2013 NFL Draft: Five Teams Most Likely to Trade Down in the First Round

2013 NFL Draft: Five Teams That May Trade Down in the First Round

The speculation and analysis leading into the 2013 NFL Draft will be over in less than two weeks, and the Kansas City Chiefs will be on the clock with the first overall pick. Of course the Chiefs could look to trade down from that pick, which would make things interesting right off the bat.

As the first round begins to take shape, there is typically some trade action as teams have players in their crosshairs and look to move up. Struggling teams that have a high pick in the first round may also look to move down in order to add more picks in later rounds. Shrewd general managers can often take advantage of an aggressive executive on a team that sits far lower in the first round and score a relative bounty of draft picks.

Of course the speculation about which teams may move up or down in the first round is just that until the draft starts, though it can be easy to guess which teams will look to make a trade based on the acumen of whoever is running the front office. The Dallas Cowboys, and owner/general manager Jerry Jones, come to mind as a team that is not afraid to mortgage future draft picks to move up and get a player they’ve targeted.

Trading down in the first round is surely not what will excite fans of a team that does it, but looking back it is a good move more often than not.

With that, here are five teams I feel could be looking to trade down when their turn comes in this year's first round.

5. Miami Dolphins

There is speculation that the Dolphins will look to trade down from 12th overall if the top three left tackle prospects (Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher and Lane Johnson) are off the board, which would allow them to pile up some picks and address multiple need areas. Miami could just as easily make an aggressive attempt to move up into the top-10, so the draft’s first night should be an active one for general manager Jeff Ireland.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs could go many different directions with the No. 1 overall pick, including trading down if they don’t feel there is a player who is clearly worthy of that spot. Staying put is not the worst option, but if a team calls with a nice trade offer the new regime led by head coach Andy Reid and general manager John Dorsey may have to listen.

3. Carolina Panthers

Some of the Panthers’ most urgent needs are at deep positions in this year’s class, most notably defensive tackle and wide receiver. They currently sit at No. 14 overall, but they may have to consider trading down if a team below them has a player on their radar and makes an aggressive offer.

2. New York Jets

The Jets have a lot of needs on both sides of the ball, so new general manager John Idzik may be willing to entertain offers for the ninth overall pick in order to stockpile extra picks. If cornerback Darrelle Revis is traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 13th overall pick, and presumably some other draft picks as well, that would clearly change things.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

A team coming off a 2-14 season surely has plenty of holes, and the Jaguars are no different with a lack of talent at virtually every position. New general manager David Caldwell may have an opportunity to accelerate the rebuilding process and get a lot of extra picks if multiple teams want the second overall pick.