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April 24, 2008

Trader Scot? 49ers' phone will be ringing

After scanning the headlines this morning, I’m more convinced than ever that the 49ers will try to trade out of the first round in order to accumulate more draft picks. Not only are there multiple trade partners, but multiple scenarios. The odds are looking good for some wheeling and dealing. So who will dance with San Francisco?

Miami. The Dolphins have big question marks at quarterback and may want to leapfrog the Packers at pick No. 30. After passing on Chris Long at Pick No. 1, they reportedly are interested in another pass rusher, Quentin Groves. The 49ers also are looking at Groves and might be able to squeeze the Dolphins for extra compensation. Miami has two second-round picks, Nos. 32 and 57, and the first pick in the third and fourth rounds.

Atlanta. Lets say the Falcons choose Glenn Dorsey or Chris Long at pick No. 3. They, too, could be looking for the second-best quarterback in the draft and would want to beat out Miami, Green Bay and the rest of the pack for that opportunity. Suddenly you have a bidding war, and suddenly that No. 29 position grows more valuable. The Falcons have a mess of picks to play around with, including three second rounders (Nos. 34, 37 and 48) and two thirds (Nos. 68 and 98 (compensatory)).

Baltimore. A lot of observers see Matt Ryan going to the Ravens. If another team snags Ryan, however, Baltimore will strongly consider whomever they think is second best. The Ravens have two fourth-round picks, nos. 106 and 133, which is a compensatory.

Kansas City. Another team in need of a quarterback. The Jared Allen deal left the Chiefs loaded with draft picks. They have three third rounders (Nos. 66, 73 and 82) and two fifths (136 and 140).

New York Jets. Could stand to draft a quarterback, too. They have two fourths (Nos. 102 and 113).

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What is the No. 29 pick worth? Click here for what teams use as a guideline. Yes, I know there’s a “new” chart, but it’s not radically different from this one.

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Scot McCloughan and Mike Nolan will be holding their annual draft luncheon today at noon. I expect to hear the phrase "best player available" at least 20 times. Check back later this afternoon for a report on what they had to say.

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So how old is Carl Nicks, the Nebraska offensive lineman who started turning heads at the Senior Bowl? There's been plenty of confusion.

"We've had a number of calls from the teams," said Nicks' agent, Jeff Nalley. "We got a call from the Falcons this morning."

The confusion began at the scouting combine in February when the information packet the NFL handed out about Nicks listed his date of birth as March 5, 1983. Apparently, the league took that date from the Nebraska football web site site.

There's just one problem. Nicks isn't 25. He's 22. His actual date of birth is May 14, 1985. Nalley said he sent a copy of Nicks' birth certificate to all 32 teams this week in an effort to clarify the issue. The 340-pound offensive linemen is expected to be drafted somewhere between the second and fourth rounds.

-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 9:59 AM | Comments |