2012 NFL Draft: More Smoke Than Fire in Report Regarding Browns' 1st-Round Pick

Late yesterday, word came from the The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot that the Cleveland Browns have been in discussion with "multiple teams" about the Browns' first-round pick, the fourth overall in the 2012 draft. Cabot went on to name both the Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Rams and said "at least two other teams are in the mix."

Naturally, this set off wild speculation about not only the identity of the two unnamed teams, but whom teams might be targeting.

Remember yesterday when I wrote that this is when teams love to use the media in an attempt to manipulate the draft? 

This report is a lot more smoke than fire and seems to be a pretty transparent attempt by the Browns to manufacture some interest in their pick. It's also possible there is indeed a team interested in jumping up to fourth overall and the Browns are trying to make it seem like there is more interest than there actually is in order to drive up the compensation on offer. 

As if on cue, earlier this morning CSNPhilly.com's Reuben Frank wrote:

"

A high-level team source dismissed the latest blockbuster trade report involving the Eagles as “just another draft rumor” and said there’s little chance the Eagles will move up to No. 4 in this year’s draft.

The Eagles source said the team has spoken several times about numerous eventualities with the Browns as well as virtually every other team above and below them in the first round but said there isn’t a likely scenario that would have the Eagles moving up 11 spots in the first round into the No. 4 spot.

"

Teams talk this time of year, some daily. The Eagles and Browns obviously share a lot of front office personnel that have worked together, from Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid, all the way on down the line. They're going to talk. They'll cover every possible scenario. More often than not, nothing whatsoever comes of it. 

Don't get caught up with anything that gets reported in the weeks leading up to the NFL draft. Most of the reports like the one out of Cleveland are there for a particular reason. By all means, I don't mean you can't have fun speculating. Just be sure to sift through the smoke before being alarmed by the fire.