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The 2025 NFL Draft gave us a unique take on chaos and the quiet that comes before it. Every single team entered draft day with its own first-round pick in hand. That basically never happens.
Of course, hell eventually broke loose. It's why we watch the event, send our silly little posts, and have made the NFL Draft an event perpetually on the rise. The Jacksonville Jaguars paid the Cleveland Browns to win the Travis Hunter sweepstakes, the Atlanta Falcons made one of the worst trades in recent NFL memory, and the New York Giants sent Day 2 capital to select Jaxson Dart.
Trades are an inevitable part of the calendar's best Thursday night, and last year's deals have helped shape Round 1. Looking forward to April, a few teams are best positioned to shake up Day 1 with a trade.
Who could trade into Round 1?
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh traded receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round pick shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft for the sole purpose of adding ammunition for the next young Steelers quarterback.
The Aaron Rodgers assumptions that come with the Mike McCarthy hire might change that math, but Pittsburgh very much needs a franchise quarterback. This class might not oblige -- Fernando Mendoza will be the only passer on my board with a first-round grade.
But if the Steelers like Ty Simpson a lot, a handful of possibilities emerge. They can take him at No. 21, should he be available. If they feel the heat, trading up a few selections could put them ahead of other aggressive teams in pursuit of a passer. The least likely scenario would be trading down to take him; it doesn't make all that much sense to pivot away from the pick if he's there.
Lastly, Pittsburgh could take a high-level talent at No. 21 and use its surplus of Day 2 picks to nab Simpson at the end of Round 1. Doing so would give the Steelers a fifth-year option for Simpson, which becomes more important if Rodgers is taking away Year 1 playing time. With the 53rd, 76th, 85th, and 99th selections at their disposal, Pittsburgh has the ammo to grab any non-Mendoza quarterback in this class if it wants one.
Philadelphia Eagles
Howie Roseman is no stranger to bold moves on draft day, and as the Eagles approach their next era -- navigating an aging core with an expensive, limited (but mostly fine) quarterback -- new difference-makers will be necessary.
We should expect Philadelphia to add another premium position at No. 23. Fortunately for the Eagles, the class meshes fairly well with their needs. There are a handful of late-Round 1 offensive tackles and receivers in the event of an A.J. Brown trade. The class is strong at edge rusher and safety, where they might be looking to spend draft capital.
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A surplus of Day 2 picks makes finding a second star easier. At Nos. 54, 68, and 98, there's a world in which Philadelphia entices a pick-needy team into backing out of Round 1. Teams like the Buffalo Bills (No. 26) and Los Angeles Chargers (No. 22) come to mind here.
The Eagles are competitive enough to get aggressive, with enough resources to roll the dice responsibly. If the right player is on the board, it wouldn't be surprising to see Philadelphia double-dipping in Round 1.
Jacksonville Jaguars
In fairness, Jaguars general manager James Gladstone recently emphasized the importance of draft capital as the reason for Jacksonville's lack of impact signings. He wants as much ammo as possible to find young talent, acquire proven stars, and hold out for deadline deals.
Perhaps that takes Jacksonville out of contention for a Round 1 trade. However, the Jaguars don't have a first-round pick in this arsenal. Even so, four Day 2 picks, including the last selection in Round 3, hold some weight and, at the very least, give them flexibility.
A Les Snead disciple, Gladstone has proven that no move is too big or too unprecedented to make. Trading into Round 1 wouldn't register on the Richter scale, but holes at linebacker and corner make that possible.
Of course, we can't rule out a Brian Thomas Jr. blockbuster, either.
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