Let’s get right to the most relevant rumors as we lead up to the draft!

• ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that the Browns may actually try to trade up with the Raiders to secure the selection of JaMarcus Russell. The rumor is that the Browns will give up Braylon Edwards, the third overall pick in the 2005 draft, in order to move up. This would be a great deal for the Raiders, if it was indeed true, but it seems too outlandish to be accurate.
• There are many whispers that Lance Briggs could still be moved by the Chicago Bears. The Washington Redskins are the most likely destination. The Bears and Briggs are at odds, and if the Bears find a deal that they like, they will not hesitate to move him.
• Inside the League is reporting that the Texans may be trying to trade down with the Denver Broncos. The rumored trade would be the 21st and 56th picks exchanged for the 10th overall pick. That would not be a great deal on the part of the Texans - but if they can get a 2008 2nd round pick they may pull the trigger. The Texans would at least be able to add a WR and CB in the first two rounds this way. The Broncos would likely target Adam Carriker, Patrick Willis, or Amobi Okoye. The trade is not likely to happen until the Texans are on the clock. If Willis is available, I see a trade as very likely. [UPDATE: Adam Schefter, who is well connected in Denver, reports that there have been no talks in regards to this trade. While that seems unlikely - he might be saying what the Broncos want, it appears likely that another site posted a deal as “done” before it was]
• There is increasing rumors that Patrick Willis is a wanted man - Buffalo and San Francisco are apparently both on the Ole Miss MLB, with Denver (as mentioned above) a suitor if they can work in front of those teams.

Here are the latest rumors as we approach the draft. Hard to separate fact from fiction this time of year.

• New England is in love with MLB David Harris of Michigan and would like to select him in Round 1. Denver also has some interest in Harris who now appears likely to go in Round 1.
• Don Banks of SI.com reports that Adrian Peterson re-injured his collar bone in the Fiesta Bowl. If true - Peterson rushed for a TD on his final collegiate carry, the news may help Peterson slide past #3 and could present a situation where Green Bay or Buffalo trade up for the talented rusher.
• Banks also reports that Atlanta is very interested in moving up for Calvin Johnson, something that the War Room Report speculated on almost immediately after the Matt Schaub trade. It could still happen, but Atlanta should get a good value pick if they stay at #8.
• In an update to yesterday’s column regarding the third QB taken, Adam Schefter chimes in with a suggestion that Kevin Kolb could be the third QB taken.
• Schefter also reports that San Francisco could be targeting Patrick Willis - a player they coached in the Senior Bowl. We still think, as we have for months, that Adam Carriker makes more sense there.

Stay tuned to the War Room Report for the latest draft updates!

As the draft approaches, the draft rumor mill is in full swing. Many of the rumors this time of year can be taken with a grain of salt. Yahoo Sports points out some of the more ludicrous rumors of recent years, including the rumor that Kevin Hardy had a broken neck that broke just days before the draft in 1996. Below are some of the rumors we are hearing and our take on them.

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network is speculating that Adrian Peterson could be a player that falls. In fact, if he gets past Cleveland at #3, he could go all the way to #10 with Houston. The Bucs have Cadillac Williams, Arizona has a large investment in Edgerrin James, and Washington has two strong RBs. Minnesota is projected to take Peterson in some mock drafts, but after the investment they made in Chester Taylor last season and the huge needs they have at CB and WR, it would be a foolish move. Atlanta could certainly consider Peterson if he is there. The Falcons do not have a running back to fit Bobby Petrino’s system and Peterson would certainly be interesting there. Miami is unlikely to take a QB, which would potentially put Houston in the position to auction off #10 to Buffalo (#12), Green Bay (#16), or Tennessee (#19).

A casual mention in the Denver Post of a possible trade up by the Broncos has garnered a lot of attention. The article states that Denver offered #21, #56, #86, plus their first rounder in 08 for the #2 pick currently owned by the Lions, provided that Calvin Johnson is still on the board at #2. While this sounds good, it still may not be enough. Plus, Denver is more likely to target other players - potentially Patrick Willis or Amobi Okoye, than Johnson.

