the board. They do not want the Chiefs to land the BC passer with the following selection. They have a few deals in the making for the #4 overall selection if Ryan is still available there. They have spoken with both Baltimore and Carolina about their #1 pick. The Ravens have also spoken to the Rams and have a placed a huge offer to move up in the first round for their #1 and #2 picks this year plus later draft selections to land QB Matt Ryan. They have no #3 pick and may have to include early selections from their NFL Draft ’09 class.
The ‘08 postseason has already seen an unusually high number of trades with most high profile defensive linemen with Shaun Rogers, Kris Jenkins, Corey Williams, Jared Allen and DT Dewayne Robertson, in addition to players ‘Pac Man Jones, Anthony Fasano and Akin Ayodele exchanging teams in recent days.
There are a large number of pro players on the trade market this year with some of the biggest names in the league probably being dealt over the NFL Draft weekend. Players like Jeremy Shockey, Chad Johnson, Roy Williams, Anquan Boldin, Jason Taylor, Lito Sheppard, John Abraham, Chris Simms and J.P. Losman among others could be changing teams over the NFL Draft weekend. The Saints have a few deals in the works. They are interested in moving up in the 1st round to land DT Glenn Dorsey or Sedrick Ellis. Dorsey would command a move into the top 5 picks while Ellis may require only moving up a few slots ahead of Cincinnati. The Saints also have two deals in the works for their #2 pick, the 40th overall selection. They have a deal on the table with the Giants for TE Jeremy Shockey for their #2 pick and either late picks or safety Roman Harper. They are even more interested in the Eagles’ cornerback Lito Sheppard for the #2 pick straight up. Both of these deals are probably contingent of available prospects on the clock and other possible deals. The Giants also have a strong offer for Shockey from the Bills who have offered their #2 pick, the 41st overall selection plus a #4 pick this weekend. Both Carolina or Seattle have shown interest in Shockey who appears to be gone in a trade that will be completed on the clock in Round 2.
The receiver that is most likely to be traded is the Lions Roy Williams. Clubs like the Eagles, Redskins and Cowboys have expressed interest in the former #1 pick. The Redskins have also talked with Atlanta about DE John Abraham for their #1 pick, the 21st overall selection. The Bengals were offered a #1 pick plus another top 100 selection for disgruntled veteran wideout Chad Johnson, but turned down this among other offers. The Bengals hold the #9 overall pick and another #1 pick would be against their salary cap philosophy let alone their shortage of receivers after the release of veteran Chris Henry following another off the field issue. They most likely retain the veteran Pro Bowl receiver. The Cards have also turned down offers for veteran receiver Anquan Boldin. They also lost a receiver this offseason when Bryant Johnson left in free agency and signed with the 49ers. The Dolphins have shopped LB Jason Taylor this week, though interest has been limited to 3-4 defensive clubs and only a late #2 pick or more likely a #3 pick offered.
These trades will have a huge impact on the NFL team needs of the clubs involved and the way the top 100 selections, in particular unfolds. The NFL Draft ’08 weekend will probably include several major trades involving players with most of the transactions on the clock with teams having prospects slotted at certain positions in the draft process.

We will have a special section in DraftInsiders.com Review ’08 Book the week following the NFL Draft.
This is a Special email Exclusive for Full subscribers with ongoing and late information related to the player development on the trade market with an expected high number of transactions expected.