0 out of 7
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Excitement will be a constant part of the 2022 NFL draft, but that drama will extend beyond rookie selection. On the night of April 28th, teams will consider any number of trade offers.
As usual, most trade talks will focus on draft picks themselves. NFL teams routinely package up some of their choices to rank up and land a particular prospect.
Although less likely, current NFL players will also be the subject of other discussions. These trades typically occur in the week leading up to the event, but the possibility of a notable player being dealt on Draft Day still deserves consideration.
The list is subjective but takes into account the latest rumors as well as each team’s current needs and draft capital.
1 out of 7
John McCoy/Associated Press
On paper it fits together perfectly.
After sending Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Green Bay Packers are missing a No. 1 receiver. They earned a first- and second-round pick in that trade, creating the possibility of one of the four top-64 picks to use to gain an established recipient.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks appear to be moving towards Pete Carroll’s preferred run-first style. Russell Wilson is now a member of the Denver Broncos. With that philosophical shift and Tyler Lockett’s own big-money contract, it’s hard to believe Seattle would want to champion DK Metcalf’s upcoming renewal. Why be a run-first attack but have two high-end receivers and no franchise QB?
But if the Packers are open to extension talks, they’ll need both Metcalf and the draft capital to make it happen.
2 out of 7
Jeff Dean/Associated Press
After a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, the New Orleans Saints are giving some rival executives a little more thought about the first round of the 2022 draft.
And the Pittsburgh Steelers are certainly one of those teams.
Pittsburgh have signed Mitch Trubisky to free agency, but he’s unlikely to be Ben Roethlisberger’s long-term replacement. It’s more likely the Steelers are planning Trubisky or Mason Rudolph as a bridging option for someone else.
New Orleans — who also need a QB — now own 16th and 19th overall picks. If the Steelers didn’t already suspect the Saints might want to call up a signal caller, it now feels inevitable.
Pittsburgh should be a strong contender to strike a deal with either the Minnesota Vikings (12th) or the Houston Texans (13th).
3 out of 7
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
The New York Jets’ top two picks have drawn the most attention for good reason. They’re in a great place to draft an elite prospect and get a few more picks if they trade back from either fourth or tenth overall picks.
Don’t forget round 2 either.
Thanks to Sam Darnold’s trade last year, the Jets hold the No. 35 spot and the Carolina Panthers the No. 38 spot. They’re also in prime position to change the latter part of opening night.
Should an earlier deal land an additional third-round (or possibly fourth) for a top-10 spot, New York could box that pick — one it didn’t have early in the draft anyway — with either No. 35 or 38 back in the to get the first round.
4 out of 7
Paul Sancya/Associated Press
It’s already been a busy offseason for the Kansas City Chiefs, and they could be nearing another big move.
Kansas City passed star wideout Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, who sent the No. 29 San Francisco 49ers to the Chiefs as part of the blockbuster deal. That took Kansas City, which already owned the No. 30 pick, back-to-back.
And that is just the beginning.
Thanks to the hill trade and an equalization pick in the third round, the Chiefs have two draft options in four straight rounds to start the 2022 draft. Kansas City has more than enough firepower to target a top 20 overall and remain either No. 29 or 30.
5 out of 7
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
New Orleans is one of the most intriguing teams in the 2022 draft.
While the need for a quarterback was obvious, the 18th-seat Saints weren’t in prime QB territory. Simply holding the 16th pick doesn’t change that perception dramatically, but having a pair of first-round picks does.
Given that this came at the expense of a 2023 first-rounder and a 2024 second-rounder, the Saints are focused on winning now in an NFC that has an unimpressive middle tier. It seems foolish to expect a big trade up when it’s still possible for the right player to move a little higher with immediate effect.
Asking what New Orleans did is entirely fair considering the roster isn’t viewed as a true NFC contender.
Right or wrong, but the Saints want it. And maybe they’re not done yet.
6 out of 7
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Use the draft when converting.
This statement may seem self-evident, but it’s not all about picking the right prospects. The value of a draft pick to be used is always higher than that of a substitute in the roster.
Yes, each selection is ultimately like a lottery ticket. However, the Houston Texans aren’t poised to win much in 2022. You can afford to spend an off-season loading up rookies in hopes of finding a few players who will become centerpieces of the future.
Keeping the No. 3 pick to add a foundational play is perfectly fine, but putting up the best bid for the No. 13 pick is both a smart and likely strategy for the Texans.
7 out of 7
John Minchillo/Associated Press
Like their fellow MetLife Stadium residents, the New York Giants have a few top-10 first-round picks.
As we recently reported, with the fifth and seventh picks, it’s an optimal situation for the G-Men. Maybe the Falcons (eighths) or Seahawks (nines) want to skip the Panthers (sixth) for a QB. Maybe another team is aiming for a spot ahead of Atlanta or Seattle. These are just two of many trade-down scenarios.
But the Giants also own an extra slot in the third and fifth rounds. A mid-level NFC roster at best, they approach the 2022 draft with the ability to prioritize future flexibility.
With the extra capital, the Giants can trade down each of the first three rounds, still have valuable picks this year, and increase what’s available to them next April.
Also, unless Daniel Jones makes serious improvements in 2022, the Giants might need the 2023 draft ammo anyway.