2. What veterans will be on the move?
It seems that the veteran trade market has dwindled some heading into the draft. Seahawks general manger John Schneider indicated earlier in the week that they have moved on from a potential Richard Sherman trade. Meanwhile, Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo seems to be firmly off the market.
All the while, New Orleans doesn’t seem prepared to offer New England what the defending champs might want for Malcolm Butler.
Most of this has to be taken with a grain of salt. It’s all about creating leverage through leaks to the media. We’re also at that time of the offseason when smoke screens become a valuable commodity for NFL teams.
With that said, it would be a surprise to see either of those aforementioned Patriots players or Sherman moved during the draft. Instead, there are some other veterans of lesser status who will likely be dealt.
To say that the Jets have had Sheldon Richardson on the trade block for some time now would be an understatement. The biggest question here is whether they will receive a solid enough offer to move the Pro Bowl caliber defensive lineman.
Depending on how the top of the draft plays out at this position — specifically Jonathan Allen and Malik McDowell — it would not be a surprise to see someone offer a second-round pick or something equivalent for the defensive tackle.
Both Mychal Kendricks and Jason Peters could be had in Philadelphia for the right price. Though, neither one will likely net the Eagles more than a mid-round pick.
It could be enough for general manager Howie Roseman and Co. to pull the trigger, especially if moving these veterans enables Philadelphia to trade up for its top target at either running back or cornerback.
To a lesser extent, we might continue to hear rumors of a potential Kirk Cousins trade to San Francisco. That’s been shelved for some time now, but the 49ers have shown themselves to be desperate to move down from the second pick. Could Lynch and Co. offer the Skins a bounty they might not be able to refuse? The same could potentially be said for the Cincinnati Bengals and A.J. McCarron.
It will surely be interesting to see if any of these names pop up in trades during the draft. We can also expect veterans who have not been bandied about to be moved during the three-day event.