NFL Draft rumors: Giants trading up, DeAndre Hopkins trade, and Hendon Hooker to the Chiefs?

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In spite of everything there’s just one extra sleep ‘til Draft Day.

However that won’t cease the rumor mill.

In right now’s installment we have a look at the Seattle Seahawks and their ideas on Jalen Carter, ponder a DeAndre Hopkins commerce — fueled partly by a cryptic Lamar Jackson tweet — and naturally discuss in regards to the quarterbacks.

Together with the thought of Hendon Hooker to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the first spherical.

Yet another sleep, pals.

Seattle anticipated to move on Jalen Carter

Because of the Russell Wilson commerce, the Seahawks are ready to dominate the 2023 NFL Draft, and doubtlessly set themselves as much as dominate future ones as properly. As outlined on this unbelievable piece by Mookie Alexander, Seattle can add a quarterback, they might commerce down (or up), or they might draft one of the best defensive participant or gamers accessible when they’re on the clock.

Nevertheless, in the event that they take the latter strategy, Jalen Carter is reportedly not an possibility.

In keeping with ESPN’s Todd McShay, he has been advised that Seattle would move on Carter if the inside defensive lineman is on the board when they’re on the cl

I’ve a robust sense Seattle gained’t depart Spherical 1 and not using a quarterback. The extra I discuss to execs, scouts, coaches and brokers, the extra I believe the Seahawks may very well be concentrating on Stroud and even Florida’s Anthony Richardson at this spot, relying on who’s there. Stroud is 21 years outdated and Richardson is 20, and the thought is both might sit behind Geno Smith within the brief time period and grow to be the reply for the long run.

If each are gone, which means both Anderson or Wilson will probably be there, and I count on that’d be the path Seattle goes. A number of sources have advised me Georgia defensive deal with Jalen Carter isn’t anticipated be the choose. I don’t see Carter falling out of the highest 10, nevertheless it’s cheap he might slide to the again finish of it.

Carter has not loved the strongest pre-draft course of, which might see him slide a bit on Thursday evening. However as famous by McShay, it’s onerous to see him sliding too far.

However possibly not less than previous Seattle at 5.

DeAndre Hopkins commerce this week?

Might we see veteran broad receiver DeAndre Hopkins traded this week?

On the Pat McAfee Present this week, Adam “Pacman” Jones indicated that he was advised {that a} Hopkins commerce could be approaching Thursday:

One of many groups linked to the veteran broad receiver? The Baltimore Ravens. Whereas the group lately added Odell Beckham Jr., there’s a thought that the Ravens usually are not finished including to their WR room.

Which made this quite cryptic tweet from Lamar Jackson on Tuesday evening fascinating to try to decode:

Was Lamar lastly getting paid? Are the Ravens buying and selling for Hopkins?

Or possibly each issues are taking place?

Arizona to draft offensive line?

Relating to the Arizona Cardinals and the third-overall choose, there appears to be two traces of thought. The primary? Arizona trades out as a part of a cope with a QB-needy staff. The second? Arizona stays put and drafts one of the best defensive participant accessible.

In keeping with NFLMockDraftDatabase, the three commonest choices proper now for Arizona in mock drafts are: Will Anderson Jr., Jalen Carter, and Tyree Wilson. All defensive gamers.

Nevertheless, NFL insider Gabe Gabriel floated one other concept on Tuesday.

Offensive line:

The Cardinals definitely have a necessity up entrance, in addition to in quite a few different spots, which makes the thought of a commerce down doubtless in lots of minds. However this transfer could be fairly the shock.

Nevertheless, as we maintain listening to because the draft inches nearer, we must always count on the sudden this weekend.

Kansas Metropolis a touchdown spot for … Hendon Hooker?

When sensible folks and/or NFL insiders put collectively a mock draft, it’s value noting.

PFF’s Cris Collinsworth put collectively his mock draft on Tuesday and it had some surprises up and down the board.

Nevertheless the most important shock got here with the ultimate choose of the primary spherical. Because the Kansas CIty Chiefs added … Hendon Hooker:

Now, we’ve all been there. You might be placing collectively a mock draft and also you get to the top and understand there may be somebody you wished to get into the primary spherical however by no means discovered a spot for. Maybe that occurred right here.

