A 2025 Draft-Day Trade That Makes Sense for Every NFL Team
We've reached the eve of the 2025 NFL draft, and as the anticipation reaches its crescendo, there's still plenty of uncertainty to be found.
While it certainly feels like the first three selections will be some combination of Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, it's hard to know how things will unfold after that. A big reason for this is that NFL teams have become increasingly willing to trade on draft day.
Last year's draft featured 16 trades in the first three rounds alone. While every team holds its own first-round selection heading into Thursday night, that will change soon enough, and more trades will follow.
With this in mind, let's examine one draft day trade that would make sense for every franchise. For this exercise, we won't limit trades to first-round deals, and we'll keep all hypothetical moves within the realm of realism—no, the Tennessee Titans aren't getting four first-round picks for the No. 1 selection.
For trades involving draft picks alone, we used Drafttek's trade value chart to craft balanced deals. Teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona Cardinals Trade for WR George Pickens
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Cardinals Get: WR George Pickens
Steelers Get: 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 78), 2026 4th-round pick
The Arizona Cardinals are looking to build an explosive and dynamic offense around quarterback Kyler Murray, and they may continue focusing on that side of the ball this offseason.
The Bleacher Report Scouting Department paired Arizona with Texas offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. in its recent three-round mock draft.
If the Cardinals do use their first-round pick to bolster the line, swinging a trade to upgrade the receiving corps would be logical. Marvin Harrison Jr. showed potential as a rookie last season, but Arizona could use another difference-maker opposite him. There's a non-zero chance that the Pittsburgh Steelers could make George Pickens available after acquiring DK Metcalf in a trade.
"There's a lot of people that believe George Pickens' time there is limited," Bleacher Report NFL Insider James Palmer said on his NFL Insider Notebook (beginning around the 4:55 mark).
A pair of mid-round picks might be enough to entice Pittsburgh, given the fact that Pickens will be a 2026 free agent and is unlikely to see an extension from the Steelers.
Atlanta Falcons Trade QB Kirk Cousins
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Falcons Get: 2025 5th-round pick (No. 155)
Steelers Get: QB Kirk Cousins
There's essentially no chance that the Atlanta Falcons actually want to pay Kirk Cousins' $40 million cap hit to have him as a backup in 2025. This is now Michael Penix Jr.'s team, and having an expensive backup who could loom over Penix's shoulder if the second-year quarterback struggles would be far less than ideal.
Publicly, though, Atlanta hasn't been in a rush to move the 36-year-old.
"At the end of the day, what happens happens, maybe something pre-draft, draft, post-draft, I don’t know," franchise owner Arthur Blank said on April 1, per The Athletic's Josh Kendall.
The Falcons might find their best opportunity to move Cousins on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft. Cousins' contract includes a no-trade clause, and if he wants a starting opportunity, he may agree to join a team that failed to land its quarterback of the future on Day 1.
Right now, the Steelers look like the most logical landing spot for Cousins—assuming they don't take a signal-caller early. The Tennessee Titans are expected to take Miami's Cam Ward, while the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns have respectable bridge QBs in Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco, respectively.
Atlanta can't expect a big return for an aging quarterback with the power to pick his next team. However, getting something back while getting out from under his remaining contract would make sense.
Baltimore Ravens Trade for CB Jaire Alexander
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Ravens Get: CB Jaire Alexander
Packers Get: 2025 4th-round pick (No. 129), 2025 4th-round pick (No. 136)
The Green Bay Packers may not be actively shopping cornerback Jaire Alexander, but they may be open to moving him for the right price. The team has listened to trade offers for the two-time Pro Bowler, though no deal is "imminent," according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The Baltimore Ravens should try snagging Alexander over draft weekend. While Baltimore's defense showed growth late in the 2024 season—under first-year coordinator Zach Orr—they still finished the year ranked 31st in passing yards allowed.
While taking a cornerback early will be an option for Baltimore, general manager Eric DeCosta may want to go in a different direction after using a first-round pick on Nate Wiggins a year ago.
The B/R Scouting Department paired Baltimore with Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons in its recent three-round mock draft.
Taking a flier on Alexander with a pair of mid-round picks—Baltimore has 11 picks in total—would be worth the gamble for the Ravens. Injuries have limited the 28-year-old to just 14 games over the past two years, but he's a quality starter when healthy.
Whether that price point would move the needle for Green Bay is another story, though the Packers can't really expect an overwhelming offer given Alexander's recent injury history.
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Buffalo Bills Trade Up in Round 1
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Bills Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 24)
Vikings Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 30), 2025 4th-round pick (No. 109), 2025 4th-round pick (No. 132)
The Buffalo Bills may not look to deal in veteran talent, but it wouldn't be a surprise if they move up in Round 1. General manager Brandon Beane has a history of doing so—he most recently moved up for Dalton Kincaid in 2023—and Buffalo has 10 total draft selections.
