Take note, Oakland Raiders: Since the NFL Combine, we have been led to believe that the Arizona Cardinals will take Kyler Murray with the No. 1 overall selection. Those rumors picked up steam this week when Benjamin Allbright tweeted out that it was time to move “Murray to Arizona” from pencil to pen. Rumors are just that, but Allbright has a positive track record when it comes to these things.
Many people still believe, however, that this is a smokescreen by the Cardinals, that they are attempting to drive up his stock in hopes that a potential suitor will offer them a more than fair offering to move up and get him.
It makes a ton of sense for some to think this. Just last year, the Cardinals moved up in the draft to select Josh Rosen. He had a poor season, but in no way could it all be considered his fault. Is Arizona really ready to give up on him after one season? We're being led to believe yes, but we'll have to wait until April 25 to find out for sure.
Let's entertain the thought that this is a smokescreen. If the Cardinals are not set on taking Murray, there would be a number of teams ready to move up and get him. Are any of them willing to part with enough that would get Arizona to agree to move out of the No. 1 spot? Let's take a look at some possible trade partners for Arizona on draft night.
5. Denver Broncos
It's no secret that John Elway is continuing his search for a franchise quarterback. Despite trading for Joe Flacco, it's still widely believed that the Broncos will take a quarterback in this draft. With the No. 10 overall pick, that may require them to move up and get one.
Denver has been linked to Drew Lock for several months, but it may be Murray or Dwayne Haskins they have wanted all along. Moving all the way up to No. 1 would cost the Broncos a ton of capital. It is probably not the best move for the franchise in the long term. Yet, there remain rumors that Denver is thinking of moving up in this draft. If it does, it's more likely going to be to the 4 or 5 spot. Nonetheless, we have seen crazier things happen on draft day.
4. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are not in the market for a quarterback, but they are reportedly in love with pass rusher Nick Bosa. Sitting just one spot behind Arizona, San Francisco would love nothing more than to hear someone else's name called ahead of the Niners.
The Cardinals, however, met with Bosa on Friday night. While meeting with players ahead of the NFL Draft is not uncommon, we cannot forget that Bosa was the favorite to be the No. 1 pick prior to the combine. Arizona could give off the impression that its intent has been to take Bosa all along.
If that's the case, it could put the 49ers in a position to swap picks if they truly want Bosa. San Francisco did the same thing with the Chicago Bears a couple of years ago. The teams swapped the Nos. 2 and 3 picks, and the Bears drafted Mitchell Trubisky at number two.
The Cardinals could play the same game with the 49ers this time around. The sly move would net themselves an extra pick on Day 2 or 3. It would also allow them to still take Murray if that is indeed the game plan.
3. Washington Redskins
Washington needs a quarterback after last year's devastating injury to Alex Smith. The Redskins completed a trade this offseason with Denver to acquire Case Keenum, but they will still need someone to groom as their future starter. The Redskins own the 15th pick, however, and are unlikely to see any of the top-tier quarterbacks in this class fall to them.
Washington has been here before in terms of moving up to get a quarterback. In 2012, it made the blockbuster trade with the then-St. Louis Rams to move from 6 to 2. In exchange, the Redskins gave the Rams three first-round draft picks and a second-rounder. The Redskins used the pick to draft Robert Griffin III. It would go down as one of the worst trades in the modern era.
That was an absurd amount to simply move up four spots. Now, the Redskins are in the same exact spot where the Los Angeles Rams were three years ago. In 2016, the Rams and the Tennessee Titans agreed to a trade that sent Jared Goff to Los Angeles.
The Rams gave up their first-round pick (15th overall), two second-round picks, a third-round pick, as well as a future first and third. In return, Tennessee gave up the first overall pick, as well as a fourth and sixth-round selection.
This is still a hefty price, but it's a more realistic one in terms of what the Redskins could expect to give up in order to move into the conversation. While it may sound like a lot on paper, let's not forget that the Rams were playing in the Super Bowl under three years after the trade was made.
2. New York Giants
The Giants have been the talk of the offseason after their blockbuster trade to send Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland. While the trade netted them another first-round pick this year, many people believed that they did not get enough in return. That may be true, but what is also true is that the Giants now own 12 picks in this draft.
Most importantly, two of those picks are in the first round. Now, the Giants are giving off the impression that they are not very interested in Dwayne Haskins. Many have had Haskins mocked to the Giants at No. 6 for quite some time. They are now indicating that they'll likely use this pick on a pass rusher or offensive lineman. The Giants could then use a later pick on a quarterback or wait until next year.
This may be true, and it also may be the strategy of the Giants to drive down Haskins' stock so that he is available to them at six. New York spent a lot of time evaluating Haskins in 2018, and may simply be trying to hide its infatuation with him.
The strategy may not work, however. Many view Haskins as the best quarterback in this class, and after his Pro Day, there is a lot of talk about him once again. They may not want to, but it's possible that the Giants will have to move up in order to secure him.
It's possible that the sixth and 17th picks would be enough for Arizona to agree to a deal. The Cardinals may also try to squeeze out one more pick along the way. If the Giants believe the asking price is too much, look for a possible trade between these two teams involving Josh Rosen, assuming the Cardinals do indeed take Murray.
1. Oakland Raiders
With three first-round selections, the Raiders have all the ammunition they need if they really want to move up. Head coach Jon Gruden is awful when it comes to maintaining secrets, and his love for Kyler Murray is no different.
Oakland doesn't necessarily need a quarterback while it still has Derek Carr. One has to wonder how much longer that will last. It doesn't appear that Gruden and Carr are on the same page; eventually, Gruden is going to want his own guy.
The Raiders are probably the most likely candidate to trade with the Cardinals simply because they have the capital to get a deal done. Arizona would still get a quality player with the fourth overall selection. In addition, it would get another first-round pick this year or next year, at the very least. The Cardinals have a ton of needs, and factually, none of them are at quarterback.
While the rumors may be true that the Cardinals are all-in on Murray, they should at the very least entertain the idea if the Raiders presented an interest. It's very possible that they would offer them a deal that is simply too good to pass up.
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