Three potential draft day trades that could shake up the NFL

The NFL Draft is one of the most exciting events in the world of professional football. Every year, teams look to add the best talent available to their roster, hoping to improve their chances of winning a championship.

With the 2023 NFL Draft just around the corner, there are several teams that are expected to make some big moves on draft day. Whether it’s trading up to secure a top prospect or trading back to acquire more picks, these teams are looking to shake things up and make a splash on draft day.

In this article, I will go over three of the most intriguing potential draft-day trades that could go down during day one of the NFL Draft on April 27th.

2023 NFL Draft: Draft day trades that could shake up the league

Titans receive: 

• No. 3 overall

Cardinals receive

• No. 11 overall
• No. 72 overall 
• 2024 First-round pick
• 2025 First-round pick

The Arizona Cardinals have already expressed an interest in trading out of this spot, and have been talking to as many as six different teams about the possibility of trading back. One of those teams is the Tennessee Titans who have been snooping around looking to move up in the draft to acquire a quarterback.

This is even more likely after Adam Schefter reported that A QB isn’t expected to be drafted after the first overall pick until at least the 4th pick. If this is true that means that the Titans would be in the perfect spot at pick #3 to jump the Colts and take the second QB in the draft, whether that is Bryce Young, C.J Stroud or Anthony Richardson. They may even have QB1 on their draft board still available at the 3rd pick.

Additionally, this would be one of the best situations in the NFL for a young QB to step into for multiple reasons. Firstly, this is a proven team with an established head coach in Mike Vrabel, who can compete in the AFC very soon, if they hit on a quarterback in this year’s draft. Furthermore, Ryan Tannehill is in the final year of his contract, so the Titans drafting a quarterback in the top three of this year’s draft would give them long-term security at the position, which they have not had in a while.

Vikings receive: 

• No. 5 overall

Seahawks receive

• No. 24 overall
• No. 87 overall (Round 3)
• 2024 First-round pick
• 2025 First-round pick
• Danielle Hunter (Edge)

The Seahawks have a long and proven history of trading back in the first round, and that continues in this year’s draft. On their side of things, they do not need to draft a top rookie QB as they just signed Geno Smith to a three-year extension. Additionally, if they were to move back to the Viking’s pick at #24 they would command a king’s ransom, which in this case involves two more first-round picks and three-time pro bowl edge rusher Danielle Hunter.

On the Viking’s side of things, this is their chance to draft the QB of the future. At the fifth overall pick, the Vikings will probably be taking QB3 in this draft who I believe will be Anthony Richardson. This would be the perfect situation for both Richardson and the Minnesota Vikings. Richardson could get to sit behind an established starter in Kirk Cousins for 1-2 seasons, and then take over the starting job in 2023 or 2024 when the Vikings inevitably move on from Kirk Cousins at 36 years old.

https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1646996754624069632

Steelers receive: 

• No. 9 overall 

Bears receive

• No. 17 overall
• No. 49 overall (Round 2)
• 2024 Second-round pick

The Bears have already traded down once in this draft, so why not trade down a second time to acquire even more assets? If Chicago was to pull the trigger on this trade they would have five picks inside the top 64 of this draft, as well as two first-round picks and two second-round picks next year.

As for the Steelers, they are in desperate need of a starting offensive tackle and in this scenario jump the Eagles, Texans, Titans, Jets, and Patriots who are also looking to select offensive linemen in this draft. This would most likely mean the Steelers have their choice of the top overall OL prospect in the draft, and I believe that would be Paris Johnson Jr who would be a day-one starting LT in Pittsburgh.

If an NFL left tackle was built in a lab, he would look a hell of a lot like Johnson Jr. The former Buckeye stands at 6’6″, 313 pounds and his 36 1/8″ arm length was the third longest at the draft combine. Furthermore, Johnson Jr is an elite athlete that pairs top-end explosiveness with elite movement skills. He possesses exceptional range as a run blocker and was even used as a puller at times last season for Ohio State.