Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf Stacy Revere/Getty Images

1 Trade Package Each Team Picking in Top 10 of 2024 NFL Draft Would Have to Consider

Alex Kay

With the 2024 NFL draft less than two weeks away, every front office in the league has been tirelessly preparing for the event. A huge part of this preparation is working the phones and discussing potential trades to maneuver up and down the draft board.

No deals are more impactful than those involving top-10 picks. Securing one of those coveted selections allows organizations to land blue-chip prospects who possess the potential to alter a franchise's fortunes and turn pretenders into contenders.

While many NFL decision-makers rely on Jimmy Johnson's venerable trade value chart to create the framework for draft-related moves, the allure of acquiring an elite player can result in some lopsided deals.

With that in mind, we've come up with trade packages that each of the nine teams selecting in the top 10—the Chicago Bears hold two top-10 selections this year—would have to consider if it gets put on the table during the 2024 draft.

Chicago Bears (Nos. 1 and 9 Overall)

Bears GM Ryan Poles Quinn Harris/Getty Images

No. 1

Chicago Bears receive: Drake Maye (No. 2 overall), 2024 third-round pick (No. 67 overall), 2025 first-round pick

Washington Commanders receive: Caleb Williams (No. 1 overall)

The Chicago Bears aren't likely to trade the No. 1 overall pick after setting the stage for whomever they pick to lead the franchise. They cleared the way for said prospect by trading incumbent starting quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March.

However, the Bears could opt for a rare prospect swap shortly after they've been drafted, much like the New York Giants and then-San Diego Chargers did in 2004. The Bolts shipped No. 1 overall pick Eli Manning to New York in exchange for No. 4 overall pick Philip Rivers, a third-rounder in that year's draft and first- and fifth-rounders the following year.

Chicago could do something similar two decades later by taking Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick and then trading him to the Washington Commanders for Drake Maye—the top signal-caller on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board—or Jayden Daniels and additional capital.

An anonymous front office executive told The Ringer's Ben Solak that the Bears can't swap No. 1 for No. 2 and then draft a quarterback due to the message it would send to both the signal-caller and team. However, the opportunity to acquire multiple premium picks could be too strong for an organization still in a rebuilding stage.

If Washington—a team that just brought in Kliff Kingsbury to run the offense after he spent a season at USC—is truly infatuated with Williams, it shouldn't have many reservations about packaging a third-rounder in 2024 and a first-round pick next year to close the deal.

Chicago would still end up with an elite prospect under center and bolster its limited pool of draft capital with a solid third-round selection. The Bears would also get to double-dip in Round 1 of the 2025 draft with what might be another top-10 pick.

No. 9

Chicago Bears receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 22 overall), 2024 second-round pick (No. 53 overall), 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 172 overall), 2025 third-round pick (TBD)

Philadelphia Eagles receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 9 overall)

The Bears are more likely to trade down from the No. 9 overall pick than they are at No. 1. They direly need more picks outside of Day 1, as they currently have only the Nos. 75 and 122 selections to supplement a pair of early first-rounders.

The Philadelphia Eagles could be the ideal trade partner. Philly general manager Howie Roseman has displayed a propensity for moving all around the board during drafts and should jump at the opportunity to secure a top-10 pick for his club. The roster desperately needs more elite young talent following last year's disappointing finish as well as the subsequent retirement of key veterans like Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox.

Philadelphia could offer a package headlined by its own first-rounder at No. 22 overall and second-round choice at No. 53. The Eagles could sweeten the pot with one of their three fifth-round picks as well as a Round 3 pick in 2025. The latter selection would give the Bears additional capital in a year where they should be ready to make a leap to contending status.

Washington Commanders (No. 2 Overall)

Commanders GM Adam Peters Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Washington Commanders receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 13 overall), 2024 second-round pick (No. 44), 2025 first-round pick (TBD), 2025 fourth-round pick, 2026 first-round pick (TBD)

Las Vegas Raiders receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 2 overall)

The Washington Commanders have a plethora of options at their disposal with the No. 2 pick. They could go all-in to trade up and land Caleb Williams, stand pat and take Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, or trade down for additional draft picks.