The Bills also aren't likely to find a true first-round talent late in Round 1, due to the makeup of the 2025 class.
"I don't think there's a difference between Player 10 and Player 40 in this draft," one executive told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Moving up for a specific prospect or to address a position of need would be logical. That could happen at any point in Round 1, though for this example, we'll use the Minnesota Vikings and the 24th pick.
Minnesota owns just four draft selections and looms as a prime trade-down candidate. Moving to 24 would also put Buffalo ahead of AFC playoff rivals, Baltimore and the Houston Texans. That could allow the Bills to snag a player like Texas receiver Matthew Golden—who was the Texans' pick at No. 24 in the B/R Scouting Department's three-round mock—before another conference contender does.
Carolina Panthers Trade Down in Round 1
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Panthers Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 12), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 76), 2025 5th-round pick (No. 174)
Cowboys Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 8), 2025 5th-round pick (No. 163)
The Carolina Panthers appear set to move forward with quarterback Bryce Young, who showed tremendous potential late last season. However, acquiring the Alabama product did cut into Carolina's assets.
The trade package ended up including standout receiver D.J. Moore and the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft.
Carolina could use extra draft capital with which to continue building its roster, and general manager Dan Morgan is open to moving back in Round 1 to do so.
"I don't really wanna get into specifics on where I would want to trade back to, but we're definitely open to trading back and acquiring more picks," Morgan said last week, per Anthony Rizzuti of Panthers Wire.
The 2025 class appears to only have a handful of elite prospects, followed by a wide second tier. Therefore, the eighth overall pick could interest multiple teams, and Morgan should take whichever deal provides the most value.
In this hypothetical deal, the Dallas Cowboys move up to grab a prospect like Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker—who was mocked to the Panthers at No. 8 by the B/R Scouting Department. The Panthers pocked an extra third-round pick while helping to balance things out with a fifth-round swap.
Chicago Bears Trade Up for Ashton Jeanty
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Bears Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 6)
Raiders Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 10), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 72), RB D'Andre Swift
This hypothetical trade is centered around a specific prospect, one who could potentially change the complexion of the Chicago Bears offense.
Boise State's Ashton Jeanty is one of the best prospects at any position in the 2025 class and could be the perfect difference-maker to complement quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense of new head coach Ben Johnson.
"He fits today's run offenses with wide zone and pin-pull gap schemes," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. "Jeanty is a bell-cow running back who can shoulder the load for an NFL rushing attack."
According to ESPN's Matt Miller, the Bears "love" the 21-year-old ball carrier.
While Chicago might have a chance of seeing Jeanty fall to No. 10, moving up to secure him would be logical. Moving ahead of the New York Jets—who might favor Jeanty over Breece Hall, who is on an expiring contract—might be particularly sensible.
To gauge how such a deal might look, we'll borrow this trade idea from Bleacher Report's Moe Moton. The Bears part with current starting back D'Andre Swift and a third-round pick to get their new offensive centerpiece. That would leave general manager Ryan Poles with two second-round picks (Nos. 39 and 41) for further maneuvering at the end of Round 1 or early on Day 2.
Cincinnati Bengals Trade Edge Trey Hendrickson
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Bengals Get: 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 80), 2026 second-round pick
Colts Get: Edge Trey Hendrickson
The Cincinnati Bengals still haven't worked out a new contract with star pass-rusher and reigning NFL sacks leader Trey Hendrickson. Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters at the NFL owners meetings that the Bengals will continue to "work through the process" with Hendrickson. At some point, however, it may make more sense to cash in with a trade.
Cincinnati has already turned down multiple offers, according to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post.
The Bengals' last, best opportunity to maximize Hendrickson's draft value may come during the draft. A team that misses out on pass-rushers like Penn State's Abdul Carter and Marshall's Mike Green in Round 1 could be more willing to make an offer that Cincinnati will accept.
"They're being unreasonable," one executive said of the Bengals' demands, per LaCanfora.
A pair of Day 2 selections may not be quite what Cincinnati wants, but it's a fair offer for a pass-rusher who is terrific but who will also turn 31 in December.
For this hypothetical deal, that offer comes from the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts now employ former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport told The Pat McAfee Show last month (h/t Chris Roling of Bengals Wire) that Indy does have interest in acquiring Hendrickson.
Cleveland Browns Trade Back into Round 1 for a Quarterback
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Browns Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 24)
Vikings Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 33), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 94), 2026 4th-round pick
The Tennessee Titans are widely expected to use the No. 1 overall pick on Miami quarterback Cam Ward. While the Cleveland Browns could use the No. 2 pick on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, they appear more likely to take either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter with that selection.
The Browns need a long-term answer behind center but appear to favor Ward over the rest of the quarterback class.
"A couple months ago, I was of the mind and the impression, based on things people told me, that the Browns were likely to go quarterback," ESPN's Adam Schefter said on The Adam Schefter Podcast (beginning at the 27-second mark) "And they were, but that was because they wanted Cam Ward. Cam isn't going to be there at No. 2."
