On Monday in a tweet, Adam Schefter indicates that the Arizona Cardinals have gotten heavy interest for their third overall pick in the NFL Draft. This is significant news for sure.
At least six teams have inquired with the Arizona Cardinals about trading up for the third overall pick in the upcoming April 27 NFL Draft, per league sources. Cardinals still are mulling whether to move pick or make it.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 10, 2023
He tweets that at least six teams have inquired about trading up to the third overall selection, and I’d have to guess that most of those inquiries are from teams who are needing a franchise QB. We can do our best to try and guess which teams those are, but their choices do appear to be limited if they are gunning for a QB.
I think it’s just about a guarantee that Bryce Young and CJ Stroud are going in the top two selections, so the next best prospect appears to be Anthony Richardson. Perhaps the QB-needy teams that have called the Arizona Cardinals about the third overall pick are wanting the Florida QB.
There’s also a ton of very talented defensive prospects that are very much worth the third overall pick. Will Anderson is a talented edge rusher who should have a bright future in the NFL. Jalen Carter is the best interior defensive player in the NFL Draft by a mile.
Aside from Richardson, Anderson, and Carter, I’m not sure who else would truly be worth the third overall pick. The teams who have inquired with the Cardinals are likely eyeing one of those three players, in my opinion, but obviously I could be very wrong.
If I had to guess, here is who I think have inquired about the pick:
Indianapolis Colts
Seattle Seahawks
Las Vegas Raiders
Tennessee Titans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New England Patriots
So I think for the Colts, Raiders, Titans, Buccaneers, and Patriots, if these teams indeed inquire with the Arizona Cardinals, I believe did so to try to land a long-term option at QB.
For the Seahawks, who may indeed have a top defensive player fall into their lap at their fifth overall pick, I think trading up to the third pick is just putting themselves into the best position possible to draft who they want.
Seattle is a team that can go in multiple directions with their top pick, so I think if they were to trade up to the third selection, arguments could be made for them drafting a QB or picking a Jalen Carter or Will Anderson to beef up a defense that was among the league’s worst in 2022.