2018 NFL Draft: Raiders eyeing key tackle, Broncos open to trade and more notes
The 2018 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and more players and scenarios are coming into focus. It's becoming a little more clear which prospects could best slot into which picks, and what teams are likely targeting should they move up or down the board via trade.
Find Jason La Canfora's latest notes, including what he's hearing about where the top 10 non-quarterback prospects could go, on CBSSports.com Wednesday.
Here is some of what I've been picking up most recently:
Raiders could trade down, take Miller
If the Raiders do in fact trade down from the 10th overall pick -- with someone like New England or Arizona or whoever coming up for a quarterback -- look out for UCLA tackle Kolton Miller to be a top target for them. Problem is, they might not be able to move back far at all and still get him. I continue to hear from evaluators and offensive line coaches I most trust that Miller, and not Notre Dame's Mike McGlinchey, is the best tackle in the draft. Miller has the potential to be an elite left tackle with tremendous feet on a 6-foot-9 frame. There is too much potential to ignore. Plenty of teams in the teens have their eye on him. McGlinchey, from what I gather, is much more likely to go in the late-teens to early-20s. Not sure Miller makes it past Detroit, where he could start on the right side if need be, where he played at UCLA before moving over.
Patriots on the move?
Would the Patriots move up in the teens for a quarterback if the right one falls? I continue to hear that is most certainly a possibility they are entertaining and as I covered on Monday, Josh Rosen seems the likeliest of the "big four" quarterbacks to make that slide. With Miami and Buffalo (for now if they don't move up) sitting at 11-12 and exploring QBs as well, 10 could be a nice spot for Oakland to find value via trade.
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Broncos open to trade
I have long reported that I don't get any information leading me to believe Denver is taking a quarterback and the Broncos are very open to a trade. John Elway confirmed the trade part at his press conference Thursday, and if the Broncos did swap picks with the Bills, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is someone very much on their radar. Fifth overall is too high but in the teens it's a fit. The most likely trade scenario would involve the Bills moving up to get Rosen if we assume Josh Allen, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are all gone in the top four picks.
Arkansas center Frank Ragnow is climbing up team's draft boards. USATSI
Frank Ragnow climbing draft boards
I continue to hear Ragnow (Arkansas) is the top center in this draft. As I reported a few weeks back, he's someone who was in no one's mock drafts at the start of the month and now will be going quite high. I don't think he makes it past the Bengals in most logical scenarios.
More NFL Draft rumblings