The onstage video screens display "The Pick Is In" for the Green Bay Packers during the 2023 NFL Draft, Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
Every year, as we move through the draft cycle, teams often discuss moving up and down with each other to position themselves for their top prospect. They ramp up starting at the senior bowl and combine, but this analyst will start today with this article.
We’ll take a look at 3 trades in this article that I think should happen in the NFL Draft, and who is the target of the trade up. We’ll be using the tankathon draft order as of 12-28, and the draft capital value will be using the Rich Hill chart from Draft Tek here. Without further ado, let’s start in the AFC East, where a team in need of an edge rusher makes a big swing:
Buffalo Bills sends: Pick 1.29, Pick 2.62, Pick 5.173 (Value of 295)
Seattle Seahawks sends: Pick 1.18, Pick 6.189 (Value of 294)
Buffalo Bills select Landon Jackson, Edge, University of Arkansas
In this scenario, Brandon Beane makes an aggressive move to launch up the board for an edge rusher to pair with Von miller should he return, or to lead this pass rush into the future. At 6 foot 7, Landon Jackson has freakish length and is one of the stronger defensive ends in this class.
Landon is currently my Edge3 on my big board, and has accepted an invite to the senior bowl, so there is a high likelihood he could be gone prior to pick 18, but in this article, Buffalo makes a swing for the fences here with him still available. This move also gets Seattle an additional pick in round 2 to continue to bolster their defensive line, and keeps them in range of a solid edge rusher product like Mike Green (Marshall) or Princely Umamielen (Ole Miss).
If you’re curious to learn more about the razorback product, you can take a deep dive on Landon Jackson (like I did) with my prior scouting report on him here!
Los Angeles Rams sends pick 1.22, Pick 2.54, Pick 6.196 (Value of 363)
Miami Dolphins sends pick 1.12, Pick 5.149 (Value of 359)
Los Angeles Rams select Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Rams made no secret about wanting to trade up for Brock Bowers last season, and I believe that they understand that this team needs a top talent at tight end as Stafford continues to enter the twilight of his career. In this move, they jump ahead of Indianapolis in the standings to take my tight end1 in this class, and a top talent in Tyler Warren.
A strong, big tight end with a zip code level catch radius and an offensive weapon from an athletic standpoint, this would be a home run move for the Rams to make, and it would get the dolphins an additional top 60 pick to continue to bolster their offensive line as well. You can also learn more about Tyler’s game and what he can bring to this rams offense in my prior report on him here!
Minnesota Vikings sends: Pick 1.30 (Value of 196)
Cleveland Browns sends: Pick 2.37, Pick 3.93, 2026 2nd Round selection, valued at pick 2.47 (Value of 326)
Cleveland Browns select Jalen Milroe, QB, University of Alabama
With the final trade offer, let’s look at one of the reasons a team likely moves up, to take their QB of the future. Since Kwesi previously worked in the Browns front office, the connection is already there to make this deal possible.
By giving up a little more than the pick is worth due to the QB Tax (Teams often are forced to give up significantly more than the pick is worth if they are trading up for a QB in the NFL Draft), the Browns come back into round 1 to take a signal caller that many analysts (including myself) have as QB3 of this class, albeit with some concerns, in Jalen Milroe.
Jalen is an explosive dual threat quarterback with the ability to make plays with excellent arm strength and quick breakaway speed. He also has one of the highest ceilings of any player in this class, with the ability to develop into a star, but also has one of the lowest floors in this class as well.
In this scenario, the Browns would trade up for Milroe to get his 5th year option and allow him to sit for a season while he develops, similar to a redshirt season in the NFL. This would give him time to acclimate to the speed of the NFL game, while also allowing the Browns to fix their lack of talent along the offense and get out from under the Deshaun Watson contract fiasco.
For Minnesota, this would allow them to recoup some additional draft capital, including 2 more picks in the top 100 and a top 62 selection in next years’ class as well. There is a high likelihood that Milroe either returns to school, or is unavailable by this pick, but if he’s here, I wouldn’t be opposed as a browns fan to see Andrew Berry make this move.
If you like what you read, feel free to check out my content over on “X” @sparkscouting, as well as you can also see my podcasts with the draft professor on YouTube here! Feel free to drop me a line and let’s have a draft roundtable discussion.
