NFL Rumors: Eagles Would Be Foolish to Trade for No. 4 Pick in the Draft

Rumors circulated this weekend that the Philadelphia Eagles were in talks with the Cleveland Browns concerning a trade for the No. 4 pick in the 2012 NFL draft. That would be a terrible move for the Eagles to make right now. 

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported the rumor on Friday, claiming that Philadelphia was among multiple teams discussing a trade for the Browns' fourth overall pick. 

The Eagles held a private workout with Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, but considering that they signed Michael Vick to a six-year, $100 million contract (with $35.5 million in guarantees) just before the 2011 season, it would make little sense to bring in a quarterback with a first-round pick.

There are six elite players in this year's draft: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Matt Kalil, Morris Claiborne, Trent Richardson and Justin Blackmon. Luck, Griffin and Kalil will all likely be gone by the fourth pick, which means the Eagles would theoretically be moving up to take either Claiborne, Richardson or Blackmon. None of the players makes much sense for Philadelphia.

Claiborne is a future shutdown cornerback, but the Eagles are currently in possession of three top-flight cornerbacks with Asante Samuel, Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Philadelphia has already been trying to trade Samuel, so adding a fourth guy to the mix wouldn't make sense.

LeSean McCoy is one of the NFL's best running backs, so bringing in an elite, every-down back like Richardson would make little sense as well. And with the money the team just committed to DeSean Jackson (five years, $47 million) and the impending extension it will need to give to Jeremy Maclin, Blackmon doesn't seem like a great fit either.

To move up to No. 4, the Eagles would almost certainly have to surrender their first-round pick (No. 15), both of their second-rounders (No. 46 and No. 51) and possibly a future first-or second-rounder as well. That's a hefty price to move up and take someone at a position that doesn't really need an upgrade.

A high-level team source has told CSN Philly's Reuben Frank that a move up to No. 4 isn't likely, but it has been discussed. It shouldn't even be a consideration at this point.

The Eagles should stay put and grab someone to help solidify the middle of their defense. If safety Mark Barron is available at No. 15, it would be a great pickup. The team's linebacking corps also needs help, and the roster as a whole could use an injection of youth. Those top three picks will be important for depth. Wasting them to move up to add one guy would be counterproductive for the Eagles' future.