1 of 7 As usual, most trade talks will focus on the draft options themselves. NFL teams regularly pack some of their options to go up and seize a particular prospect. Although less likely, today’s NFL players will also be the subject of other discussions. These trades tend to take place the week before the event, but the chance of a big player sharing the day of the draft is still worth considering. The list is subjective, but factors in the latest rumors, along with the current needs of each group and the capital plan. 2 of 7 Following the deployment of Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Green Bay Packers lack the No. 1 receiver. They got a first and second round selection in this trade, making it possible to use any of the top four 64 options to land an established receiver. The Seattle Seahawks, meanwhile, seem to be turning to Pete Carroll’s preferred style. Russell Wilson is now a member of the Denver Broncos. Between this philosophical change and Tyler Lockett, who has his own contract with a lot of money, it is hard to believe that Seattle wants to support the forthcoming expansion of DK Metcalf. Why be a first offense, but have two high-end receivers and no QB franchise? But if the Packers are open to expansion talks, they need both Metcalf and the capital plan to make it happen. 3 of 7 And the Pittsburgh Steelers are definitely one of those teams. Pittsburgh has signed Mitch Trumpiski as a free agent, but is unlikely to be a long-term replacement for Ben Rothschlberger. The Steelers are more likely to design Trubisky or Mason Rudolph as a choice for someone else. New Orleans — which also needs QB — now has 16th and 19th overall. If the Steelers had not already suspected that the Saints were planning to write a signal caller, it is certainly inevitable now. Pittsburgh will have to be a strong contender for a deal with either the Minnesota Vikings (12th) or the Houston Texans (13th). 4 of 7 Do not forget the 2nd round. Thanks to last year’s trade Sam Darnold, the Jets hold No. 35 and No. 38 of the Carolina Panthers. They are in a privileged position to change the last part of the opening night. Should a previous deal for a top-10 spot have an extra third round (or possibly a quarter), New York could pack that option – one it did not have at the start of the draft anyway – either with No. 35 or 38 to return to the first round. 5 of 7 Kansas City awarded Tyreck Hill a star to the Miami Dolphins, who sent the No. 29 San Francisco 49ers to the Chiefs as part of the blockbuster deal. That put Kansas City, already No. 30, in back-to-back slots. And that’s just the beginning. Thanks to Hill trade and a third-round offset option, the Chiefs have two draft options in four consecutive rounds to start the 2022 draft. Kansas City has more than enough firepower to target a spot in the top 20 and maintain either No. 29 or 30. 6 of 7 Although the need for a quarter was obvious, the Saints were not in first place in the QB at No. 18. Just holding the 16th pick does not dramatically change that perception, but having a pair of options in the first round. Given at the expense of a 2023 champion and a 2024 runner-up, the Saints are now focusing on winning in an NFC that has an unimpressive midfield. Waiting for a significant return seems silly, although getting a little higher for the right immediate impact player is still a possibility. It’s perfectly fair to question what New Orleans has done, as the roster is not considered a real NFC candidate. Right or wrong, however, the Saints do it. And they may not be over yet. 7 of 7 This statement may seem obvious, but it is not solely about choosing the right perspective. The value of a draft option to be used is always higher than a roster replacement player. Yes, every choice is like a lottery. However, the Houston Texans are not able to earn much in 2022. They can afford to spend an offseason loading rookies in the hope of finding some players who will become key pieces of the future. Maintaining the No. 3 option for adding a fundamental piece is perfect, but the best No. 13 bid is a wise and possible strategy for Texans. As we recently covered, it is the best situation for the G-Men with the fifth and seventh options. Maybe the Falcons (eighth) or the Seahawks (ninth) want to jump the Panthers (sixth) for a QB. Maybe a different team is looking for a place in front of Atlanta or Seattle. These are just two of the many exchange scenarios. But the Giants also have an extra welcome in the third and fifth rounds. As a mid-level NFC team at best, they are approaching the 2022 draft with the ability to prioritize future flexibility. Thanks to the extra capital, the Giants can retreat to any of the first three rounds, still have valuable options this year and boost what is available to them next April. After all, if Daniel Jones does not make significant improvements in 2022, the Giants may need the 2023 ammunition plan anyway.
