With some big fish still available to be reeled in on Friday for Round 2 of the 2016 NFL Draft, there is a “strong consensus” that the top pick, owned by the Cleveland Browns, will be traded.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports notes the two positions being targeted for this coveted spot are quarterback and defensive line.
When thinking about the quarterbacks left on the board, the first name that pops to mind is Connor Cook out of Michigan State. He has had accuracy issues but also has the desired trait of being able to pull games out and play his best when his team needs him the most.
Christian Hackenberg is another name to consider. Jon Gruden said before the draft he would be shocked if the former Penn State product wasn’t drafted in Round 1.
The first team that could consider moving up for a quarterback is the New York Jets. Ryan Fitzpatrick made a shocking statement about his contract situation before the draft, and it would be in their best interests to take a shot at Cook.
Another team that might consider moving up is the Cleveland Browns — Robert Griffin III notwithstanding.
Maybe Jerry Jones gets the itch after missing out on Paxton Lynch as he realizes Tony Romo isn’t going to last forever — or even an entire season, based on recent history. Or maybe the Dallas Cowboys go after a pass rusher instead.
One of the top defensive lineman that was shockingly not picked up in Round 1 is former Baylor nose tackle Andrew Billings. Another guy who could be hotly pursued is A’Shawn Robinson out of Alabama — another dominant defensive tackle who can wreck pockets in the passing game.
Kevin Dodd out of Clemson is also still on the table. He’s an up-and-coming star who has the potential to be a keystone player for a team in need of pass-rushing help.
The possibilities are almost endless. It’s going to be fascinating to see how it plays out, and to see how much the Browns get in return for moving down…again.