5 Trades That Would Turn 2024 NFL Draft Upside Down

With springtime nearing, it's time we threw a wrench into how the 2024 NFL draft could go come Round 1 on April 25.

While the combine, pro days and individual workouts have yet to take place, teams across the league have begun to set their positional boards and identify potential spots to make a move up to for a prospect they want.

As rumors continue to swirl and the pre-draft process kicks into gear, the ever-growing list of ideas of what could happen in the draft often come closer to reality than anyone could imagine.

While general managers across the NFL often enter Round 1 with a blueprint of how things could go, they're quickly met with moves that shake up an entire round in the blink of an eye.

The expectation at the moment is that quarterbacks will go at Nos. 1, 2 and 3, but here are a few moves that could shake things up on the first night in Detroit.

Chicago Trades Justin Fields to New England

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GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 7: Quarterback Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears sets to throw during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on January 7, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers beat the Bears 17-9. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images)

Chicago Receives: 2024 third-round pick (No. 68) and 2025 second-round pick

New England Receives: QB Justin Fields

New England continues to be a sneaky good landing spot for Justin Fields. With Jerod Mayo now at the helm for the Patriots, starting fresh under center with a youth-infused, uber-athletic talent such as the 24-year-old could be a match made in heaven.

While New England is in a nice spot at No. 3 overall to target Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, why not trade for Fields who has an extremely similar skill set to the LSU product but with three years of NFL football already under his belt?

And by making the trade, New England would give itself a ton of leverage inside the top three for teams looking to trade up to a take a signal-caller themselves. And thus, potentially generating more picks while still sitting comfortably enough to select Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. to pair with Fields.

That's a nice start to an offensive rebuild for Mayo and the Patriots.

Commanders Move Up To No. 1

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 18: Caleb Williams #13 of the USC Trojans drops back and looks to throw a pass during the first half of a game against the UCLA Bruins at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

Washington Receives: No. 1 overall selection

Chicago Receives: No. 2 overall selection, 2024 second-round pick (No. 34 overall), 2025 third-round pick

The connections run deep when it comes to Caleb Williams and his ties to the Washington Commanders.

A native of Bowie, Maryland, he attended Gonzaga College High School in the heart of the nation's capital before becoming a Heisman Trophy winner at USC, where he worked under now-Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

With new ownership, general manager Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn and Kingsbury in place, there's no reason not to chase Williams if he's the man they want.

While Washington could stay complacent at No. 2 and happily take a talent like Drake Maye to run its offense for maybe the next decade, making a move for your guy is a strategy you should never argue against.

On Chicago's side of things, GM Ryan Poles could ask for even more in return, depending how highly the Commanders value Williams' game.

Getting back the No. 34 overall pick they traded to Washington at the deadline for Montez Sweat would give the Bears three picks inside the first 35 selections.

Las Vegas Moves Up for Heisman Winner

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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 25: Jayden Daniels #5 of the LSU Tigers runs with the ball against the Texas A&M Aggies during a game at Tiger Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Receives: No. 3 overall selection

New England Receives: No. 13 overall selection, 2024 second-round pick (No. 44 overall), 2025 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick

This deal is reminiscent of the trade Washington made in 2012 when it sent the house to St. Louis (pick swap in 2012, '12 second-rounder and two future first-rounders) for the right to draft Heisman-winning signal-caller Robert Griffin III.

The details of this deal do not include two future first-round selections, but making a move into the top five for a potential shot at Daniels will cost Las Vegas a pretty penny.

However, if head coach Antonio Pierce wants to build the Raiders from the ground up, drafting his face of the franchise could be a great message to Las Vegas fans that he's not wasting any time.

Cincinnati Makes A Move for WR

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HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 08: Rome Odunze #1 of the Washington Huskies warms up before the 2024 CFP National Championship game against the Michigan Wolverines at NRG Stadium on January 08, 2024 in Houston, Texas. The Michigan Wolverines won 34-13. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Cincinnati Receives: No. 11 overall

Minnesota Receives: No. 18 overall, 2024 third-round pick (No. 82 overall), 2024 fifth-round pick (147 overall), 2025 fourth-round pick

If both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd walk in free agency, look for Cincinnati to potentially make a move up for a talent like Rome Odunze.

Arguably the No. 2 wideout in the class, we wouldn't be entirely shocked if Odunze was gone when the No. 11 overall pick arrives in April. But we do expect Malik Nabers to be the second pass-catcher off the board behind Marvin Harrison Jr.

Moving up with a window inside to the top 10 should present Cincinnati a nice spot to add a high-level playmaker on the outside. Nine picks in the 2024 draft gives de facto GM Duke Tobin a ton of ammo to make a move if he desires.

Seattle Moves Up to 10

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HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 8: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Washington Huskies warms up prior to the CFP National Championship game at NRG Stadium on January 8, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

Seattle Receives: No. 10 overall, 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 111 overall)

New York Jets Receive: No. 16 overall, 2024 third-round Pick (No. 78 overall), 2024 third-round pick (No. 81 overall), 2025 fourth-round pick

Landing in a city like Seattle is the type of atmosphere Michael Penix Jr. could thrive in quickly.

After multiple years of watching Lamar Jackson shred defenses as a playmaker, newly minted Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald (former Baltimore defensive coordinator) could prioritize Penix, one of the class' premier vertical passers and intriguing playmakers.

While Penix' evaluation remains fluid for a majority of scouts I've had conversations with over the last few weeks, operating an offense with D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba to either wing isn't a bad arsenal to attack with in your first year as a pro.

Furthermore, staying home in the pacific northwest wouldn't be a bad gig for the Heisman runner-up in Penix, either.

On the Jets' side of the coin, while it would be tough to get New York out of the No. 10 spot considering its major needs along the offensive line, at wideout and at tight end, accruing an extra pair of third-rounders (which would give the Jets five total picks inside the Top 100) could intrigue GM Joe Douglas with Aaron Rodgers set to return under center this fall.