The Most Plausible NFL Draft-Day Trades

After months of breaking down the 2016 NFL draft, the actual thing will inevitably look nothing like the countless mock drafts we've put together thanks to a handful of draft-day trades. 

It's difficult to predict exactly who will make the trades that shake up the first round because so much depends on how the draft starts to unfold. One trade resulting in a player going in an unexpected spot can set off a series of unpredictable events. But going into the draft we can pinpoint a few teams who would probably like to make a move either up or down in the first round. 

Based on team needs, prospect availability and their current position in the first round, here's a look at five scenarios in which certain teams could move up to land their desired draft-day target. 

49ers Trade Up to No. 1

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Trade Scenario:

• 49ers receive: No. 1 overall pick
• Titans receive: No. 7 overall pick, 49ers' 2016 and 2017 second-round picks

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported back in January that the Tennessee Titans want to trade the No. 1 pick. 

This didn't come as a surprise, as every team not intending to take a quarterback No. 1 overall typically tries to auction off the top spot. However, finding a trade partner can be difficult. 

The advantage the Titans have this year is the fact that the Cleveland Browns, owners of the No. 2 pick, are interested in a quarterback. This increases the odds that a team such as the San Francisco 49ers could be interested in jumping Cleveland to get to No. 1. 

Head coach Chip Kelly did not make the quarterback position a priority during his time in Philadelphia, cycling through Nick Foles, Sam Bradford and others. However, general manager Trent Baalke is the one calling the shots in San Francisco. 

Kelly's voice will certainly be heard, but if Baalke and his scouting staff fall in love with North Dakota State's Carson Wentz or California's Jared Goff, they may be willing to part with a handful of picks to ensure they get their guy. 

The key to this trade could potentially be incumbent Colin Kaepernick. 

If the 49ers are able to land a pick or two in exchange for their former starting quarterback, it might make it easier for them to justify giving up picks to move up to No. 1. 

Eagles Trade to No. 2

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Trade Scenario:

• Eagles receive: No. 2 overall pick
• Browns receive: No. 8 overall pick, Eagles' third-round pick, Eagles' second-round pick in 2017

The departures of Mitchell Schwartz, Alex Mack, Tashaun Gipson and others have decimated the Browns roster. And while they need a quarterback, it's tough to imagine anyone succeeding while surrounded by the talent that is in Cleveland. 

Unless the Browns front office absolutely falls in love with Wentz or Goff, they will likely try to trade down in order to accumulate picks in order rebuild their depth. 

The Philadelphia Eagles have already moved up in this draft once, thanks to a trade with the Miami Dolphins, which may have been done to facility another jump on draft day. 

According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, the Eagles have scheduled private workouts with all the top quarterbacks in this draft, including Wentz and Goff. 

Any individual meeting between a prospect and team can be considered meaningless, but when a team spends that much time with one position group it generally indicates a desire to address that area of the roster on draft day.

If general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Doug Pederson view either Wentz or Goff as the future face of their franchise, they may be willing to send a package of picks to the Browns in order to move up. 

Dolphins Trade Up for Ezekiel Elliott

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Trade Scenario:

• Dolphins receive: No. 9 overall pick
• Buccaneers receive: No. 13 overall pick, Dolphins' second-round pick

When the Dolphins traded the eighth overall selection to the Eagles, they probably didn't envision losing free-agent running back Lamar Miller and missing out on every other free-agent running back they pursued. 

But now Miami is left with 2015 fifth-round pick Jay Ajayi atop the depth chart at running back with little depth behind him. 

Trading up in the draft out of necessity isn't an ideal position to be in, but if the Dolphins want to compete in 2016, they may need Ezekiel Elliott.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be an ideal trading partner for the Dolphins, because it would allow Miami to jump the New York Giants, a team that could also be interested in Elliott.

Tampa Bay's biggest need is arguably cornerback, which is a fairly deep position in this year's class. By moving down, the Buccaneers could add an extra pick and still land a prospect such as Ohio State's Eli Apple or Houston's William Jackson III.  

Rams Trade Up for a Quarterback

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Trade Scenario:

• Rams receive: No. 7 overall pick
• 49ers receive: No. 15 overall pick, Rams' second-round pick

The Los Angeles Rams' quarterback situation is as dire as any in the league, but they had the misfortune of actually putting a decent product on the field in 2015, thus playing their way out of position to land a top quarterback.

There's a chance someone will fall into their lap, but the safer move would be for the Rams to move up on draft day to ensure they get a prospect to become the new face of the franchise in Los Angeles. 

The 49ers are a candidate to trade up for a quarterback, but there's also the possibility that they don't love either Goff or Wentz. 

As previously mentioned, Kelly didn't target quarterbacks early in the draft in Philadelphia, and it's possible he'll convince his 49ers front office to follow that path as well. If that happens, they become a candidate to trade down on draft day and accumulate more picks. 

Wide receiver is one of the 49ers' most glaring nonquarterback needs, but it would be difficult to justify any receiver at No. 7. In this trade scenario, the 49ers would add an extra pick and still have the opportunity to take one of the top receivers, such as Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell. 

Broncos Trade Up for a Quarterback

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Trade Scenario:

• Broncos receive: No. 18 overall pick
• Colts receive: No. 31 overall pick, offensive tackle Ryan Clady

The Broncos have Mark Sanchez in place as a fallback plan at quarterback, but the team is clearly looking for other options.

General manager John Elway has met with Colin Kaepernick, according to Eric Branch of SFGate.com, in an effort to facilitate a trade with the 49ers. But if the Broncos don't land Kaepernick by draft day, Elway could turn to this year's class of rookie quarterbacks. 

Memphis' Paxton Lynch is likely to be the third quarterback off the board, behind Goff and Wentz, but the Broncos can't confidently sit back at No. 31 and assume he'll slide to them. 

Trading up from the late first round can be difficult, but the Broncos have a significant trade chip in left tackle Ryan Clady. 

After Denver signed free-agent linemen Russell Okung and Donald Stephenson this offseason, Clady became expendable. He's owed over $20 million over the final two years of his deal, according to Spotrac, but a contender such as the Indianapolis Colts might be willing to take on his contract. 

Indianapolis desperately needs to upgrade the protection around Andrew Luck, and Clady has significantly more value than any of the rookie linemen who may be available at No. 18.