Three teams that could trade for the first overall pick and why

Every year as it gets closer to the NFL Draft, there is always a ton of discourse around teams trading up to acquire the first overall pick to draft the player that will hopefully change their franchise forever.

As the NFL Draft Scouting Combine was in progress last week and in the last few days, there has been a lot of speculation that the Tennessee Titans could be interested in trading the first overall pick. With plenty of teams behind them desperate for a quarterback, I will be naming the three teams most likely to swap places with the Titans and why they could.

3. New York Jets, Current Pick: Seventh

The New York Jets are likely going to be searching for a new quarterback once the new league year starts on March 12th.

Ever since the middle of last season, Jets owner Woody Johnson has stated his desire to move on from current quarterback, Aaron Rodgers who still has one year left on his contract. The Jets are likely to release Rodgers with a post-June 1 designation to save money against the salary cap.

Along with the soon-to-be release of Rodgers, the Jets released superstar wide receiver and long-time teammate of his, Davante Adams, on Tuesday morning.

While I don’t necessarily see the Jets trading up for the first overall pick, it is something that cannot be ruled out with a new regime trying to make a splash under the leadership of general manager Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn.

The Jets are likely to sign a veteran quarterback once free agency opens next week, but they are a sleeper to move up to No. 1 and hopefully find the franchise quarterback they have been longing for.

2. Las Vegas Raiders, Current Pick: Sixth

At the moment, the Las Vegas Raiders have two quarterbacks: Desmond Ridder and Aidan O’Connell on their roster to have started an NFL game. Both QBs have not exactly found success at the professional level.

After the departure of Derek Carr, whom the Raiders cut, Vegas has been searching for a franchise quarterback for the last three years now.

If Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders were to fall to the 6th pick, the Raiders would certainly be all over him, but at the moment that is not likely.

The Cleveland Browns who hold the second pick could be looking for a quarterback to replace the injured Deshaun Watson who has also been a shell of himself since arriving in Cleveland.

Also, the New York Giants could take Sanders third overall if Cam Ward, the top quarterback in the draft, is selected ahead of them.

This puts Las Vegas in a tough spot. New head coach Pete Carroll is not going to want to go into the season deciding between O’Connell and Ridder to start games.

Carroll is going to want his guy, which should put pressure on Vegas’ front office to trade up to 1 and get their quarterback of the future.

1. New York Giants, Current Pick: Third

The noise surrounding the New York Giants potentially trading for the first overall pick has gotten increasingly louder over the last week.

General manager Joe Schoen is in desperation trying to save his job and needs to find a quarterback after releasing Daniel Jones mid-season, just a year removed from rewarding him with a 4-year $160 million contract.

The Giants had a trade lined up for Los Angeles Rams QB Matt Stafford over the weekend and were even going to offer him a new contract. Stafford ultimately decided he was going to return to the Rams on a new contract, forcing the Big Blue to pivot.

At the moment the Giants hold the third pick in the draft, but I believe that this regime wants Miami’s Cam Ward, who is arguably the most talented quarterback in the draft. Joe Schoen knows if he wants Ward he has to trade to one, as both the Browns and the Titans could scoop him up if he doesn’t.

When free agency begins, the Giants will certainly sign a veteran to start games in 2025, until head coach Brian Daboll feels that the QB the team drafts is ready.

With Schoen and Daboll trying to buy themselves another season, they need to hit on their draft selection. The Giants are so desperate for a quarterback that I truly believe they are the most likely to swap places with the Titans.

Ian Rothenberg is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email imr5327@psu.edu