This doesn't mean that Cleveland can't still draft a quarterback on Thursday night. Equipped with the 33rd overall pick and a pair of third-rounders, the Browns needed to trade back into Round 1—and they should.
If Cleveland believes that a prospect like Mississippi's Jaxson Dart or Alabama's Jalen Milroe can be a franchise NFL quarterback, it should pursue him aggressively. Doing so at the bottom of Round 1 would also give the Browns the fifth-year option on said rookie's contract.
Minnesota's 24th overall pick would be a logical spot for the Browns to target since the Vikings have only four picks and should be looking to add draft capital. This deal would allow Cleveland to draft a first-round quarterback and an elite prospect like Hunter or Carter.
Dallas Cowboys Trade Up for an Offensive Lineman
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Cowboys Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 5)
Jaguars Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 12), 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 44), 2025 5th-round pick (No. 149), 2025 6th-round pick (No. 204)
The Cowboys may hope that a healthier roster is enough for them to return to relevance in 2025. However, Dallas needs to upgrade its offensive line if it hopes to become a serious playoff contender.
Future Hall of Fame guard Zack Martin retired this offseason, and tackle Tyler Guyton left plenty to be desired as a rookie last season—Pro Football Focus graded him 115th out of 140 tackles.
Making an aggressive play for one of the top linemen in the 2025 class would make sense. Only two line prospects—LSU's Will Campbell and Missouri's Armand Membou—received first-round grades from the B/R Scouting Department. Landing one of them would be a win for Dallas.
Membou could immediately slot in at right tackle and provide a big upgrade over Terence Steele. Campbell could either start at guard or left tackle, which could put Guyton back at his natural position on the right side.
Moving into one of the top five or six draft slots wouldn't be particularly cheap, but it could net the Cowboys another 10-year starter along their once-vaunted offensive line.
Denver Broncos Trade Up for a Pass-Catcher
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Broncos Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 13), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 98)
Dolphins Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 20), 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 51), 2026 4th-round pick
The Denver Broncos got enough from rookie quarterback Bo Nix to be a playoff team in 2024. Denver should be eager to continue upgrading Nix's supporting cast in the draft.
In free agency, the Broncos added tight end Evan Engram to a functional receiving corps that also includes Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. and Devaughn Vele. However, Denver could use another playmaker in the lineup.
The Broncos can't simply sit at No. 20 and hope a receiver like Texas' Matthew Golden or a tight end like Michigan's Colston Loveland falls to them. Instead, they should be willing to make a jump on opening night.
In this hypothetical scenario, the Broncos swap picks with the Miami Dolphins in order to move ahead of the Colts (No. 14), Cardinals (No. 16) and Seattle Seahawks (No. 18)—three teams that could be in the market for a pass-catcher.
The Bleacher Report Scouting Department, for what it's worth, paired the Colts with Loveland in its recent three-round mock.
While adding Engram should ease Denver's need for a pass-catching tight end, he will turn 31 in September. Adding a young, dynamic tight end like Loveland or Penn State's Tyler Warren would make sense, as would adding a wideout with legitimate No. 1 receiver potential.
There would be a cost to moving up in the first round, but the Broncos' playoff window is open, and Denver should be emboldened to make aggressive moves.
Detroit Lions Trade for Edge Trey Hendrickson
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Lions Get: Edge Trey Hendrickson
Bengals Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 60), 2026 3rd-round pick
The Bengals may not make pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson available, but they should. And while the Colts loom as a logical landing spot for the reigning sacks leader if he is available, the Detroit Lions should be eager to land him.
Detroit is expected to have star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson back this season. He suffered a season-ending broken fibula after only five games in 2024 but appears to be nearing the end of his recovery.
"I'm there. I'd say I'm good," the 24-year-old told ESPN's Marty Smith earlier this month at The Masters (h/t Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk).
Hutchinson's impending return, however, doesn't erase Detroit's need for a high-end complementary pass-rusher. Za'Darius Smith—who was acquired at the trade deadline and released this offseason—was second among Lions defenders last season with a mere four sacks.
The Lions aren't guaranteed to land a top-tier pass-rushing prospect with the 28th overall pick—though the B/R Scouting Department paired them with Texas A&M's Nic Scourton in its three-round mock draft. If they don't, making a play for Hutchinson early on Day 2 would be a very sensible move.
Green Bay Packers Trade CB Jaire Alexander
12 of 32.jpg?w=684 "Cardinals Packers Football")
Packers Get: 2025 4th-round pick (No. 109), 2026 4th-round pick
Bills Get: CB Jaire Alexander
As previously noted, the Packers are listening to trade offers for standout cornerback Jaire Alexander. While Green Bay hasn't found an offer it likes yet, that could change over draft weekend.
