Draft Insiders - NFL ’05 Trade Rumors

[Duane]

The current NFL offseason has been very active in the player trade period and may produce even more deals than usual with clubs looking to move future possible free agents before losing them in the open market, in addition changes with disgruntled veterans. The San Francisco 49ers hold the first overall selection and are exploring all options entering the final weeks before the NFL Draft ’05. They have spoken to several clubs including the Browns, Chargers, Vikings and Cowboys with the latter three clubs all holding two #1 selections this April. The top selections in this draft could possibly be traded prior to the draft weekend of April 23-24 while most other transactions usually taking place on the clock when clubs know the availability of a certain player. The 49ers have initiated talks with San Diego who holds not only two #1 picks but also last year rookie QB Philip Rivers. They have resigned breakout young veteran QB Drew Brees to a long term deal that may entice them to move Rivers for the right price. Whether the Chargers are that interested in moving to the first overall selection for the 2nd year in a year remains to be seen. Their needs seem more geared to the top 10 area and they most likely want to retain both their #1 picks, the 12th and 28th overall selections currently. The 49ers have spoken to clubs like the Cowboys, Chargers and want to move the pick for additional first day selections and players. Any deal by the 49ers could produce a domino effect in the top ten with several clubs like the Bears, Bucs, Vikings and Cards having clearly defined player needs and interested in moving up in many scenarios.

The Bills’ have put runner Travis Henry on the trading blocking after he stated that he will not return to Buffalo after losing his starting job to emerging young runner Willis McGahee last fall. He has been rumored in a trade for the Cardinals’ OT L.J. Shelton that appears to be a natural deal for both clubs, but one that is contingent on the players selected in the top ten in April’s NFL Draft ’05. The deal allows each team to address a major need area without surrendering any of this years selections, though the Bills reportedly want to flip second round picks with the Cardinals to completed the transaction. Arizona’s second round pick is currently the 44th overall, while the Bills who pick 55th overall and they do not have a #1 pick this year as a result of the draft day deal with the Cowboys that gave them current starting QB J.P. Losman. Arizona wants the Henry deal completed in principal, but not announced until the club is on the clock that would allow them to select one of the premier defensive prospects on the board at the 8th overall position. Otherwise, the Cardinals will look to address their running back problem with either Ronnie Brown or Cedric Benson expected to be available. Henry will be an unrestricted free agent next offseason and a player who most likely sees very limited action in Buffalo next fall. Shelton is ready to move on after an inconsistent performance with the Cards and a new start in Buffalo would be ideal for both him and the Bills with his acquisition addressing a major need at left tackle.

There is a similar story of sorts involving a long-discussed deal between Miami and Kansas City for CB Patrick Surtain. The Chiefs have agreed with Surtain on a contract in principal, but they must finalize the compensation with Miami to complete the deal. The Dolphins reportedly want a second rounder this year for Surtain, while the Chiefs have reportedly countered with a 4th round offer. Given that the Chiefs were awarded a 3rd round compensatory pick earlier this month, Kansas City may be in a better position to compromise and offer the Dolphins a high selection either their #2 or #4 plus picks next year. They have no original #3 pick due to the trade for John Welbourn and the compensatory picks given by the NFL can not be traded. Dolphins should be active over the next few weeks as they look to move the #2 overall selection prior to the NFL Draft ’05. They have decided to go with young QB A.J. Feeley and look to recovered a #2 pick they surrendered to the Eagles for him last offseason. They look to add extra first day selections with many needs on both sides of the ball especially along their lines.

The Jets placed the franchise tag on defensive end John Abraham this offseason that would command two #1 picks if he signed elsewhere. He has stated he will not report to either mini camp or training camp this summer unless a deal is completed. The Jets will most likely not complete a contract until mid summer when it is more cap friendly. In the short term, they will listen to offers with the Cowboys Bill Parcells at the head of the line. Parcells is seeking a big time pass rusher and Abraham is one of the best in the game and a player the former Jet head coach drafted during his reign in New York. Parcells does not want to part with both #1 picks (11th and 20th overall) and will look to put together a deal for the early #1 pick and a #2 pick this April. Otherwise, he sits on both selections with the pass rusher the highest priority in the first round.

Cornerback Will Allen has been rumored in trade talks with the Rams at the high of the list with a #2 pick this year the proposed deal. Allen is a talented cover man with speed, quickness and instincts but has not taken to new Giant head coach Tom Coughlin’s plan. He becomes an unrestricted free agent next year and GM Ernie Accorsi will attempt to move him prior to the draft if the price is right. The Giants also have a deal on the table for Browns runner William Green for a late conditional pick in the NFL Draft ’06. Cleveland GM Phil Savage has completed several deals in his first months on the job moving the entire starting front four this offseason as the club converts to the3-4 defensive scheme this season. After the Browns acquired runner Reuben Droughns last week, the Green deal could happen soon if the clubs can agree on the conditional terms, most likely a late pick in the NFL Draft ’06.

[k19]

Thanks for posting that Duane

[blindzebra]

No way in hell we trade up to #1.

Ditto giving a first and 2nd for Abraham.

Where do they get this stuff, teams with several holes do not trade multiple picks for one player.

