Pick the first round trades:

With no FA before the draft, there will likely be a record number of trades today making this potentially one of the most exciting & craziest first rounds in draft history.

List some of the trades that your gut tells you will happen (and not necessarily just because the media has mentioned them).

Here's my final dart-throwing mock with trades that I think might happen.

1. Panthers- Cam Newton, TE. First off, I'm not sure how Jerry Richardson can see any "potential bust" as worthy of such a massive contract as well as the face of an organization, but I'm not the owner of the franchise, so what do I know. However, a few years from now Richardson will look like a genius after Andrew Luck & Cam Newton forge the most formidable, albeit expensive, QB-TE tandem in the league. j/k.

2. Denver- Marcell Dareus, DT. This is a great start for a depleted defense.

3. Bills- Von Miller, OLB. Buffalo needs to replace what they never got from Aaron Maybin..... and hopefully never do get.

4. Redskins (trade with Cincy)- Blaine Gabbert, QB. Washington is like the little brother whom the big brother leaves at home regarding missing out on QBs the past few years. This franchise is salivating to land a QB and will do whatever it takes. If the Skins don't pull the trigger on Gabbert, the entire draft changes.

5. Texans (trade with Zona)- Patrick Peterson, CB. Houston is a few defensive players away from competing, and Peterson is the kick in the pants their secondary needs worse than the Astros need a uniform change 25 years ago.

6. Browns- AJ Green, WR. Cleveland wanted to trade down here if their top 2 targets are off the board. Fortunately McCoy gets his premier target to continue his development.

7. 49ers- Cameron Jordan, DE San Fran could greatly use a disruptive force along its Dline. The game is won in the trenches so the draft's best versatile 3-4 DE trumps Amukamara here. Nobody expected Tyson Jackson to go #3, so I don't see this as any more of a reach than Prince.

8. Titans- Nick Fairley, DT. Fairley rejoins his respected Dline coach from Auburn, which is probably the best thing for a potential loose cannon like Nick. There’s talk of Opie here; I just don’t see it.

9. Dallas- Tryon Smith, LT. Dallas can draft quality Dline later on, but franchise potential LTs will be long gone.

10. Falcons (trade with Cincy <via Skins>)- Julio Jones, WR. Atlanta badly wants another target for Matt Ryan b/c they believe that the QB can't do it all by his lonesome and is only as great as his surrounding cast allows him to be.

11. Patriots (trade with Cardinals <via Texans>)- Robert Quinn, OLB. NE has enough picks to trade up for an elite pass rusher here AND still plug their other holes.

12. Vikings- DaQuan Bowers, DE. DaQuan's knee is fine. He's a tremendous kid who has matured tremendously. In a division with Rodgers, Cutler, and Stafford, the Vikings need to make sure they can pressure the QB. This pick makes more sense than Aldon Smith IMO because Minnesota already has situational pass rusher, Brian Robison, who can move to end when Bowers shifts inside during passing downs.

13. Lions- Anthony Castonzo, DE.If the Lions pass on yet another LT, I don’t think I could be more annoyed than if the lunacy came from our very own Fins. Even though their Oline allowed 27 sacks, Jeff Backus will be 34, and Detroit would be stupid to not have a contingency plan in place considering they have nearly $130 million tied up in Stafford, Calvin, and Best alone. This team is on the up and up; they just need a solid pick here, nothing flashy.

14. Rams- Aldon Smith, DE. Pass rusher trumps DT here in a draft that's deep in the big guys up front.

15. Colts (trade with Miami)- Nate Solder, LT. Peyton needs a left tackle, so they trade up ahead of 3 teams who could be in for a protector of the blind side. Solder is a better fit here than Carimi.

16. Jaguars- Ryan Kerrigan, DE. With 27 sacks last year, the Jags really need some help in this foreign art of getting after the QB. He's not a flashy player but he makes the Jags better.

17. Cardinals (from Pats)- Gabe Carimi, LT. I'm thinking Arizona has a secret handshake with Philly to bring in Kolb (maybe their 2012 1st rounder). You can’t bring in Kolb and continue to allow 50 sacks. The Cards' Oline is a mess that desperately needs a tackle capable of shuffling everyone into their proper place. They used a 1st round pick on Beanie Wells, and it'd also be nice to see him produce.

