The NFL draft is coming and that means potential trades are on the table for all the top teams, as the Houston Texans, St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders all could trade down, while names like the 49ers, Patriots and Seahawks could trade up to pick players.
Many mock drafts have at least one team trading up into the top three to take a quarterback and the Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Vikings could all be in the mix for that, as they each could be targeting that position this season. The Rams pick second and everyone is looking at that spot as a potential option, as they got that pick in the move with the Redskins for RG3 and many think that St. Louis could look to trade down. The Texans have the number one pick in the draft and their owner has said they could be open to making a move in the draft despite many predicting that the team picks Johnny Manziel or Teddy Bridgewater.
The Falcons have been mentioned as a team that could look to trade up, as they love Jadeveon Clowney and at their pick they won't be able to get him most likely. The team picks sixth and that is a solid spot and they could work out a deal to move up to take a player they really want, much how they did with Julio Jones. The Texans are in an interesting position, as they could take a quarterback later in the draft and give up the first round pick for a chance to add some more selections and that could be a way to build the team back up.
The Cleveland Browns pick at number four and if they really like one of the three major quarterbacks in Manziel, Bridgewater and Blake Bortles, they will have to trade up as well. The 49ers have been mentioned as a possible team to trade up to snag a receiver like Mike Evans, while players like Sammy Watkins, Greg Robinson and Khalil Mack could get targeted as well.
The first set of picks are the Texans, Rams, Jaguars, Browns and Raiders in the top five and those are teams that could pull off trades. Texans owner Bob McNair said the team would be open to trading the first overall pick and that could enable the team to build back the roster with talent in a deep class of picks. The Niners are coming into the draft with double digit picks and they could have 13 by the time the draft comes along and they could use that to move up for someone like Watkins or Evans.
The draft is not until May and there are tons of questions for teams and ones like the Giants, Jets and Buccaneers would be well served to explore trades in spots where they pick. Check here for more on mock drafts and the draft.