NFL Draft 2016: Last-Minute Rumors and News for 1st-Round Order and Picks

The 2016 NFL draft begins in prime time on Thursday night, with the event’s first round taking up the entire day of coverage from the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago.

Success in the NFL depends greatly on putting together a successful draft class. Even the good teams often have glaring needs at multiple positions, and the violent nature of the sport leads to plenty of shortened careers, and thus new players must take over. The Los Angeles Rams hold the No. 1 overall pick, having been on the clock since they traded with the Tennessee Titans for the top honor in mid-April. The Philadelphia Eagles made a similar blockbuster deal with the Cleveland Browns and own the second pick. Both teams are expected to take quarterbacks.The shakeup at the top of the first round has provided the biggest news so far, but there could still be more changes in the works. Rumors are also swirling about specific teams and players.Before jumping into a look the latest chatter, here’s the full draft order along with a big board courtesy of Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller.

Cleveland Could Trade Down AgainAccording to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Browns’ eighth overall pick, acquired via the trade with Philadelphia, could be of interest to teams in need of a running back:

Trade spot to watch: #Browns at No. 8. They’ve been having discussions with teams behind them who would want to come up for Ezekiel Elliott

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2016

The buzz is interesting for a couple of different reasons. The Browns have already traded down once, and should they do so again, they could be sacrificing a chance at taking an elite prospect in order to gather more picks in this draft or in later years.For a poor franchise with a new head coach in Hue Jackson, the opportunity to fill multiple draft needs with a bevy of picks is enticing, but that has to be balanced with being in position to take a potential game-changer with a top-10 pick. Players like DeForest Buckner, Joey Bosa or Vernon Hargreaves could be available at No. 8, but the Browns have more than just defensive needs.As for the teams potentially interested in trading up, it’s a testament to Ezekiel Elliott’s skills that it’s a running back reportedly drawing interest.

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The position has become devalued with the rise of the passing game in the NFL, and the Rams drafting Todd Gurley at No. 10 last year seemed like an aberration considering the 2013 and 2014 drafts didn’t see a running back come off the board until the …

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