18. Chargers- JJ Watt, DE. Landing a top 3-4 DE is the team's top draft day priority.

19. Giants- Mike Pouncey, LG. Giants want Pouncey, and they get him thanks to Tampa trading up.

20. Bucs- Prince Amukamara, CB. Tampa needs a limited-liability corner who can step in from day 1 for a team that just missed the playoffs.

21. Chiefs- Phil Taylor, DT. Ron Edwards will be 32 this season, and we all know the impact a dominant NT can have in a 3-4. It starts with controlling the middle, and Pioli knows that as well as anyone from his days in New England watching big Vince.

22. Dolphins (from Colts)- Mark Ingram, RB. When Ricky & Ronnie ran for 100+ yards, Miami was 6-1. With a great defense, Miami should be looking for an offense to achieve more of the that ground success rather than drafting a 1st round QB who will not contribute immediately and whom, quite frankly, this regime has yet to prove they deserve.

23. Eagles- Jimmy Smith, CB. A top 10 talent at corner trumps Derek Sherrod.

24. Saints- Corey Liuget, DT. Ingram is gone so the Saints take the best defensive player on the board who fills a need.

25. Seahawks -Jake Locker QB. Seattle fans should love the hometown boy who fits offense they want to run.

26. Ravens- Cameron Heyward, DE. If Mount Cody develops into the huge run stuffer he is, Baltimore will need a more athletic playmaker next to him, and Heyward fits what I believe they’re looking for from the position. This could be LT, Derek Sherrod, but it makes more sense to sign Gaither and free up a 1st round pick in the process.

27. Cincy (from Falcons)- Andy Dalton, QB. What an opportunity for the Bengals who get a QB they like while picking up 2 extra 2nd rounders in the process. With their 2nd round pick, they select WR, Jon Baldwin, to allow to allow Cincy to figure out what they want to do with OchoCinco-Chad Johnson-InsertYourLastNameHereForFiftyBucks.

28. Patriots- Danny Watkins, G. With the top 4 tackles gone, NE switches to Mankin's replacement to free up a his trade potential.

29. Bears- Marvin Austin, DT. Chicago desperately needs a 3 technique to replace the departed Tommy Harris. This is one of the keys to their defense, and Austin could be a real steal for them here. This pick makes too much sense.

30. Jets- Adrian Clayborn, DE. Rex takes the best defensive guy on his board who can apply pressure from the front 3.

31. Steelers- Muhammed Wilkerson, DE. Pouncey couldn't happen so they go with plan B and address the defense. The Steelers like taking value players, and although corner is a huge need, Mike Tomlin knows his CBs and feels he can get a quality one later. I really want to put James Carpenter here b/c of his versatility to play both tackle & guard, which would be a tremendous asset to Pitt's o-line.

32. Titans (from Packers)- Colin Kaepernick, QB. There are no eye-popping players that GB misses out on, so they trade back and acquire more picks, which is great for a team who drafts extremely well.


Traded back picks and notables:

33. Cardinals (from NE)- Akeem Ayers, OLB.
34. Bills- Christian Ponder, QB.
39. Packers (from Titans)- Brooks Reed, OLB.
41. Bengals (from Wash)- Jon Baldwin, WR.
43. Vikings- Ryan Mallett, QB.
53. Dolphins (from Colts)- Taiwan Jones, COP RB. (this will draw some tossed beer cans. )

Phins round 3: WR (Jerrel Jernigan or Edmund Gates); TE (Virgil Green or Jordan Cameron); ILB (Mason Foster or Nate Irvin).

 

I think the Bengals' #4 spot would be hot spot for a team wanting Peterson or Gabbert.

The Skins are probably moving up or down for a QB.

Personally, I'd move up for the #1 QB on their board, Gabbert, because if they want to move back for Locker but do NOT find a trade partner, they'd be stuck having to either over-draft him at #10 or spending a future 1st or 2nd rounder to move their #41 pick back into the 1st round.

 

Why would you be pissed at a pick that makes us better? We're a "running team" who was one of the worst in the league at it, and we have no starting RB. I don't understand the "pissed" mentality towards a high character player who has zero bust potential barring random injury.

 

that's the only way I could succomb to putting him #1.

That alone was like purposefully slamming my toe in a door..... made of tacks...... covered in Naga Viper pepper juice.

 

Is it too late for me to take that trade back?

 

Teams will be moving around to ensure they get a "hopeful" starter at a position of need since there's no FA to solidify these immediate needs. This will be a "shnooze you loose" type of draft IMO.