2014 NFL Draft Rumors: Denver Broncos might look to trade out of 31st pick
By Hayden Kane
The Denver Broncos might not like the 31st pick in the draft. Besides the obvious reason stated by John Elway this week (they would rather pick 32nd), the Broncos have indicated that they might be inclined to be flexible depending on some of the moving parts in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Nicki Jhabvala and the Broncos writers at the Denver Post lay out an example of a scenario in which the Broncos might look to trade up or down out of the 31st pick:
"As the Post’s Mike Klis explains, if quarterbacks Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M and Blake Bortles of Central Florida are among the first eight picks in the draft, other projected top-10 picks at non-quarterback positions will get pushed down. And if position players start to fall, the chances of the Broncos trading up from the No. 31 slot in the first round to fill their need increase.”"
It makes sense that the Broncos, a team that is only a player or two away, would be willing to aggressively pursue the right guy by giving up some future picks. In particular the Broncos would covet a middle linebacker such as C.J. Mosley if the draft boards got thrown off kilter by the action at the top. It seems more likely that the Broncos would try to move up rather than stocking up picks to move back, but one never knows, especially given the value in stockpiling picks when that opportunity presents itself.
Whatever the case, the Broncos will be a team to watch as the trade winds swirl Thursday night.