The 2025 NFL draft is an anomaly. For the first time since the NFL merger, not a single pick in the first round has been traded. Of course, there's still time for that to change. But it's more likely we will see only the inevitable first-round trades once teams are officially on the clock on April 24.
This draft class is also quite different from 2024, when the top-heavy quarterback group led to endless speculation about potential trades. The Giants, for instance, made a push to move up from No. 6 to No. 3 for Drake Maye, while the Vikings successfully moved from No. 11 to No. 10 to take J.J. McCarthy. Because this year's QB class is weaker on paper, there will likely be less urgency from QB-needy teams.
Even so, trades will happen. And almost any team could make a trade on Day 1. So let's try to figure out the most logical trade-up or trade-down candidates once deals start flying. I even called out one team that has a case to move either direction. Let's begin with franchises that might trade up, going in order of these teams' current first-round draft slot.
Jump to teams that could:
Trade up in Round 1 | Trade into Round 1
Trade down | Trade up ... or down?
Teams that could trade up in Round 1
San Francisco 49ers
First-round slot: No. 11
The 49ers made one of the most audacious recent NFL draft trades, as they moved up nine spots a month before the draft in 2021 and eventually took quarterback Trey Lance. I don't anticipate a move anywhere near that bold this year, but here is a scenario to consider: If Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders goes third overall to the Giants, the chain reaction would likely include the Patriots taking Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. That means the top two offensive tackles -- LSU's Will Campbell and Missouri's Armand Membou -- could reach the eighth pick of the draft.
Should that be the case, would San Francisco -- with its major offensive line need -- consider leapfrogging the Bears at No. 10 to draft one of them? The 49ers have a lot of holes to fill throughout the draft, but they also have 11 picks to work with -- tied for the most.
Houston Texans
First-round slot: No. 25
The Texans could certainly line up tomorrow along the offensive line with their updated depth chart, but it feels like the long-term vision is still a work in progress. Out went Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green and Shaq Mason. In come Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson and Ed Ingram. Remember, the Texans allowed 54 sacks last season, tied for the third most in the league.
Houston has plenty of competition ahead of them in the draft order for offensive linemen. The Cardinals (No. 16), Bengals (No. 17), Seahawks (No. 18), Chargers (No. 22) and Vikings (No. 24) have all been popularly linked to the position in the first round. The Texans -- who have seven total picks this year -- could try to jump ahead of at least a few of those franchises. And potential targets who would make sense include Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr., North Dakota State G/C Grey Zabel, Ohio State G Donovan Jackson, Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr. and Ohio State OT Josh Simmons.
Buffalo Bills
First-round slot: No. 30
Buffalo's list of needs is short in comparison to almost every other NFL team -- it has one of the league's more elite rosters. But the Bills do need help at cornerback -- they allowed the NFL's fifth-worst completion percentage last season (68.5%), Rasul Douglas is still unsigned, and there's a question mark opposite Christian Benford.
Because of injuries to East Carolina's Shavon Revel Jr. (ACL) and Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison (hip), there may not be as much cornerback action in the first round. Still, Buffalo could be motivated to move up in a number of different ways for one of the top players at the position. Names that I have circled that could make sense: Michigan's Will Johnson (major move up), Texas' Jahdae Barron (likely would require sliding into the teens), Kentucky's Maxwell Hairston (probably the 20s) and perhaps even Ole Miss' Trey Amos (likely only a few spots).
General manager Brandon Beane has traded up in the first round four times during his tenure in Buffalo.
Teams that could trade back into Round 1
Cleveland Browns, New York Giants
Second-round slots: Nos. 33 and 34, respectively
The easiest way to approach this situation is to pair these teams together. After all, the Giants and Browns face the same dilemma. Should they take a quarterback early in Round 1 (Nos. 2 and 3, respectively) or wait until a later round?
If either or both pass at the top of Round 1, it could lead to Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart sliding a little, given the lack of clear QB-needy teams overall. The Raiders, Jets, Saints, Steelers and Rams could all look at signal-callers, but none is forced to make a move at the position. Only the Steelers among that group lack a legitimate current option for 2025, and that could change if they sign Aaron Rodgers. That's all to say, it's not out of the question that Sanders and/or Dart could be on the board later than expected. And if that happens, I think there could be a race to get back into the first round for one of them.