Teams that miss out on a cornerback early could be willing to take a swing at Alexander, despite his recent injury history. Theoretically, that would fetch the Packers a stronger return than if Alexander is moved later in the offseason.
General manager Brian Gutekunst isn't looking to trade the two-time Pro Bowler for proverbial pennies.
"Obviously we’ve invested a lot into Jaire, and I want to make sure if he’s not going to be on our football team helping us win games that we get something back for that investment," Gutekunst said last month, per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Baltimore is one team that should have interest in Alexander. Buffalo is another. Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine identified cornerback as one of the Bills' biggest needs a month before the draft. Though Buffalo recently brought back Tre'Davious White, it could use additional cornerback help. Alexander could provide it and provide the Packers with a couple of high Day 3 draft selections.
Houston Texans Trade Up for a Round 2 Receiver
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Texans Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 40), 2025 6th-round pick (No. 184)
Saints Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 58), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 79)
The Houston Texans won the AFC South for the second straight year in 2024. However, Houston's offense struggled to replicate its 2023 success, and wide receiver now looms as a position of need.
2024 trade addition Stefon Diggs departed in free agency, while standout Tank Dell suffered a significant knee injury in December that required multiple surgeries. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Dell underwent ACL surgery in early March.
Could the Texans use a first-round pick on a wide receiver? Sure, that's what the B/R Scouting Department predicted when it mocked Texas' Matthew Golden to Houston at No. 25.
However, the Texans also need to address their offensive line and might be better off targeting a prospect like Alabama's Tyler Booker, Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. or Ohio State's Josh Simmons on opening night.
If Houston goes that route, it could still target a receiver early by moving up in Round 2. Doing so could land the Texans a second-tier receiver prospect like Missouri's Luther Burden III, who went 51st overall in the B/R mock.
In the B/R mock, Burden, Iowa State's Jayden Higgins, Utah State's Jalen Royals and Iowa State's Jaylin Noel all came off the board between picks No. 40 and 58.
Indianapolis Colts Trade Up for a Tight End
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Colts Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 10), 2025 7th-round pick (No. 233)
Bears Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 14), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 80), 2025 6th-round pick (No. 189)
The Colts are poised to hold a quarterback competition between 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson and free-agent addition Daniel Jones. While that position battle might not interest many fans outside of Indianapolis, it could dramatically affect the Colts' future at quarterback.
Ideally, Jones will push Richardson enough that the third-year signal-caller finally emerges as a reliable starter. It would help, of course, if the Colts could upgrade Richardson's supporting cast.
Indy needs a dynamic pass-catching tight end, and you're sure to find several mocks linking the Colts to the position. The B/R Scouting Department, for example, mocked Michigan's Colston Loveland to the Colts at No. 14.
However, Loveland wasn't the first tight end off the board in the B/R mock. That honor went to Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, who was mocked to the San Francisco 49ers at No. 11.
While Indy may be able to stay put and draft a top-tier tight end at No. 14, moving up a few spots to get "their guy" would make a lot of sense. In this scenario, the Colts give up a third-round pick to move into the top 10 and secure whichever tight end tops their draft board.
Jacksonville Jaguars Trade Down in Round 1
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Jaguars Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 9), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 71), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 93)
Saints Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 5), 2025 6th-round pick (No. 194)
Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter should all be off the board by the time the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock at No. 5. Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham is the third-ranked prospect on the B/R board and would be a sensible choice for Jacksonville.
While Graham was the Jags' pick in the B/R Scouting Department's three-round mock, there's no guarantee that Jacksonville will do what others expect on Thursday night.
"Jacksonville is a wild card—watch," one NFL executive told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
If the Jaguars aren't truly sold on Graham and really could go in a different direction, trading out of the No. 5 spot could make a ton of sense. That could be particularly true if a team is looking to move up for a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders.
In this hypothetical trade, the New Orleans Saints make the move up to No. 5 to snag Sanders before the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock. Jacksonville gets a pair of third-round picks for its efforts and stays within range of a top-tier prospect like Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who went 12th overall in the B/R mock.
According to Schefter, new Jaguars head coach Liam Coen "has long had a soft spot for wide receivers in the draft."
Kansas City Chiefs Trade Up in Round 1 for an Offensive Lineman
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Chiefs Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 24)
Vikings Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 31), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 95), 2026 4th-round pick.
The Kansas City Chiefs failed to three-peat this past season, but they should remain among the top Super Bowl contenders in 2025. Kansas City doesn't have many holes on its roster, and it should be aggressive about addressing its needs.
A trade up from No. 31 would not only make sense, but it's also widely expected.
"I've heard that the Kansas City Chiefs are actively looking to trade up in Round 1," ESPN's Matt Miller wrote. "...A move up in Round 1 would likely be for a long-term offensive tackle solution; I heard the goal would be to move in front of the Houston Texans (No. 25) and Los Angeles Rams (No. 26) if the Chiefs like a specific left tackle still on the board.
