NFL DRAFT

Could Mitchell Trubisky, others lure teams to trade into Top 10 of NFL Draft?

Chris D'Amico
USA TODAY Sports
Mitchell Trubisky

In the days leading up to the 2017 NFL draft, USA TODAY Sports will take a closer look at the burning questions that will shape the event.

Our latest focuses on the top of the first round. Will any team try to trade into the Top 10?

The San Francisco 49ers have let it be known they will be “open for business” if any team would like to move up to the No. 2 spot in the first round.

And despite everything you hear about this QB class being loaded with “projects”, someone might just panic and take them up on the offer.

Still, that would be a surprise.

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More likely in the Top 10, keep your eye on Jacksonville (4) and the New York Jets (6) as teams who also should be “open for business.”

So who might be shopping?

For one, the Cleveland Browns -- even though they own the No. 1 pick. If they really have fallen for North Carolina QB Mitchell Trubisky, they shouldn't take him at No. 1, but they might not want to chance waiting until they pick again at No. 12. The Browns have plenty of later-round picks to entice a team to move back a few spots.

And how about the Cincinnati Bengals? They have 11 picks to play with in the draft, and with a defense decimated by free agency the past two years, might have their eye on Jacksonville’s spot at No. 4. The Bengals sit at No. 9, but if they have a defensive player they don’t want to chance losing, it is worth moving up to secure him.

Houston? Can they wait until their spot at 25 to get a quarterback? They might have to unless they get creative. They don’t have much to offer as far as extra picks this year. It will be surprising if they choose to mortgage future draft picks to move up, but desperation sometimes makes teams do crazy things on draft night. So if they do choose to deal, look for them to include a player in the trade.

Those three teams seem most likely to alter the picking order in the Top 10.

But things could also be interesting as the first round progresses.

Consider this: Denver (20), Giants (23) and Seattle (26) all have a need at left tackle. Should they attempt to address it in the first round, there could be quite the cat and mouse game among the three – or at least the Giants and Seattle – to improve their spots.

The Seahawks, with three third-round picks, seem to have more to offer than the Giants, if they feel the need to move up a few spots.