Talk persists that the 49ers could move up

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/28/talk-persists-that-the-49ers-could-move-up/

 

 

The 49ers have 11 draft picks and not nearly enough needs to find roster spots for all — or even half — of them. And so it’s reasonable to think that the 49ers may try to make a move up come draft day.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen was the first to articulate the theory of a San Francisco surprise last week, suggesting that they possibly will be trying to get receiver Mike Evans.

Whether it’s Evans or someone else, the 49ers wouldn’t move up unless they had a specific player for whom they wanted to move. Last year, the Niners jumped from No. 31 to No. 18 to get safety Eric Reid, filling a glaring need after the departure of Dashon Goldson via free agency.

They don’t have nearly the same need at receiver. Anquan Boldin re-signed. Michael Crabtree is still on the roster. Ditto for Vernon Davis, who recently told Pro Football Talk on NBCSN that he views himself as a receiver.

Unless the 49ers plan to move on from Crabtree (whose contract is up after this year) or Davis, it could make more sense to target another more certain need, like pass rusher (given Aldon Smith’s tenuous status) or inside linebacker (given NaVorro Bowman’s serious knee injury).

Regardless, the 49ers have the ability to make a move. They simply need the motivation and the opportunity.

Looks like they are on th emove. This could be tha partner the Ravens would like.

 

 

 

1. First round – No. 30 overall
2. Second round – No. 56 overall (from the Kansas City Chiefs)
3. Second round – No. 61 overall
4. Third round – No. 77 overall (from the Tennessee Titans)
5. Third round – No. 94 overall
6. Third round – No. 100 overall (compensatory)
7. Fourth round – No. 129 overall
8. Fifth round - No. 170 overall
9. Seventh round – No. 242 overall (from the New Orleans Saints)
10. Seventh round – No. 243 overall (from the Carolina Panthers)
11. Seventh round – No. 245 overall

Imagine the Ravens going #30, 56, and 94. That would be a huge return on #17.

[RavenMad]

2 things: Mike Evans is unlikely to be there at 17 if that is who they are targeting. To move up from 30 to 17 it would only cost pick 30 and pick 56 OR pick 30, pick 61 and pick 129.

 

I wouldn't mind either deal to be honest.

 

Perhaps they might be after one of the top CBs. Darqueze Dennard out of Michigan State should be there around our pick and might be a potential target for the 49ers. Another player of interest to them might be C.J. Mosley from Alabama who should be available at pick 17 or maybe someone like Anthony Barr from UCLA might slip.

 

My guess is they will move up further than 17 if they are trading picks 30,61 and 94. They might be able to get to pick 14 or 15 with those picks.

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/29/mccarron-thinks-he-could-go-as-high-as-no-16/

 

 

McCarron thinks he could go as high as No. 16

Lost between the Manziels and the Bortleses and the Mettenbergers and Murrays and forgotten amid the perceived free fall ofTeddy Bridgewater is Alabama quarterbackA.J. McCarron.

It’s unclear where McCarron will be taken; he reportedly skipped the Senior Bowl because McCarron believed he already was poised to be a top-20 pick. While McCarron explained that he passed on the Senior Bowl due to injury, he apparently thinks he could end up in the top 20, after all.

While gliding through the ESPN car wash on Monday, McCarron made clear his belief that he won’t be sliding out of round one.

He said that, of his pre-draft visits, “pretty much everyone so far” said he has a first-round grade.

“They felt like I could go anywhere from 16-35,” McCarron said, via AL.com. “I believe that, too. At the same time, I don’t have my hopes set on anything. Whatever happens, happens. It’s a blessing for me to even be in this situation.”

If McCarron goes that high (and the Cowboys hold the 16th pick), it will defy the projections of pretty much everyone who is trying to project who will be taken in the first 35 picks. Still, McCarron realizes that it’s impossible to know what any given team will do with any given pick.

“It’s not like the G.M.s are calling these guys and telling them, ‘Hey, we’re going to draft this guy at this number so go ahead and put that out there,’” McCarron said. “One thing I’ve learned about this whole process, it’s nothing but a big secret.

“A lot of times teams will bring in a guy just to bluff another team and make it seem like toward the media that they like this guy and really they have no interest at all in drafting him.”

He’s right, but if McCarron were destined to be among the first 35 players taken, there would be far more buzz about him than there currently is.

Ultimately, his stock will hinge on how many teams take quarterbacks. If one or more runs happen in the first round, his name will move higher on the stack for teams looking to fill needs that have yet to be addressed.

If true again in the wheelhouse for the Ravens to trade back.

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/30/ozzie-newsome-teams-have-called-wanting-to-move-up/

 

 

Ozzie Newsome: Teams have called wanting to move up

So far, most of the news about teams moving in the NFL Draft has been about teams wanting to move up to get one of the top players such as Sammy Watkins or Jadeveon Clowney.

