NFL Draft: Potential Draft Day Trades To Look Out For

If history holds true, there should be a host of draft-day trades made this year.

With the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in 2011, every draft pick is essentially slotted into a rookie salary based on the selection order. That's made it much easier for teams to simply trade picks, and there's been 20 first-round picks which have changed hands in the past two drafts combined.

This year's biggest deal could feature a trade up to select Oregon QB Marcus Mariota. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Browns "covet" Mariota, and are exploring a trade into the top 10, possibly with Washington at No. 5. Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net is also hearing that the Browns are the "front runners" and are working the hardest to trade up for Mariota.

It's possible Mariota will be off the board though by pick No. 5, so if they can't work a deal with Tennessee to move up to No. 2, perhaps they'd settle for moving into the top five to draft a receiver like Amari Cooper or Kevin White. Cleveland badly needs a receiver, but those two will almost certainly be gone by the time Cleveland makes their first pick at No. 12.

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While trading picks is what's bound to happen at some point in the first round, there's also some big-name players that could be moving teams.

Alex Flanagan of the NFL Network reports the San Diego Chargers have yet to speak to any team about trading QB Philip Rivers. Michael Gehlken of the Union-Tribune also reports that the Chargers have not discussed trading Rivers to the Titans, despite rampant rumors that San Diego could send Rivers and picks to the Titans for the No. 2 overall. pick.

Rivers is entering the final year of his seven-year, $98.25 million contract, and he'll likely get somewhere around $18 million per year in his next deal, even if it's just for three to four years. He's the only franchise QB who's likely to move teams this year, and if he does, San Diego would be wise to have his successor in place. That's why moving up to get Mariota has been such a hot rumor, even if it has no real legs to it.

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Don't count on Adrian Peterson changing teams either.

Minnesota has decided Peterson will play for the Vikings or no one, per Ian Rapoport. The Dallas Cowboys have been the team rumored to be in the running for him, but so far, the two sides have reportedly had no discussions on sending the all-Pro back to Big D.

Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reports the Arizona Cardinals could make a play for Peterson, but won't surrender their first-round pick to do so. It appears the Vikings are asking for a first-rounder in return for Peteron, but no one's giving that up for a 30-year-old running back.

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D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports the Falcons will consider trading up to for Florida defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. in this year's draft.

NFL Network's Albert Breer also reported Atlanta could trade up for an impact defensive player, and Fowler would more than fill that role. New Falcons head coach Dan Quinn recruited Fowler to Florida, where he coached the pass-rusher for one season.

In order to get Fowler though, Atlanta would likely have to trade up to No. 3 or 4 to secure his services. They could also look to draft USC's Leonard Williams if he begins to slide.

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CSN Philly's Andrew Kulp would be "mildly surprised" if Eagles inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks is not traded "before or during the draft."

Kendricks is one of three NFL linebackers with at least 8.0 sacks, three interceptions and five forced fumbles over the past two seasons to go with 189 total tackles over that span. Kendricks is probably better than most of the linebacker prospects in this draft, and linebacker is one of the weakest positions represented in this year's draft.

It doesn't look like it would take more than a Day 3 pick to get Kendricks, who's on the final year of his rookie contract.