Several teams have multiple first-round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, so we’ll likely see big trades on Day 1. These five teams are the most likely to move up.
Every year, we see multiple trades occur in the first round of the NFL Draft that shake up the entire landscape of the league. Last year alone, three teams traded up in the first round to secure a more talented prospect, while three others jumped back into the first round by trading up from their second-round pick.
The Pittsburgh Steelers probably have the most memorable trade-up from last year as they sent their No. 20 overall pick, a second-round pick and a 2020 third-round pick to the Denver Broncos to select linebacker Devin Bush at No. 10 overall. Four trade-ups in 2019 involved a team selecting a defensive player, while the two others involved the selection of an offensive lineman.
Typically, however, the most significant trade-ups are consummated to select a quarterback. Prolific passers like Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson and Carson Wentz were all acquired via draft-day trades in which a team jumped multiple spots in the first round to select the prospect. These quarterback trade-ups usually involve a haul of draft choices being dealt in order to secure the passer, which shapes the fortunes of each franchise for years to come.
This year, multiple star quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert are expected to go in the first 10 picks of the draft, if not the top five, meaning quarterback-needy teams will have to trade up to secure them. Other star players like Isaiah Simmons, Jerry Jeudy and Chase Young are expected to be highly coveted, so they may also be acquired via trade.
With five teams having multiple first-round picks and several others being one key player away from becoming a legitimate contender, there will assuredly be movement on Day 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft. Here are the five teams most likely to trade up in Round 1.