Ron Rivera has been tight-lipped when it comes to the Washington Football Team’s plans for the 2021 NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean the team isn't talking.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano reported Washington has “done legwork” on a potential 1st round trade and made calls to teams “in and around the top 10.” Washington currently is slated to make the 19th overall selection on Thursday night.
And while a big move up in the draft usually indicates a team is going after a quarterback, the duo note after speaking to “a few personnel evaluators” the indication is Washington is not targeting a QB.
Having said that, Washington has been linked with making a move up to select North Dakota State quarterback Try Lance in several mock drafts. General manager Martin Mayhew spent time in Fargo this offseason and was part of Washington’s contingent at Lance’s pro day in March, which included offensive coordinator Scott Turner.
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Earlier in April, former NFL executive Michael Lombardi said Washington may make a bold move to secure Lance’s services.
"I think Washington is going to be the next team to unload all their picks to try to get a quarterback," Lombardi said on 'The GM Shuffle' podcast. "I think they love Lance. I don't think, I know Washington loves Lance. And so, will they trade up to get Lance? That remains to be seen.”
Rivera said earlier this offseason he did not feel pressured to draft the team's quarterback of the future but did not close the door to drafting a QB.
"Well, we'll see. I can't tell you how things are going to unfold once we get into the draft," Rivera told reporters in early April. "We're going to react to what's gonna happen in front of us. Picking where we're picking, there's a lot of things that can happen. We have targets, we have ideas, we have guys that we like, but that always changes just because of the fact that everybody has a choice. And so you just never know what's gonna happen at that point."
While the asking price for those teams in and around the top 10 is unknown, history tells us this kind of move will cost Rivera several picks: Houston dealt a pair of first-round picks to move from No. 25 to No. 12 to select Deshaun Watson and Kansas City dealt two first-round picks and a third to move up 17 spots from No. 27 to grab Patrick Mahomes.
There are no guarantees in anything, but Fowler and Graziano added if Washington stays put at No. 19 they could select TCU safety Trevon Moehrig, who they have been told Washington likes a lot. Moehrig is expected to be the first safety taken in the draft.
Follow @BenKrimmel for the latest.
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