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The NFL draft is less than three weeks away, meaning the rumors are starting to ramp up. However, no matter how much the rumors start to sway the opinion of the public, some things will not change.
Based on mock drafts, there are some clear points in the NFL draft that have significant butterfly effects on the rest of the first round, if not, the entire draft.
As long as things go somewhat as expected based on team needs, here are four picks that could cause a huge ripple effect for the rest of the NFL draft.
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Cleveland Browns - Pick #2
While it may seem obvious to say the second overall pick in the NFL draft will have a significant impact on the rest of the draft, this is where the draft truly starts. Everyone knows the Titans are going to pick a quarterback with the first pick.
It seemed clear the team would select Cam Ward out of Miami, but Shedeur Sanders is making a late push for the top quarterback in the class. Either way, it seems certain one of those will go first.
With the Browns, there is much more unknown, especially if Ward goes first. The team could settle for Sanders to fill a need, but could also take a top prospect like Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter. Either way, the following teams will have to react accordingly, including making big decisions to trade up or down.
Las Vegas Raiders - Pick #6
The Raiders seem most likely to take running back Ashton Jeanty, but could also easily shock people and take a quarterback or wide receiver. Before acquiring and extending Geno Smith, Shedeur Sanders was a commonly mocked pick.
That could still happen, which would cause other quarterback-needy teams to have to react on the fly. Leaving Jeanty on the table would also likely cause a player like Omarion Hampton to fall a bit, or a team who might not have otherwise taken a running back to take one, like the Chicago Bears.
New Orleans Saints - Pick #9
The Saints might be the biggest wild card in the NFL draft. They could just fit in with other mid-first teams and take a defender, but they could also snag one of the few top offensive linemen, wide receivers, or even tight ends.
They seem like a team that could go in many different directions, making it hard for the teams behind them to predict what they will do. That could cause interesting things to happen, whether through trades or big reaches to fill needs.
They could also even take Shedeur Sanders, which would have a huge impact on the rest of the draft.
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Pittsburgh Steelers - Pick #21
The Steelers have a huge need at quarterback, the most important position in football, and at running back and d-line, two of the deeper position groups in this year's class.
That means teams may want to trade up ahead of them or have to make a significant pivot depending on who they take.
If the Steelers go with a quarterback, whether that is Shedeur Sanders or Jaxon Dart, other teams will suddenly feel trapped if they were looking to grab a quarterback late in the first or early in the second.
If they take Omarion Hampton, that leaves the running back position in an interesting spot, with teams unsure whether to wait until the second round or not.
The defensive line is the same way, where there are some top guys at DT and EDGE, so if they take one of them, the rest of the board would shift drastically.
For more on the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
About the writer
Seth Quinn is a contributing sports writer based in Massachusetts. His focus is on sports, primarily the NFL and NBA. He has in depth ... Read more