The NFL draft is on Thursday and that means that in the next 24 hours there will be so much news coming out that it will be next-to-impossible to figure out what is real and what is mere rumor. That doesn’t mean that some of it isn’t very real though, and there was a lot of it on Wednesday.
2013 NFL draft buzz: Lions and Eagles looking to trade up? Matt Barkley moving up while Milliner is falling?
With the hours until the start of the draft dwindling, rumors are swirling everywhere about what will happen on Thursday. Here is the full breakdown of Wednesday’s action.
Joe Robbins
Here is all the updated news and rumors about the NFL draft that came out on Wednesday:
One of the most polarizing prospects this year has been USC quarterback Matt Barkley. After being regarded as the potential No. 1 pick a year ago, Barkley slid down mock drafts due to a mediocre senior season for the Trojans. Falling out of the first round, and possibly the second, for many draft analysts. However, in recent days Barkley has once again been regarded as a potential top-10 pick. Peter King tweeted that the Bills were "seriously considering" Barkley, but they might have to fight off the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are reportedly very "high" on him as well. Though many rumors have the Jaguars taking either one of Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher, depending on which is available.
Could Barkley now be ahead of Geno Smith after months of being regarded by many as the second-best quarterback in class, at best?
With or without Barkley, would the Bills consider trading back? Adam Schefter reported that the Bills, Eagles, Lions, Browns, and Dolphins are among the teams that have made calls about moving back in the first round. With a draft class that is considered to be deep and not top-heavy, it makes sense that so many are not that enamored with a high selection this year.
One team that might not be considering Barkley, Smith, or any other quarterback in the first round, is the Oakland Raiders. General manager Reggie McKenzie said on Wednesday that the starting job is Matt Flynn's to lose. This should allow Oakland to target a defensive end or defensive tackle in the top three. They could also trade back, and the Detroit Lions are rumored to be interested in trading up with the Raiders to draft an offensive tackle. If they don't do that, they are also rumored to still be very interested in Ezekiel Ansah.
But don't forget the Philadelphia Eagles. Mike Florio suggests that Philly is also trying to trade up into the top three. They might not be targeting a quarterback that early though, because E.J. Manuel out of Florida State -- a rumored second-round pick -- says that the Eagles want him bad.
A team that reportedly is not interested in a quarterback is the New York Jets. They are rumored to be uninterested in drafting a signal-caller in the first round, despite adding an additional first-round pick from Tampa Bay in the Darrelle Revis trade, though the Buccaneers are reportedly trying to move back into the first round already. The Jets currently have five quarterbacks on the roster, and might not be in a hurry to add another high-profile name to that list. One player that is reportedly on their radar however is wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.
And if the Jets are interested in replacing Revis, consensus-top-cornerback Dee Milliner is apparently sliding down the draft boards after some concern regarding a shoulder injury popped up on Wednesday. Once considered a good bet for the top five, Milliner might be available once or twice for the Jets if they decide to go that route. However if the Falcons have anything to say about it, they might relish the opportunity to see Milliner fall a few spots. Atlanta is reportedly trying to trade up to draft a cornerback. Is Milliner going to be the guy, or could it be Xavier Rhodes? And who will the Falcons find to trade with? They made a similar splash with Julio Jones and the Browns two years ago.
Another prospect that was in the news on Wednesday is Alabama offensive lineman D.J. Fluker. After tweeting out that he accepted money from the Crimson Tide, Fluker vehemently denied the allegations and said that he was hacked. His story might actually hold water this time around, and Fluker is expected to be a solid bet as a first-round pick.
One lineman who might not be available when the draft starts tomorrow is Chiefs tackle Branden Albert. Kansas City and Miami are still reportedly trying to work out a deal to move the tackle on the franchise tag. With the Chiefs expected to draft an offensive tackle, they are going to try and get as much value as possible to move Albert and move on with the rookie they select.
DeAndre Hopkins could be a solid bet for the first round, though the wide receiver class itself and the respective values of each receiver has been quite volatile. Hopkins met with the St. Louis Rams, which might be bad news for any Colts fans who were hoping he would be available when their pick at 24 came along. In other news, Jarvis Jones said that he doesn't think there is any way he gets past the Steelers at pick 17.
A player that has at least one coach making a case for him is Dion Jordan out of Oregon. Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton is apparently very adamant about Cleveland taking the defensive end and becoming an impact player for the Browns. Could he be Horton's next "Daryl Washington"?
Another lineman with rumors on Wednesday was Sylvester Williams, a possible target of the Dallas Cowboys. A team that could move ahead of the Cowboys and several other teams in the first round? The 49ers. They are also rumored to be looking to move up and they will have the benefit of the Chiefs second-round pick to give them flexibility.
With Thursday’s draft now just around the corner, some of these rumors will turn into fact while many others will fade into screen of smoke, forgotten by most forever. Which will turn out to be true? Find out tomorrow.
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