There are still a few weeks to go, but we’re into draft month. The 2025 NFL Draft profiles as another unpredictable one, with NFL Draft odds set to shift in the coming weeks. It’s still the first time since the 1970 merger that every team holds its first-round pick—so things are bound to change at some point. These are a few draft-day trade-ups and player pairings that make sense on Thursday, April 24.
Eagles: S Malaki Starks
The Eagles have plenty of draft picks over the next couple of drafts, giving them flexibility to move around the board for a blue-chip player like Georgia safety Malaki Starks. While 2023 third-round pick Sydney Brown could potentially step up into a starting role, Starks would fit right into a loaded defense with a few fellow former Dawgs. The versatile safety would bring more big-time playmaking skills to the group. Among the NFL news in recent days is that Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert might be traded, which could give Philly more draft picks to deal while creating cap space.
Broncos: RB Ashton Jeanty
Perhaps the most popular pairing in mocks is Ashton Jeanty to the Raiders at No. 6. New Raiders general manager John Spytek even told SiriusXM NFL Radio that his son says if he doesn’t draft Jeanty he’s going to be mad. However, if the Vegas regime goes in another direction, there’s a chance the Boise State star drops into within striking distance for a team like the Broncos (No. 20 overall) to trade up for him. Now, there are a bunch of enticing running back options in the draft, but the home-run ability of Jeanty would make things a lot easier on second-year quarterback Bo Nix, who did a ton of heavy lifting for Denver as a rookie. It’ll be difficult to pull off with teams like the Raiders and Bears likely considering him, but a Jeanty-Broncos pairing would be awesome.
Buccaneers: EDGE Jalon Walker
Georgia star Jalon Walker just feels like he’d be an excellent fit in Todd Bowles’ defense, with an ability to both rush the passer all over the formation—and the versatility to play off-ball and rush from different locations to create a massive headache for opposing offenses. Currently at No. 19, the Bucs might be in position to swipe Walker without giving up too much capital if he slips out of the top 10. With Haason Reddick—looking to bounce back after a bizarre year—added along with Yaya Diaby, 2024 second-rounder Chris Braswell, and a defensive line headlined by Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and Logan Hall, Tampa Bay would have plenty of juice and depth with Walker in the mix.
Chargers: DT Kenneth Grant
FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt basically said Jim Harbaugh and Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter like Kenneth Grant so much that they’re going to pick him if he’s there at No. 22 overall—and that they believe he might be the best of their former Michigan players at the next level. So why not a trade up for the big defensive lineman if necessary? While Mason Graham is drawing most of the hype, Grant is likely to go high enough that the Chargers would have to move up for him. Los Angeles lost Poona Ford in free agency, and Grant is an all-around fit for a team that wants to be physical under Harbaugh.
Giants: QB Shedeur Sanders
I don’t mean the Giants should move up into the top two to select Shedeur Sanders. But if they sit at No. 3 and take two-way phenom Travis Hunter—and then Hunter’s college quarterback slips deeper into the first round—it makes a ton of sense to explore the possibility of keeping the dynamic duo together in New York. Utilizing some of their draft capital to navigate the board and land a quarterback (if they like Sanders) in addition to an incredibly rare prospect like Hunter would have Giants fans very excited.