But to be truthful, Collinsworth makes a robust case for it, and the Chiefs including a QB does have some benefit. As he notes one of many greatest threats to a different Kansas Metropolis run is the concept that Patrick Mahomes goes down for a number of video games and the Chiefs are floundering with out him. So upgrading behind Mahomes — at the moment Blaine Gabbert, Shane Buechele, and Chris Oladokun are the opposite choices — could be a smart funding.

In fact, there may be the outdated noticed relayed about Tom Moore, who was the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts throughout the Peyton Manning years:

Carolina is aware of the choose

No less than somebody is aware of how you can begin their mock drafts.

In keeping with Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich, the group has reached “consensus” on who they’re taking Thursday evening to open the draft. As described by the coach, normal supervisor Scott Fitterer popped into his workplace on Monday to ensure they have been on the identical web page. “It was form of like a proposal of kinds. And I mentioned sure,” Reich mentioned. “There’s consensus, and we’re excited.”

In fact, analysts instantly latched onto that phrase, consensus.

Does this imply there’s a dissenting voice? Did somebody within the room want convincing?

Reich briefly elaborated on Carolina’s considering, and the method that introduced them to consensus. “There was ebbs and flows throughout the course of,” mentioned Reich. ”I don’t wish to say there’s any drastic change of thoughts, however there’s ebbs and flows of how a lot you want a man, and that’s why you have got to withstand the temptation of creating your thoughts up too early. So I assumed we as a scouting workers and coaches did a very good job of not falling into that lure.”

The Colts like all 4 of the highest quarterbacks

We all know the Colts are going to take a quarterback. Basic supervisor Chris Ballard mentioned as a lot when the offseason started, and proprietor Jim Irsay appeared of comparable thoughts when he pushed ship on this Tweet:

Nevertheless, the harder query to pin down a solution to is that this: Which QB do they need?

A part of the rationale that has been a tricky query to reply? They like all 4, and assume new head coach Shane Steichen is able to craft an offense for every possibility.

Right here is, maybe, the most important cause it’s been so troublesome to handicap the Colts’ most well-liked type of quarterback: As a result of there isn’t one.

The Colts, underneath first-year coach Shane Steichen, have taken a very open-minded strategy to scouting this 12 months’s quarterback class. The rationale? As a result of Steichen’s offensive adaptability permits them to take action.

“I believe you match the system across the man that’s taking part in,” Steichen mentioned.

That’s been one thing of a game-changer for the group because it units out to make one in every of its greatest choices in years. The Colts really feel they don’t seem to be beholden to a sure profile within the quarterback they’re searching for as a result of their offensive philosophy is versatile.

“That broadens the sector for you,” Ballard mentioned. “That’s a very good factor. And I believe as we’ve gone via the method of all of the evaluations, and coming right down to what we predict will probably be finest for the Indianapolis Colts, whoever we find yourself taking goes to be that man and [Steichen] will make it work.”

The Colts have been linked to all 4 quarterbacks all through the method, and maybe they really feel that every could be an possibility for them, whether or not at 4, or elsewhere, within the first spherical.

New York Giants trying to transfer up?

Lastly, we are able to add the New York Giants to the listing of groups that could be trying to transfer up within the first spherical.

As outlined within the New York Put up, normal supervisor Joe Schoen drafted 11 gamers a season in the past, and has one other ten choices over the three days of the 2023 NFL Draft. However ought to he keep put and make all these picks, the Giants would have a particularly younger roster as they try to return to the playoffs. “Including 10 extra rookies might imply later committing 39.6 p.c of a 53-man roster (or 30.4 p.c of a full roster if keen to threat passing a draft choose via waivers to the observe squad) to simply the final two draft courses whereas attempting to return to the playoffs.”

As an alternative, the Giants may look to bundle a few of these picks in a transfer up within the first spherical: “League sources advised The Put up that they consider the Giants will actively pursue buying and selling up by packaging a few of their seven picks within the fourth spherical or later.”