With the NFL Draft approaching April 24-26 in Green Bay, some teams undoubtedly are contemplating trades. Ahead of the NFL’s biggest week of the offseason, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the ideal trade scenario for every AFC team.
AFC East
BUFFALO BILLS | Trade up with Minnesota for Texas WR Matthew Golden | After running a 4.29 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine (the fastest time among wide receivers), Golden won’t last until the 30th pick but could be available to Minnesota with the 24th selection. With 10 picks in the draft, including two in the second round, Buffalo can afford to send draft capital to the Vikings, who own a league-low four selections in this year’s draft.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | Trade WR Tyreek Hill for a third-round pick | Kansas City needs a receiver. Miami must cut ties with the 31-year-old, who wanted a trade earlier this offseason and was involved in a recent domestic dispute. Last season, the Raiders sent 32-year-old Davante Adams to the Jets for a conditional third-round pick, a price Miami can reasonably expect from Kansas City, considering it holds a pair of third-round picks.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Trade down with the Saints | Given the news of Derek Carr’s shoulder injury, New Orleans could use QB Shadeur Sanders (6-foot-1.5, 212 pounds), but he may not last until the ninth pick. By trading down five spots with the Saints, the Patriots would have a shot at Missouri left tackle Armand Membou (6-foot-04, 332 pounds) or Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (6-foot-5.5, 256 pounds) while using New Orleans’ second-round pick (No. 40) on an edge-rusher to play opposite Milton Williams.
NEW YORK JETS | Trade RB Breece Hall | If the Raiders don’t take Ashton Jeanty (5-foot-8.5, 211 pounds) with the No. 6 pick, the Jets must take him and trade Breece Hall. Hall, cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson are unsigned for 2026, which could make Hall, the 23-year-old running back, the odd man out as he has yet to produce a 1,000-yard rushing season since joining the team in 2022. — Bruce Ewing
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Trade up with the Cowboys for a top WR prospect | In a Tuesday interview with KRLD-FM in Dallas, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said he could see them moving down from pick No. 12. Denver should consider giving Dallas a call to move up from pick No. 20 and take a WR, perhaps Texas’ Golden (5-foot-11, 191 pounds) or Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan (6-foot-4, 219 pounds). Either could bolster Denver’s air attack, which finished 20th in the league in passing yards (212.4 YPG) last season.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Trade up for an offensive lineman in the first round | Trading up from pick No. 31 would be wise for KC, as QB Patrick Mahomes was sacked a career-high 36 times in 16 starts in 2024. If they move up, the Chiefs should target North Dakota State O-lineman Grey Zabel (6-foot-6, 312 pounds), who allowed one sack in 16 games in 2024, per Pro Football Focus.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Trade back with the New Orleans Saints to pick No. 9 | The Saints might offer the Raiders a sizable package to move up to pick No. 6 for Sanders to replace Carr, who may miss significant time with a shoulder injury. Jeanty or Michigan CB Will Johnson (6-foot-2, 194 pounds) could be available at pick No. 9 for the Raiders.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Trade up for an edge-rusher | The Chargers need a replacement for five-time Pro Bowl edge-rusher Joey Bosa, whom they released this offseason. L.A. should consider moving up from pick No. 22 for Georgia edge-rusher Mykel Williams (6-foot-5, 260 pounds), who earned a second-team All-SEC nod in 2024. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Package multiple picks to move up | The Ravens are loaded with 11 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, but eight are in the fourth round or later. Baltimore should consider packaging a few picks and moving up to snag an offensive lineman or cornerback on Day 2 (rounds 2-3).
CINCINNATI BENGALS | Trade Trey Hendrickson | The Bengals have allowed Hendrickson to explore trade options but haven’t budged on any offers yet. Teams might get more desperate leading up to the draft, so it would be the perfect time to strike for a late first-round pick.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Trade back | It won’t be easy for the Browns to pass on CB/WR Travis Hunter (6-foot, 188 pounds) or Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter (6-foot-3, 250 pounds), but they could end up with one of them by trading back with a QB-hungry team like the Giants. Adding more draft capital and ending up with Hunter would be the ideal Day 1 for Cleveland.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Trade up for Sanders | The Steelers must find a franchise QB to end this Groundhog Day-esque cycle of going just above .500 and bowing out in the first round of the playoffs. If they think Sanders is the guy, they should consider trading into the top 10 to grab him. — Jack Dougherty
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Trade up with Buccaneers for top WR prospect | Nico Collins is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, but the Texans have major questions behind him with Tank Dell expected to miss all of 2025 and Stefon Diggs no longer in the picture. Buccaneers GM Jason Licht is almost always open to moving back, and a jump up from No. 25 to No. 19 would better position Houston to land McMillan or Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka (6-foot-1, 202 pounds). Either player could quickly become a legitimate second option for QB C.J. Stroud.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Trade into top 10 for Tyler Warren | The Colts desperately need a tight end who can serve as a legitimate threat in the passing game, and Warren had 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdown catches for the Nittany Lions last season. Warren has the versatility needed to transform an offense, so Indy should find a way to package the 14th overall pick with a mid-round pick to move into the top 10 and get him.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Trade back for an edge-rusher | The Jaguars need pass-rush help and have no shot at Carter unless they trade up, which would be too costly. By finding a trade partner that is looking to move up, the Jags could acquire an additional pick while still positioning themselves to draft a top edge-rusher from a group that includes former Georgia stars Jalen Walker (6-foot-1, 243 pounds) and Mykel Williams, Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart (6-foot-5, 267 pounds) and Marshall’s Mike Green (6-foot-3, 251 pounds).
TENNESSEE TITANS | Trade Will Levis for additional draft capital | If the Titans draft Cam Ward (6-foot-2, 219 pounds) with the No. 1 overall pick, Levis will have virtually no future with the franchise. The former Kentucky star is only 25 and was drafted with the 33rd overall pick just two years ago. Tennessee might be able to package him with a late-round pick in exchange for a mid-round pick, which would be better than having Levis sit on the bench behind a rookie. — Steve DelVecchio