While LSU's Will Campbell is likely to be gone long before the second half of Round 1, Kansas City might be able to land Ohio State's Josh Simmons—if it can get ahead of the Texans, who have their own offensive line needs.
Fortunately, the Chiefs might find the perfect trade partner in Minnesota. The Vikings enter draft weekend with only four selections and should be interested in acquiring more draft capital. Minnesota's draft slot also resides ahead of teams that could be in the tackle market like Houston and Baltimore.
The B/R Scouting Department recently mocked Simmons to the Ravens at No. 27.
Las Vegas Raiders Trade TE Michael Mayer
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Raiders Get: 2025 4th-round pick (No. 104), 2025 6th-round pick (No. 179)
Browns Get: TE Michael Mayer
The Raiders surprised a few folks last year when they used the 13th overall pick on Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. While Bowers' record-setting rookie campaign eventually showed why Las Vegas was willing to take the potent pass-catcher, he was picked only a year after Michael Mayer was drafted in the second round.
Mayer did contribute last season, catching 21 passes for 156 yards. However, it's clear that he's unlikely to hold a prominent role as long as Bowers is healthy and starting for the Raiders. Las Vegas may feel it can find more value by moving Mayer than by having him on the depth chart.
Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic reported in February that Mayer could be on the move:
"The Raiders have had discussions with teams who have interest in tight end Michael Mayer, according to league sources. Mayer hasn’t had the impact the Raiders hoped for when he was drafted in the second round in 2023."
Given Mayer's relative lack of pro production (460 yards, 2 TDs in 25 games), the Raiders probably can't expect a significant return in a trade. They could, however, flip the Notre Dame product for immediate draft capital during draft weekend.
Any tight-end needy team could be willing to take a flier on the 23-year-old, so Las Vegas should have options if it wants to move him. In this theoretical trade, Mayer goes to the Browns, who lack reliable tight end depth behind starter David Njoku.
Los Angeles Chargers Trade for TE Mark Andrews
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Chargers Get: TE Mark Andrews
Ravens Get: 2025 4th-round pick (No. 125), 2025 6th-round pick (No. 181)
The Los Angeles Chargers have a decent tight-end duo in Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin. However, head coach Jim Harbaugh loves to feature tight ends in his offenses, and L.A. could use more talent at the position.
Trading for Ravens tight end Mark Andrews would be a sensible move, if he can be had. Baltimore doesn't sound particularly interested in moving him.
"He's a great player and we're in the business of keeping as many great players as we can," general manager Eric DeCosta said, per The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec.
However, Andrews will turn 30 in September and is entering the final year of his contract, so there's at least some chance that the Ravens would listen to offers during the draft.
Bleacher Report's Moe Moton examined hypothetical trade packages for Andrews earlier this month. Los Angeles landed on Moton's list, and it would be a logical destination if Andrews is moved.
Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman was Baltimore's tight ends coach when Andrews was drafted in 2018, and he spent four other seasons coaching the tight end as the Ravens' offensive coordinator.
Roman would know how to get the most out of Andrews, who would immediately become one of Justin Herbert's most reliable targets.
Los Angeles Rams Trade Up for a QB of the Future
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Rams Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 20)
Broncos Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 26), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 90), 2025 6th-round pick (No. 201)
The Los Angeles Rams will have Matthew Stafford back under center in 2025 after agreeing to a revised contract. At some point, however, Los Angeles needs to find a successor for the 37-year-old.
To this point, the Rams have played coy about any interest in drafting a quarterback early this year.
"I'll be honest with you, I haven't done a whole lot of work on the quarterbacks," head coach Sean McVay told reporters, per Brock Vierra of SI.com.
There are reasons to believe, however, that McVay's public sentiment is merely a smokescreen. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler (h/t Bleacher Report's Doric Sam), the Rams "have some love" for Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Field Yates, the Rams have also spent "considerable time" with Mississippi's Jaxson Dart.
If the Rams believe that now is the time to find Stafford's heir, trading up in Round 1 would make sense—and might be necessary. The Steelers loom as a threat to take a quarterback at No. 21, and teams like the Browns and Giants could be looking to trade back into the first round.
Trading up for a quarterback wouldn't fill an immediate need, but it could help ensure that L.A.'s playoff window doesn't close whenever Stafford decides to call it a career.
Miami Dolphins Trade CB Jalen Ramsey
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Dolphins Get: 2025 4th-round pick (No. 108 overall), 2025 5th-round pick (No. 143)
Raiders Get: CB Jalen Ramsey
The Dolphins have already made it known that they're willing to trade seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
"We went through the process, and I just felt that after numerous conversations and then talking last week with Jalen and his agent, that it was best to move forward, and it was best interest of the Miami Dolphins and for Jalen Ramsey," general manager Chris Grier said earlier this month, per ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.
