The opening night of the NFL draft is always fertile ground for dealmaking, with the past two years furthering the trade trend. In the 2024 NFL Draft, five moves were made during Round 1, including two by the Minnesota Vikings, who jumped up to select QB J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 overall and OLB Dallas Turner at 17. The previous year saw six trades on Thursday night.
With the 2025 NFL Draft right around the corner (April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin), we asked our analysts to answer the question:
What trade do you want to see in Round 1?
I'd love to see the Los Angeles Rams trade up to get a premier player at the tight end position. Specifically, I'm thinking Tyler Warren. L.A. currently owns eight selections, including No. 26 overall, but without a second-round pick, the team might have to give up a future first-rounder in order to move up the board and land the Penn State tight end. Les Snead has given up high draft picks in the past -- remember the "F--- them picks" philosophy? -- so it doesn't feel as if that would prevent the Rams from making a move that would add an exceptional player to an offense that's looking to make the most of Matthew Stafford's twilight years.
The quarterback-needy Pittsburgh Steelers hold the 21st overall pick in the draft. The problem? A handful of teams picking in the top 10 also have a need at the game's most important position, for 2025 and/or beyond. Aaron Rodgers might remain in play for Pittsburgh, but at the moment, Mason Rudolph sits atop the depth chart at QB. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Steelers should soar up the board -- they might have to climb all the way up to No. 8, ahead of the New Orleans Saints -- to nab either Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart.
I’d love to see the Atlanta Falcons move down from No. 15, perhaps making a deal with a quarterback-needy team. Could the Falcons get a starting-caliber defender at their current draft slot? Yes. But even if they move down into the 30s, they might be picking from a similar pool of candidates. Atlanta only has five picks right now, including just one (No. 118 overall) in Rounds 3-6. For a team that's lost more than it has brought in this offseason, that’s a tough spot to be in. Moving down makes a ton of sense if there’s a buyer.
The Buffalo Bills are looking for a true difference-maker to get over the hump against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. Sending some Day 3 selections to the Minnesota Vikings, who currently have just four draft picks, to ascend from No. 30 to the 24th spot would give general manager Brandon Beane a chance to potentially select a safety like Nick Emmanwori or Malaki Starks, an explosive defensive tackle like Walter Nolen or Derrick Harmon, or edge rusher Mike Green, who could take over for the released Von Miller.
The Kansas City Chiefs trade out of the first round to acquire more picks later. General manager Brett Veach is one of the most aggressive and successful executives in the business, which is why this would be huge news. He loves to trade up for players he likes and disdains the idea of trading back, but this is the draft when Veach would be wise to move out of the first round. The Chiefs sorely need a left tackle, but the odds of one of the best at that position being available with the 31st overall pick are slim. It also doesn't make much sense for K.C. to trade up for an OT, given the compensation the team would have to part with. So, this is the time for Veach to make his own history. Trade back, find more picks and see how it feels to be patient.
I have to stick with the big trade from my recent mock draft. The Las Vegas Raiders should vault up to No. 2 for Colorado's Travis Hunter. He's a first-round talent at wide receiver and cornerback, so I have no problem having Las Vegas give Cleveland a future first-round pick to get a two-for-one player who fills a pair of needs on the Raiders' roster. Plus, Pete Carroll isn't the type of coach to be afraid of using Hunter -- who'd immediately become Vegas' best wideout and cornerback -- full time on both sides of the ball.
I would like to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade up from No. 19 overall to Pick 5, 6 or 7 and target Jalon Walker from Georgia. Now, they don't have additional draft picks this year, so it could sting a little bit to come all the way up from 19, but this would be a fun trade because the Bucs need an off-ball linebacker and more pass-rush help. Walker is a hybrid player who can offer some of both.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has a history of making splashy moves for offensive talent. He jumped up the draft board for Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith (No. 17 overall in 1990) and star wide receiver Dez Bryant (No. 24 in 2010). Now, he could look to fill Dallas' major need at running back with Boise State's Ashton Jeanty -- though the Cowboys likely would have to trade up from No. 12 overall into the top 10 in order to land the Heisman runner-up. Jeanty would immediately boost a run game that ranked 27th last season.
