Five teams that need to trade up in the NFL Draft

The quarterback class of the 2020, and the teams in need of a future starter at that position, has created a swell of rumors and speculation around the NFL Draft.

The first round of the NFL Draft is scheduled for April 23, and there are at least four teams in need of a franchise quarterback. This scenario has the potential to produce a juicy trade or two.

Here are five teams that need to trade up in this year’s NFL Draft. 

Miami Dolphins

The latest speculation surrounds the Dolphins, and the possibility of moving up from the fifth overall pick to first to select Joe Burrow. 

The Dolphins have the draft capital — three first-round picks this year — to at least get the Cincinnati Bengals listening.  

The Dolphins’ quarterback group includes Ryan Fitzpatrick and 2018 first-round pick Josh Rosen, who was originally selected by the Arizona Cardinals.

Fitzpatrick is 37 years old, and if the Dolphins don’t believe Rosen can develop into their future starter, then selecting a quarterback early the first round seems to become the obvious move.

If their sights are set on drafting a quarterback, they may need to make a move into the top three, especially if they get word that the Los Angeles Chargers are making a serious push to move up from the sixth overall pick to draft a quarterback.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers also have a need for a quarterback, after parting ways with Philip Rivers. 

They currently have the sixth overall pick, and there are at least three quarterbacks that could be taken within the top six selections. 

The Detroit Lions and New York Giants have the third and fourth picks, respectively. Neither team needs to draft a quarterback in the first round. 

If the Chargers are after a quarterback, and they fear the top prospects – like Tua Tagovailoa out of Alabama and Justin Herbert out of Oregon – will be off the board when it’s their turn, they could make a push to move up two or three spots.

The Chargers may not have the luxury of patience, hoping their guy falls to them at No. 6. 

New England Patriots

The Tom Brady Era is over. The Patriots will need to rebuild their offense around a young quarterback.

Tagovailoa is expected to be a top 10 pick. Herbert is another first-round option. 

If the Patriots fancied either, they would almost certainly have to trade up from 23rd. Any deal to move up would likely include their 2020 first-round pick, plus additional picks. 

New England currently has three picks in the third round (87th, 98th, 100th overall), which could come into play in a trade.

If the Patriots attempt to move into the top 10, or even the top five, to get their franchise quarterback, the cost would be even greater.

The choice, as it stands now, is to stick with Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer, or make a big play for one of the top quarterback prospects.

Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks general manager John Schneider hasn’t been afraid to trade down in the first round for additional picks. 

This year, however, it is time for the Seahawks to be aggressive. They have the 27th pick, but if they wish to remain competitive, or take the next step toward a Super Bowl, they need players who can make a difference right away, particularly on their defensive line. 

They struggled again last season to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and they could lose Jadeveon Clowney to free agency.

Chase Young, the defensive end out of Ohio State, will be out of their reach, as the expected No. 2 overall pick. But there are other defense lineman — Javon Kinlaw, A.J. Epenesa, or K’Lavon Chaisson — who have the potential to make a difference.

The Seahawks have a pair of second-round picks (59th and 64th overall) that would likely be part of any conversation about moving up in the first round.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts don’t have a pick in the first round. They traded the 13th selection to the San Francisco 49ers for defensive lineman DeForest Buckner. 

The Colts have seven picks outside of the first round, including two in the second (34th and 44th overall). If they feel the need to get back into the first, they could parlay their second- or third-round picks to get that done. 

It all depends on the return and players are available, but if the Colts front office isn’t satisfied, it probably wouldn’t be keen on giving up more picks, which could provide great value.

The Colts selected linebacker Darius Leonard in the second round, 36th overall, in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year that season.