Teams that are most likely to make trades in the 2025 NFL Draft
Photo Credit: Carolina Panthers
Draft Day is here!
Trades are the hardest thing to predict in any draft, but fans love them because they bring chaos to an already exciting weekend. Some teams trade up for their desired prospect, some teams trade down to acquire more draft capital. Let’s take a look at 10 teams that could do just that.
Cleveland Browns
Picks: No. 2, No. 33, No. 67, No. 94, No. 104, No. 179, No. 192, No. 200, No. 216, and No. 255
It seems more and more likely that the Browns will stay put at No. 2 overall and select wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter from Colorado. Hunter is a dynamic two-way player who can make an instant impact on both sides of the ball for the Browns. However, selecting Hunter doesn’t solve the Browns’ quarterback issues. The Browns brought in Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett this offseason to replace the injured Deshaun Watson, but none of the three players offers a long-term solution at quarterback. The Browns could be looking to trade back into the first round to find their answer, especially if quarterback Shedeur Sanders slides past the Steelers’ pick at No. 21 overall. Quarterbacks Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Shough could be in play if Sanders is off the board. The Browns own the first pick in the second round and have two third-round picks that could be used in trades.
New York Giants
Picks: No. 3, No. 34, No. 65, No. 99, No. 105, No. 154, No. 219, and No. 246
Draft day reports suggest that the first four picks are set in stone, meaning the Giants are projected to take Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the third pick. Like the Browns, the Giants need a long-term solution at quarterback, but are in less of a rush than the former after signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency. The Giants are said to like both Sanders and Dart, and would potentially trade back into the first round to acquire either one. Would the Giants trade back from the third-overall pick? Analysts are hearing that few teams desire to move up that high due to the lack of surefire quarterback prospects. The Giants have resources in the first three rounds that can be packaged in a trade back into the first round.
Chicago Bears
Picks: No. 10, No. 39, No. 41, No. 72, No. 148, No. 233, and No. 240
The Bears could move up or move back in the first round. General manager Ryan Poles has a lot of flexibility with a top-10 pick and two early second-rounders. Would the Bears move up in the draft for running back Ashton Jeanty or tight end Tyler Warren? Those would be the most likely prospects the Bears would target if they were looking to move up the board. With offensive guru Ben Johnson now coaching the Bears, he will be looking for as many weapons as possible to build a similar offense to the one he had with the Detroit Lions. Jeanty isn’t predicted to fall to the Bears, but there is a chance that Warren will be available at 10. If neither is there when the Bears are on the clock, Poles could look to trade back slightly to acquire more assets and still be able to get a desired prospect.
Indianapolis Colts
Picks: No. 14, No. 45, No. 80, No. 117, No. 151, No. 189, and No. 232
The Colts are in a unique situation because they only have their seven original picks, no picks that were acquired in trades or compensatory picks. That might make it harder for them to move up in the draft, considering general manager Chris Ballard might not want to give up a portion of his draft capital for one prospect. However, the Colts desperately need a tight end. Trading up for Warren would make a lot of sense if the Colts want to be competitive next year and beyond. With the Jets, Saints, and Bears all targeting Warren, the Colts would need to make a trade with the Raiders at No. 6 overall to guarantee they get their guy. Colston Loveland, the other top tight end prospect, is getting a lot of hype this week. Originally, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Loveland would be available when the Colts pick at No. 14, but recent reports suggest that teams could be looking to jump the Colts to select Loveland. Either way you slice it, the Colts may need to trade up to get one of the top tight ends in this year’s class.
Atlanta Falcons
Picks: No. 15, No. 46, No. 118, No. 218, and No. 242
Having only five picks in the draft makes the Falcons an obvious candidate to trade back. The Falcons currently don’t have a third, fifth, or sixth-round pick. After surprisingly taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the top 10 last year, the Falcons still have a lot of holes to fill. While a pass rusher is an immediate need, the Falcons could afford to trade back in the first round to acquire more draft capital and still pick an impact player along the defensive line. It all depends on how the board falls. Like Penix Jr. last year, if Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot likes a player, he will be more than happy to stay put and take his guy.
