/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/32562669/179999136.0.jpg)
Peter King wrote in his Monday Morning Quarterback column Monday the Philadelphia Eagles are fans of LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.,and may consider moving up to the middle of Round 1 in the 2014 NFL Draft to get him.
Keep hearing they want in on the prime receiver action, and the receiver they want could be LSU’s Odell Beckham, who can play outside, inside in the slot and as a returner. But the Eagles would have to trade up, and GM Howie Roseman is doing his due diligence, talking to at least two teams in the mid-round neighborhood, when Beckham would likely go. But the cost could be too rich for the Eagles’ blood. They may have to settle for Marqise Lee, who would be some consolation prize.
Clearly, the interesting portion of that quote for Steelers fans is the "mid-round neighborhood" part. The Steelers are a step from the epicenter of the middle of the round, and as we've pointed out before, the best way to scare up a trade market is to send signals a team is interested in taking a certain player at a certain spot.
Giving the Eagles the message Pittsburgh will take Beckham at 15 ensures not just that he won't be there for Philadelphia at 22, but they'll have to trade higher than 15 in order to get him.
So what's he worth? Beckham would be an excellent fit in Philadelphia's offense, and this isn't exactly a team that's afraid to trade up a few spots. Considering the Steelers may be in a situation in which their most coveted players at 15 could be had at 22, it's possible they take Philadelphia's third round pick (86 overall, three spots behind Pittsburgh's initial third round pick, which was traded to Cleveland last year).