Trading down would likely result in a trying 2024 season, but it might make the most sense for sustained long-term success. Eric Eager, a vice president of Sumersports, told ESPN's John Keim that even the best quarterback prospect would likely struggle with the lack of talent around them in Washington.

"[Trading back] is a very rational thing to do," Eager told Keim. "Washington doesn't have that many good players ... so you're probably going to draft the quarterback into a situation that unless he is a true unicorn, he's going to struggle. And when everybody always cites the stats of 'Mahomes sat for a year', well, of course he sat for a year, he went to a good team."

There will be no shortage of quarterback-needy clubs willing to pay a king's ransom for the No. 2 slot. While Washington also lacks a franchise passer of its own, it could secure a ton of additional draft capital by passing on the opportunity to draft one this month.

The Las Vegas Raiders could be the victors of a bidding war if they are willing to ship over Day 1 picks not only in 2024, but also the two drafts that follow. However, that alone might not be enough to get a deal done. The Raiders could need to add the No. 44 overall pick this year and a middle-round pick next year to get a yes from the Commanders.

New England Patriots (No. 3 Overall)

Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf Stacy Revere/Getty Images

New England Patriots receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 11 overall), 2024 first-round pick (No. 23 overall), 2025 first-round pick (TBD), 2026 second-round pick (TBD)

Minnesota Vikings receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 3 overall)

The New England Patriots appear to be open for business when it comes to the No. 3 overall pick. Staying put and taking the best quarterback available is a viable option after they mercifully ended the Mac Jones experiment in March, but the organization's new regime is reportedly looking to stockpile picks to rebuild the roster with.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently echoed that sentiment, noting how the Patriots are poised to take advantage of other teams' desperation. It would thus hardly be a shock to see New England receive a massive haul for the No. 3 pick.

Few teams in need of a quarterback are as well positioned as the Minnesota Vikings are to engage the Patriots in trade negotiations. After swinging a trade with the Houston Texans in mid-March, Minnesota now has a pair of first-rounders in 2024 to offer.

According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said the Patriots will likely make any team pay a premium to move up to No. 3. Spielman suggested that New England could even try to acquire superstar wideout Justin Jefferson or stalwart left tackle Christian Darrisaw in the deal.

Minnesota's two first-round picks (Nos. 11 and 23 overall) as well as a first-rounder in 2025 and a second-rounder in 2026 should be enough to entice New England to slide down without taking back proven veterans. The move would set both clubs up for the future, with the Vikings getting their dream quarterback and the Patriots coming away with a full deck of premium picks both to spend on prospects and trade for veterans to flesh out the roster with.

Arizona Cardinals (No. 4 Overall)

Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Arizona Cardinals receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 6 overall), 2025 first-round pick (TBD)

New York Giants receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 4 overall)

The Arizona Cardinals are occupying one of the more intriguing draft slots at No. 4 overall. With quarterbacks widely projected to come off the board with each of the first three picks, the Cardinals can either stand pat and take the best player available—Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. sits atop the B/R Scouting Department's big board—or capitalize on the rising stock of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

Although Harrison has All-Pro upside, the Cardinals may be hard-pressed to select him at No. 4 overall if they are getting ridiculous offers from rival franchises.

During an appearance on Arizona Sports' Bickley & Marotta, ESPN's Matt Miller said: "[Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort] is comfortable with taking the best receiver prospect since A.J. Green, so if teams want to trade up for a quarterback, it's going to cost you and cost you a lot."

One of those offers could be from the New York Giants, who hold the No. 6 overall pick this year. If the Cardinals swapped first-rounders with Big Blue, they'd drop only two spots and might be able to acquire an additional first-round pick in the 2025 draft.

While New York already gave up a second-rounder for Brian Burns earlier in the offseason, general manager Joe Schoen could secure a franchise signal-caller with one more blockbuster trade. NFL.com's Mike Garafolo believes the G-Men would only be willing to trade up for No. 4 this year if Drake Maye falls that far on draft night.

