2012 NFL Draft Rumors: The Latest Buzz on Possible Trades

Trades are what make the NFL Draft interesting. Every year, a team makes a move no one sees coming to grab a player no one thought they were even interested in. The 2012 NFL Draft should be no different.

Here is the latest buzz on potential trades surrounding this year’s draft.

Kansas City moving up or down?

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli comes from the New England Patriots' school of trading down to stockpile draft picks. But this year he may go against that philosophy and move up.

Pioli is outstanding at talking and not actually saying anything, and he proved that during a pre-draft news conference this week.

He claimed that the Chiefs could trade up if someone they like is falling and they can get him for a good price, or that they could move back if a team gives them a good offer.

Translation: the Chiefs could do pretty much anything at No. 11.

What Kansas City does will likely hinge on whether or not it really likes Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. If he is their target, the Chiefs will likely have to move up into at least the top seven to land him.

I think the best fits for Kansas City are Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe and Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly. If either guy is available at No. 11, someone will have to bowl the Chiefs over with an offer to get them to move down.

Eagles looking to move up

This weekend Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the Philadelphia Eagles had been in discussions with the Cleveland Browns about moving up to the No. 4 spot in the draft. While such a move is unlikely, there remains a good chance that the Eagles will try to jump up from No. 15.

One possible target for Philadelphia would be Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Cox is a versatile defensive lineman who would certainly be an upgrade for the team. 

Cox likely won't last past the Dallas Cowboys at No. 14, and could be gone as high as No. 9 to the Carolina Panthers. If the Eagles want him and don't want to run the risk of missing out on a big-time playmaker up front, they will almost certainly have to make a move to land him.

Green Bay has eyes for McClellin

The Packers only had 29 sacks last season and many of those came via blitzes from the secondary. Getting a complementary pass rusher for Clay Matthews should be the team's No. 1 priority in this year's draft.

Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel claims that the Packers really like linebacker Shea McClellin. The Boise State product's stock is rapidly rising as the draft approaches and there is a good chance he won't be there at No. 28 when Green Bay is on the clock.

The Packers possess 12 picks in this year's draft and they do not have a roster that needs a major infusion of young talent. In fact, what Green Bay needs is one or two key guys who can come in and contribute immediately. Using all 12 picks this year would be overkill, and general manager Ted Thompson has to know that.

Considering the team's surplus of picks, it would make sense to spend some of them to move up and secure McClellin, a guy they clearly like.