We are less than a week away from the 2020 NFL Draft, and it sounds like it could be as unpredictable as ever. One thing that we do know is that trades will be made, so here are five that could shake up the first round next Thursday night. [Note: it’s tough to project compensation, so just use it as a guideline if you think your team is giving up too much or not getting enough]

 

Denver Adds Speed on Offense

 

DEN receives: No. 10 overall pick

CLE receives: No. 15 overall pick, No. 77 overall pick, 2021 second-round pick

 

The Broncos are headed in the right direction offensively with Drew Lock at the controls surrounded by playmakers like Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant (with Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay in the backfield), but they could still use another piece—namely Henry Ruggs III. The game-breaking speedster would be able to open things up vertically to take the pressure off Sutton on the other side and Fant on intermediate routes. For the Browns, they can acquire more picks and still get their reported target (offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland) at a better value.

 

Jamal Adams Heads to Dallas

 

NYJ receives: No. 17 overall pick, No. 82 overall pick, G Connor Williams

DAL receives: S Jamal Adams

 

Rumors about Adams not being in talks with New York about a contract extension was partly the reason for this article, and I have a feeling he will be moved next week. Jerry Jones might not want to wait for a rookie to develop when an All-Pro player is available, so this trade could make sense for both sides—as the Cowboys can still get a cornerback in the second round and a potential replacement for Connor Williams on Day 3, while Joe Douglas has a chance to add both an impact offensive tackle and receiver with top-20 selections.

 

NFC South Rivals Make a Deal

 

CAR receives: No. 16 overall pick

ATL receives: No. 7 overall pick, No. 47 overall pick, 2021 first-round pick

 

Although this is probably the most unrealistic scenario of the article because division rivals may refuse to work together, I think it’s a great match. Atlanta could move up for Isaiah Simmons (if he slips) to pair up with Deion Jones at linebacker, which would be a superstar tandem to stop Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in the division. The Panthers, on the other hand, can get more future assets for Matt Rhule, and their target—even if they are unable to trade down—could be Kenneth Murray, who is arguably a better fit alongside Shaq Thompson and someone that played great against Rhule’s Baylor squad in 2019.

 

TB Protects TB12

 

TB receives: No. 9 overall pick

JAX receives: No. 14 overall pick, No. 76 overall pick, 2021 second-round pick

 

The biggest hole on Tampa Bay’s roster is clearly offensive tackle, and it would be a shock if they didn’t target someone on Day 1 or Day 2. To me, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas is worth a top-ten pick and trade up as a guy that has played both left (for the past two years) and right tackle (as a true freshman on a team that reached the national championship), so Bruce Arians would have options with Donovan Smith potentially staying on the blindside for 2020. Jacksonville makes sense as a trade partner that could have targets like Javon Kinlaw and C.J. Henderson still available five spots back.

 

Chargers Get Their Future Quarterback 

 

LAC receives: No. 31 overall pick

SF receives: No. 37 overall pick, No. 112 overall pick, No. 151 overall pick

 

San Francisco’s original first-round selection feels like the optimal spot for a team to trade back up for a signal-caller, and if the Chargers decide to get a left tackle at No. 6, they will be an obvious candidate. Indianapolis may also be vying for another trade with the 49ers (and I think Jake Fromm would be their potential target if available), but John Lynch might prefer another selection closer to the top 100 to build his stockpile back up. It would be fun to see Jalen Hurts head to LA to develop for a season before leading an offense with star power already in place in 2021.