Pelissero on Draft Misinformation Season

Tom Pelissero joined Rich 13 days out from the NFL Draft with a candid read on the misinformation swirling through the league. His estimate: more than half the intel circulating isn't a flat-out lie, but information three degrees removed from someone who got lied to first.

The Cardinals at No. 3 keep surfacing as the most likely trade-back spot. GM Monti Ossenfort has a history of moving off the pick if the value isn't there. Pelissero laid out a likely top of the board, Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders at 1, David Bailey of Texas Tech to the Jets at 2, then Arizona weighing Arvell Reese, Francis Mauigoa, or a move down.

Jeremiah Love, the running back he calls one of the six to 10 true blue-chip players in the draft, has been floated as high as Arizona at 3. Tennessee at 4 makes more sense given their need to support Cam Ward. Sunny Styles could be a ceiling pick there after blowing up the combine.

The Giants at 5 is where things get murky. Joe Schoen runs personnel, but John Harbaugh got a contract with real juice and brought his own people including Wink Martindale. Pelissero's read: Schoen isn't picking a player Harbaugh doesn't want. Caleb Downs is the cleanest player in the draft, but a 5'11" safety at 5 is a stretch. Wide receiver, Carnell Tate or Jordan Addison, is in play if Dart needs more weapons.

Picks 6 through 10 get interesting because first-round grades run out before pick 15. Cleveland at 6 could stay and take an offensive lineman, Spencer Fano, Kaeden Proctor, or Mekhi Becton. Washington at 7 could chase a receiver for Jayden Daniels.

On Aaron Rodgers announcing his Steelers return at the draft: Pelissero shot down the rumor. Art Rooney hoped for an answer around then, but Pelissero hasn't been told that's a real deadline. What matters is getting Rodgers on the grass by mid-May OTAs.

As for Thursday-night trades, Pelissero is skeptical. AJ Brown is likely a post-June 1 move for cap reasons. Max Crosby and Myles Garrett chatter exists but feels dormant. Dexter Lawrence is the name most likely to move, but the Giants aren't eager. The real action, Pelissero said, comes Friday and Saturday with Anthony Richardson and Will Levis.