Trading up to secure Taylor?

[Riggo44]

If Taylor is there Grab him! But We don't want to trade up to draft him. We are short on pick's as it stand's!

[backrow]

Who is Taylor's Agent? Hopefully, not the Postens!

[SKINSnCANES]

Im not sure, my guess is Rosenhaus. Usually thats who Miami players pick.

[skinsfanthru&thru]

does anyone know why winslow chose the postons with all of their recent screwups?

[SKINSnCANES]

The Postons can be very convincing people, and they do always get the big paycheck. It might be around 6.5 million less than you thought, but still a big contact.

[skinsfanthru&thru]

i thought rosenhaus was supposed to be the "master agent" for getting the big pay day. plus maybe he doesn't want to play here cuz he had to know how signing with them would severly lower his chances of being drafted by the skins.

[SKINSnCANES]

Mabye...but I doubt that he would give up a few million dollars over it. Rosenhaus is usually the 'master agent' as far as I can tell. And theres what, five or six Postons clients that have some sort of grivence or complaint with them right now.I think it was done to confuse us more and create more doubt about who the skins will pick.

[backrow]

Posted on Tue, Apr. 20, 2004

AL DIAZ / HERALD STAFF
COVETED:

The New England Patriots, who have the No. 21 pick in the draft, might try to acquire Miami's No. 20 pick and parlay those to draft UM safety Sean Taylor.

NFL DRAFT
Pats seeking Taylor?

The Patriots fill a need by acquiring running back Corey Dillon, and an NFL source says they might now try a trade so they can draft UM safety Sean Taylor.

BY ARMANDO SALGUERO

asalguero@herald.com

The New England Patriots filled their need by acquiring running back Corey Dillon on Monday, and one NFL source said they will now try to address their want for University of Miami safety Sean Taylor.

The Patriots traded one of their second-round picks (56th overall) to the Bengals for the 29-year-old Dillon. That trade erased New England's flirtation with drafting Oregon State's Steven Jackson or Virginia Tech's Kevin Jones this weekend.

But an NFL source said the Patriots might try to continue their dynamic dealing by moving up to draft Taylor or cornerback DeAngelo Hall -- and they might work a trade with the Dolphins to do it.

The source, who requested anonymity, said Monday he believes the Patriots have talked to several teams about possible draft-day trades, and that Miami was initially one of the teams involved in those discussions. Last week, New England coach Bill Belichick confirmed he has talked to several teams.

''You only get 15 minutes on the clock, so you don't want to be dialing around the league [when it's your turn to pick],'' he said.

In the scenario involving Miami, the Patriots would offer a first-round pick (32nd and last pick of the first round) and their remaining second-rounder (No. 63) in exchange for Miami's No. 20 overall pick.

That would give the Patriots the 20th and 21st overall picks in the first round, and they would then try to parlay those to get Taylor.

Every scenario presumes Taylor will be available, and that is no certainty. The former Gulliver Prep star could go as high as No. 3, and likely no lower than seventh.

So why are the Patriots interested in Taylor?

Belichick is a defensive-minded coach, and Taylor is arguably the best defensive player available. Getting Taylor also would allow New England to move safety Eugene Wilson to cornerback and get rid of cornerback Ty Law, who is feuding with Belichick.

The Patriots also are said to be considering using the same scenario to move up to get Virginia Tech's Hall. Hall would replace Law while allowing Wilson to stay at safety. A trade scenario for Hall would not necessarily involve the Dolphins, the source said.

The Dolphins, who don't currently own a second-round pick, could use this trade to get back into the second round while still staying in the first round, albeit at a lower overall slot.

''There are some good players in the second round,'' Dolphins general manager Rick Spielman said during a draft news conference last week. ``There are a lot of good players in the second round that you can possibly get.''

The Dolphins could use the trade to take a tackle and guard in the first two rounds, depending on who is available. Offensive guard Justin Smiley of Alabama, and tackles Kelly Butler of Purdue or Jacob Rogers of USC should be available through the 63rd overall pick.

And addressing its ailing offensive line situation with one, or possibly two selections, would clear the way for Miami to use it's third-round selection on a receiver, which remains a need.

Florida State's P.K. Sam, USC's Keary Colbert and Clemson's Derek Hamilton are likely third-round receiver selections.

If the possibility of division rivals working a trade sounds unlikely, recall that the Dolphins and Patriots worked a trade during last year's draft that eventually helped the Dolphins land rookie starting left tackle Wade Smith.

STOREHOUSE OF PICKS

While Belichick last week called ''ridiculous'' a report saying his team would give up two first-rounders, a second, and a fourth-round pick to get in position to land Taylor, he doesn't deny that his storehouse of picks is allowing him to explore various trade options.

''I definitely wouldn't rule it out,'' Belichick said during NFL league meetings. ``I think we have enough draft picks to be able to move if we want to move. It just depends on who you're moving for, what you want to do. I don't know if you want to move just to move. If there's something specific you want to do, we might have the opportunity to do that.

``I think there are a lot of teams interested in moving down. Getting two players for one, so to speak.''

The Dolphins are not promising a trade nor discounting the possibility. But it doesn't seem likely they will make a trade prior to draft day because such a move before the selection process begins has a way of hurting teams -- which is exactly what happened to Miami in 1998 when Jimmy Johnson made a trade down before the draft began, ending Miami's chances of selecting receiver Randy Moss.

''I don't know what's going to happen,'' Spielman said. ``Depending on what's there at the 20th spot, if you don't like it, is there an opportunity to move down?

My comment: If the Patsies offer 2 #1s, a #2, and a #4, I think we would be crazy not to take it! Oh, the possibilities!

[Phinehas]

I think that will be a tough deal to get done. In order for the Pats to use 20 and 21 to get Taylor, they would have to make the trade with the Phins a long time before the Phins would have a very good idea of who will still be available at the 20th spot.

Even so, the thought of the Pats with added offense in Dillon and a hard-hitting ball hawk like Taylor on defense is downright scary.

--Phin

[SKINSnCANES]

I hope they dont make that trade work. I expecially hope it doesnt happen with the Skins. Those two first round choices in my opinion isnt enough compensation for getting Taylor. I also hope that Larry Fitzgerald goes to Arizona and that they dont take Taylor. Man is it draft day yet.

[hi-jinx]

I think this is the most interesting draft in a long time. No one is real sure what going to happen 4 out of the first 5 teams may be looking to move down. A ton of great WRs, 3 good QBs. I just can't wait till Saturday, someone make them draft tomarrow!!!

[AnonEmouse]

Can't see the logic of drafting Taylor then moving a S to CB. If Law goes, they need a solid CB not a convertion. I see them trading around to secure Hall, but not Taylor.

[SKINSnCANES]

Their safety is a corner. He just played safety last year becuase they needed him to. So moving him to corner is moving him back to his own position.

[skinsfanthru&thru]

plus why would miami be willing to help the reigning champion of their division? that makes absolutely no sense at all. if anything miami should be trying to mess up new englands plans.

[SKINSnCANES]

it goes both ways, Miami doesnt have a second round pick, they would be getting another player that could help them.