It would behoove Miami to get a deal done during draft weekend, and it might have to accept a less-than-ideal package. One source, according to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, "believes the Dolphins going public is an effort to gin up a market for Ramsey that just isn't there right now."
Jones also mentioned the Falcons and Raiders as teams that could have interest in Ramsey if "the price is right."
Las Vegas would probably make more sense than Atlanta since the Raiders have the cap flexibility to absorb the rest of Ramsey's three-year, $72.3 million contract.
A pair of Day 3 selections is probably less than the Dolphins would prefer to get for Ramsey. However, it represents a fair package for a 30-year-old cornerback who clearly doesn't have a role in Miami's future.
Minnesota Vikings Trade out of Round 1
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Vikings Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 34), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 99), 2025 4th-round pick (No. 105)
Giants Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 24)
As previously noted, the Vikings are short on draft capital heading into opening night. They hold the 24th pick in Round 1 but only have a third-round compensatory selection and fifth- and sixth-round picks after that.
Unsurprisingly, ESPN's Adam Schefter recently mentioned Minnesota as a team that is interested in moving down in Round 1—along with the Steelers, Panthers, 49ers and others.
Moving out of the first round entirely might give the Vikings their best chance to add multiple picks in this year's draft.
The Vikings should be open for business and willing to deal with just about any interested team. This hypothetical trade involves the Giants, who could be interested in moving back into Round 1 to draft a quarterback.
This trade would net Minnesota selections in the third and fourth rounds while still giving the Vikings a shot at a second-tier prospect like Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge or Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will likely receive multiple calls about the 24th pick on Thursday night. He would be wise to listen.
New England Patriots Trade for Second Round-2 Pick
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Patriots Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 61)
Raiders Get: 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 77), 2025 4th-round pick (No. 106)
The New England Patriots might have the ability to move around the board early in the first round. However, it feels increasingly likely that New England will simply scoop up LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell with the fourth overall selection.
"With the Patriots, I just have continually heard that offensive tackle was going to be addressed, and I have continually heard that that’s Will Campbell’s spot," NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah told reporters on a conference call last week (h/t Conor Roche of Boston.com).
Trading out of the No. 4 spot might not make sense for the Patriots, who have nine total selections anyway. Packaging a couple of those picks to add another immediate contributor, however, would be logical.
In this hypothetical deal, the Patriots pair the third-round pick they got from Atlanta in the Matthew Judon trade with a fourth-rounder to move into the bottom of Round 2.
That selection could then be used to grab a prospect who could help support second-year quarterback Drake Maye as a rookie, like Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson or Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr.
New Orleans Saints Trade Up to Secure Shedeur Sanders
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Saints Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 6)
Raiders Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 9), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 71), 2026 5th-round pick
The Saints may be looking to draft a quarterback early on Thursday. New Orleans needs a quarterback of the future, and it may need a starter for the present.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, veteran quarterback Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury that "threatens his availability" for the upcoming season.
Now, there's no guarantee that the Saints love Colorado's Shedeur Sanders enough to take him early in Round 1. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, there is "a belief around the league" that New Orleans is more interested in taking an offensive or defensive lineman while targeting a quarterback later in the draft.
However, if the Saints believe that Sanders—who was the only QB prospect other than Cam Ward to receive a first-round grade from the B/R Scouting Department—can be their quarterback of the future, trading up to secure him would be logical.
This was the B/R Scouting Department's reasoning when it mocked a Saints trade up to No. 6 to get Sanders:
"The New Orleans Saints have no choice. Granted, general manager Mickey Loomis could be patient and see if Shedeur Sanders falls to them with the ninth overall pick. It's quite possible. But why risk it?"
Why indeed? Las Vegas could be a threat to take Sanders at No. 6, and the Panthers (No. 8) are among the teams looking to trade down in the first round, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Moving up to No. 6 would come at a cost, but it could potentially end the search for a long-term quarterback that began when Drew Brees retired after the 2020 season.
New York Giants Trade Back into Round 1 for a Quarterback
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Giants Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 30), 2025 5th-round pick (No. 169)
Bills Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 34), 2025 4th-round pick (No. 104)
Like the Browns, the New York Giants need a long-term answer at quarterback but are unlikely to draft one at the top of Round 1. New York is widely expected to use the third overall selection on either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter—whichever one Cleveland doesn't select at No. 2.
As is the case for Cleveland, trading back into the first round to get a quarterback and the fifth-year option would be sensible for New York. Trading into the bottom of the round might not give the Giants a shot at Jaxson Dart, who continues to generate first-round buzz. It might, however, give them a crack at intriguing Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
While Milroe is expected to be an NFL project, he'd have a season to learn behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in New York. He's also a prospect who reportedly has "supporters" within the Giants organization.
"I heard he has his supporters inside the Giants' building," ESPN's Jordan Raanan said on the Breaking Big Blue podcast (h/t Anthony Licciardi of Athlon Sports). "...does that mean they’ll trade up and take him at pick 15? I don’t think so, that would be very costly. But a slight move up at the end of Round 1, early Round 2?"
