Possible Draft Day Trades for Cardinals

If there's one thing that is almost a guarantee in the 2024 draft, it's a trade for the Arizona Cardinals.

Author:
Jack London
Mar 26, 2024

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Cardinals

NFL Draft

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Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are heavily favored to move down in the 2024 NFL Draft with any of their top three picks - here's what that could look like.

Pick 4

Analysis: There has been no shortage of chatter on social media about Arizona trading back due to one of two teams trading up for a quarterback. Minnesota is the obvious choice, and they have been the hot topic amongst Cardinals fans since Minnesota acquired the 23rd pick to pair with the 11th pick. This move seemingly makes it clear that they want to move up for a QB.

J.J. McCarthy

Aaron J. Thornton/GettyImages

There are a few options, and the best comparison would be the 49ers moving up for Trey Lance in 2021- No. 12 overall in 2021, No. 29 overall in 2022, No. 102 overall in 2022, No. 30 overall in 2023. This is essentially 3 ones and a 4th Rd pick. The conversation starts with three first round picks - if there's more, that could sway Monti Ossenfort and company.

The Giants at pick 6 seems to be the less likely, but the Giants are clearly wanting an upgrade at quarterback as well. Let's also be clear - 6 and 70 by itself would not be enough as suggested in this mock draft.

Possibilities:

Trade down from 4 for picks 11, 23, 2025 first, 108 or 2025 4th from Minnesota

Trade down from 4 for picks 11, 23, 2025 2nd, 2025 4th from Minnesota

Trade down from 4 for picks 6, 47, 107 from New York

Pick 27

Analysis: Something that seems like a decent possibility is to trade up in the backend of round 1 - likely for a defensive stud that falls. There's a few possibilites of teams that Arizona could trade up with - Tampa Bay, Dallas, or even Minnesota if they cannot trade up. The Cardinals can simply send them one of their three third rounders to just a few spots. This could be for a pass rusher like Laiatu Latu or Jared Verse that maybe falls into the 20s.

For trading down, another real possibility at the end of round one, Kansas City could try to leapfrog Buffalo for a wide receiver, such as Adonai Mitchell (Buffalo could do the same to block the Chiefs). Carolina recently got a second second rounder and could also try to jump them both to get a wide out they would want.

Possibilities:

Trade up from pick 27 to pick 24 for picks 27 and pick 90 with Dallas

Trade up from pick 27 to pick 26 for picks 27 and 105 with Tampa Bay

Trade down from pick 27 to pick 28 for picks 28 and 128 with Buffalo

Trade down from pick 27 to pick 32 for picks 32 and 95 with Kansas City

Pick 35

Michael Penix Jr.

Maddie Meyer/GettyImages

Analysis: Much like last year, Arizona may want to add picks by moving from the top of the second round with a team wanting to move up for a player they liked that fell to the top of round 2 or for a QB like Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr. that maybe made it out of round 1. Maybe the most obvious would be the Las Vegas Raiders, who are in need of a QB but don't have the ammo or position to move up for the top 4 in round 1, and if one of them falls to the top of round two, we could see a similar trade to what Arizona did with the Titans last year for Will Levis.