The NFL Draft is less than an hour away, but the rumor mill is already in full tilt.
And the latest buzz features a team from the NFC North:
From NFL Draft Kickoff: The #Lions and #Dolphins have been discussing a potential trade up for Miami to go to No. 3, but the #Jaguars have been in touch with Detroit, as well (possibly for a top left tackle). pic.twitter.com/3mw2RnSUsf
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 23, 2020
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports the Lions are fielding offers for the third overall pick in tonight’s NFL Draft. And as a Bears fan, I’m not totally sure how to feel about this development.
If the Lions stand pat, they will be well-positioned to take a top defensive player in this class. They could snag someone like Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah, a potential lock-down cornerback in a league where having one of those is worth far more than what he would make on his rookie-scale deal. On the other hand, Detroit trading out of the third spot could net the Lions a slew of valuable draft picks. Anyone who has watched the Lions in recent years knows that roster has a fair share of holes, and loading up on picks to fill them would be a sensible way to turn over a roster that needs real change.
And considering the Lions power structure is full of former Patriots employees, they could very well value volume and quantity over quality with this draft.
As for why the Jaguars and Dolphins would be interested in moving up, the two Florida teams could be engaged in a race to draft quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Assuming that both teams have okayed Tagovailoa’s medicals, the Alabama signal caller should be one of the first prospects off the board. I suppose both teams could be in the market to bulk up their respective offensive lines. In that case, a prospect such as Tristan Wirfs (Iowa), Jeddrick Wills (Alabama), or Andrew Thomas (Georgia) might be worth selecting.
In any case, let’s keep tabs on this and the Lions, who have a slew of valuable picks in this draft and no shortage of positions of need.