The NFL draft is just a day away and names like Amari Cooper, Kevin White and Todd Gurley are some of the top targets for teams, including the Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, NY Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and New York Giants in the top 10 and this comes as many teams are calling about trades into the top five heading into Thursday.
Marcus Mariota has been the main target about trade talk in the draft leading into the first round and now players like Amari Cooper and Kevin White also could be targets. According to CBS Sports and Pro Football Talk, the Dolphins are "kicking the tires" about moving up into the top 10. The team has been calling around about how much it would cost to move up and some potential targets include Gurley and Cooper, according to the Miami Herald.
Former league executive Joe Banner reported that teams in picks two through five are looking to "trade down" in the draft this year. That talk is not surprising, as this draft class is considered very deep and teams may move back if the number one/two guys on their draft boards are taken by the time they pick. The Titans are looked at as the main team in the trade mix, as the Buccaneers are expected to take Jameis Winston number one overall.
If that happens, teams that are interested in Marcus Mariota likely will start calling and the team could consider trading back. The Titans have a need at QB, but recent reports say they are confident in Zach Mettenberger and will give him a chance to be the starter. The team could sit and take the pick, with Leonard Williams the likely selection, but there are a number of teams that are interested in Mariota and could trade up.
The San Diego Chargers appeared to be one of those teams, but Peter King reports that any chance of a Philip rivers trade to the Titans for Mariota is likely dead. The Chargers have the number 17 overall pick and while they also have Rivers, the asking price for the number two pick reportedly is too high for San Diego. The Browns and the Eagles have had interest in Mariota, according to reports, and they also could be options to trade up along with the Chicago Bears.
Amari Cooper could be a trade target for teams and the Jaguars may be the way to get him for the Dolphins, 49ers or Redskins, as they have shown interest in the Alabama receiver. According to Pro Football Talk, the team could take Cooper at three and that means teams may call the Jaguars about moving up. Cooper and White are considered to be the top receivers in the draft and most experts don't see them getting past the Bears in the top 10.
The Jets also could look at trading down, as they are at number six and that means the top players on their board all could be gone by the time they pick. The team has had interest in Marcus Mariota and they also met with Amari Cooper and if those players are gone, they could trade down for extra picks. The Jets have Mike Maccagnan running his first draft and he said to the media that the team would consider all options, including trades, with their first round pick.
