At least one NFL team is willing to talk about trading up in Saturday’s draft, and the Bears are listening.
The Washington Redskins claim they have contacted “every team in front of us and behind us,” according to football operations chief Vinny Cerrato, after adding the 25th pick in a trade with Denver to their ninth spot in the first round.
Washington’s calls include the Bears at No. 4. The Redskins like Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards and are angling to package their picks to move up. But nothing can be finalized until the Redskins are certain the player they want is available.
In a draft without an obvious top tier, the Bears aren’t the only team happy to listen to offers to trade down. General manager Jerry Angelo said he will answer calls but not make them. Coach Lovie Smith said Thursday the phones aren’t ringing “as much as you’d think.”
“We like our position, with the fourth pick getting a good player, keeping all options open,” Smith said. “If someone makes us an offer you can’t refuse, you have to listen, and that’s what we’re doing.”
If it’s Texas running back Cedric Benson they want, the Bears should be comfortable because the three teams in front of them don’t appear interested in him. What limited trade talk there has been centers around Edwards and Mike Williams of Southern California.
With three top running backs–Benson and Auburn’s Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown–and three top receivers–Edwards, Williams and South Carolina’s Troy Williamson–the Bears would have a good shot at getting one of them if they traded for Washington’s ninth pick. The difference in signing bonuses between No. 4 and No. 9 is $5 million to $6 million, often bigger than the difference in talent.
Of the top backs and receivers, Benson and Williamson are the most likely to last until the ninth spot. Williamson is the fastest of the three receivers and one of the fastest-rising prospects because of his potential to flourish in a pro offense after only 43 catches last season.
With the first pick, the San Francisco 49ers remain in contract negotiations with Utah quarterback Alex Smith that have lagged. Smith wants a deal comparable to the six-year, $54 million Eli Manning got from the New York Giants last year.
California quarterback Aaron Rodgers would play for less and help 49ers owner John York avoid a long holdout and potential public-relations disaster.
The Miami Dolphins are said to prefer Smith over Rodgers if they go quarterback, but new coach Nick Saban also is entertaining a trade down to recoup the second-round choice the Dolphins gave to Philadelphia for QB A.J. Feeley.
Saban has no qualms about giving up a so-called surefire player with the second choice.
“Is there a Julius Peppers out there? Do you see one? Just because you have the second pick in the draft doesn’t mean it’s surefire,” Saban said.
That comment is not likely to entice anybody to trade up, unless it’s the Redskins, who appear desperate to make a splash after coach Joe Gibbs’ disappointing first year back.
The Redskins gave up their third-round pick (No. 76) plus next year’s first-round and fourth-round picks to snag Denver’s 25th spot. It’s a very steep price unless the Redskins are collecting ammunition to move up and make it a one-man draft. Most draft observers don’t see enough difference in value between the 25th and 76th spots to warrant giving up a No. 1 and a No. 4.
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Don Pierson’s mock draft
TEAM PLAYER POS. SCHOOL
1. San Francisco Aaron Rodgers QB California
2. Miami Alex Smith QB Utah
3. Cleveland Braylon Edwards WR Michigan
4. BEARS Cedric Benson RB Texas
5. Tampa Bay Ronnie Brown RB Auburn
6. Tennessee Carnell Williams RB Auburn
7. Minnesota-a Mike Williams WR USC
8. Arizona Antrel Rolle CB Miami
9. Washington Carlos Rogers CB Auburn
10. Detroit Derrick Johnson LB Texas
11. Dallas Marcus Spears DE LSU
12. San Diego-b Shawne Merriman LB Maryland
13. Houston Troy Williamson WR South Carolina
14. Carolina Alex Barron OT Florida State
15. Kansas City Adam Jones CB West Virginia
16. New Orleans Thomas Davis S Georgia
17. Cincinnati Erasmus James DE Wisconsin
18. Minnesota Shaun Cody DE USC
19. St. Louis Jammal Brown OT Oklahoma
20. Dallas-c Mark Clayton WR Oklahoma
21. Jacksonville Fabian Washington CB Nebraska
22. Baltimore Travis Johnson DT Florida State
23. Seattle David Pollack DE Georgia
24. Green Bay Matt Roth DE Iowa
25. Washington-d Demarcus Ware DE Troy State
26. Oakland-e Justin Miller CB Clemson
27. Atlanta Justin Tuck DE Notre Dame
28. San Diego Khalif Barnes OT Washington
29. Indianapolis Luis Castillo DT Northwestern
30. Pittsburgh Marcus Johnson OT Mississippi
31. Philadelphia Matt Jones WR Arkansas
32. New England Marlin Jackson CB Michigan
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a-from Oakland in WR Randy Moss trade. b-from New York Giants in QB Eli Manning trade. c-from Buffalo in trade for pick to draft QB J.P. Losman. d-from Denver for No. 3 plus 2006 No. 1 and No. 4. e-from New York Jets for No. 2 plus TE Doug Jolley.
Terry Bannon’s pick
4. BEARS, Mike Williams, WR, USC
Mike Williams will pose big problems for NFL cornerbacks. At 6 feet 5 inches and 229 pounds, he can overpower them. And with superior hands, he can outfight them for Rex Grossman’s passes.
Williams is just a step ahead of Michigan’s Braylon Edwards, who could go with the second or third picks.
Williams does not have world-class speed but makes up for it with his playmaking ability. He scored 30 touchdowns in just two college seasons. That’s 21 more receiving TDs than the Bears had last season.
John Mullin’s pick
4. BEARS, Cedric Benson, RB, Texas
Jerry Angelo hates risk, and wide receivers have a bust rate too high to suit the Bears GM so he will pick Texas running back Cedric Benson. Angelo also loves raw production and Benson is a monster vs. the potential of Auburn’s Ronnie Brown.
Benson’s numbers (222 pounds, 5,540 career yards, including 1,834 as a senior, 1,360 as a junior, 40 TDs his last two seasons) are impressive.
If a top quarterback is left at No. 4, look for the Bears to drop down a slot.
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dpierson@tribune.com