The Browns have the first pick of the second round at No. 33 and 10 total picks. The Giants are right behind them at No. 34 and have eight selections.
Teams that could trade down in Round 1
New Orleans Saints
First-round slot: No. 9
OK, here's a curveball. Following the news that Derek Carr is uncertain for the 2025 season (shoulder), quarterback is unquestionably a huge need for New Orleans. I would have advocated for the Saints taking a signal-caller at No. 9 even if Carr were fully healthy. So standing pat is a totally logical outcome, with Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart among names to consider. However, if the Saints are not enamored with the top of the QB class, they strike me as a potential trade-down team.
Why? They have a ton of needs on their aging roster, but they can likely address those issues outside the top 10. The Saints are searching for help at offensive line, cornerback, edge rusher and wide receiver, any of which could be found between pick Nos. 13 and 22. While New Orleans' free agency moves do not suggest a methodical rebuild, the team knows from experience that one draft class can change its entire outlook. The Saints' 2017 class included cornerback Marshon Lattimore, running back Alvin Kamara, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk. The depth of this 2025 class makes adding more draft capital alluring, even though New Orleans already has nine picks.
Players such as Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren could be available at No. 9 and garner interest from a few front offices -- perhaps even the Bears at No. 10. And a team might even call the Saints to move up for Armand Membou if desperate for a potential long-term left tackle.
Atlanta Falcons
First-round slot: No. 15
The Falcons have a substantial need at edge rusher that must be addressed, but it's worth noting they have only three picks before Round 7 in this draft (plus two selections in the final round). They traded away their third- and sixth-rounders, and they forfeited their fifth-round pick for violating the league's anti-tampering policy last offseason. And Atlanta is short on salary cap flexibility and could use as many cost-controlled players as possible.
One thing that could help: I still believe Atlanta will at least explore trading quarterback Kirk Cousins for 2025 draft capital, even if the return was modest.
Denver Broncos
First-round slot: No. 20
The Broncos strike me as a trade-down candidate for two reasons. First, this roster does not have many glaring needs. The most popular position linked to Denver in this predraft process has been running back, which could easily be filled in a later round. (The Broncos have seven picks this year.) Wide receiver is another potential position to target, but there will be some talented pass catchers on Day 2. In fact, I actually find the depth in this year's wideout crew to be more appealing than the headliners.
The second reason involves the team picking directly behind the Broncos: the Steelers. Pittsburgh still hasn't signed Aaron Rodgers. Even if he joins the Steelers, he'll be 42 years old in December. Pittsburgh knows it has be mindful about its quarterback room for the future -- but so do other teams. And as such, another QB-needy team could call Denver to get ahead of the Steelers to secure Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart.
Washington Commanders
First-round slot: No. 29
The Commanders check two boxes in identifying trade-down candidates. They are selecting late enough in the first round that a team selecting early on Day 2 might give them a call, and they have just five picks in total following many offseason moves. In other words, they are in good position to trade out and should be willing. Since this class is regarded as deeper rather than top-heavy, moving down would give Washington more chances to add depth at positions of need, including edge rusher and wide receiver.
In fact, Mel Kiper Jr. and I had Washington trading out of No. 29 in our new alternating three-round mock draft this week.
One team that could trade up OR down
New England Patriots
Early slots: Nos. 4, 38
The Patriots have options. In Round 1, it would be practical business for them to keep the phone lines open. Shedeur Sanders could easily still be on the board, and while it doesn't feel like the Colorado QB has a robust market with teams picking in the top 10, there's a chance one falls in love with his skill set and won't want to risk losing him to another franchise. Look, this is a long shot. And it's an even bigger long shot if either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter is available. But it's at least something to watch and speaks to the good position that New England is in at No. 4.
Let's jump to Round 2. The Patriots spent big in free agency on both sides of the ball, led by the acquisitions of defensive tackle Milton Williams, cornerback Carlton Davis III, edge rusher Harold Landry III, linebacker Robert Spillane and receiver Stefon Diggs. But there are still roster weaknesses, and a climb up from No. 38 for a preferred target would make total sense. They've been aggressive at plugging holes already under new coach Mike Vrabel, so why not keep that moving? The Pats have nine picks to play with.
In my most recent mock draft, I had the Patriots trading up from No. 38 to No. 30 for Josh Conerly Jr. after landing Hunter earlier. Such an outcome would take care of question marks at offensive tackle and receiver.