The 2025 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away and there’s been plenty of chatter regarding who the first three picks will be on draft night. While it’s increasingly unlikely we will see a trade in the top five of the 2025 NFL Draft, there will be a few draft-day deals.
This year’s class is a bit unique, adding more intrigue to what happens in the first round. The consensus is that NFL teams have fewer first-round grades on players than in previous years, but this is seen as a relatively deep draft class in the later rounds.
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An increased value placed on mid-round picks because of the depth of this class does complicate the number of potential trades we could see in Round 1. It’s also an unusual situation just weeks out from the 2025 NFL Draft, as no first-round picks have been traded.
While that means history could be made on April 24, if every team has its original first-round pick, a few trades are expected. Those deals will likely come after the first 10 selections, but there is some informed insight into what teams could move down.
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Previewing the 2025 NFL Draft, ESPN.com‘s Matt Miller, Field Yates and Jordan Reid highlighted Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals as the three “most likely” teams to trade down in Round 1.
Minnesota is probably the most obvious trade-down candidate. The Vikings have just four draft picks – 24th overall, 97th overall, 139th overall and 187th overall – with general manager Kewsi Adofo-Mensah likely seeking additional capital to navigate the board on Days 2 and 3. Minnesota could even be an option to trade out of Round 1, with a team moving up for quarterback Jaxson Dart, which would provide ample draft capital for the front office.
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As for the Commanders, highlighted by Yates, they are in a popular spot for teams who want to trade up into the end of Round 1. If a team wants that coveted fifth-year option on a quarterback, moving up to the 29th overall pick would provide it.
The Cardinals, chosen by Reid, only have six draft picks this year and general manager Monti Ossenfort likes to wheel-and-deal on draft day. Holding the 16th overall pick, Arizona offers an intriguing trade-up spot for teams like the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions.