In this hypothetical trade, the Giants deal with the Bills, who moved down twice in the first round last year.
New York Jets Trade RB Breece Hall
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Jets Get: 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 76)
Cowboys Get: RB Breece Hall
The New York Jets could be in the mix for Ashton Jeanty at No. 7, which would likely make current starting running back Breece Hall expendable.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay recently examined this possibility and put together some hypothetical trade packages for Hall that New York would have to consider.
Trading Hall could make sense for the Jets even if they don't take Jeanty near the top of Round 1. The 2025 draft class is extremely deep at the running back position—19 backs were ranked among the B/R Scouting Department's top 150 prospects—and New York could find itself a quality starter on Day 2. A prospect like Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins could still make Hall expendable.
"He is an RB1-caliber talent who boasts a scheme-versatile conceptual fit," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department wrote of Judkins.
Hall is entering the final year of his rookie deal and might give the Jets more value in a trade than as a part-time player on an expiring contract. The challenge, of course, would be finding a viable trade partner during a draft loaded with running backs.
The Cowboys might be a team interested in acquiring the veteran. They're looking to quickly rebound after missing the playoffs in 2024, and Hall would instantly become the headliner of a committee that also includes Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams.
Philadelphia Eagles Trade Up in Round 1
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Eagles Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 25)
Texans Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 32), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 96), 2026 6th-round pick
The defending-champion Philadelphia Eagles know that they're unlikely to land a legitimate first-round talent at the bottom of Round 1.
"We’ve got to be really comfortable with whatever is our worst-case scenario, which will always entail getting a good player," general manager Howie Roseman said, per ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith. "There’s never 32 first-round grades on our board. We don’t have 32 first-round grades in this draft."
While Philly could stay put and still get a very good prospect at No. 32, trading up in Round 1 would make plenty of sense. While the Eagles tend to draft and develop well, they have a loaded roster and may not have room to use all eight draft selections they currently possess.
Trading up for one player the Eagles love—and, presumably, do have a first-round grade on—would be a sensible move. In this scenario, Philly deals with the out-of-conference Texans to get ahead of conference rivals like the Rams, Lions and Commanders.
Such a deal could land the Eagles a prospect like South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, who landed with Washington at No. 29 in the B/R Scouting Department's three-round mock draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers Trade Up for a Round 2 Quarterback
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Steelers Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 46)
Falcons Get: 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 83), 2025 6th-round pick (No. 185), 2026 2nd-round pick
We've already examined the possibility of the Steelers trading wideout George Pickens or trading for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Another deal that could make sense for Pittsburgh would involve trading up for a quarterback.
It feels unlikely, however, that general manager Omar Khan would make an aggressive move for a quarterback in Round 1. Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette doesn't believe that the Steelers will target Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart on opening night.
"I don’t think the Jaxson Dart or the [Shedeur] Sanders thing is gonna happen," Fittipaldo told 93.7 The Fan last month (h/t Nick Farabaugh of PennLive). "Pretty much down to receiver and D-Line, and I think the only way a receiver would be in play at 21 is if they’re gonna turn around and trade George [Pickens] on draft day."
However, the Steelers do need to find a young quarterback with long-term starting potential. Even if they end up signing Aaron Rodgers, the 41-year-old can't be the quarterback of the future.
If the Steelers don't draft a quarterback in Round 1, trading up to secure one in Round 2 would be logical. The problem is that Pittsburgh doesn't even possess a second-round selection because of the DK Metcalf trade.
In this hypothetical deal, Pittsburgh includes a third-round pick and a future second-rounder to move into the second round for a signal-caller like Alabama's Jalen Milroe or Ohio State's Will Howard.
San Francisco 49ers Trade Back into Round 1
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49ers Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 31)
Chiefs Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 43), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 100), 2025 5th-round pick (No. 147)
While the San Francisco 49ers aren't fully rebuilding, they are experiencing a bit of a roster reset. San Francisco traded wide receiver Deebo Samuel early in the offseason and lost standout players like Dre Greenlaw, Leonard Floyd and Talanoa Hufanga in free agency.
While the 49ers could use their cache of draft capital to reload, it's hard to envision them using all 11 selections they currently possess. Packaging a few picks to move back into the first round would make a ton of sense.
While other teams could trade into the bottom of the first round to secure a quarterback, San Francisco may simply want the fifth-year option and/or to get in front of the NFC rival Eagles.
In this scenario, the 49ers deal with the Chiefs to address their need for a second edge-rusher. The B/R Scouting Department recently mocked Tennessee sack artist James Pearce Jr. to Philadelphia at No. 32.
While Pierce may need some time to develop as a pro, he has the physical upside needed to eventually become a strong pass-rushing complement opposite standout Nick Bosa. Better yet, this deal would still leave San Francisco with one of its two third-round selections.