It would be hard for the Cardinals to say no to this offer. They'd still have a shot at landing Harrison at No. 6, and the additional first-round pick they'd receive would have a real chance of falling in the top half of the round next year.

Los Angeles Chargers (No. 5 Overall)

Chargers GM Joe Hortiz Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Los Angeles Chargers receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 12 overall), 2024 third-round pick (No. 76 overall), 2025 first-round pick (TBD)

Denver Broncos receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 5 overall)

The Los Angeles Chargers are heading into a new era with head coach Jim Harbaugh at the helm. Since they already have a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert, the Bolts should feel comfortable starting off Harbaugh's tenure by trading the No. 5 overall pick to a rival who lacks that luxury.

The Denver Broncos could be one such candidate. Since they are AFC West rivals, the Chargers would likely demand as many picks as possible from Sean Payton and Co.

The Broncos are in a tough spot after cutting ties with veteran quarterback Russell Wilson only two years into the five-year megadeal they signed him to. Denver had to give up several premium picks to pry the nine-time Pro Bowler away from the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 and isn't exactly loaded with draft capital, but could use its top selections in 2024 as well as future draft picks to make this deal work.

Although the cash-strapped Broncos wouldn't be ready to build a contender around J.J. McCarthy or whomever they select at No. 5, they'd have their franchise passer in place and can work to construct a winner around him in the coming years. Meanwhile, the Bolts would benefit heavily in the short term by a pair of getting top-flight prospects to help orchestrate a bounce-back 2024 campaign under Harbaugh.

New York Giants (No. 6 Overall)

Giants GM Joe Schoen Stacy Revere/Getty Images

New York Giants receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 14 overall), 2025 first-round pick (TBD), 2025 third-round pick (TBD)

New Orleans Saints receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 6 overall)

The New York Giants are in a tough spot right now. Quarterback Daniel Jones regressed after an impressive 2022 campaign that helped him earn a new contract, and he is set to spend the offseason rehabbing from a torn ACL.

General manager Joe Schoen has publicly said that Big Blue is still planning to build around Jones. The Giants could explore ways to land one of the top quarterbacks in this class as well, but the best passers are almost sure to be gone by the time they're on the clock at No. 6.

Mortgaging the future in a trade up is rarely a great idea for a rebuilding franchise, so moving down the board could be the Giants' best option.

The Giants have plenty of needs after a trying 2023 season that they finished 6-11. They've filled some of those holes in free agency and via trades, but they still have a long way to go to field a competent roster, especially on offense. Sliding back on Day 1 could provide the front office with the selections it needs to overhaul that unit.

The New Orleans Saints might be willing to roll the dice on Michigan's J.J. McCarthy or one of the other lower-tier signal-callers if they're still available at No. 6 overall. Getting a successor for Derek Carr at that spot would likely cost the Saints at least additional Day 1 and 2 picks plus the No. 14 overall pick they currently hold.

Rather than accept more 2024 capital, Big Blue should be happy to stockpile 2025 picks in this move. With Jones on the mend and far from certain to return to his 2022 form, the Giants could look to the future and acquire more selections next year, when they'll have a better chance of having their situation under center sorted out.

Tennessee Titans (No. 7 Overall)

Titans GM Ran Carthon Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Tennessee Titans receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 28 overall), 2024 second-round pick (No. 60 overall), 2024 third-round pick (No. 128 overall), 2025 first-round pick (TBD)

Buffalo Bills receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 7 overall)

The Tennessee Titans are set to enter the second season of the Will Levis era and have lots of roster-building work to do around him. That won't be easy to accomplish since they have only two selections on the first two days of the 2024 draft.

Acquiring more Day 2 picks should be atop Tennessee's to-do list heading into the draft. Dropping down from No. 7 overall may cost the Titans a chance at one of the top non-quarterback prospects in the class, but it should also give them far more overall talent to work with next season.

The Buffalo Bills make sense as a trade partner given general manager Brandon Beane's long history of making splashy moves on draft night, including dealing a pair of second-rounders in a trade up for star quarterback Josh Allen in 2018. Veteran Bills edge-rusher Von Miller even made a recent social media post about Beane trading up to secure a wide receiver in the first round this year.