Lance Briggs trade rumors still persist. The latest rumor is that the Tampa Bay Bucs are interested in the disgruntled Bears OLB. The reliable Adam Schefter reports the rumor, but it seems very unlikely. The Bucs already have a pair of weakside Tampa 2 OLBs in Cato June and Derrick Brooks. The Bucs trading for Briggs makes even less sense than the rumored Redskins deal for Briggs. It just goes to show that the rumor mill can get out of control this time of year.

Stay tuned to the War Room Report Blog for the latest NFL Draft Rumors and be sure to check out our seven round 2007 NFL Mock Draft.

The 2007 NFL Draft is fast approaching and this year could see an unprecedented number of trades. The needs of the teams at the top of the draft do not line up with the value of the players available. In addition, several of the top teams have multiple needs and few picks, so it would make sense for them to trade down.

Teams likely to trade down:

Detroit Lions - The Lions are likely to see Calvin Johnson on the board, but after recently spending 3 first rounders on WRs, with only Roy Williams to show for it, the Lions will be hesitant to pull the trigger. They need a player to pressure the QB to make the Tampa 2 scheme work and are reportedly in love with Gaines Adams. They should find no shortage of suitors for the pick, particularly if Johnson is available.

Washington Redskins - The Redskins have already tried to move out of this spot. The best move for the team, particularly if Adams is gone, would be to trade down to replace some of the picks they have lost in other trades. The Skins do not have a pick in rounds 2-4 and trading down slightly would help a team with several needs replace those needs and build for the future.

Minnesota Vikings - One of the best examples of a team whose needs do not fit the draft slot. The Vikings desperately need to add a cornerback or a wide receiver, but pick 7 is probably too high for Leon Hall or Ted Ginn. The Vikings would easily be able to make a trade out of the 7 spot if LaRon Landry was available.

Houston Texans - The Texans, like the Redskins, have a number of needs but not the necessary amount of picks to fill the spots. They traded their 2nd rounder in the Matt Schaub deal. Like the Vikings, they need to add a CB or a WR most of all, but may be better served by moving down slightly and targetting those two positions in the first 2 rounds.

Teams most likely to trade up:

Tampa Bay Bucs - The Bucs want Calvin Johnson and have the ammunition to make a move. Though it seems unlikely they will pay the price that Yahoo Sports has suggested (basically all of their picks) to move up to the #1 slot, if Oakland takes Russell, look for Tampa to move up to the #2 slot to add Johnson.

Atlanta Falcons - The Falcons may want Calvin Johnson too and the Lions may be able to start a bidding war. The Falcons, thanks to the Matt Schaub trade, have the ammo to move up to #2. If the Falcons decide they want Joe Thomas or LaRon Landry, they may choose to move up slightly to acquire one of those two players.

Denver Broncos - The Broncos have been very active in free agency and Mike Shanahan seems to think this team is ready to compete for the Super Bowl this year under second year QB Jay Cutler. The Broncos do not have a lot of needs, but the release of Al Wilson may make them players for Patrick Willis. The public statements that D.J. Williams will move to the MIKE linebacker spot could be a smokescreen from the calculating Shanahan.

The story from the NFL owners meeting is that the Washington Redskins offered the Chicago Bears the 6th overall pick for pick 31 and the rights to LB Lance Briggs. Hogshaven provides an interesting account of how the offer was made.

It is a bit perplexing why the Redskins would even want Briggs. He has flourished next to Brian Urlacher in the Cover 2 system, which Washington does not run. Furthermore, Washington’s current starting linebackers are free agent acquisitions London Fletcher-Baker in the middle and Marcus Washington, plus Rocky McIntosh, who the Redskins paid a king’s ransom for, in order to move up to select him in the draft. Trading for Briggs would likely relegate McIntosh to the bench. Never mind the fact that Washington’s biggest need is clearly on the defensive front four. If Washington wanted to trade out from the 6th pick, they would be best served to trade down for a few more picks, rather than a player they do not need, who does not fit their system. The link from Hogs Haven I guess explains some of this.

As for the Bears, it is reported they really don’t want anyone at the 6th pick, but realize what a strong bargaining chip it is, particularly if a team is interested in LaRon Landry or Levi Brown. ESPN is reporting that the Bears may consider trading Briggs to Washington just to acquire the 6th pick to trade.

