The 2025 NFL Draft is filled with talent in plenty of positions, but not every team is perfectly planted to enjoy the value sweet spot at positions of need. If a team gets aggressive (or desperate) they could look to go up and secure a player they view as critical to their team’s development.
The NFL’s free agency will undoubtedly change the landscape of the 2025 NFL Draft, but let’s look at five teams who could be in a position to move up at the annual selection event — and who they could move up for.
2025 NFL Draft Trade-Up Candidates
New York Jets (No. 7) — Target a QB
With a new general manager and a new head coach, the New York Jets decided to look ahead by cutting ties with Aaron Rodgers, who will likely be a post-June 1 release. However, while doing so does help the team’s cap situation, this is not the year to throw money around in the veteran QB market, and the best option (Sam Darnold) may have no interest in discussing a reunion.
The Jets would otherwise be in an excellent position to BPA (best player available) the NFL Draft at No. 7, but if they feel like there are no great options in free agency and don’t want to roll with the punches in 2025 with Tyrod Taylor (35), Adrian Martinez (25), and a rehabbed Jordan Travis (24) as they target the 2026 NFL Draft, trading up could be sensical.
It’s true that it’s a QB’s league, but there are probably better odds that Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders slip past Nos. 1 and 2 than people let on. If that happens, the Jets might only need to jump the Las Vegas Raiders to get the QB2 in this draft.
The New England Patriots (No. 4) seem like a solid trade partner in this situation as they may be able to get the same guy they want three picks later. And would Deion Sanders be opposed to his son landing in the Big Apple?
Washington Commanders (No. 29) — Target the Trenches
It’s debatable whether or not the Washington Commanders overachieved in 2024, but regardless, their NFC Championship appearance puts them in a position to pick inside the bottom four of the 2025 NFL Draft despite having more roster holes than the average team that drafts at No. 29.
However, with a quarterback as good as Jayden Daniels was a rookie, there are no mistakes, and the team could look to capitalize on its rookie window by securing its offensive line or defensive line.
GET DRAFTING: College Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator
There are several trenches-oriented teams in the 20s ahead of the Commanders, and if they want to get the back-end tackle or edge rusher of their choice, they could look to move up to the early 20s to get ahead of their competition. Potential options could include athletic bets like Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker, and Nic Scourton or jumping on any other inevitable potential fallers.
Denver Broncos (No. 20) — Get Your ‘Joker’
I think Sean Payton misses his Alvin Kamaras and Taysom Hills.
He recently said that his team’s priorities are to pursue a veteran wide receiver and to get a “joker” to diversify the team’s offense, whether it be a tight end or running back. He certainly has tried to find a dynamic athlete who could threaten defenses in multiple ways on any given play, but he hasn’t found one that could stick yet.
Could Payton go for gold in the 2025 NFL Draft? The obvious solutions in Round 1 would be either Tyler Warren or Ashton Jeanty, and both could have a wide range of outcomes. If one falls into the mid-teens, the Broncos could go up to secure a difference-maker on offense to further Bo Nix’s development.
Cincinnati Bengals (No. 17) — The Defense Can Not Be Worse
Whether or not Lou Anarumo deserved to be fired is neither here nor there; Al Golden is now in the building, and the Cincinnati Bengals can not afford to lose ground defensively again.
The Bengals have invested plenty of draft capital into the front seven, and while it has not yet yielded a consistent running mate for Trey Hendrickson, another dart may not improve anything. Instead, attention needs to be focused on the defensive back room, which has gotten weaker every season.
After a disastrous defensive effort in 2024, the Bengals should target a top-tier cornerback, but they may need to get inside the top 10-15 to do so. If they could make a swap with the Chicago Bears (No. 10) and get a star like Will Johnson, it could be the first step to turning Cincinnati’s fortune.
Detroit Lions (No. 28) — Find Aidan Hutchinson’s No. 2
Another team that needs a secondary pass rusher is the Detroit Lions. Aidan Hutchinson paced the team in sacks by 3.5 — he played in five games.
Albeit, injuries derailed the defense on multiple levels; between that and free agency decisions, though, it might be time for the Lions to get aggressive about their defensive line in the NFL Draft, especially with Aaron Glenn out the door.
Interdivisional trades are rare, but the Minnesota Vikings (No. 24) should be desperate to get draft picks as they enter the offseason with the fewest in the NFL (just four picks and two in the top 100), and Minnesota has shown a willingness to trade with rivals before during the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era.
The Lions could make a move for any of the top defensive linemen regardless of position or free agency pursuits. Could Derrick Harmon make his way back to Michigan, or could the Lions look to out-athlete everyone with Walter Nolen? Maybe they capitalize on a falling prospect. Regardless, they need more.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in football, basketball, and more!
