I guess my question would be who would want to trade up with us, and for whom?
If there are teams that somehow missed out on the first tier of QBs, I would imagine they might be interested in trading up if we were not interested in a guy like Rudolph.
But who would be the candidates?
Minnesota and New England? Not likely considering how close they are to us in the draft order. Perhaps if Minnesota missed out on Cousins and signed a temporary placeholder at QB then were in the market for a longer term solution, maybe New England might be interested, but that's a longshot.
At the top of the 2nd round...
Cleveland likely would not be interested (see above). Perhaps if the Giants took Barkley in round one, they might be interested in dealing up, but then there likely would not be any need for the reasons listed above. I think if Rudolph were on the board, and the Giants had an interest, maybe they'd have to jump ahead of New England.
The Colts likely would not deal up for three reasons. First, they likely would not be interested in a QB because they have Luck. Secondly, if Luck were a question mark, they are already in a position to take a QB at #3. Furthermore, even if they were interested in replacing Luck and did not do so at 3, it is unlikely TC 7 Caldwell would trade within the division.
The Jets would certainly be a candidate to trade up if they did not get the guy they wanted in FA or in round 1, and they certainly are not shy about making a move up, but I suspect they would be more inclined to try to move up in the first round to get their guy. If Cousins landed either in Cleveland or Denver, quite possibly they stay at 6 and get their guy, though as I type this, Cleveland is supposedly out of the Cousins competition according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Basically it's a three way competition between Arizona, Minnesota, and the Jets.
Denver would seem to be in a good position to obtain a QB at 5 if they are not in the Cousin's competition. The candidates to trade up after that would be Miami (again) and Arizona if they don't land the free agency QB they want, but would the Jaguars be well served to deal down that far?
Other positions that could lead a team to trade up? Tough to say, but if PFW's takes are accurate. maybe CB could drive the trade down demand at the bottom of the first, top of the 2nd round.
From picks 25 (Tennessee) to 30 (Minnesota) there are a stretch of teams that are pretty well stocked at CB. But New England has a pretty major hole (for them) at the position. After Philadelphia, the Browns, Giants, Colts, Jets, Bucs, Bears and Raiders all have holes at CB. If a couple of guys fall, then perhaps some other teams at the bottom of the first will deal down for CB hungry teams looking to replicate the success of Jacksonville, New Orleans and Minnesota.
Worst to 1st. Curse Reversed!