Major NFL Draft shake-up looming as Cardinals prepare to trade third selection

10 April 2023 , 22:06

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New Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon may have to decide on whether to trade their third overall pick with six teams inquiring (Image: Getty)

At least six teams have inquired with the Arizona Cardinals about trading up for the third overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The current NFL Draft order has the Carolina Panthers with the No.1 overall pick, followed by the Houston Texans, Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks rounding out the top five picks.

But according to ESPN, six unnamed teams have inquired about the possibility of jumping ahead to the Cardinals’ third pick. The same report does say, however, that the Cardinals are yet to come to a decision on whether they should trade the pick or use it.

Field Yates believes that the teams wanting the third pick most likely are in need of a quarterback. And the urgency comes with the Colts scouting top prospects ahead of the draft, which begins on April 27.

The Panthers already are expected to draft a quarterback with their No.1 pick. Alabama's Bryce Young and Ohio State's CJ Stroud are among the favourites as are Kentucky's Will Levis and Florida's Anthony Richardson.

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There is speculation that Arizona could shift wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was granted permission to seek a trade on his own. Hopkins is scheduled to have a $30.75million (£24.8m) cap hit while a trade would save the Cardinals $8.15m in cap space but leave $22.6m in dead money. However, a release of Hopkins before or after June 1 would save the Cardinals $19.45m in cap space.

The Cardinals have made a number of plays in the first round but last year traded in exchange for wide receiver Marquise Brown (Getty)

The Cardinals have made a number of plays in the first round in years gone by. In 2018, the Cardinals traded three picks to move up five spots to draft quarterback Josh Rosen. Four years earlier, the Cardinals decided to move back from 20th to 27th in exchange for two picks.

In terms of trading a pick for a player, last year the Cardinals traded their first-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for wide receiver Marquise Brown. That exchange happened to be the first time since 1995 that the Cardinals did not have a first-round pick because of a trade.

The NFL Draft takes place on April 27, with rounds two and three taking place a day later. Rounds three and four will be April 29 and broadcasters such as ESPN and ABC will carry the broadcasts.

Joshua Mbu