The 2022 NFL Draft will give another team to upgrade their rosters following the fast-paced action of free agency. Any holes that are unable to be filled by veteran signings could be filled with draft selections.
Every year, we see teams move up and down the draft board as they try to match up value with draft slots. This year should be no different, as there are wide projections for quarterbacks, who usually drive the trade market.
This isn’t considered a very strong quarterback class, but all it takes is for one team to fall in love with a prospect to necessitate a move up the board to snag someone. There could also be other prospects who slip and a team jumps ahead to land that player, something we have also seen occur plenty of times.
Which teams could be on the lookout to move up this year? Here are five that should look to trade up in the 2022 NFL Draft.
5. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings decided not to pull the trigger on a quarterback in the first round last year, passing on the opportunity to select either Justin Fields or Mac Jones. Instead, they went with Kellen Mond later in the draft.
Mond wasn’t active for a majority of the season, even being passed on in favor of Sean Mannion to start a game when Kirk Cousins was sidelined. With Cousins now entering the final season of his contract, the Vikings could be in the market for a quarterback again.
If they decide they need one, a trade-up could occur in the 2022 NFL Draft. Minnesota also needs help in the trenches, so a trade-up for one of the better pass-rushing or offensive line prospects could be in the cards. Their draft board will be impacted by how free agency goes, but they are a team that could look to be active with a new regime in place.
4. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are another team that will be in the market for quarterback help this offseason. They will certainly be active during free agency, looking to bring in an upgrade on Taylor Heinicke.
No matter what move they make at the position ahead of the draft, they are in a prime position to select a long-term option. However, they could have to move up to land the quarterback prospect that they covet.
Getting ahead of the Carolina Panthers, who pick sixth overall, should be the goal of any team that wants the first pick of the quarterback class. If you cannot acquire the 5th pick from the New York Giants, inquiring about the seventh pick would be smart as well. That pick would put them ahead of the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos, two more teams that may select quarterbacks.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Anyone who watched the Super Bowl matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals knows that the Bengals need help on the offensive line. That assault on Joe Burrow wasn’t anything new as the Bengals have failed to block for him throughout his two seasons in the NFL.
If the Bengals want to maintain his long-term health and have a chance to get back to the Super Bowl, they have to start protecting him better. They could look to make a move up the draft board to try and snag one of the higher-rated offensive linemen prospects in this year’s class.
Trading up into the top-7 will prove difficult in this NFL Draft class, but the Bengals should be on the watch should anyone start to slip. If a plug-and-play starter along the offensive line drops into the 15-25 range, the Bengals should be on the phone attempting to move up.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
This offseason signaled the end of an era for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Long-time starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement, which means Pittsburgh is in the market for a new starter.
They are one of the teams that are reportedly big fans of Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. However, with the 20th overall pick, they may not be in range to select him or one of the other top-rated play-callers in this year’s draft class.
Given how close this team is to being contenders again, as they have a strong defense already in place, they could look to be aggressive when finding their long-term answer at quarterback. If the opportunity presents itself to move up in the draft, the Steelers could also look to upgrade an offensive line that has been underwhelming for the last few seasons.
1. Philadelphia Eagles
There are four teams in the 2022 NFL Draft that have multiple first-round draft picks; the Detroit Lions, New York Jets, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. Only one of those teams, the Eagles, has three picks.
Philadelphia owns their own pick, which landed at No. 19 but also owns the first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts, who are picking 15th and 16th. The Eagles will have a chance to add multiple impact players to their roster this year in the draft and can get aggressive chasing higher upside players that may need some more seasoning.
They can also be aggressive moving up the board for a prospect they like that could be outside of their range. They have the ammunition to make a big move up the board with their surplus of selections, as they have 11 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
