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NFL Draft Rumors 2014: Buccaneers want to move up to number two?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be looking to trade up, rather than trade down, in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

According to Pro Football Talk the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are rumored to be trying to trade up to the number two overall pick, currently held by the St. Louis Rams -- who have long been rumored to be looking to trade down. It's just two days before the draft, so we're seeing plenty of smokescreens and false rumors at this point, but there could be some truth to this report.

Why this makes sense

The Bucs find themselves just on the outside looking when it comes to the top players in the draft. The elite tackles, pass rushers and wide receiver are unlikely to fall to them at number seven, and even Johnny Manziel is generally projected to go ahead of them at the second overall pick. If they don't want to 'settle' for Mike Evans and find a trade down less than attractive (or difficult to pull off), a trade up to get the kind of elite target they couldn't get

Couple this with Louis Riddick's rumors of a "draft day trade that could blow the top off of the draft involving the QB position", and we could see Mike Glennon being a part of that deal, or Johnny Manziel being Tampa Bay's target.

Why this doesn't make sense

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't have the draft picks to pull this off. They lack a fourth-round pick, and the Bucs hinted in their pre-draft conference at wanting to trade down and collect more picks rather than wanting to trade up. The Bucs have also hinted that they want to build their team through the draft, and they have several big holes to fill as it is -- which means trading up wouldn't leave them with the ammunition necessary to do so.

A trade up to number two with the St. Louis Rams is likely to cost the Bucs a high second-round pick, if not more if there's significant competition for that selection. That's a hefty price to pay for a team that has several large needs it almost has to fill in this draft.

Plus, it's lying season. Believe nothing you hear in the week leading up to the draft, and you'll be fairly close to the truth.

Possible targets

Manziel has been repeatedly tied to the Buccaneers. Jadeveon Clowney (if available) would make a lot of sense, given Lovie Smith's love of dominant pass rushers. Khalil Mack would make a little less sense given that the scheme fit isn't as neat. Sammy Watkins, the (consensus) best receiver in the draft or Greg Robinson, a physically dominant tackle who could be an All-Pro guard, would both be excellent value and fill big needs for the Bucs as well.

Likelihood: 2/10