Now, we have our first official bail-out candidate.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome told reporters at his pre-draft press conference thatteams have called them about the No. 17 overall pick, and that they’d entertain such an idea.

In a draft deep in first-round receiver talent, it looks like a spot where a team looking for help there might move. While too low for Watkins (or Mike Evans), the next group of receivers could start flying off the board in that neighborhood.

The Ravens have a history of doing business with the 49ers, and the 49ers need help at receiver, so keep an eye on that as a possibility.

Plus, the Ravens are good at this whole drafting thing, and could benefit from adding picks in a deep pool.

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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/07/report-broncos-have-discussed-moving-up-in-draft/

 

 

Report: Broncos have discussed “moving up” in draft

The team slated to select next-to-last in every round of the 2014 NFL Draft is reportedly considering what it would take to move up the board.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Broncos are “talking about” trading up.

The Broncos have the No. 31 overall pick. They also have all of their picks in Rounds Two through Seven (Nos. 63, 95, 131, 171, 207, 246).

The prospect of a Denver leap up the board is an interesting one on multiple levels, as we noted Tuesday. For starters, there is the matter of whom the Broncos could be targeting. And then there is the issue of what the Broncos would have to surrender to move into an earlier spot. Given the Broncos’ low draft slot in every round, it’s conceivable 2015 draft picks could come into play in the event Denver really wanted to make a bold move forward.

Now maybe the Ravens can get a bidding war going.

[RavenMad]

The only thing is unless you are getting a 1st round pick in the next draft you would want all the picks to come in this year's incredibly deep draft. The record number of top Juniors that declared this year is going to make next year's draft a lot weaker.

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Yeah you want it all in this yrs picks. I would trade late picks for 2015 to get more picks this yr.

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http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/blogs/sports/ravens/ravens-interested-in-trading-down-acquiring-more-picks/article_50f9ba6e-d63f-11e3-92c7-001a4bcf887a.html?_dc=610541136702.5226

 

 

Ravens interested in trading down, acquiring more picks

OWINGS MILLS — Baltimore Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta has a belief when it comes to the NFL draft.

"The more picks you have, the better chance you have of getting lucky on a guy," DeCosta says.

So while the Ravens are excited about the potential player they could get with the 17th overall pick in this years draft, they — as always — are open to dealing that top pick in exchange for more picks later on.

They have traded their top pick for more picks in three of the last six drafts, and they may do so once again after this year’s draft begins Thursday night.

General manager Ozzie Newsome said last week that Baltimore has already received phone calls from teams interested in trading up to acquire its top pick, and the Ravens are likely to receive more calls Thursday night.

Whether Baltimore will make a trade will depend on three things. First, what are the Ravens getting in return for the pick? Second, what players are still on the board? And third, who does Baltimore think will still be available whenever it would finally pick?

“Can we pick at 17? We’ll be prepared to pick at 17,” Newsome said. “But also, we’ll be entertaining trades to be able to move back if we have to, if we want to.”

Trading back is perhaps even more appealing than usual for teams this year.

Many analysts consider this the deepest and most talented draft in recent memory, and DeCosta even said last week that the Ravens think there is a higher than normal number of draftable players.

Most years, Baltimore ranks around 140 players as draftable. This year, the Ravens believe there are around 180.

But Baltimore is also enthusiastic about the prospects of picking at No. 17.

The Ravens missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2007, and this could be the highest the team has picked in the draft since selecting future Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata with the 12th pick in 2006.

"I’m excited because I see the quality of player that we can get, and we haven’t seen that type of player in a few years,” DeCosta said. “It’s exciting to even be in that discussion."

He said later, “We see some guys that we think can come in right away … and help us. That does ramp up the pressure a little bit. But there’s also that sense of excitement and opportunity to get a really good player."

Tight end Eric Ebron and offensive lineman Zack Martin are two players the Ravens are high on, but both might be off the board by the time Baltimore picks.

If they are, the Ravens may consider Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

Some around the league feel Clinton-Dix would be a better value later in the round, but Baltimore is looking for a free safety, and Clinton-Dix seems to be the consensus top free safety prospect in this year’s draft.

Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald is another option. Some mock drafts have Donald going in the top-10, but concerns about his size could cause him to slip some.

At just 6-foot-1, 285 pounds, Donald is not an ideal fit for a 3-4 defense like the Ravens run, but he may be too talented to pass up if he does in fact fall to Baltimore's pick.

The Ravens also like inside linebackers C.J. Mosley and Ryan Shazier.

And as always, Baltimore will explore moving down and acquiring more picks.

"I think there is a lot of luck with the draft,” DeCosta said. “That’s why we value picks as much as we do. … Our whole mindset is to get as many picks as you can and then just pick the best available players."