With just a few days before the first round of the NFL Draft, rumors are running wild. In particular, there are numerous rumors that the Arizona Cardinals are looking to trade down from the No. 3 overall pick.
Plenty of teams are looking to move up too. It seems like, for the time being, Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort is just looking to make sure he makes the right trade, getting the most possible value. That value could easily be coming from a trade with the New Orleans Saints.
Johnny Venerable for PHNX Sports recently reported on that exact possibility. In particular, that the Cardinals and Saints swap Top 10 picks in the deal.
“They get pick eight from New Orleans. They get pick 42 and they get pick 73. So no 2027 draft capital is exchanged with New Orleans,” Venerable said. “I think that’s the preference for these teams. In fact, I know it.”
Mel Kiper Jr. Has Advocated for the Arizona Cardinals to Trade Down
GettyMel Kiper Jr. (L) working another NFL draft.
The idea that the Arizona Cardinals could be trading down is nothing new. It’s been a rumored move for several weeks now, particularly as they’re looking to enter a rebuild this year. So, it would allow for more draft capital to complete the roster.
This would, obviously, be at the exchange of a very high pick. That type of pick could be a franchise-altering player. In fact, in the last three NFL Drafts, the No. 3 overall pick was used on Abdul Carter, Drake Maye, and Will Anderson, respectively. So, there is talent there, but even with that, analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has advocated for Arizona to move the pick.
“Arizona holds the key to this entire draft after the first two picks in my opinion,” Kiper said. “Because they, to me, are a trade down option. I think Arizona is going to be a team I’m going to look at and say ‘That was a little too high for an offensive tackle.’ Or, do they take somebody else and throw a little curveball in there? You can look at [Spencer] Fano from Utah, [Kaydn] Proctor from Alabama, [Monroe] Freeling from Georgia, factor in [Francis] Mauigoa. You trade down, you’re going to get one of those guys. You’ll have your pick. You can still get your guy by trading down.”
In other words, the Cardinals can find players of need a little later in the draft this year. So, getting to draft more of those players is the best possible option.
The Cardinals Should Have Plenty of Trade Options
GettyGeneral manager Monti Ossenfort of the Arizona Cardinals.
Throughout the offseason, there have been rumors about who the Cardinals could be trading that No. 3 overall pick to. That goes well beyond the Saints.
At one point, the Dallas Cowboys were heavily included in those rumors. After all, the Cowboys already have two first-round picks they could deal, and they also have a need to add a top-tier talent on their defense.
More recently, the Kansas City Chiefs and their No. 9 overall pick have become involved in a new round of rumors. The logic is similar to that of a trade with the Saints, but given that the Saints have a higher pick than Kansas City, the Chiefs would likely need to have a stronger offer outside of those Top 10 picks.
What the Cardinals ultimately end up doing with that pick is still up in the air. However, with just days before the draft, Ossenfort and Arizona will need to make a decision soon.
Reports of a Potential Top 10 Trade Between the Cardinals and Saints Emerge