From Deseret News archives:
Some key questions for today's NFL draft
That much we know. What else will happen is a crapshoot.
This year's draft, which takes place today and tomorrow in New York, is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable selection meetings in years. Some teams are trying to move up (the Saints), and others (Ravens, Panthers) could look to move down if their targeted players are gone when it's their turn to pick.
Here's a look at five storylines that will shape this year's draft:
The Falcons hold the keys: The Dolphins have made their pick, and the Rams are looking at defensive help if they don't agree to a blockbuster deal for the second pick. That leaves Atlanta, at No. 3, with several options to work with.
The Falcons could use some help just about everywhere, but especially on the defensive line, where either LSU's Glenn Dorsey or Virginia's Chris Long will be available. The guess here is they pick Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, giving fans hope for the future and a new face for their franchise. The Chiefs, at No. 5, will probably be hurt by the pick, but the Ravens, at No. 8, will be devastated.
Which teams are looking to play a big splash? The Chiefs and Cowboys certainly have the ammunition to move up with multiple first-round picks. But it's unclear if either of them want to move up. The Saints, who are picking at No. 10, have made no secret they would like to move as high as No. 2, to presumably select Dorsey, a local product.
Fans of those three teams will no doubt be on the edge of their seats, hoping they make some franchise-changing decisions.
Will the Jets-Patriots feud continue to escalate? It's incredibly ironic that with all the bad blood between these two franchises, they will pick back-to-back in the first round. The Jets are picking sixth, and the Patriots are seventh following a draft-day trade with the 49ers last year.
The possibilities are endless here. The Patriots could trade ahead of the Jets to take a player they might want. The Jets could trade out of their slot, giving another team the chance to select a player the Patriots might covet. The Jets could also just pick someone that the Patriots want. One thing certainly won't happen: Executives from both teams won't be on the phone with each other working out any trades.
