Big trades have become a hot commodity in the NFL draft. Every year, a team looks to trade away future assets in hopes of landing a generational talent.
The 2020 NFL draft seems to be one of the biggest years for teams to trade up. The quarterback class is plentiful with the likes of Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, and Jordan Love. The wide receiver class is the best in recent memory, and there are a handful of elite offensive tackles.
Here are the five most likely teams to trade up in the 2020 NFL draft.
5. Denver Broncos
The Broncos are an under-the-radar playoff team for the 2020 season. They made several moves in previous drafts that set them up for playoff contention. They traded a seventh rounder for five-time pro bowler Jurrell Casey, and a fourth-round pick for former pro-bowler A.J Bouye.
They also signed running back Melvin Gordon and offensive lineman Graham Glasgow to bolster the trenches. However, they have a limited amount of receiving weapons for second-year quarterback Drew Lock.
Picks 11-14 are held by wide receiver-needy teams. If the Broncos want a go-to target for Lock, then trading for the Brown’s No. 10 pick seems like the best option.
The Broncos seem to be trading away their draft picks for high-level players, so trading five spots up in the draft doesn’t seem too far fetched.
4. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are in win-now mode. They are looking to capitalize on Lamar Jackson still being on a rookie contract.
John Harbaugh is known for trading back in the draft. However, they traded up to select their franchise quarterback. Now, they have enough picks to make a run at a wide receiver to pair with their dynamic quarterback or a linebacker to lead their defense.
If a wide receiver like Henry Ruggs III falls past picks 11-14, then look for the Ravens to trade up.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
This offseason, the Chargers tabbed Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback, and they seem content with that.
However, this all could be a smokescreen to keep Miami content with staying at the No. 5 pick. The Chargers could trade up from the No. 6 pick to the No. 3 or No. 4 pick.
The Chargers have a top-tier defense, and their offense still has many weapons. With Austin Ekler out of the backfield, and Keenan Allen, Hunter Henry, and Mike Williams as passing threats, the Chargers could benefit tremendously from a young dynamic play-caller.
The Chargers could look to trade up for Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert. Adding Tagovailoa or Herbert as their signal-caller will make the Chargers an instant playoff contender.
2. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are a dark-horse team to completely shake up the NFL draft after they traded their first-round pick to the 49ers for Deforest Buckner.
However, the Colts may look to make their way back into the first round. If Jordan Love falls to the late first-round picks, the Colts will most likely be calling to trade up to select their franchise quarterback.
They have two second-round picks and that could be enough to entice a team to trade back in the draft.
1. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have been linked to trade rumors since the end of the 2019 regular season. With three first-round picks and a need for a franchise quarterback, it seems likely they will trade-up.
However, the Bengals will most likely pick Joe Burrow. The Redskins will most likely pick Chase Young. The Lions and Giants seem extremely unlikely in selecting a quarterback.
Therefore, Miami will still have their choice at quarterback. However, the Chargers seem to be a team that might trade up to steal a quarterback from Miami. A sleeper team like the Panthers may trade up to No. 3 or No. 4 pick.
The Dolphins have the draft capital to make major trades throughout the draft. They can trade into the top three, or they can stay at No. 5 and then trade up in the draft to select another generational talent.