The 2025 NFL Draft, is set to start in a little over 24 hours in Green Bay, and is shaping up to be an unpredictable one. This year’s class is deep, but short on can’t-miss stars, so teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 5), Carolina Panthers (No. 8), San Francisco 49ers (No. 11), Atlanta Falcons (No. 15), Seattle Seahawks (No. 18), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 19), Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 21), and Minnesota Vikings (No. 24) could be itching to trade back and stack picks.
Here’s why these teams might wheel and deal:
The Jaguars at No. 5 are in a rough spot after a 3-14 season. They need help everywhere, O-line, edge, secondary. Trading down could land them a second-round pick and still let them grab Alabama’s Tyler Booker. More picks mean more shots at fixing a shaky roster.
The Panthers (No. 8) are finally seeing Bryce Young’s potential, but their defense was a tire fire in 2024, dead last in yards allowed. Sliding back a few spots could net extra picks to patch up edge rusher or cornerback while letting a QB-hungry team leapfrog for Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart, who has climbed up the interest chart in the past 48 hours.
The 49ers (No. 11) are loaded with 11 picks, but lost a fifth-rounder over a payroll snafu. With Trent Williams aging and edge rushers needed, trading down makes sense. They could still pick Marshall’s Mike Green or Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart and add Day 2 player for depth.
The Falcons (No. 15) have just five picks and a pass rush that barely showed up (31 sacks in 2024). Moving back could get them a second-rounder to chase Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton or Ole’ Miss’ Princely Umanmielen, in hopes of a playoff run for 2025.
The Seahawks (No. 18) watched Geno Smith get pummeled (50 sacks) last year. Their O-line is less than to be desired, and trading D.K. Metcalf left gaps. Dropping back could let them draft North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel or Alabama’s Tyler Booker and pick up extra selections for edge or receiver help.
The Buccaneers (No. 19) are sitting fairly with a solid squad but no glaring holes except in their secondary. Trading down could score a second-round pick, letting them target Ohio State’s Denzel Burke at corner or a pass rusher with not much worry with both positions having lots of options in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.
The Steelers (No. 21) need a quarterback, but with only two picks in the top 122, they’re starving for draft capital. If Sanders is off the board, they might slide back, targeting Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart or Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and grab a running back or lineman with the extra pick.
The Vikings (No. 24) are the poster child for trading back. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah loves making deals, and with just four picks, they’ll likely drop down to stockpile mid-rounders. Ole Miss’ Trey Amos or Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morris could be the pick for the secondary.
This draft’s no jackpot for elite talent, so these teams are playing it smart, and trading back to load up on starters and depth. Expect phones to be buzzing in Green Bay.
