NFL Insider Jason La Canfora on the NFL Draft: 6 Teams to Watch

With the NFL draft now less than one week away, and teams setting their draft boards, trade season is about to open.

There is always the potential for trades to be consummated before the draft begins, and they will occur throughout the three-day selection process, involving draft picks and established players as well. The week before the draft is when general managers try to drill down on how they think the process might transpire and where the value lies and which teams may shape up as the best trade matches.

It’s the last chance for clubs seeking to shed veteran players and troublesome contracts and disgruntled players and get back trade assets that they can actually put to use prior to Week 1. It’s a natural inflection point for transactions, as executives compare notes and get a handle on what their peers are up to. And there are a handful of teams already generating the most heat as potential trade partners and front offices that have already sent out a few signals (wink, wink) that they are open to moving up or down the draft board.

New York Giants: It would be quite surprising to see former top-five pick Kayvon Thibodeaux still on this roster by the end of the draft. And, as we hear it, the Giants are certainly willing to listen to offers for dominant defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence after he recently requested a trade.

"They want a three for Thibodeaux but they’ll take a four," one general manager told me. "I think he’s worn out his welcome there." Prying away Lawrence will be much more difficult. "Would they take a two-and-a-three for him?" one longtime NFL executive said. "I don’t know, man. I don’t think (new coach John) Harbaugh wants to move him. You would have to blow them away." For a player of Lawrence’s caliber – a unique interior pass rusher – that’s not out of the question. Several execs pointed to the Packers as perhaps a highly-motivated suitor. Hmm.

Philadelphia Eagles: All of the chatter will continue to swirl around wide receiver AJ Brown, who would welcome a new employer. However, we continue to hear that if he leaves, Brown’s departure is far more likely to occur after June 1, due to salary cap and contractual reasons, than during the draft.

The Eagles have work to do before then, and there is always a strong expectation that their front office is exploring any and every available player and option to move around the draft board for particular targets. The odds of them making at least trade in the next 10 days? "it’s Howie, dude," another NFL general manager said of Philadelphia GM Howie Roseman. "He’s always up to something."

San Francisco 49ers: They are trying to resolve a lingering contract impasse with future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams and if that’s not put to bed before the start of the draft, rest assured calls are coming.

The Chiefs have been watching very closely all along, league sources said. The 49ers seem to prefer stringing out Brandon Aiyuk into the summer before letting him go, with him at odds with the franchise. Maybe something picks up there though we kinda doubt it. With recent drafts not very fruitful, the 49ers could be poised to move up a few spots to try to address an anemic pass rush.

Miami Dolphins: Miami is coming out of a roster teardown and their rookie general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, is earning rave reviews from execs around the league for where he has the team poised in this draft.

He also comes from front office lineage in Green Bay, where stocking future drafts ahead of time was a staple. With 11 picks already in this draft – one that isn’t as rich and robust with talent at some critical positions – there is a heavy expectation they won’t be using all 11. "He has four picks in the third round," as one longtime personnel executive put it, "so maybe he moves a few to make something happen in the second round and he trades back to pick something up for next year … He’s in a great position to work this draft."

Dallas Cowboys: Maverick owner Jerry Jones is sitting on two first-round picks, which is hardly the norm for him. Some execs think he will move up into the top 10 to land an elite defensive back; could be a corner like Mansoor Delane or a hybrid safety like Caleb Downs.

Regardless, execs believe both first-rounders are destined to be on defensive players to try to fix that broken unit. Unless, of course, he gets an offer he feels like he can’t refuse for receiver George Pickens, who is sitting on a franchise tag. The problem is, "Pickens isn’t for everybody, and he’s going to want a crazy contract," as one NFL general manager put it. "I’m not convinced he’s a guy you can win with as your centerpiece."

Cleveland Browns: The Browns currently hold the sixth overall pick. It’s far from certain they will use it. Even with a second first-round pick already in their control, with all of their needs and the way this top five likely unfolds, multiple execs told me they could see Cleveland dropping out of the top 10 entirely.

They are years away from competing and notorious for trading down as a primary organizational philosophy. "I think they’re going to bail on 6," one GM said. "I think they want to rebuild the offensive line more than anything else, but a lot of those guys will still be available in the middle of the round. Somebody comes up for the running back (Jeremiyah Love)?" Sounds about right to me.