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2020 NFL Draft rumors: Raiders, Jaguars trades could rock Round 1

By Cody Williams

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 26: Head Coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Mike Mayock of the Oakland Raiders of the North Team talk before the start of the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The North defeated the South 34 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 26: Head Coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Mike Mayock of the Oakland Raiders of the North Team talk before the start of the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on January 26, 2019 in Mobile, Alabama. The North defeated the South 34 to 24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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The Raiders and Jaguars could hold the keys to the 2020 NFL Draft as they have the ammo to move up and reportedly could make shocking first-round trades.

Now that the first wave of NFL free agency has passed, the landscape for the 2020 NFL Draft has already been altered. Not only have many big needs already been filled but a ton of draft capital has changed hands. The San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings both acquired extra first-round picks in trades, joining the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars as teams with multiple selections in Round 1.

Whenever a team has more than one first-round pick in a given NFL Draft, they have the chance to make a huge impact. They have the ammo to make a trade up that could throw the entire first 32 picks — and really the draft as a whole — for a loop. And it appears that two teams in the 2020 NFL Draft are ready to do that.

According to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report, the Raiders and Jaguars are two teams that personnel throughout the NFL believe are possibly readying to use their first-round picks to make a trade up, perhaps for a quarterback.

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In the case of the Raiders, a scout told Miller that he thought trading the No. 12 and 19 picks was unlikely for general manager Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden. However, the note also stated that Gruden loves quarterbacks and it’s wholly possible that they could make a bold move up in the draft:

"“He loves quarterbacks and thinks he can get the best out of all of them. Would it surprise me if he fell in love with Jordan Love or Justin Herbert and made a move to get them? Not one bit.”"

Meanwhile, a “rival general manager” noted the boldness of Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell. Harkening back to his move to take Blake Bortles at No. 3 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft, something no one saw coming and noted that, with Nick Foles being traded this offseason, that could be the case again for the Jaguars.

"“Remember when [Dave] Caldwell shocked everyone and drafted Blake Bortles? Obviously it wasn’t a good pick, but this is one of the most secretive GMs in football. If he wants a quarterback—and I think a lot of their moves point to that—then no one will know until he executes a trade up to get one.”"

Another scout noted that he wouldn’t be surprised if Jacksonville, who is in the middle of giving their franchise a facelift, tried to trade up to No. 3 with the Lions to take Tua Tagovailoa.

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It’s worth noting that these rumblings are rooted largely in the beliefs of other front office members. But while that may be the case, the Raiders and Jaguars are both in positions to make big moves and dramatically shake up the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft if they so please.

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