With the NFL Draft now less than a week away, draft picks are still changing hands. This weekend it was the Kansas City Chiefs acquiring offensive tackle Orlando Brown from the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for multiple picks.
The Ravens added the 31st overall pick of Thursday’s draft plus a third-rounder and fourth-rounder later in the weekend. They also picked up a 2022 fifth-round selection. The Chiefs added Brown plus a 2021 second-round pick and a 2022 sixth-rounder.
Brown was a third-round pick by the Ravens in 2018. He started 42 games over the last four seasons with starts at both right and left tackle. Brown has been named a Pro Bowler twice and requested a trade in February so he could remain a left tackle.
The Ravens are expecting injured Ronnie Stanley to return to the left side in 2021, which would have moved Brown back to playing right tackle. Traditionally left tackles get paid more than right tackles as they protect the quarterback’s blindside.
The Chiefs previously cut both starting tackles in Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz. Those moves saved the Chief’s salary cap room, and they can replace one slot with Brown.
Earlier in the offseason, the Chiefs paid $80 million to guard Joe Thuney and also signed guard Kyle Long who came out of retirement. By the time the season starts, quarterback Patrick Mahomes may have at least four new linemen in front of him.
Other Picks On the Move?
Rumors abound that both the Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers are looking to move down in Thursday’s first round. The Lions are currently slated to draft seventh, one pick ahead of the Panthers.
The Lions have a new general manager and a new head coach. They have already made a move this off-season to ship quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff.
The Lions ranked dead last in the NFL last season in overall defense while going 5-11. Head coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes could be looking to stockpile picks for a rebuild if they can find a team desperate to move up into the top 10.
Carolina also has a new GM in Scott Fitterer, who joined the team in January from Seattle. If one of the top five quarterbacks is still available at No. 8, then the Panthers could look to add multiple picks and trade back.
After acquiring quarterback Sam Darnold from the New York Jets, the Panthers are not expected to be in the quarterback market on Thursday night. They also currently have Teddy Bridgewater under contract though the 2020 Panthers starter has been granted permission to seek a deal elsewhere.
Betting Odds for Thursday
Draftkings has the odds of more than 5.5 quarterbacks being drafted in the first round at +350 with under 5.5 at -500. The first two seem to be locked in as Draftkings has Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence -10000 to go first to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Quarterback Zach Wilson from BYU is -5000 to go second to the Jets.
The third pick, by San Francisco, is more of a toss-up. Alabama quarterback Mac Jones is -167, with Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields at +250. North Dakota State quarterback is +350 to the 49ers at three, with Florida tight end Kyle Pitts at +3300 as the first non-quarterback.
For more picks, check out our free picks page.