Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew met with reporters Thursday to talk shop ahead of next week's 2013 NFL Draft, and he put some gossip to bed quickly.
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"There's a lot of rumors and speculation -- we're gonna trade up to No. 1 -- which is not going to happen," Mayhew said, in a light-hearted jab at ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, who argued this week that the Lions should swap into the Kansas City Chiefs' top overall spot to land Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner.
Mayhew said he hasn't talked with anyone about trading out of the No. 5 spot, but he admitted he monitors draft whispers.
"I follow it. ... How much stock do I put in it? None. Zero," Mayhew said. "But I certainly read and keep up on what's going on around the league and what people are saying, and glean what some other people might be thinking."
The Lions need a cornerback, but it's conceivable Milliner still will be around when the Lions are on the clock at No. 5. If the Lions don't grab him, Milliner is seen as a probable target of the Cleveland Browns one spot later at No. 6.
One guy who's not buying it? Our guy -- NFL.com draft analyst Mike Mayock -- told reporters on a Thursday conference call that he doesn't see a cornerback going in the top 10.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
