Six teams enter the first round of the NFL draft without a pick. Six others have two picks apiece.
Let鈥檚 make a deal.
There have been 60 trades involving first-round picks over the past five years. Eighteen were traded in 2022. Last year, six first-round picks were dealt. That was tied for the fewest since 1985.
The Bengals, Packers, Jaguars, Falcons, Colts and Broncos don鈥檛 have a first-round pick while the Giants, Jets, Dolphins, Cowboys, Browns and Chiefs each have two.
Cincinnati traded the 10th overall pick to the Giants on Saturday for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. New York owns the fifth and 10th picks. Green Bay doesn鈥檛 have one because of its blockbuster trade for Micah Parsons last August. Jacksonville traded its 2026 first-rounder to Cleveland on draft night last year to move up to get Travis Hunter with the second overall pick.
Atlanta sent this year鈥檚 first-round pick to the Rams on draft night a year ago to select edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at No. 26. Indianapolis traded its first-rounder to the Jets for Sauce Gardner. Denver sent the 30th overall pick to Miami in the deal for Jaylen Waddle.
Here are five teams that could be active on Thursday night:
Philadelphia Eagles
General manager Howie Roseman is one of the most active and aggressive executives in the NFL. The Eagles own the 23rd pick. They moved up from No. 10 to No. 9 in 2023 to get defensive tackle Jalen Carter. A year earlier, they went from 15 to 13 to get defensive tackle Jordan Davis. In 2021, Philadelphia moved up from 12 to 10 to select wideout DeVonta Smith. Roseman also moved up in 2019 and 2016. He traded out of the first round in 2018.
鈥淚 think we go into this draft being very comfortable with having 23 guys we鈥檙e ready to take. We鈥檙e there ready and prepared for that,鈥� Roseman said. 鈥淚f something happens where somebody who鈥檚 higher on our board than 23rd is available, we鈥檒l be ready for that. If there鈥檚 an opportunity that we think makes sense to move up based on the value of that player, we鈥檒l move up. If we have multiple guys at our spot and there鈥檚 a trade that makes sense to move back, we鈥檒l move back.鈥�
The trade involving the Eagles that鈥檚 been a hot topic throughout the offseason isn鈥檛 expected to happen this week. is likely on the move, with the Patriots expected to be the leading contender to land the star wide receiver, reuniting him with coach Mike Vrabel. The Rams already pursued Brown earlier in the offseason. The Eagles would be able to spread a $40 million salary cap hit over two seasons by waiting until June 1 to deal Brown.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With the 15th pick in the first round, the Buccaneers might miss out on one of the top players on their board. They need an elite rusher and could use more draft capital because they have only one pick in each round. There are several potential pass rushers who could be a fit in the 16-25 range that would allow Tampa Bay to move back and add .
鈥淚n a lot of scenarios that we鈥檙e working through, yeah,鈥� GM Jason Licht said about moving back. 鈥淵ou have a group of players that you say, 鈥楴o matter what, if this player鈥檚 there, we鈥檙e taking (them).鈥� If there鈥檚 a group of three, then maybe you go back one or two to make sure that you ensure you get one of your three, but the part of that that makes it difficult is you鈥檝e got to find a trade partner. It鈥檚 not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes teams just don鈥檛 want to move up. They don鈥檛 want to give up picks, and I understand why.鈥�
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have the 12th and 20th picks, and Jerry Jones has hinted at being aggressive. But it would make more sense for Dallas to trade down in one of those spots to add extra picks because the defense has several needs.
The Cowboys don鈥檛 have a second-round pick after sending it to the Jets in a deal for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams before the trade deadline. Moving down from 20 and adding a second-rounder plus other picks is one scenario.
New York Jets
The Jets have four of the top 44 picks in the draft, including Nos. 2 and 16 in the first round. They have three 2027 first-round picks.
If there鈥檚 a player they covet 鈥� perhaps an elite wideout 鈥� they have the draft assets to jump up from 16. They have their choice of edge rushers at No. 2 after quarterback Fernando Mendoza goes first to the Raiders.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have the 11th and 30th picks in the first round and plenty of needs. They鈥檙e in full rebuild mode. Trading one of those to add more picks could help Miami replenish its roster.
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