We Are First Round Movers

With so much uncertainty surrounding the top picks in this year's draft, correctly predicting the top 10 picks could be nearly as enigmatic as correctly picking the final four in this years March Madness. Could this be the first year that a corner-back was selected number one overall? Or will this year be just another example of how teams always reach for their potential franchise quarterback? I could go on and on with questions and I haven't even looked past the first overall pick. But there is one thing that we can be sure of in this draft, there is going to be a lot of moving around.

Out of all 32 teams, the New England Patriots have the ammunition to cause the most damage to everyone's Mock draft. With help from the Oakland Raiders (Seymour trade) and the Carolina Panthers (trade for 2010 selection: Armanti Edwards) they are loaded with four top 60 draft picks and they have two third rounders. Typically, the Patriots like to move down in the draft in order to pick up more draft picks. It is too bad for them that this years draft is fairly barren in the offensive line department, as this area looks to be their greatest need. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see them arrange a trade for an earlier first round pick that could net them the play-maker that they have been looking for to put them over the top.

As for our Ravens, we are not so fortunate to have that much heavy ammunition. But there is no need to worry, we have "The Wizard of Oz" Ozzie Newsome making our picks on draft-day. Personally, I do not see us trading out of the first round like we did last year. With quarterback being the most likely reason for a team to move back into the first, we are just not in the right position to be a seller in that department. This year we seem to be sandwiched between nearly a dozen teams that have very similar needs and quarterback is not one of them (besides the Seahawks who pick just before us). Normally this is not a problem as we normally take the "Best Player Available" approach. However, this year we might attempt to move up the board and snag that stud player that would make us fans drool over. Why do you ask? Because Ozzie Newsome is crazy enough to make it happen dammit! Our draft history shows that we keep our draft picks on our 53 man roster, or at least under contract so no other team can steal them from us. With a limited amount of roster space, we could very likely cash in a few of our picks for an upgrade in the draft. So who will Ozzie work his magic on?

There are plenty of teams likely to move down. For the sake of reality and having a sane GM, I can't see us trading up much farther than the top 15 selections. So please excuse me for not including those teams drafting that high. So hypothetically we could land a pick between 15 and 25. Allow me to highlight a handful of teams that I think show the highest likelihood to trade down to us.

15th Overall, The Miami Dolphins: Everybody and their mother has them picking Heisman winner Mark Ingram here. I think that they are shopping this pick because the do not have a second rounder this year thanks to the Brandon Marshall trade. While Ingram might not be available at 26th they may address their running back needs with the pick we would exchange with them. This move would cost us at most our first and second rounder with us getting some extra later picks. Is there somebody on the board worth that much to us? Can't tell until draft day.

17th Overall, The New England Patriots: Yeah, so I think they would move up instead of down, but I am not always right. If there is a run on Offensive Tackles earlier than expected and there isn't the pass rusher there that they like, this pick may be more expendable for the Patriots. However, if all of that is true then why would we trade up?

19th Overall, The New York Giants: Again a run on tackles would make them more likely to trade back. Maybe they take Ingram if he's there, but they still have Jacobs under contract.

21st Overall, The Kansas City Chiefs: Kind of a wildcard, they really need a receiver but one here would be big a reach. Five spots later and it still could be considered a reach, but not so much if they pick up a few picks too.

22nd Overall, Team From Indianapolis: blah blah run on tackles blah blah..... wouldn't cost too much to move up to here.

23rd Overall, The Philadelphia Eagles: Their needs are just like ours, but their draft board might look different with a different defensive scheme. Not a huge shift in position but both teams could benefit. 

26th Overall, The Baltimore Ravens: Ozzie will make whatever player he chooses at the 26th look like a top 10 pick.