Denver Broncos
Picks: No. 20, No. 51, No. 85, No. 122, No. 191, No. 197, and No. 208
The Broncos did a great job addressing their needs and adding depth in free agency, leaving the door open for general manager George Patton to make a big move in the draft. The Broncos don’t have too much ammo to move up, only having multiple picks in the sixth round, but they can afford to make a jump in the first round. The Broncos’ most glaring need is an elite offensive weapon for second-year quarterback Bo Nix. Whether that is a running back, wide receiver, or tight end, they’ll certainly be looking for a playmaker with their first pick. Players like Jeanty, Warren, Loveland, and wide receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Matthew Golden will be targets if the Broncos look to move up. There is a chance that one or two of those players are there at No. 20, but there are no guarantees. Trading with teams like the Bears or Falcons wouldn’t demand a haul of picks and would allow the Broncos to select one of their desired prospects.
Minnesota Vikings
Picks: No. 24, No. 97, No. 139, and No. 187
The Vikings’ four picks in this year’s draft are the least amount for any team, with only the first-round pick being originally owned by the Vikings. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did a good job adding to his team in free agency, knowing he had limited picks. The Vikings have one of the older rosters in the NFL, but will be led by second-year quarterback and first-year starter J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings need to continue getting younger if they wish to be competitive throughout the former first-round pick’s career. Trading back would allow the Vikings to do just that. The Vikings pick would be a perfect spot for teams looking to move from the beginning of the second round to the back half of the first round to select a quarterback. The Vikings could stick and pick if they have a player who suits their needs.
Houston Texans
Picks: No. 25, No. 58, No. 79, No. 89, No. 166, No. 236, and No. 241
Texans general manager Nick Caserio is extremely aggressive during the NFL Draft. Since assuming his position with the team in 2021, Caserio has made 18 draft-day trades. While the Texans made the playoffs and won a Wild Card game, they failed to meet higher expectations in head coach DeMeco Ryans’ second year. Caserio could look to make one more big draft trade that will help his team compete at the highest level for the coming years. The biggest need for the Texans is offensive line help. This offseason, the Texans dismantled an offensive line that gave up the third-most sacks in the league last year. Trading up for one of the top five linemen in the draft would give the Texans a cornerstone to build on. If a tackle or guard slips into the mid-teens, don’t be shocked if Caserio moves up to take one. With the departure of wide receiver Stefon Diggs and the likelihood of Tank Dell missing most of the season, the Texans could also move up for a receiver if they have one they really like.
Washington Commanders
Picks: No. 29, No. 61, No. 128, No. 205, and No. 254
The Commanders don’t have a third or fifth-round pick, leaving them with five picks for this year’s draft. General manager Adam Peters decided to upgrade his team through trades and free-agent signings. Trading back from No. 29 would be the smart move for the Commanders. They will likely get to pick from the same tier of prospects, whether they stay put or trade back to the early part of Round 2. If I were the general manager of a quarterback-needy team, I’d be calling the Commanders. Once again, if Sanders slips or a team has a first-round grade on Dart, Milroe, or Shough, trading back into the first round, especially with the Commanders, would make perfect sense. On average of players ages, the Commanders were the oldest of 14 teams to make the playoffs last year. Accumulating picks to inject more youth into the roster will be important if they look to have sustained success.
Philadelphia Eagles
Picks: No. 32, No. 64, No. 96, No. 134, No. 161, No. 164, No. 165, and No. 168
General manager Howie Roseman is always making calls during the draft, whether it’s to trade up or move down. The Eagles could do either this year, and it wouldn’t be a surprise. Roseman is on record as saying that his scouts don’t have 32 first-round grades on this year’s class. The Eagles are projected to have 20-plus picks in the next two drafts, giving Roseman plenty to work with if he wishes to trade up. Last year, the Eagles made eight draft-day trades, tied for the most by a team since 1990. Expect the Eagles to be active, and it could start by moving up from the final pick in the first round to take Georgia safety Malaki Starks or a defensive lineman. Roseman could move back and acquire more picks for the 2026 NFL Draft if he likes that class better. There have also been reports that the Eagles could trade this pick for an established NFL starter.