[k19]

Not to mention the fact that there isnt an undeniable overall number one must have player in this draft

[Hoov]

Would like to get Abrams, but not for what this guy suggests. would you give the # 11 and a 2nd round pick from next year though ?

[cobra]

That is nonsense. There is NO way we are looking to trade up for number 1.

That being said, hypothetically speaking, if we were forced to draft first, who do you take?

I wouldn't take a RB, CB or QB. So if we were compelled to draft first, I guess I would have to go with either Edwards or Williams. I just can't imagine drafting DJ or Merriman #1.

Given that there isn't a person that it is obvious the Boys would take, it shows that talk about us trading up to #1 are beyond stupid.

[ddh33]

Abraham to Dallas just makes sense. If Dallas wants someone to pressure the QB, there is not more than one or two players in the league better at that than Abraham. Add in his past with Parcells, and it makes sense.

Unfortunately, the price may not make sense.

[Cowboy from New York]

I have to admit, I've been concerned about the possibility of Parcells trading away our draft picks for another one of his guys in John Abraham. I wouldnt like that at all but it wouldnt shock me if he did it. From BP's viewpoint he's only here this year and maybe next year so why not get the short term bang that Abraham would bring. But from this fan's perspective Abraham would be a huge contract hit that would be hitting our cap hard from multiple seasons after he is gone due to the sigining bonus he'd demand. Meanwhile the draft picks we lost in the process would be the building blocks for some other franchise. For instance how about the opening game of the Cowboys new stadium and we are all in here talking about having to go against the pro bowl pass rusher Shawne Merriman or the multiple 1000 yard season receiver Williamson and how we could have had one of those guys or maybe even both but we are still eating the cap hit from Abraham who bowed out years ago. This team is not ready for a super bowl run and we should not give up so much of our future to bring him in this year. Maybe he is a unrestricted free agent next year and we could ad him to a team that should be ready for a good playoff run but next year he could be teamed up with the team nucleus type players that we should be drafting this year.

[ddh33]

I don't worry too much about Bill sacrificing the long-term for his last hurrah. He hasn't done that anywhere else. Instead, he builds solid foundations that continue to win long after he's gone. I expect he'll do the same this time.

[Redball Express]

Originally Posted by ddh33

Abraham to Dallas just makes sense. If Dallas wants someone to pressure the QB, there is not more than one or two players in the league better at that than Abraham. Add in his past with Parcells, and it makes sense.

Unfortunately, the price may not make sense.

Depends..if the #1 pick is next year's pick and not our #11 this year..then that might be something to think about. Or if we trade down on our picks in the first round and pickup extra picks this year..then maybe we do something with those extra picks towards an Abraham deal.

I thought as soon as the news broke about Abraham being allowed to speak to other teams about a trade, that it was the prime reason the Howard deal stalled out.

Dallas has to churn the phones to see what is the best they can do in getting more picks to possibly help in trading for Abraham. If they have to give up something, they will want to re-coup something if they can elsewhere.

Maybe the deal can be sweetened by offering to exchange our #11 with their #28 and we still give them a high pick next year..either a #1 or #2..? We keep both our #1's this year and possibly our #2 this year as well, but they move up like 17 spots and get a player they want, like some DL to replace Fergusion and/or Abraham..?

We get Abraham and still draft or trade more of our picks this year. That's a win-win situation for both teams and preserves our draft this year and the Jet's build up next year's draft for them, sort of what we did for ourselves last year with the Buffalo deal.

No matter exactly how it would go, we would have to give up something of value this year to make the deal go. So something this year and something next year makes it a risk-reward for both sides.

I think that seems doable..with further exploration required, of course, as to the cap money required to do this etc.

But to me, either our #1 or #2 pick is not going to be as valuable as this year's picks as I'm assuming the Cowboys figure they aren't going 6-10 again next season..so next year's picks aren't going to be that high.

That makes them sort of dealable..if a deal is interesting enough.

That's my read. Parcell's would pay a bit more if it was a guy he really liked and wouldn't have to worry about what he was getting. There probably would be doubts with Howard and with Pryce if either were to be more than rumors as to their availability.

Like with Fergusion, we paid the going rate to sign him..he was a known guy to Parcells. Abraham would be the same thing, I'll bet.

We'll see.

Later.

ParcellsWaterBoy

[ravidubey]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

No way in hell we trade up to #1.

Ditto giving a first and 2nd for Abraham.

Where do they get this stuff, teams with several holes do not trade multiple picks for one player.

They may when they can acquire a sure thing or someone they believe to be a special player. Let's face it, of our two #1 picks there's a good chance one or both of them will be average players or busts.

Still I agree that trading a 1 and a 2 seems absurd, especially with Abraham's injury problems and Howard's availability.

[edwardo]

Prior posts focused on Abrahams but I was wondering what his injury past has been; why is he on the block . . . what kind of money does he want and how does this compare to Howard . . . is there no chance we can spend free agent money next year to try and land a player of quality of Abrahams or Howard?

[SmellsLikeTuna]

I would laugh my *** off if the Rams give up a #2 pick for Will Allen with Patrick Surtain available for that price.