2011 NFL Draft: 5 Teams Most Likely to Trade Around the Board
The 2011 NFL draft is fast approaching, and NFL teams will be looking to target their favorite draft prospects on April 28.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the whole weekend is trading up and down the board.
Does a team like a player so much that they trade up to get him in fear that another team will snatch him out from under their noses? Or do they think they can get better value for that same player at a later pick, while paying him less money and acquiring more picks?
These are all questions that will be answered quite frequently on D-day.
But which teams are most likely to pull the trigger?
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New England Patriots
1 of 5
The entire NFL universe may slip into a coma and possibly end altogether if the Patriots fail to make a single trade during the NFL draft.
Bill Belichick is a well-renowned "master of the boards," moving up and down at his heart's desire to pick up the players he wants at the best value possible.
And with six picks in the first three rounds alone, there will be plenty of opportunities for the Patriots to make their fair share of moves.
San Diego Chargers
2 of 5
The Chargers have five picks in the first three rounds, all of which come in the first 75 picks of the draft. With that kind of firepower, there's no reason A.J. Smith and Norv Turner shouldn't move around the board a bit.
They have done so at will over the past few years, moving up a hefty 16 spots to grab Ryan Mathews in last year's draft.
Filling specific needs is high on the Chargers' priority list on draft day, and the Chargers aren't afraid to make the move to get a player they're targeting.
Oakland Raiders
3 of 5
After trading away their first-round selection to the Patriots for the services of Richard Seymour, the Raiders no longer have their own first-round pick.
As usual, the Raiders have a ton of needs heading into the draft.
How do you address those needs without a pick? By trading for one, that's how.
Perhaps the Raiders could give up a first-round pick in the future and a pick in this year's draft for a first-round pick this year.
Or perhaps they could trade one of their own for a draft pick. Of course, that would mean getting a new CBA done first...
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Denver Broncos
4 of 5
The Broncos could really use that second overall pick to improve their defensive line with Marcell Dareus, but they have three picks in the first two rounds and some pressing needs to fill.
With three picks in the first 46, the Broncos could try to add more picks to get more players or they could try to package those two second-round picks to move up and target a specific player.
Pat Bowlen has been known to do both, and with two great minds next to him in John Fox and John Elway, the three will certainly concoct some sort of master plan.
The beauty of the draft is that there are just so many options.
New York Jets
5 of 5
Although the Jets only have picks in Rounds 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, we have known them to package a great deal to move up and get a player they want in the past.
They did it with Mark Sanchez back in 2009, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see them do it again.
They'll be helped tremendously in doing so if a new CBA is reached by the time the draft rolls around. Still, I wouldn't discount the possibility of them trading future picks to target a player they want this year.
They take the "win-now" mentality to a whole new level in New York.
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