In a draft devoid of a clear number one pick, there are several different scenarios that could play out on draft day and affect what players may be available when the Patriots make their selection at seven.  While I still contend that the Patriots would prefer to move down a few slots, perhaps to Carolina at 13 or Chicago at 14, a few things would need to happen in order to make that move a reality.  The truth is that while this is a deep draft, in my opinion it only has two players at the top that would cause teams further back in the draft to make a move into the top 10: Matt Ryan, QB, BC and Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas.

As of this morning there are rumors swirling around that Miami may have interest in taking Ryan #1 overall.  With seven weeks to go until the draft this could be nothing but a smokescreen an an attempt to tempt a team further down with an interest in Ryan to start talking trade scenarios.  With Miami having won one game in 2007, no one player is capable of getting them to the playoffs, so I'm sure Parcells would love to move down and accumulate picks similar to how the Cowboys of the early 90's made its run.

So if we consider for a moment that Ryan and McFadden are the players teams may make a move for, let's examine some different possibilities that could impact the Patriots.  In my initial look at the top seven, I had Chris Long going number one to Miami; I'm sticking with that for now, but am not as sure as I was a week ago.  I see Jake Long locked into the two spot unless he goes number one to Miami.  At three is where the draft gets interesting, assuming Ryan is still on the board.  With the signing of Michael Turner in Atlanta, there is no way they go RB, especially when it comes to a player with character concerns (anyone remember Michael Vick?).  If Atlanta passes on Ryan and goes for defense, I think Dorsey will be the pick for the 4-3 alignment favored by the Falcons.

Here is where the phones start to ring.  With Russell taken number one overall last year, there's no way Ryan goes to the Raiders in this slot to unless there is a trade.  With so many high picks the last couple years, Al Davis could be looking to save some money, but I still think he will be too intrigued with a Russell-McFadden backfield to pass here.

Next come the Chiefs; while Ryan is a possibility here, from what I've heard, some in the organization believe Brodie Croyle can be their guy and that the OL is the number one priority.  With top target Jake Long off the board, they will look to one of two other candidates: Ryan Clady of Boise St. and Jeff Otah of Pitt.  I had Clady in this spot, but the winds of change seem to be pointing towards Otah so let's put him in this spot for now.

I can't see the Jets looking at QB at six.  With Pennington still in the fold and a high pick in Clemmons on the bench, I see the Jets looking at an impact player on defense.  I still see them taking Gholston if he is available.

With the Patriots up next and Ryan on the board, the phone lines will be sure to be buzzing from teams who like Ryan and want to get above Baltimore - the most likely destination for Ryan should he slip past Miami at one and Atlanta at three at eight.  So, what do the Patriots do here?  Well, it depends on how they see the value lower in the draft.  One scenario would be to move down to, say, 13 from Carolina, who need a QB of the future, and hope that a player such as Derrick Harvey, DE/LB out of Florida is still there or possibly the corner they would like at 13 who they think is too pricey at seven like Aqib Talib from Kansas.  Another possibility is to simply hold Baltimore for ransom here and flip the seven and eight picks with an extra third or fourth round pick thrown in for good measure.  The Ravens would get their QB and the Pats would pick up the defensive player they want one slot (cheaper) lower as well as adding an extra pick to the deal.

A couple of wild card scenarios have begun to play themselves out over the past week.  Again, we are a long way from the draft so they could be more media creations and smoke screens than anything else at this point, however they are worth watching.  The aforementioned Derrick Harvey of Florida is rising up the boards and some such as The NFL Network's Mike Mayock have him ticketed to the Patriots at seven.  This seems a bit high, but given Belichick's relationship with Urban Meyer at Florida (the new LSU to Patriots Fans) this could make sense.  The other is CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie of Tennesse State and cousin of Chargers all-world corner Antonio Cromartie.  From reports his athleticism is on par or above that of his cousin, and while he is still a bit raw, he could be the number one corner taken in this draft.  Is this too high for a project?  Maybe, but if the Pats think he could be the player Antonio has turned into in SD this could be a possibility.

Before the draft takes place in late April there are bound to be many more rumors making the rounds of players who are rising or falling, but that's part of the fun isn't it?  Stay tuned for the latest as we continue down this nearly impossible quest of trying to figure out what the Patriots will do with their pick.

Deceptively Slow is a contributing writer for Boston Sports Buzz.