Just another story in the reckless way Daniel Snyder has been treating the Redskins as a fantasy football franchise, not one that wants to win games. Despite all of this, the Redskins are one of the most valuable franchises in all of sports.

After one high profile offensive restricted free agent, Matt Schaub, was traded, the rumors are circulating that San Diego Charger running back Michael “The Burner” Turner could be the next to move.

The Green Bay Packers are interested in the former Northern Illinois star, who has averaged 6 yards a carry in his 3 year NFL career while serving as the backup to LaDainian Tomlinson. Green Bay is left without a starting running back after Ahman Green signed with the Houston Texans. Former Oklahoma State runner Vernand Morency is the current #1 back on the roster. Morency was acquired from Houston in a trade at the beginning of the 2006 season. He had a solid 2006 season in Green Bay while backing up Green, but may not be the #1 back that the Packers are looking for.

It has long been speculated that Green Bay will draft Cal RB Marshawn Lynch in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, but as the War Room Report has predicted for over a month in the 2007 NFL Mock Draft, the Buffalo Bills, upon trading Willis McGahee, may look to draft Lynch before Green Bay.

The trade would most likely take place on draft day, if Green Bay is unable to secure Lynch or to trade up for Adrian Peterson, with the Packers sending their 2nd round pick to San Diego for Turner.

The agent for Al Wilson has indicated that the Denver Broncos are shopping the Pro Bowl middle linebacker, with the Lions, Giants, and Eagles having interest. All three teams need linebackers. If the Giants completed the deal, expect Antonio Pierce to move to the weakside.

The Broncos would likely move D.J. Williams to the middle and would probably draft a replacement for Williams on the outside.

The Broncos need help on the defensive front, particularly at tackle. The Lions could send franchise player Cory Redding to the Broncos, especially if he can rework his deal. The Eagles have an assortment of talented young linemen, and recently signed another DT, Monte Reagor, which would allow them to trade a player like Mike Patterson or Trent Cole.

The strength of the Giants is probably at defensive end. Mathis Kiwanuka could be a target for Denver.

Of course, Mike Shanahan could be looking to acquire addition draft picks in order to move up and select Joe Thomas or Calvin Johnson.

With the news of the Matt Schaub trade to Houston, Atlanta now could very well trade up to target local product Calvin Johnson.

Johnson would be the perfect fit for owner Arthur Blank has he tries to sell tickets. Johnson would give Michael Vick the reliable target Atlanta has been searching for, as they have spent recent high picks on Roddy White and Michael Jenkins.

The likely trading partners would be Detroit and Cleveland. Both teams have many needs and a dealing allowing them to receive the #8, #39, and #44 picks would give them the opportunity to address many needs.

Foxsports.com is now reporting that the Texans gave up a lot more than originally thought for Matt Schaub. Houston gave up their 2007 2nd round pick, 2008 second round pick, and the #8 overall pick in the 2007 draft in exchange for Schaub and the #10 overall pick.

Houston is making a huge committment to Schaub here. Does this give Atlanta the ammunition to trade up for Calvin Johnson?

Adam Schefter of the NFL Network confirms that Matt Schaub will be traded from Atlanta to Houston.  As we speculated, the trade is for a 2nd round draft pick. Atlanta should be in good position to acquire additional defensive help with the pick.

The Houston Texans could be nearing a trade for Matt Schaub of the Atlanta Falcons reports the Houston Chronicle. If they traded for Schaub, expect David Carr to be traded or released.
The article does not mention what Houston would give up, but if we had to speculate, we would assume the 2nd round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft that Houston owns.

NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports the Randy Moss to the Packers trade will not happen by this weekend. It appears, as the War Room Report speculated earlier today, the Boston Herald article was based on a message board rumor, and it spun out of control. It is a shame that the Herald went the route of profootballtalk and other websites that post radical information for the sake of generating traffic.

If the War Room Report had to guess, based on speculation only, we would bet that Moss gets traded to Green Bay close to the draft or on draft day for some combination of Corey Williams, Kareem Gbaja-biamilla, and a 2nd day draft pick.