Players Who Could Be Dealt During the 2015 NFL Draft

Players Who Could Be Dealt During the 2015 NFL Draft By Nick Kostos Apr 25, 2015 Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press While the vast majority of intrigue surrounding next week's NFL draft (rightly) centers around the top prospects and what each team will do, there's another layer of the onion to pull back that's juicy in its own right: star veteran players who are available via trade.In this column, we'll assess the situations of six big-name players who could be on the move during next week's draft. Some are coming off poor seasons, while others are clearly disgruntled with their current team. And in the case of Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford, he happens to play for the most unpredictable coach and personnel man in the NFL, Chip Kelly.Here are the players who could be dealt during the 2015 NFL draft.Chargers QB Philip Rivers Since Week 1 of the 2006 season, Philip Rivers has started every game at quarterback for the San Diego Chargers. But there's a chance that he's played his last snap with the team, as the prattle that he'll be dealt during the draft simply won't go away.Per Michael Gehlken of UT-San Diego, Rivers turned down a contract extension that general manager Tom Telesco offered—and Rivers' contract expires at the end of the 2015 season. Last month, Rivers also told Kevin Acee of UT-San Diego that the idea of playing in a Southern city—think Nashville—appeals to him more than a possible move to Los Angeles.The Rivers-to-Tennessee rumors just won't die down, with the Titans holding the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday's draft. In a theoretical trade, the Titans would receive Rivers, and the Chargers would get back the second overall pick, which they would then use to select Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. The trade doesn't make sense on a number of levels. First off, it's probable that 2015 will be Peyton Manning's last season in Denver. While it's true that Rivers' contract is set to expire after this season, the Chargers could simply use the franchise tag to ensure he stays in town, and they could potentially run the AFC West for years to come. Plus, the Titans aren't exactly ready to win now. With a healthy Rivers, the Titans would win maybe seven or eight games next year.Count former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson among those who believes the Chargers will deal Rivers to the Titans and draft Mariota, as he told the NFL Network (via Tom Krasovic of UT-San Diego).I don't expect this trade to materialize—but where there's smoke, there's often fire. Make no mistake about it, there's smoke billowing over San Diego and Nashville right now.Vikings RB Adrian PetersonL.G. Patterson/Associated Press Since being selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the seventh overall pick of the 2007 draft, running back Adrian Peterson has been one of the best players in the league. But come next week, he could be playing elsewhere.Peterson, who only played in one game last year as part of the league's response to the child abuse charges he faced, is clearly trying to force his way out of Minnesota. His agent, Ben Dogra, has said the Vikings aren't "in Adrian's best interest," per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. While coach Mike Zimmer recently insisted Peterson isn't available for trade, that doesn't mean Peterson won't be dealt.A number of teams would presumably be interested in Peterson's services, ranging from the Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys. Peterson is due $12.75 million next year, so his acquisition would be pricey, but players of his caliber aren't available to acquire too often.While I expect Peterson to remain a Viking for the 2015 season, there's absolutely a chance he could be on the move.Browns QB Johnny ManzielBob Leverone/Associated Press About one year ago, the Cleveland Browns traded back into the first round of the draft and nabbed quarterback Johnny Manziel with the 22nd overall pick.The selection was met with significant fanfare, as Manziel, a star at the collegiate level at Texas A&M, was immediately thought to be the franchise savior, the winning passer the club had been searching for since returning to the league in 1999.Well, that didn't exactly happen, as Manziel was a total disaster as a rookie, first failing to beat out incumbent Brian Hoyer in training camp and then going 0-2 as the starter and looking hapless when on the field. After the year (to his credit), Manziel checked into a rehab clinic to get his personal demons in order, and he has since been discharged.Cleveland's quarterback situation is atrocious, with veteran journeyman Josh McCown and Manziel atop the depth chart. Some believe that general manager Ray Farmer—armed with the 12th and 19th overall selections in the first round—will trade up to draft Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.And with a trade for Mariota, Manziel could be jettisoned out of Cleveland after only one season.Eagles QB Sam BradfordMatt Slocum/Associated Press Last month, Philadelphia Eagles coach (and de facto general manager) Chip Kelly made waves when he acquired quarterback Sam Bradford from the St. Louis Rams and immediately installed him atop the depth chart.Bradford tore his ACL in back-to-back seasons (2013 and 2014) and missed 25 games over that span, but he has the pedigree of being a former No. 1 overall draft pick (2010) and certainly has the physical tools to succeed in the NFL—provided he can stay healthy.Even though the Eagles held a press conference to introduce Bradford, that doesn't mean he's going to be on the team in Week 1—or even two weeks from now. When it comes to Kelly, nothing can be counted out, including his potential pursuit of his former college quarterback, Oregon's Marcus Mariota.Would it really shock you if Kelly swung a blockbuster deal to acquire Mariota, trading Bradford in the process? If you can honestly say that would stun you, you clearly haven't been paying attention to Kelly this offseason, as he's evolved into both the ultimate riverboat gambler and the NFL's equivalent of the most interesting man in the world.In fact, a recent report from Mark Eckel of NJ.com suggests that the Eagles will indeed try to move Bradford for the firepower needed to trade up for Mariota.Will the Eagles leave the draft with Mariota? That's unclear. But no one should be surprised if and when it happens—and if Bradford is dealt in the process.Bucs QB Mike GlennonReinhold Matay/Associated Press If someone were to write the story of the first two seasons of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon's career, it'd probably be titled "The Curious Case of Mike Glennon" (or: "Why Mike Glennon Can't See the Field").In two NFL seasons, Glennon has tossed 29 touchdown passes against only 15 interceptions while playing on truly brutal Bucs teams. With numbers like that, one would think Glennon would have earned the opportunity to at least compete for a starting job in 2015. Of course, that person would be wrong.With the Buccaneers all but certain to draft a quarterback (likely Florida State's Jameis Winston) with the No. 1 overall pick Thursday, Glennon's future with the team is nebulous. Is it possible that the Bucs will opt to keep Glennon as a veteran backup? Definitely, and that would be a prudent move, as Glennon has proved that he has the chops to play in the NFL.But is it also possible the team could look to deal Glennon for a draft pick? Absolutely.Back in February, ESPN's Chris Mortensen told SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio's Adam Schein that he could foresee a scenario in which Glennon is dealt to the Cleveland Browns. If that happened, Glennon would compete with Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel for the job, and it'd allow the Browns to keep the 12th and 19th overall picks in the draft.Glennon has talent; all he needs is a team willing to let him run with the job. That could happen Thursday night.Redskins QB Robert Griffin IIIRichard Lipski/Associated Press Since authoring a majestic neophyte campaign back in 2012, it's been nothing but disaster for quarterback Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins.Griffin is 5-15 as the team's starter over the past two seasons and has been benched by two different head coaches (Mike Shanahan and Jay Gruden), calling into question his future in our nation's capital. The Redskins hold the fifth overall pick in Thursday's draft, and as Mark Maske of The Washington Post recently wrote, the team has not ruled out spending that selection on Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.While Gruden called Griffin his starter heading into the 2015 season, coaches and general managers often lie to the media during the offseason. If the Redskins exercise Griffin's fifth-year option, Griffin will be guaranteed $16 million in 2016, and that seems like an awfully exorbitant price to pay for a passer who simply hasn't gotten the job done.Don't be shocked if the one-time golden boy of owner Daniel Snyder is wearing another uniform come next weekend.link