FIVE TEAMS THAT COULD TRADE DOWN IN THE NFL DRAFT FIRST ROUND
NFL fans are counting down the final hours until the 2024 draft takes place, which means the 32 teams will be frantically undergoing their final preparations.
Draft boards are being finalised, player assessments are being debated and trade offers are still being mooted.
Several teams are likely to attempt to move up in order to land a leading quarterback, wide receiver or lineman, but they will need a willing trade partner.
Here is a look at some of the teams that can expect to be fielding calls between now and the start of Thursday’s first round.
New England Patriots - Pick no. 3
For months, the general consensus at the top of the draft was that the Bears, Commanders and Patriots would all be taking quarterbacks. While the first two are making no secret of their plans to stay put and grab a QB, the Patriots have hinted that they could be open for business.
Jacoby Brissett was signed this offseason and is a more-than-competent bridge quarterback should the team decide to accept a big offer that lets them address a number of their needs.
Arizona Cardinals - Pick no. 4
The Cards are the first team up that already has a franchise quarterback in place, making them an obvious candidate to field trade calls. A wide receiver is their top priority and with three leading prospects in Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze, they have a bit of wriggle room when it comes to trading back.
Also in Arizona’s favour is the fact they have six picks in the top 100, including two first-rounders, giving them a lot of flexibility if they need to move back up.
Los Angeles Chargers - Pick no. 5
As is the case with the Cardinals, the Chargers have their quarterback in place and are looking to target positions where there is plenty of depth in this year’s draft - namely wide receiver and offensive linemen.
Chicago Bears - Picks no. 1 and 9
Obviously, the Bears are not going to trade away their first overall pick, with Caleb Williams a lock to be the first name off the board. But after having two top-ten picks, the well quickly runs dry, as the Bears have just two more for the rest of the draft.
That gives them a decision to make - do they look to draft another top-tier player and potentially give Williams a key weapon to help his adjustment to the pro game, or do they field calls in an attempt to add more depth?
Denver Broncos - Pick no. 12
While the Broncos are on the hunt for a new quarterback, they simply don’t have the ammunition to move into the top five to land one of the top four quarterbacks, given they have no second-round selection this year.
There’s a case to be made, therefore, for them moving back in order to obtain more draft capital and pick up a quarterback later in the draft. The signing of Zach Wilson this week could be a potential sign that this option is in play.
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