The Best Trade Bargaining Chips in the 2016 NFL Draft
We're less than two weeks away from the 2016 NFL draft, but the trade show has already begun, thanks to the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams.
The No. 1 overall pick has already changed hands—along with a plethora of other selections—but the action on the trading floor is far from over when it comes to this year's draft.
Once things kick off on April 28, picks will be flying in every direction over three days, with teams trying to position themselves to land a draft class that could change their fortunes or keep them in playoff contention. Trades are less frequent during the draft, but a couple of players are likely to find new homes before draft weekend is over.
Let's take a look at the most valuable trade assets on the market right now.
Eagles DL Fletcher Cox
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This one might not seem likely, but if the Philadelphia Eagles want to trade up from the No. 8 spot for a quarterback, defensive lineman Fletcher Cox could end up being part of the deal.
ESPN.com's Mike Sando recently laid out the possibility of Philly dealing Cox, despite the fact that he's established himself as one of the better front-line defenders in the league. The team picked up his fifth-year option but has yet to agree to a long-term deal with the former first-round pick out of Mississippi State.
Cox has bagged 22 sacks over his first four NFL seasons, which has been great for the Eagles but also means he'll command a ton of money on his second contract. The team has also invested plenty of money in veteran quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel, but that doesn't necessarily mean new head coach Doug Pederson isn't targeting a young quarterback of the future in this draft.
The Eagles' decision-makers have shown plenty of interest in this year's top quarterback prospects, and Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com doesn't think it's a smoke screen. If it's real and the Eagles want to make a move to get their future franchise quarterback, Cox might just have to be part of the deal.
No. 2 Overall Pick
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Now that the Los Angeles Rams have leapfrogged to the No. 1 overall pick—presumably to take one of the draft's top quarterbacks—the attention now shifts to the Cleveland Browns, who own the second overall selection.
With an obviously gaping hole at quarterback, the Browns are dealing with the possibility the Rams will take the signal-caller they prefer.
The bright side, Browns fans?
Cleveland may be the new target for teams that are trying to trade up for that other quarterback. Whether it's Cal's Jared Goff or North Dakota State's Carson Wentz, the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and even the New York Jets could be potential trade partners willing to jump and grab whoever the Rams don't take.
As Terry Pluto of the Plain-Dealer points out, after seeing the haul the Tennessee Titans just got for the top overall pick, the Browns' decision-makers have to weigh the pros and cons of a similar situation. They could potentially move down and target a quarterback later while stockpiling picks to address some of their other pressing needs.
Jets DL Muhammad Wilkerson
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According to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net, the New York Jets made a "serious offer" to the Tennessee Titans for the No. 1 overall pick. The Titans evidently got a sweeter deal from the Los Angeles Rams, who now own this year's top selection and have sent the Jets back to the drawing board.
As Pauline notes, one of the key pieces of that offer was likely defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson. One of the best players in the league at his position, Wilkerson's season ended prematurely thanks to a broken leg, and the team slapped the franchise tag on him this offseason in the absence of a long-term contract.
Why would the Jets trade away one of the league's best defenders? With a stacked unit up front already, they could see an opportunity to add younger, cheaper talent to the roster elsewhere, possibly targeting a rookie quarterback to replace veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. He was a pleasant surprise last year but remains a free agent the Jets seemingly don't want to overpay.
ESPN.com's Rich Cimini notes how a trade involving Wilkerson would likely play an integral part in setting the Jets' course for the near future:
"Thing is, the brain trust doesn't see a roster that is only one or two players away from making a championship run; it sees a roster rapidly approaching its expiration date -- or at least that's what it wants you to believe. That's why it's intrigued by the possibility of what Wilkerson could bring in a trade.
With a surplus of defensive ends, they could seek to parlay their best bargaining chip into, say, two eventual starters -- or perhaps two immediate starters. They'd also be able to shed Wilkerson's $15.7 million cap charge, creating flexibility in post-draft free agency.
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If the Jets are indeed targeting a new quarterback, they could still have their sights set on a huge jump up—as high as No. 2 overall—or possibly wait to see if Memphis' Paxton Lynch drops to them at the 20th pick. Michigan State's Connor Cook could be another option there.
Regardless of what the Jets choose to do, Wilkerson's talent and contract situation make him a key chess piece in this year's predraft drama.
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Titans' Truckload of Early Draft Picks
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It didn't take long for rookie general manager Jon Robinson to make his mark on the Tennessee Titans, trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Los Angeles Rams for a ridiculous haul of additional picks over the next two drafts.
Not only does the deal set the Titans up to fill more of their needs—and it's a long list—but it also gives them plenty of ammo to move back up into the top 10, should a player they value slip. That player could be Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, who was reportedly under consideration for the top overall pick, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
The Titans now sit at No. 15 in the first round, but they have three second-round picks and two third-rounders this year, as well as additional picks in the first and third rounds next year.
With that amount of draft currency, Robinson and his crew have the freedom and flexibility to do just about anything in this draft, as well as giving them a head start on next year. They should be able to build quite a young foundation around quarterback Marcus Mariota over that stretch, and they're likely not done wheeling and dealing this year.
Bucs QB Mike Glennon
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With teams either giving up a king's ransom to trade up for a quarterback or overpaying one like the Houston Texans did with Brock Osweiler, it's clear how much the league values a capable quarterback.
That's exactly what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have sitting behind future star Jameis Winston in the form of backup Mike Glennon.
The former third-round pick out of North Carolina State isn't a dynamic playmaker with a sky-high ceiling like Winston, but he has 18 starts under his belt and was fairly effective, despite getting little help from his offensive line and defense over that stretch. Glennon has 29 career touchdown passes to just 15 interceptions.
For the second offseason in a row, Bucs general manager Jason Licht has received plenty of interest in Glennon from other teams, as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reported last month. It's unclear what kind of compensation might make sense for both sides, but teams like the New York Jets and Denver Broncos could get desperate on draft day if they miss out on this year's top prospects at the position.
For the Bucs, they may be inclined to take less than they'd like for Glennon, considering he's in the final year of his rookie deal. It's unlikely the Bucs could afford to pay him enough to stay, and Glennon would probably prefer to start somewhere else.
With plenty of needs on both sides of the ball, getting any pick on Day 3 in return for a backup quarterback who will likely leave next year anyway could be a valuable move for the Bucs. Glennon could also be the stable passer a contender needs to manage the offense while relying on a dominant defense to get it back to the playoffs.
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