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- Jim McIsac / Getty Images
The tension will be a constant part of the NFL 2022 draft, but this drama will go beyond the rookie selections. Throughout the night of April 28, the teams will review any number of commercial offers.
As usual, most trade talks will focus on the project choices themselves. NFL teams regularly package several of their picks to move up and grab a specific perspective.
Although less likely, current NFL players will also be the subject of other discussions. These trades usually take place in the week leading up to the event, but the opportunity for a big player to be dealt on the day of the draft still deserves attention.
The list is subjective, but reflects the latest rumors, along with the current needs of each team and capital project.
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- John McCoy / Associated Press
On paper it is a perfect match.
After sending Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Green Bay Packers are missing a №1 receiver. They gained first and second round choices in this trade, creating the opportunity to use one of the top four selections to gain an established successor.
Seattle Seahawks, meanwhile, seem to be targeting Pete Carroll’s preferred style in the first place. Russell Wilson is now a member of the Denver Broncos. Between this philosophical change and Tyler Lockett, who has his own big money contract, it’s hard to believe that Seattle wants to step in for DK Metcalf’s upcoming expansion. Why be a major offense but have two high-end receivers and no QB franchise?
But if the Packers are open to extension talks, they need both Metcalfe and a capital project to make that happen.
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- Jeff Dean / Associated Press
Following an exchange with the Philadelphia Eagles, the New Orleans Saints have led some rival executives to think a little harder about the initial round of the 2022 draft.
And the Pittsburgh Steelers are certainly one of those teams.
Pittsburgh signed with Mitch Trubiski with a free agency, but he is unlikely to be Ben Rotlisberger’s long-term replacement. It is more likely that the Steelers plan Trubyski or Mason Rudolph to serve as an option to stop someone else.
New Orleans, which also needs QB, now has the 16th and 19th overall picks. If the Steelers no longer suspected that the Saints were planning to make a call signal, it certainly felt inevitable now.
Pittsburgh must be a strong candidate for a deal with either the Minnesota Vikings (12th) or Houston Texas (13th).
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- Jim McIsac / Getty Images
For a great reason, the New York Jets’ top 10 pair attracted most of the attention. They are in a great place to create an elite perspective and gain a few more selections if they return from the fourth or 10th overall selection.
Do not forget about round 2.
Thanks to last year’s trade with Sam Darnold, the Jets hold the 35th pick and №38 to the Carolina Panthers. They are in the best position to change the last part of the first night.
If an earlier top 10 deal secures an extra third-round player (or possibly a fourth) player, New York may package this selection – one that didn’t exist at the start of the draft anyway – to 35 or 38 to returned in the first round.
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- Paul Sancia / Associated Press
The off-season for Kansas City Chiefs is already busy and they may be approaching another important move.
Kansas City handed out Tyrick Hill star to the Miami Dolphins, who sent the San Francisco 49ers number 29 to the Chiefs as part of a blockbuster deal. This put Kansas City, which already had a selection of №30, in slots back to back.
And this is just the beginning.
Thanks to Hill’s trading and third-round compensatory choices, the Chiefs have two draft choices in four consecutive rounds to begin the 2022 draft. Kansas City have more than enough firepower to target the top 20 overall and to keep number 29 or 30.
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- Jonathan Bachmann / Getty Images
New Orleans is one of the most intriguing teams in the 2022 draft.
Although the need for a quarterback was obvious, the Saints were not in the main QB territory at number 18. Simply holding on to the 16th pick does not change this perception dramatically, but having a pair of first-round selections does.
Given that this came at the expense of a first-round player from 2023 and a second-round player from 2024, the Saints are focused on winning now in the NFC, which has an unimpressive average level. The expectation of a big trade seems silly, although it is still possible to increase it a little higher for the right player with immediate impact.
It is perfectly fair to question what New Orleans has done, given that the list is not seen as a real contender for the NFC.
True or not, however, the Saints strive for this. And they may not be ready yet.
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- Michael Reeves / Getty Images
When recovering, take advantage of the draft.
This statement may seem self-evident, but it is not just about choosing the right perspectives. The value of the selected draft to be used is always higher than a player at the alternate level in the list.
Yes, every choice is like a lottery ticket. However, the Texans from Houston are not in a position to earn much in 2022. They can afford to spend the off-season, charging with newcomers in the hope of finding a few players who will become major parts of the future.
Keeping a choice of №3 to add a main body is perfectly reasonable, but offering the best bid of choice of №13 is a wise and plausible strategy for Texans.
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- John Minchilo / Associated Press
Like their MetLife Stadium team, the New York Giants have several top 10 selections in the first round.
As we mentioned recently, this is the optimal situation for G-Men with fifth and seventh elections. Maybe the Falcons (eighth) or Seahawks (ninth) want to jump Panthers (sixth) for QB. Maybe another team is looking for a place in front of Atlanta or Seattle. These are just two of the many exchange scenarios.
But the Giants also have an extra slot in the third and fifth rounds. As a mid-level NFC team at best, they are approaching a 2022 project with the opportunity to prioritize future flexibility.
Thanks to the extra capital, the Giants can trade down in any of the first three rounds, still have valuable elections this year and increase what is available to them next April.
Also, if Daniel Jones doesn’t make major improvements in 2022, the Giants may still need draft ammunition for 2023.
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