When the Chicago Bears sold off the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they also sold off the top bargaining position.
That placing now belongs to the Arizona Cardinals, who own the No. 3 overall pick. Given that Arizona doesn’t need or want a quarterback to replace Kyler Murray (why would it want someone almost exactly like him?), it stands in a fortuitous place of a trade-down for more assets in a rebuild.
Barring something unprecedented happening between now and the onset of the draft, it seems that will be the Cardinals’ plan — a lucrative trade-down.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Arizona is already fielding calls from prospective teams looking to move and theoretically draft a young quarterback of the future. In fact, at least six teams have already made contact:
At least six teams have inquired with the Arizona Cardinals about trading up for the third overall pick in the upcoming April 27 NFL Draft, per league sources. Cardinals still are mulling whether to move pick or make it.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 10, 2023
I get it.
With someone like C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, or even Bryce Young available, you want to be the lucky team that gets to make that call. For many, there’s probably a steep drop-off after this trio (no offense, Will Levis and Hendon Hooker.).
But who are the NFL squads giving the Cardinals a ring about the No. 3 pick’s availability? And for whom does a trade-up make the most sense? Let’s rank six potential squads that should definitely have Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort’s phone number on speed dial.
All trade value expenses courtesy of the Fitzgerald-Spielberger NFL Draft Trade Value Chart on Over The Cap.
6
Minnesota Vikings (from No. 23 overall)
The Vikings are admittedly a little more of a longshot than others on this list because of their draft positioning. Moving up 20 slots from the bottom of the first round to put themselves in place for a new quarterback would be costly. Per Spielberger-Fitzgerald draft chart, it would cost Minnesota their No. 23 overall selection and the value of another high second-rounder.
Unfortunately, the Vikings do not have a second-round pick this year (thanks, T.J. Hockenson!). But they do have a third and plenty of future assets to spice a deal. The pieces are, I guess, present.
Kirk Cousins is 34 and will likely be on the downswing soon, if not already. If Minnesota was to acquire a signal-caller of the future, this draft might be its opportunity.
5
Detroit Lions (from No. 6 overall)
The Lions are a bit busy having their cake and eating it, too.
Detroit is only in this top-six position because it traded Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff to the Los Angeles Rams. And now, as the Lions are poised to be a legit power in the NFC, it looks like they want Goff to be their steward. That’s because the 28-year-old enjoyed a revitalized campaign with Detroit’s gifted supporting cast and the steady hand of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
This is all well and good, but I think it’d be foolish if the Lions didn’t at least seek greener (younger?) pastures at quarterback. I’d be surprised if I heard that general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell aren’t doing their under-center homework. Goff has proven his ceiling can be limited in a worst-case (Super Bowl) scenario, and you must be prepared for that grim reality.
But the Lions appear to genuinely believe they can be a legit contender with Goff. Such an assertion, based on the same worst-case precedent, has a sample size. I don’t think this organization wants a quarterback prospect developing in the wings right now, but crazier things have happened.
4
Atlanta Falcons (from No. 8 overall)
The Falcons seem to like Desmond Ridder. I mean, they seem to really like him. So much so that they won’t even pursue Lamar Jackson. That makes the prospects of Atlanta moving up five slots for another quarterback thin on possibility. Even if a trade of the No. 8 overall pick and Atlanta’s No. 44 would be more than enough on a numerical front office scale.
At the very least, I wouldn’t doubt that the Falcons have done their due diligence.
If their current plans come to fruition, this team won’t have a top-10 pick for a little while. And a quality core led by Kyle Pitts and Drake London is begging to have a worthy quarterback. Atlanta seems to believe that person is Ridder and would even forgo acquiring a quarter-billion quarterback for him.
Never say never.
3
Tennessee Titans (from No. 11 overall)
When it comes to quarterback, the Titans might have one of the bleakest situations in the league. Ryan Tannehill will be 35 by the fall and is well past his career’s “efficiency/analytics” darling era. Meanwhile, Malik Willis has shown the occasional flash but is probably more of a long-term project than Tennessee had hoped.
But after cleaning the house of former general manager Jon Robinson, Mike Vrabel needs something to hang his hat on. Something to convince Titans ownership they’ll eventually be on the upswing to challenge Trevor Lawrence’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Because that sure as heck isn’t happening right now.
Enter a quarterback prospect to build around and, ideally, put on a fast track to success. If Tennessee wants Arizona’s No. 3 pick, it would probably only cost the No. 11 overall and No. 41 selections … at worst. That is already more value in trade charts than Arizona stands to earn, but sometimes you pay more than the sticker price.
It’s not as if the Titans have any options of playing around in the quarterback bargain bin for much longer.
2
Las Vegas Raiders (from No. 7 overall)
Derek Carr is gone, and Jimmy Garoppolo is his replacement.
Oh. Oh, goodness. Please tell me this isn’t the Raiders’ grand design. Please tell me Josh McDaniels has a better way of preventing a washout from his second NFL head-coaching stint.
It’s gotta be a draft pick. Right? It’s gotta be a trade-up to the top three where No. 7 overall and any garden variety Day 2 pick would probably suffice to get the Cardinals to budge. Right??? You simply cannot enter 2023 with Garoppolo as the organization’s present and future at quarterback.
That’s begging the Silver and Black to be beaten up and turned into the Silver, Black, and Blue.
1
Indianapolis Colts (from No. 4 overall)
The Colts are in no position to be choosers. With the Cardinals holding the most valuable tradable commodity in the draft, they can sell off the selection to anyone. Indianapolis could sit and wait and take the likely fourth-best signal-caller off the board.
But why would it want to do that?
Where has sitting and waiting for half a decade taken this franchise? To the bottom of the AFC standings, that’s where. Any further sitting and waiting would entrench the Colts’ unenviable, humiliating position.
I have zero doubts Arizona would twist the Colts’ arm for much more than a simple swap of the No. 3 and No. 4 picks. But Jim Irsay wants himself a young quarterback. Come hell or high water, that’s what he’s gonna get.
