What Is Josh McDaniels Planning Now? Trades, Trades and More Trades

For Denver Broncos fans, the last two offseasons have been very active.

So far this year, the Denver brass has approved two major trades, effectively acquiring former first-round pick, quarterback Brady Quinn, for next-to-nothing, and getting substantial compensation for the franchise's brightest star in wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

It seems, however, that the wild moves may have just begun.

In a team press conference on Friday, Denver head coach Josh McDaniels seemed to suggest that the Broncos have already started listening to offers for moving around in the draft.

According to an article by DenverBroncos.com's Gray Caldwell, McDaniels stated, "There has already been some activity and some calls back-and-forth in terms of moving up or down. No telling exactly what will happen at this point, but there's definitely going to be some interest. We're going to be interested in those types of things as well."

The implication from the rest of the press conference was that the action is likely to begin on day two.

McDaniels further stated, "I think we're all going to be sitting there looking at that late that first night, saying, 'Is this something that we want to consider doing, because we can't believe that guy is still on the board.'"

Obviously, Denver GM Brian Xanders and company have more ammunition in the second round after acquiring Miami's pick, so the question effectively becomes, what types of moves should Broncos fans expect?

I'm not ruling out a first-round trade, but I think it would be more likely that McDaniels trades down to acquire more picks if the phone rings on Thursday.

However, I certainly expect on Friday, based on McDaniels' comments, that there has already been serious discussion about packaging together a second- and a third-round pick to move up, and snag someone who slides out of the first round.

That, of course, raises the question of who are the Broncos looking at possibly sliding into their hands?

Many people have been expecting a very crazy, unpredictable draft, and McDaniels' comments seem to reinforce that.

It seems likely that Denver has a shortlist, just like they did last year, and without getting your hands on it, I doubt you'll be able to figure out who is being targeted.

However, I think it seems pretty safe to assume that some sort of consolidation of Denver's picks will occur on day two; it may be likely that the Broncos trade out of the third round entirely.

McDaniels is still trying to establish himself as a head coach, and at the same time is trying to establish his draft style. However, it seems based on this information, the apple fell very far from the tree, as traditional Bill Belichick and New England Patriots draft strategy involves trading down to garner more picks.

With McDaniels, this will likely be the second year in a row that he has used the opposite strategy...and likely in the second round.

It may be far more difficult to figure out who in particular the Broncos are targeting, but McDaniels is definitely offering information on his plans for trades in the first two rounds.

If he has been getting calls, they're about trading down in the first.

If he is making calls, its about trading up in the second.

As far as I can tell, at least one of those things, and perhaps both, are likely to happen this coming weekend.