Seattle Seahawks Trade Up for an Offensive Lineman
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Seahawks Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 15)
Falcons Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 18), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 92), 2025 5th-round pick (No. 175)
The Seattle Seahawks have their new quarterback in free-agent addition Sam Darnold. The question is whether Darnold can thrive in Seattle as he did for most of the 2024 season in Minnesota.
Darnold will find it difficult to replicate last year's success if Seattle doesn't find a way to significantly improve its offensive line in the draft. The Seahawks line was ranked 31st overall by Pro Football Focus last season and was particularly vulnerable on the interior.
In the B/R Scouting Department's three-round mock, the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals both drafted interior linemen just before Seattle was on the clock—Texas' Kelvin Banks Jr. and Alabama's Tyler Booker went 16th and 17th, respectively.
Moving up a few spots in the first round to secure Banks or Booker would be an entirely logical move for Seattle. In this hypothetical trade, the Seahawks deal with the Falcons, who appear quite open to the idea of moving down in Round 1.
"We're picking at 15, so obviously, we can move down and pick up more capital in the first or second round or wherever that is," Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said back in January, per Matt Urben of Falcons Wire.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Trade Up for a Second Round Cornerback
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Buccaneers Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 40), 2025 4th-round pick (No. 121)
Saints Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 53), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 84)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranked 29th in passing yards allowed last season, so cornerback is a position they'll likely target early in the 2025 draft. In the B/R Scouting Department's recent three-round mock, Tampa grabbed Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter with the 53rd overall pick in Round 2.
While Porter has the potential to be a future NFL starter, he's also just the 12th-ranked cornerback on the B/R draft board. It would behoove the Bucs to be a bit more aggressive with their cornerback pursuit on Day 2.
Doing so could allow Tampa to grab a top-tier pass-rusher or linebacker in Round 1 and one of the draft's top corner prospects early in Round 2. Top cornerbacks Travis Hunter and Will Johnson are highly unlikely to fall to the Bucs at No. 19.
In this scenario, the Buccaneers move up to No. 40 by swapping their third-round pick for a late fourth-rounder. That could put Tampa at the top of a potential Day 2 run at the cornerback position and land them a prospect with rookie starting potential.
In the B/R Scouting Department's mock, Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison went 40th overall. He's the fourth-ranked cornerback on the B/R board and one of only 24 prospects with a first-round grade.
Tennessee Titans Trade Up into Round 3
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Titans Get: 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 97)
Vikings Get: 2025 4th-round pick (No. 103), 2025 5th-round pick (No. 167)
There's a scenario in which it would make sense for the Titans to trade the No. 1 overall pick and the chance to draft Miami quarterback Cam Ward. It would, however, involve Tennessee getting a return that simply isn't realistic.
Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson told 102.5 The Game last month (h/t Bleacher Report's Timothy Rapp) that the Titans are seeking three first-round picks "or something of that value" to move down from No. 1.
A more realistic deal for the Titans would involve packaging a pair of Day 3 selections to move into the bottom of Round 3. The team doesn't possess a third-round pick because of the L'Jarius Sneed deal, and it could benefit from adding another prospect from the Day 2 pool. Why? It's looking like teams may struggle to find value in the back half of the draft.
"Maybe this is how it's going to look [from now on], but this year feels different," an unnamed AFC scout told ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "[It's] pretty thin on top [of the board], thick in the middle, and NIL probably carved out the back end [of Day 3]."
Minnesota, which has just four total selections, would be a good team to target with trade offers. Making this move could allow Tennessee to snag a prospect like Georgia interior lineman Dylan Fairchild, who was recently mocked at No. 97 by the B/R Scouting Department.
Washington Commanders Trade out of Round 1
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Commanders Get: 2025 2nd-round pick (No. 39), 2025 3rd-round pick (No. 72)
Bears Get: 2025 1st-round pick (No. 29), 2026 3rd-round pick
The Commanders reached the NFC title game last season and should remain contenders in 2025 as long as quarterback Jayden Daniels remains healthy. However, it's easy to forget that Washington is still rebuilding.
General manager Adam Peters oversaw a massive roster overhaul last offseason, and he brought in several older veterans as part of it. Players like tight end Zach Ertz (age 34) and Bobby Wagner (34) will be back but can't be considered long-term pieces.
If Washington is going to find sustained success, it must get younger and draft well. Unfortunately, the team has just five draft selections this year and no third-round pick.
Moving out of Round 1 would make a ton of sense for the Commanders, and the 29th overall pick should be made available to any and all teams. In this scenario, the Commanders pocket a third-round pick by moving down 10 spots and giving up a future third-rounder—which, presumably, will be much lower than the 79th pick.
Such a move would still allow Washington to get a quality prospect early—the B/R Scouting Department mocked LSU tight end Mason Taylor 39th overall—while adding an extra Day 2 selection.
*Draft order and information via Tankathon
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