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The NFL Draft is set to start Thursday night at 8 pm ET in Kansas City. With four and possibly five quarterbacks set to go in the first round, teams will try to jockey for position to grab their guy. That means trades will be on the table, as will rumors of those trades.
Besides trading up for a quarterback, plenty of teams will also look to trade back for more draft capital. This draft is considered to be a below average draft when it comes to overall top-end talent, so we’ll see teams wanting more picks and future picks.
We also have players who could move during the draft, with Lamar Jackson, Ryan Tannehill, DeAndre Hopkins, Derrick Henry, Budda Baker, Mac Jones, Trey Lanceand more out there in the rumor mill.
Trade rumors
4/28 Updates
Steelers getting calls from teams who want to move up for Will Levis
The Steelers appear to be on the verge of getting two first round picks in OT Broderick Jones and possibly CB Joey Porter Jr. Many had them grabbing Porter Jr. with their first pick, but went with the thinner position when they traded up to 14 to grab Jones. Now they have a chance to draft Porter Jr., son of Steelers great Joey Porter with the 32nd pick in what would be a value pick after he was mocked in the middle of the first round often.
To move out from that pick they’ll likely need a pretty big haul. We’ll see.
The #Steelers’ phone was already ringing for the No. 32 pick before Round 1 ended, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 28, 2023
Multiple teams made calls to teams at the bottom of the first and were believed to be targeting Kentucky QB Will Levis. Now the bidding is underway for the first pick of Round 2.
4/27 Updates
Titans not in on Hopkins?
As is the norm for trade rumors, conflicting information will come out. Who is right, Ian Rapoport or Mike Florio?
While the #Titans have had conversations about a potential trade up to No. 3 -- among other spots -- they have not had conversations centered around star WR DeAndre Hopkins, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 27, 2023
Deandre Hopkins and No. 3 pick to Titans?
The Titans have been rumored to want to move up for a quarterback and they also need a wide receiver. A trade for both would be a nice get for them.
Hearing Cardinals are trying to send No. 3 overall and DeAndre Hopkins to Titans for No. 11 pick plus more.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 27, 2023
Courtland Sutton to the Ravens?
Much like the idea that the Ravens could trade for Hopkins, the same could be true for Courtland Sutton. The Ravens were in on him earlier in the off season and might be again now.
#Ravens entered draft w/ around $4M in cap space, including Lamar Jackson's $32.4M franchise tag number, will be lessened with new deal. Space for another WR?
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 27, 2023
Baltimore worked on potential Courtland Sutton trade earlier in offseason and several sources believe they got close
Lamar Jackson deal open up money for possible Deandre Hopkins trade
It’s starting to look like Hopkins will be traded during the draft and the Ravens will be suitors, but nothing is written in stone yet.
Structure of Lamar Jackson’s deal with the #Ravens should open up a shot at facilitating a trade for #Cardinals wideout DeAndre Hopkins.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) April 27, 2023
Arizona Cardinals No. 3 pick
The Arizona Cardinals are in rebuild mode and sit in a prime spot with the No. 3 pick. They need picks and there are teams that want to move up to No. 3 for a shot at a franchise quarterback. We’ve heard talk that they are open for business and it appears business is booming.
I’m told the Arizona Cardinals are currently mulling trade offers from multiple teams interested in moving to No. 3 overall.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) April 27, 2023
Much will depend on what the Texans do at No. 3. The current thinking is that they aren’t sold on CJ Stroud and will either trade out or grab a top defensive lineman. If they keep their pick and don’t take Stroud, the Cardinals hand gets much better as teams like the Colts, Titans, and a host of others, could look to move up.
Trey Lance, Mac Jones on the move?
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein believes there is still a chance that Mac Jones and Trey Lance could be on the move during the draft. The Texans, who don’t seem sold on this draft’s quarterbacks, could be squarely in the mix.
I still believe that you need to keep an eye on Trey Lance and Mac Jones. It wouldn’t shock me if the Texans looked in the middle rounds for a quarterback. Clearly, in this scenario, they would need to have a plan for 2024 season and off-season. https://t.co/qY1r3aR878
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) April 27, 2023
Texans look to trade out of pick No. 2
With reports coming out that the Texans don’t plan to take a quarterback with their No. 2 pick, it makes sense that they would be exploring trade options. There should be takers, but nothing appears imminent.
While Houston hasn’t received much trade action so far for the No. 2 pick, the Texans have explored the idea of moving off their second first-round pick, the No. 12 overall selection, per sources. Texans have made calls about moving back in round one - and also moving back up.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2023