Every team currently owns its first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That isn’t expected to last through the event’s first 32 selections.
There isn’t a lot of blue-chip talent atop this year’s class, so there may not be a lot of trades early.
That said, as the round progresses, there are bound to be a handful of teams that try to move up or down the draft board. That will be particularly true late in the first round, when some of the league’s quarterback-needy teams will consider moving up to grab prospects like Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart and potentially even Jalen Milroe or Tyler Shough.
At this point, most of the potential trade-up and trade-down candidates have been established. But what could their trades look like, and who would each team consider moving up to get? Here are five potential trades that could happen in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
NFL draft trade predictions
Bears trade up with Raiders for RB Ashton Jeanty
Bears get: No. 6 pick, sixth-round pick (No. 182)
Raiders get: No. 10 pick, third-round pick (No. 72), fifth-round pick (No. 149)
The Bears did a good job bolstering the trenches in free agency. They still need depth at offensive tackle and on the defensive line, but one could argue their biggest remaining need is at running back.
D’Andre Swift averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry in his first year in Chicago. The Bears could use an upgrade over him to offer Caleb Williams more support. The Bears reportedly ‘love’ Jeanty, who generated 373 carries, 2,601 rushing yards and 30 total touchdowns in his Heisman runner-up final season.
The Raiders may also like Jeanty, but they could be willing to move down to acquire more assets considering the depth of the 2025 running back draft class. With the 10th selection, Las Vegas would be positioned to target a top pass-rushing partner for Maxx Crosby or chase one of the draft’s top cornerback prospects, like Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron.
Dolphins land CB Will Johnson, Panthers move down
Dolphins get: No. 8 pick
Panthers get: No. 13 pick, third-round pick (No. 98), fourth-round pick (No. 116)
The Dolphins are allowing Jalen Ramsey to seek a trade. That leaves them very thin at cornerback, with Storm Duck, Cam Smith, Kader Kohou and Artie Burns representing the team’s top options.
Moving into the top 10 would likely allow the Dolphins – who have nine picks in the draft – to have a shot at Johnson, who generated great tape at Michigan. There are concerns about Johnson’s long speed, but his instincts, production, size (6-2, 194 pounds) and physicality could convince Miami he’d be an ideal replacement for Ramsey.
Meanwhile, the Panthers are hunting for upgrades to their defense but can afford to move down in a draft that’s deep with pass rushing talent. They could potentially still be in range for Jalon Walker with the 13th pick and can use their extra mid-round picks to add some weapons around Bryce Young.
Texans trade up with Falcons for OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
Texans get: No. 15 pick
Falcons get: No. 25 pick, third-round pick (No. 79), third-round pick (No. 89)
The Texans have spent the 2025 NFL offseason revamping their offensive line. It moved off its left-side starters in Laremy Tunsil and Kenyon Green and will need to add reinforcements despite signing Cam Robinson as a one-year stopgap at left tackle.
The issue is that there isn’t a guaranteed top tackle prospect on the board for the Texans with the 25th selection. That could prompt them to move up in the draft, and grab a prospect like Banks, who played well as a three-year left tackle starter at Texas and was once considered a potential top 10 selection.
The Falcons are logical trade partner for the Texans. Atlanta had the second-fewest sacks in the NFL last season and is expected to address its defensive line during the 2025 draft, which is loaded at both on the edge and at defensive tackle.
That said, the Falcons have just five picks entering the draft, so they aren’t positioned as much to take advantage of the class’ depth. Moving down to 25 would allow them to get a high-end pass rusher still – perhaps Mykel Williams or James Pearce Jr. – while adding some mid-round picks to their war chest.
Chiefs move up for OT Josh Simmons, Packers trade down
Chiefs get: No. 23 pick
Packers get: No. 31 pick, third-round pick (No. 95), fourth-round pick (No. 133)
The Chiefs are ‘actively looking to trade up in Round 1,’ according to ESPN’s Matt Miller. The goal in doing so would be to add an offensive lineman to challenge Jaylon Moore at left tackle or potentially develop into a long-term replacement for Jawaan Taylor.
Simmons generated great tape in six games at Ohio State before suffering a torn patellar tendon. He could have been a top 15 pick if not for that injury. The Chiefs could potentially land him at 31 but may not want to risk a team like the Vikings or Rams scooping him before they can.
If the Chiefs can move up without giving up their second-round pick, they would probably be happy with that. As for the Packers, they can still land a top cornerback or edge rusher with the 31st pick, making this a good opportunity for them to move down.
Browns trade up for QB Jaxson Dart, Vikings move down
Browns get: No. 24 pick
Vikings get: No. 33 pick, third-round pick (No. 94), sixth-round pick (No. 179)
It’s no secret the Browns need a quarterback, but they seem more focused on targeting Travis Hunter with the No. 2 overall pick than a signal-caller. That should put them in the running to take a quarterback with their pick atop the second round and Dart’s toughness, mobility and accuracy makes him a good fit for Kevin Stefanski’s offense.
It could also be logical for Cleveland to trade into the end of the first round. Doing so would allow them to a land a quarterback with a cost-controlled fifth-year option while guaranteeing another quarterback-needy team – like the Giants – doesn’t leapfrog them for Dart’s services.
The Vikings would certainly be interested in this type of trade, as they have a league-low four selections in the draft. Should they execute this hypothetical move, they would have six picks and could still be positioned to land a top cornerback (like Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison) or a starting-caliber left guard (like Alabama’s Tyler Booker) atop the second round.
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