First-round trades have become commonplace in the NFL Draft. In 2022, nine trades were finalized during the first round of the draft. Veterans like A.J. Brown and Marquise Brown found new homes, while clubs moved up to draft prospects such as Chris Olave, Jameson Williams, Jordan Davis, and Trent McDuffie.
The 2023 NFL Draft doesn’t figure to be any different, and rumors are already swirling about which teams might want to move up the board.
Which Teams Could Trade Up in the 2023 NFL Draft?
Green Bay Packers (No. 13)
The Packers moved from pick No. 15 to No. 13 by virtue of the Aaron Rodgers trade, a slight bump that could put them in a better position to land the prospect of their choice. According to PFN’s Tony Pauline, Green Bay hopes it will be “easier to secure” Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at 13th overall.
If the Packers want JSN, they might have to trade up even further. The Texans (No. 12) have been heavily linked to the ex-Buckeye, while the Titans (No. 11) could certainly use more pass-catching help. Green Bay could hypothetically consider a trade with the Eagles at No. 10 to get ahead of other WR-needy clubs.
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ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports that while there is “chatter” that the Packers could consider a tight end or offensive tackle in Round 1, a defensive player might be more likely. After Green Bay drafted two Georgia defenders — linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt — in 2022, Graziano speculates that the Packers could go back to the Bulldog well and target pass rusher Nolan Smith.
Green Bay already has Rashan Gary and Preston Smith in the fold, but Smith will turn 31 years old next season. He just signed an extension in March 2022, but the deal structure would allow the Packers to exit the contract as early as next spring. With Gary set for a massive extension, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Green Bay to replenish their edge-rushing depth chart with a young, inexpensive option like Nolan Smith.
Baltimore Ravens (No. 22)
The Ravens might also be “aggressive coming up from 22 to land the offensive playmaker they’re looking for,” per Graziano. Meanwhile, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated relays that “a good number of rival teams believe that Baltimore will be in the receiver market” in this year’s draft.
As Baltimore attempts to work out a solution with franchise-tagged quarterback Lamar Jackson, they’ve also been building up the former MVP’s receiving corps. The Ravens probably overpaid Odell Beckham Jr. at $15 million guaranteed, but it’s easy to understand why a WR-desperate club like Baltimore would go overboard to land the best pass catcher remaining on the market.
The Ravens also added Nelson Agholor on a cheap deal and still have Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay on the roster. Still, it might behoove general manager Eric DeCosta to get ahead of teams like the Lions (No. 18), Seahawks (No. 20), and Chargers (No. 21), all of whom could consider a receiver in the first round.
While Smith-Njigba might be out of Baltimore’s range unless they move up 10 spots or more, they could land any of the other Round 1 projected receivers. Quentin Johnston (TCU), Jordan Addison (USC), and Zay Flowers (Boston College) all fall between 19 and 28 on the final edition of PFN’s Industry Consensus Board.
New Orleans Saints (No. 29)
The Saints have a history of assertive behavior in the draft. Last year, New Orleans made a pre-draft trade to acquire two first-rounders from the Eagles before moving up again in Round 1 to land Olave.
With those previous moves as a guide, both Graziano and Breer list the Saints as a team that could trade up in the 2023 draft. New Orleans was initially without a first-round pick in this year’s draft, but they added the No. 29 overall selection by trading former head coach Sean Payton’s rights to the Broncos.
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If the Saints move up, they could consider a defensive tackle like Pitt’s Calijah Kancey, per Pauline, who recently reported New Orleans “has been digging deep into Kancey and burning the phone lines talking with his coaches at Pittsburgh.”
Interior defensive line is arguably the Saints’ biggest need heading into the draft. After losing both David Onyemata and Shy Tuttle to division rivals in free agency, New Orleans added rotational pieces Nathan Shepherd and Khalen Saunders. But they still need more bodies at DT, and Kancey is a fearsome pass rusher despite his size (6’1″, 280).
Kansas City Chiefs (No. 31)
Include the Super Bowl champs among the list of teams that might move up in Round 1. Per Breer, Kansas City is “one of the few teams that has already made calls about moving up,” but rival clubs feel as though the Chiefs are simply seeing if they can “find a discounted way to go up the board.”
K.C. made an eight-spot jump in the 2022 draft to acquire McDuffie, sending pick Nos. 29, 94, and 121 to the Patriots in exchange for No. 21. The Chiefs are two spots further back in the Round 1 draft order this time around, but last year’s trade gives us an idea of what Kansas City might be willing to pay to move up.
If the Chiefs trade up, they could consider Flowers or Alabama running back Jahymr Gibbs, per Breer. If they stay put, Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt or Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith could be on the table.
Theoretically, Kansas City could also consider filling their right tackle void in Round 1. The Chiefs have above-average players everywhere up front except for RT, where Lucas Niang and Darian Kinnard are currently projected to battle for the starting job. If K.C. wants a prospect like Darnell Wright or Anton Harrison, they could jump other teams with potential tackle interest, like the Jaguars (No. 24), Bills (No. 27), or Bengals (No. 28).