Browns trade up to No. 3 for Trent Richardson

Posted by Evan Silva on April 26, 2012, 7:09 PM EDT

It was never a secret that the Minnesota Vikings wanted to trade out of the No. 3 pick in the draft. And they executed just under an hour before Thursday night’s start of round one.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Vikings and Browns have swapped the Nos. 3 and 4 overall picks.

FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer quickly confirmed the report, and passed along that Minnesota has acquired three draft picks, including No. 4, in exchange for No. 3. The Browns are expected to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson. Per Glazer, the Vikings hope to continue trading down the board.

Cleveland made this move, apparently, in an attempt to prevent against the Buccaneers from jumping into the third overall spot. Tampa Bay, sitting at No. 5, was known to be interested in leapfrogging Cleveland to get into the No. 3 hole.

**In this trade the Browns gave up a 4th, 5th and 7th round pick, as well as their 4th overall pick in round 1, for the Vikings pick at No. 3**

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Report: Jaguars looking to trade up for Blackmon

Posted by Josh Alper on April 26, 2012, 4:44 PM EDT

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All throughout the draft process, we’ve heard that the Jaguars wanted to trade down out of the seventh pick.

The draft is just hours away and now the wind is shifting the other direction. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Twitter and on television that the Jaguars are one of a handful of teams actively looking to move up in the first round. Per Schefter, their target is Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

Report: Lions looking to trade up for Gilmore

Posted by Evan Silva on April 26, 2012, 4:45 PM EDT

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MDS brought to you news earlier Thursday that the Detroit Lions are willing and interested in trading up in the draft for secondary help. MDS speculated on a number of potential Lions targets. He mentioned cornerback Stephon Gilmore, and it sounds like that is the particular player for whom Detroit management has eyes.

NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora reports that the Lions are “seriously looking to trade up,” and sources believe their primary target is the 6-foot-1, 190-pound corner out of South Carolina.

La Canfora bases his report on conversations with “multiple team executives,” and insists the Lions are “very high” on Gilmore. They’ll indeed have to be awfully high on the SEC product in order to execute this move up the board. Gilmore is widely projected to be selected in the top-12 picks, and the Lions’ first-rounder is No. 23.

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Could Lions move up to land a defensive back?

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 26, 2012, 11:23 AM EDT

Reuters

Detroit’s secondary struggled in a season-ending loss to the Packers and a postseason-ending loss to the Saints, and if the Lions want to take the next step and beat good passing teams like the Packers and Saints next season, secondary is a position they’d like to upgrade tonight in the first round of the NFL draft. And the Lions might just be desperate enough for secondary help that they’ll trade up to get a player they’re confident can start from Day One.

Asante wanted to land with Falcons

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 26, 2012, 8:03 AM EDT

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Asante Samuel’s move from the Eagles to the Falcons was in some respects more like a free-agent signing than a trade. Yes, the Eagles got a seventh-round draft pick in the deal, but what really needed to happen to get the deal completed was for Samuel and the Falcons to agree on a contract. Samuel said that wasn’t too hard, however, because Atlanta wants to play.

The Pro Bowl is on life support

Posted by Michael David Smith on April 26, 2012, 9:10 AM EDT

Reuters

The quality of play in the Pro Bowl has deteriorated to such an extent that the NFL might just scrap it.

The idea for getting rid of the Pro Bowl entirely has picked up steam in recent years, and Chris Mortensen reported on ESPN Radio this morning that there’s talk of suspending the Pro Bowl as soon as this year: There might not be a Pro Bowl at all at the end of this season.

It’s still possible that the NFL could try to revive the Pro Bowl by giving the players greater incentive to play and

Thursday morning one-liners

Posted by Josh Alper on April 26, 2012, 8:12 AM EDT

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Making the case for the Bills to select Boston College LB Luke Kuechly.

Dolphins T Jake Long likes what he’s seenfrom the team’s new offense.

Roster needs in 2013 could help guide the Patriots’ draft choices.

Alabama LB Courtney Upshaw likes what he’s heard from Jets coach Rex Ryan.

The Ravens enter the draft with several different directions they could go in their picks.

The Bengals’ draft plan is less obvious than it was last season.