The Miami Dolphins may consider a trade up in the NFL draft this year and the Oakland Raiders could be an option if the team targets names like Amari Cooper, Kevin White, DeVante Parker, Todd Gurley or Leonard Williams in the draft and this comes as the team also may work out a contract extension with quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
The Dolphins have the number 14 pick in the draft and with more than a week to go until the event, reports have the team interested in trading up. According to Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com and CBSSports.com, the Dolphins may move into the top five this year to try and add an offensive playmaker or defensive standout to the roster. The team has spent big this offseason by signing Ndamukong Suh and there is pressure to make the playoffs from ownership.
Rang writes that the team has "reached out" to find out what it will take to move up. The Raiders were mentioned as a likely option, as the rest of the top five likely will remain in their spots. There are other teams in the top 10 that could be interested in making a deal, but the Raiders appear to be a solid fit for what the Dolphins may want to target. Rang writes that the team likely will go after Amari Cooper or Kevin White at wide receiver, while Leonard Williams also could be an option with the selection.
The Buccaneers are not moving from number one and while the Titans may trade out of the two spot, that will be for Marcus Mariota and that is a high price for the Dolphin. There has been no talk about the Jaguars trading out of the three spot, leaving the Raiders and Redskins as options in the top five. Washington may consider a move, but they would like to add a top prospect and that makes Oakland a potential partner. Side note, these two teams did pull a trade a few years ago in the top five with Dion Jordan going to the Dolphins.
Cooper and White are considered to be the top wide receivers in this draft and that is a need position for the Dolphins. The team added Kenny Stills in a trade and they already have Jarvis Landry, but the Dolphins need more depth after trading away Mike Wallace. The team also moved on from Brandon Gibson and Brian Hartline and that means Ryan Tannehill needs some more weapons on offense.
Tannehill is coming off of his best season in the pros and the Dolphins want to keep that going for the quarterback. Cooper is coming off of a monster season at Alabama and copuld be the target even though he is slightly smaller than White. White had better 40-time numbers, but Cooper is considered to be the more polished wideout. Cooper comes in with 124 catches for 1727 yards and 16 TD last season. White was also very productive and he ended up with 109 catches for over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns for West Virginia. Tannehill also could be in line for a contract extension, as the Miami Herald reports that the two sides have talked a long term deal this offseason.