The NFL Draft brings about optimism for all franchises as new players join the roster, but what about the teams that want to manufacture an outcome this spring?
There are a handful of teams with trade avenues that are at least worth exploring ahead of (or during?) the draft, so let’s break down how to get the ball rolling!
Denver Broncos
Trade Up and Draft WR Tetairoa McMillan
The Denver Broncos have access to maybe the two most enviable roster-building tools the NFL offers: a viable quarterback on a rookie deal and an aggressive coaching infrastructure that operates with a vision.
Sean Payton wasn’t shy about moving up draft boards to go get his targets during his time with the New Orleans Saints, and I don’t think there’s any reason to think that changes now that he has a franchise signal-caller under center.
In the past, his offenses have prioritized quick-hitting passes and efficiency. What better way to support such a scheme than with a natural athlete in Tet McMillan who is capable of winning at multiple levels and creating mismatches?
Denver showed little interest in using Courtland Sutton in the slot a season ago (14.8% of routes), but we have seen him thrive when plugged into that role (over the past three seasons, 48 slot targets have resulted in 32 catches for 376 yards and six scores).
The ability of McMillan and Sutton to both produce in a variety of ways next to the steadying skill set of free-agent signee Evan Engram would give this offense a real chance to improve after ranking as the 10th-best scoring offense (25.0 PPG) in PFSN’s Offense+ metric last season.
This could be a read-and-react situation during the draft. McMillan’s stock is a moving target, but moving into the top half of the draft for a team content to trade down is a possibility. Could Chicago, Miami, or Cincinnati be interested in a quantity-over-quality draft? Could Dallas (keep reading) have a crowded top tier at the position and be willing to give some ground to gain more picks?
Cleveland Browns
Trade Back in Round 1 and Draft QB Jaxson Dart
Where QB3 goes in this draft is a moving target, and I expect a team to be aggressive at some point should Jaxson Dart’s stock dip the way many are forecasting.
Why not Cleveland?
They’ve clearly scouted the former Rebel, and the idea of leveraging the second overall pick has to at least be on their radar given the haul it could provide due to its value in this specific draft: your choice of arguably the best raw prospect or QB2 of a two-QB top tier.
We saw this exact case present itself in 2016. Cleveland moved off of the No. 2 pick in a two-QB draft (Jared Goff and Carson Wentz went No. 1 and No. 2, while Paxton Lynch was QB3 at No. 26 overall), and it netted them the No. 8 overall pick in addition to two more picks in 2016, a first-rounder in 2017, and a second-round selection in 2018.
A trade like that could happen ahead of time, but I think the Browns are in a unique spot in that they can make this pick and explore options should Dart’s stock begin to dip. Teams picking in the middle third of the first round, like Atlanta, Arizona, and Cincinnati, aren’t in need of a quarterback, so what would stop Cleveland from drafting Penn State’s Abdul Carter and floating out pie-in-the-sky trade offers should Dart be around?
Pittsburgh (No. 21 pick) is a spot where Dart is being selected in our Mock Draft Simulator with regularity, so that’s likely where Cleveland would have to move ahead of to execute this maneuver.
Dallas Cowboys
Trade Into the End of Round 1 for a Receiver
The Dallas Cowboys own the No. 12 overall pick and have a handful of glaring weaknesses. Their activity, as it does for all teams, depends on their draft board, but if their intent is to give Dak Prescott more support, they are positioned well to gain value by moonwalking.
Travis Hunter is his own entity due to his versatility, but the next five or six available receivers all offer similar profiles. Dallas could opt to let the board come to them if they view this receiving class as one of little separation.
CeeDee Lamb, in 15 games, finished with 101 catches for 1,194 yards last season — Dallas’ next two most productive receivers combined for 80 catches and 1,030 yards, and neither of them (Jalen Tolbert and KaVontae Turpin) missed a single game.
McMillan, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, Missouri’s Luther Burden III, and the Longhorn duo of Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond are some receivers who could have the eye of the Cowboys. Washington State’s Kyle Williams is also a name to track.
If Jerry Jones puts all or most of these prospects in the same tier, I could easily see them gauging trade interest from teams like Minnesota, Houston, or Detroit.
Cincinnati Bengals
Trade Back to Pick Up Assets
At this moment, the Cincinnati Bengals only have two picks inside the top-80 and given how much money they are currently paying their star contributors, they are going to be interested in picking up some salary-controlled rookies.
They need defensive reinforcements in bunches, as they ranked No. 28 in PFSN’s Defense+ metric last season — their second straight finish in the bottom six of our metric after ranking 11th in 2022. Cashing in quality (No. 17 overall pick) for quantity could be the savvy play.
In the name of picking up assets, could we see a draft-day trade of Trey Hendrickson? If they are open to that idea, it expands their number of dance partners and allows them to be creative.
Don’t forget that this was a nine-win team last year that lost three games to the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens by a total of five points.
New York Giants
Trade Back When On the Clock
NFL Draft analyst Todd McShay speculated that the New York Giants Giants could jump back into the first round and draft Jaxson Dart should they miss out on the top tier at the position, a result that could very well happen.
What if, in this scenario, they’d rather recoup assets for the No. 3 overall pick than draft Travis Hunter, as McShay projected? In this scenario, New York would be looking for a creative team with holes to fill. Abdul Carter is going to be appealing to many teams, and the Giants would likely have their pick of packages should they make No. 3 available.
Their number of options increases if they can identify teams interested in Hunter’s unique skill set. The Seattle Seahawks have openings on both sides of the ball and we know that Sean Payton hasn’t been afraid to think outside of the box — something he could opt to do with Colorado’s dual-threat weapon.
Is this likely? It takes a very specific run out, but if we are looking at a QB-QB start, it’s a good bet that the G-men will be working the phone lines in a significant way.
Indianapolis Colts
Trade Away WR Alec Pierce
Alec Pierce is entering a contract year and while he’s a strong player, is he a good fit in a crowded receiver room for a team that isn’t sure what the future holds under center?
The soon-to-be 25-year-old receiver won’t bring back a monster package, but there are a number of playoff teams that could use some receiver depth, and the Colts are very much in the business of getting some help on the defensive side of the ball (30th in non-blitzed pressure rate last season at 24.9%, league average: 31.5%).
A Pierce trade may not rock the NFL world, but this is a team that, despite various issues, won eight games a year ago and had three losses by a field goal or less. If the Colts can round things out around the edges and get Anthony Richardson to develop, a double-digit win season is certainly within the range of outcomes.
Philadelphia Eagles
Trade Dallas Goedert
Dallas Goedert is in the final year of his deal and no longer holds a critical role on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Rumors have swirled around him this spring, and I think a trade may come together sooner than later, with Philadelphia opting to get younger at the position on the second or third day of the draft.
Could the Colts view Goedert as a short-term solution to their TE room as they try to make the playoffs in 2025? Might a veteran like Goedert be appealing to the Giants as they rebuild their offense, likely with a rookie QB?
A trade like this wouldn’t change the hierarchy of the NFL, but any move from the defending champions is worth noting, and there seems to be plenty of momentum behind them moving on from Goedert.