With a little more than 24 hours to go until the NFL Draft, the rumors are really starting to heat up.
On Wednesday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Miami Dolphins are looking to trade up from the No. 5 spot to the third overall pick — but not to select the quarterback of their liking — but rather an offensive tackle.
Per Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, the Dolphins are eyeing Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas.
This would be quite the twist should this be the case. Not only would it mean Tua Tagovailoa would drop, but it creates myriad of different scenarios to play out following the No. 3 pick.
New York Giants
There are suddenly even more ways the Giants could go with this pick. The Giants have reportedly been FaceTiming with Oregon QB Justin Herbert, who is apparently their QB1 on their board. Of course, many think this is just a smokescreen to drive up the value of the No. 4 pick for them to trade down.
Yet, if one of the top offensive linemen are off the board, do the Giants still feel confident in trading down? Remember, GM Dave Gettleman has never traded down in his career before and while he has expressed interest in doing so this year, an offensive lineman being taken ahead of them could change that.
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It also means that Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah will still be on the board, too, who could also help the Giants and their depleted secondary, adding a whole new layer to their draft strategy.
Then again, if Tua Tagovailoa and Herbert are both available at 4, Gettleman’s phone could be ringing off the hook with an offer he cannot refuse.
Detroit Lions
What would it take for the Lions to trade out of the No. 3 pick? Would it simply be a matter of swapping picks with Miami, or could they get even more?
The Lions have plenty of needs, too, and even if they make a trade, Okudah could still very well be there at No. 5 for them to take, making it a no-brainer if they can still get their lockdown corner and some additional assets from Miami.
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If Okudah is not there, you’re now looking at the possibility of linebacker Isaiah Simmons or defensive tackle Derrick Brown to help bolster the defense.
Los Angeles Chargers and Carolina Panthers
The Chargers keep saying they are confident in Tyrod Taylor to be their starting quarterback, but are we really to believe that if Tagovailoa and Herbert are both available at No. 6 for them to pick?
A quarterback would seem like the most sensible pick, then again, you could say that for the Dolphins as well. If the Chargers really are interested in a quarterback, so are the Carolina Panthers, who are picking in the No. 7 slot.
These two teams could get into a bidding war with the Giants at No. 4, and possibly even with the Lions at No. 5 — who could trade down again — if either Carolina or Los Angeles is desperate and feels the other wants the quarterback they want.
In short, if the Dolphins trade up and do not take a quarterback, all hell could break loose in the 2020 NFL Draft. Of course, this could all just be one big smokescreen.
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