NFL

“The 49ers have had conversations with teams, including with one picking in the top 10, about trading either of their prized wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel in an effort to move up in the first round, per sources,” was Russini’s exact report. Now we’re talking. There has been loose — emphasis on loose — chatter about this possibility this week because it makes a little too much sense for a team that is not going to be able to pay both wideouts long term. Like their archrival Los Angeles (Rams), the Niners also have an addiction to splashy trades. This is a major storyline to follow Thursday evening.

Locked into Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall with Carolina’s pick, the Bears are evidently more ambivalent about their own selection at No. 9. Of course, it is bigger news when a team isn’t “very open for business,” but the Bears could be of the mind to trade down, accumulate picks, and surround Williams with as much talent as possible during his rookie contract.

Jones’ report comes amidst chatter the Rams are looking to vault from No. 19 to the top 10. It has been genuinely uncertain if Bowers will crack the top 10, with the Jets looking like an option at 10 and the Broncos the potential fail safe at No. 12. A unique player who did not test, Bowers is the kind of prospect who lends himself to teams either outsmarting themselves or overthinking his résumé.

“But at this moment KC doesn’t exactly know the number of games,” Palmer added. This has been the expectation all along since Rice surrendered to Texas police, but there seems to be a wide range of potential outcomes as to the number of games. Receiver was a Chiefs need even before Rice’s legal woes, and it would be unsurprising to see KC select a wideout at No. 32 in Thursday evening’s first night of the draft.

Armed with a first-round pick for the first time since 2016, the Rams apparently don’t know what to do with themselves. They are currently sitting at No. 19 overall. Moving up a minimum of nine spots would take a lot of ammunition for a team with an aging quarterback, one that just lost Aaron Donald to retirement. We can’t say we would advise it, especially were it for a pass catcher. Alas, Sean McVay has long been addicted for bold moves for star receivers, with extremely mixed success.

Schultz also notes that the “prevailing belief is [a trade] is a long shot to happen.” While he acknowledged the Patriots are listening to all calls from teams hoping to move up, it’s also been reported that Patriots ownership hopes to secure a quarterback in the first round as they look to usher in a new era under head coach Jerod Mayo. The Giants are one of a handful of teams in need of a quarterback upgrade who are stuck picking outside of the top five. Teams like the Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders could also be in a position for a trade-up to acquire a franchise quarterback, which could net a significant pick haul for the Patriots.

Hendrickson, 29, is reportedly considering retirement if the Bengals don’t meet his trade demands. We’ll see if anything materializes on that front, but as Dehner points out, the Bengals “are trying to win the Super Bowl this year, not deal stars.” Hendrickson and star wide receiver Tee Higgins are both looking for either long-term extensions from the Bengals or trades to teams that are willing to give them said extension. Hendrickson totaled 17.5 sacks last season and is among the league’s best pass rushers. While he’s more than deserving of a long-term deal, it doesn’t seem like the Bengals are interested in handing out that money, especially with the bill set to come due for Ja’Marr Chase.

As Standig points out, this has “been headed this way for on (and seemingly of) field reasons.” In addition to underwhelming on the field, Davis has also been cited twice for reckless driving and recently avoided jail time for his most recent offense. Davis was a first-round pick of former head coach Ron Rivera in 2021 and has totaled 269 tackles and seven sacks for his career. He’s an athletic linebacker who was widely viewed as more of a Day 2 pick and, to date, has done little to live up to his first-round selection. Now under a new regime and coaching staff, Davis will need to prove he’s turned the corner this season if he hopes to sign a lucrative deal next offseason.

When asked where he will end up, McCarthy said he had “somewhat of an idea. New York Giants, I’ve spent the most time with.” Earlier rumors from The Athletic’s Jeff Howe indicated the Giants and Vikings will be in a race for McCarthy. Joe Schoen, Brian Daboll, and company have been doing their due diligence on quarterbacks, holding the No. 6 pick in the NFL Draft. They currently have Daniel Jones at quarterback, signed through 2026. With injuries through an underwhelming season for Jones, McCarthy would signal a fresh start for the franchise. As the top-two picks shake out, the Giants could trade with the Patriots for No. 3 to pick McCarthy or sit back at No. 6 with the trust the Pats don’t select him or teams like the Vikings or Broncos don’t move up instead.

Hendrickson requested a trade from the Bengals, but as Conway reports, he is hoping to get a long-term deal done with the team. If not, he is also considering retirement in addition to his trade request. A retirement consideration may just be part of Hendrickson and his agent’s play to get a long-term deal as the 29-year-old is coming off three straight Pro Bowls. The Bengals now have both Hendrickson and WR Tee Higgins asking for long-term deals. With the draft so close, the trade requests could loom large.