If the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders plan to trade up and target one of the best quarterbacks available in this year’s NFL Draft, they will have to trade up to the fourth spot and that position could soon be available in a trade.
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There is a lot of excitement surrounding the 2024 NFL Draft due to six different quarterbacks that potentially could go in the first two rounds. For the last few weeks, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Williams have looked to be locks to go in the first five picks in April’s event.
Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, and JJ McCarthy are the next tier of signal callers expected to go at some point in Rounds 1 and 2. However, as the draft grows closer there has been growing speculation that Nix, McCarthy, and Penix Jr. could go higher than original projections.
Unfortunately for the Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, their spots at eight and 13, respectively, are not favorable positions to get a top talent. Furthermore, both organizations desperately need a QB upgrade and the only way they may be able to land a top three or four quarterback is to trade up.
The Bears, Commanders, and Patriots — the teams that own the first three picks in April — are not expected to move out of those slots. However, a new report indicates the Cardinals and the fourth pick could be up for grabs.
On Saturday, The Athletic NFL insider Dianna Russini reported a conversation with Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon as he showered praise on starting QB Kyler Murray. Clearly, they do not need a QB. But are they sure to stay at four to take the best player available? Maybe not. Russini revealed that “some in the league believe [the Cardinals] are open to trading back.”
To add to the urgency for the Las Vegas Raiders and Atlanta Falcons to try to get up to that spot at four, the NFL insider also claimed a general manager in the league suggested that not just three but four QBs could “absolutely” be taken in the top four picks.
It seems that if the two franchises want one of the best signal callers this year they will need to move up the fourth spot to make it happen. Or they could settle for a second-tier QB and see if they can develop them into one of the best from this class.