The Bills sorely need more receiving talent after trading four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and losing playmaker Gabriel Davis in free agency. Buffalo would be nearly guaranteed one of the best receivers—the Bleacher Report Scouting Department has Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers ranked as the Nos. 1, 6 and 8 overall players in this class, respectively—by moving up to No. 7.

It won't be cheap to jump up from No. 28, but Buffalo could ship over the Nos. 60 and 128 picks this year plus a first-rounder next year to Tennessee. That would not only allow the Titans to get more picks to aid in a crucial rebuilding 2024 campaign, but it would also set them up nicely for the 2025 draft with another Day 1 selection.

Atlanta Falcons (No. 8 Overall)

Falcons GM Terry Fontenot Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Atlanta Falcons receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 24 overall), 2024 second-round pick (No. 56 overall), 2025 first-round pick (TBD)

Dallas Cowboys receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 8 overall)

The Atlanta Falcons addressed their biggest concern by signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins at the onset of free agency. They can now focus on fine-tuning the remainder of the roster.

Unfortunately, Atlanta doesn't have much in the way of cap space to work with following the blockbuster Cousins signing. It needs to have a strong draft to field a complete lineup that's capable of making a Super Bowl run. Trading down from No. 8 overall would give the Falcons more chances at unearthing contributors not only this year, but also in future seasons.

Atlanta's pick shouldn't be too pricy since the top quarterbacks should be long gone, but No. 8 is still a valuable spot for teams in need of offensive tackle help that want to jump ahead of the Chicago Bears and New York Jets. That alone could be worth an additional first-rounder in 2025, plus a first-round pick swap this year.

The Dallas Cowboys should be looking shore up deficiencies along their offensive line or on the edge in this year's draft, and they may not want to wait until No. 24 to do so. At No. 8, they could likely land a high-end Year 1 contributor who can assist on a deep playoff run, something they need following last year's stunning Wild Card Round exit.

Dallas doesn't have many roster holes after three consecutive 12-5 finishes. It should be happy coming away with someone like Joe Alt or Jared Verse, the top offensive lineman and edge-rusher on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board, respectively.

The Falcons, who aren't nearly as strong of a contender as Dallas right now, would benefit from acquiring additional picks as they look to make playoff runs in the coming years.

New York Jets (No. 10 Overall)

Jets GM Joe Douglas Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

New York Jets receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 15 overall), 2024 second-round pick (No. 46 overall), 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 117 overall)

Indianapolis Colts receive: 2024 first-round pick (No. 10 overall)

The New York Jets' championship window won't be open much longer with Aaron Rodgers set to turn 41 in December and coming off an Achilles injury. However, Gang Green shouldn't be averse to the idea of keeping one eye on the future.

While the Jets have been in win-now mode since they landed Rodgers last year, a small trade down on draft night could help them land the type of prospects they'll need to have sustained success long after Rodgers hangs up his cleats. Instead of standing pat at No. 10 overall, the Jets could drop back a few spots and likely pick up additional Day 2 and/or 3 picks for their troubles.

The Indianapolis Colts would be an interesting trade partner. They narrowly missed the playoffs last year despite losing first-round quarterback Anthony Richardson to a shoulder injury early in the season. Richardson is set to take back over under center to start the 2024 campaign and could use more weapons around him to foster quicker development.

Sitting at No. 10 overall would better position Indy to secure Brock Bowers, the No. 1 tight end by a wide margin on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board. Bowers looks as pro-ready as a tight end can be, and he would immediately slot in as one of the Colts' main pass-catching options, providing Richardson with a sure-handed safety valve and go-to weapon in the red zone.

Trading down to No. 15 should still allow the Jets to come away with a quality receiver. JetsX.com's Andrew Fialkow highlighted LSU wideout Brian Thomas Jr. as someone who would fit well in New York.

Rather than reaching for Thomas at No. 10, New York could trade down and then scoop him up at a more fitting spot in the middle of the first round. The Jets could then use the second- and fourth-round choices they picked up in this deal to address other roster holes and find building blocks for the future.

   

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