At pick 23, if the CBs are all gone, you aren’t confident you have a franchise RT, and you just aren’t taking a WR (all are very likely scenarios this year), this could be a great year for the Eagles to trade down.
There is good depth at WR and EDGE, the OTs are probably better options lower, and once you miss on the top couple of CBs, the risk on the next group of guys increases quite a bit.
Where the Eagles are picking is one of the more popular trade locations in the draft because the cost isn’t crazy for teams to move up, some of these teams are looking for a piece as they are typically all good teams picking late in the 1st, and the premium positions are worth going after here.
Here’s a look at recent trades in this area, who are candidates that may want to move up this year, and what the Eagles could get in return.
The history of trade downs around pick 23
2025: A QB-needy team moves up
Last year, at pick 25 the Texans moved out of the first completely as the Giants called everybody to move back into the 1st to draft QB Jaxson Dart.
- Texans send R1-25
- Giants send R2-34, R3-99, and a future 3rd (R3-69 this year)
It was obviously a home run for the Giants, but the Texans also did well – they still got to take the next receiver, taking Jayden Higgins at 34 (their second top receiver this season) and then OT Charles Grant at 99. And they still have the 3rd round pick this year to finalize the trade.
2024: The Lions move up to fill their CB need
The Lions, with the 3rd-worst secondary in the league, were desperate as the CB run was beginning, starting with the Eagles taking Quinyon, and moved up for Terrion Arnold (pre-draft ranked 16).
- Cowboys send R1-24
- Lions send R1-29, R3-73
The Lions look to have whiffed (and, ironically, in retrospect could have had the much-better Nate Wiggins at their original pick) while the Cowboys double-dipped on the OL with Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe.
2023: A more modest trade up for a pass catcher
An annual tale, the Bills were desperate for pass catchers and moved up two spots to leap Dallas so they could take TE Dalton Kincaid.
- Jaguars send 1-25
- Cowboys send 1-27 and 4-130
Both teams are good with this as the Bills got Kincaid, one of their few plus-roster guys, and the Jags got a top OT with Anton Harrison. The 4th round pick was another swing at a pick but didn’t turn into anything.
2022: A top CB unexpectedly falls and a team scrambles to move up
The Chiefs, with picks 29 and 30, had Trent McDuffie so highly graded they didn’t bring him in for a formal pre-draft meeting because they assumed he would be long gone. But as he dropped, they moved up aggressively, sending three picks to the Patriots:
- Patriots send 1-21
- Chiefs send 1-29, 3-94, 4-121
McDuffie (my favorite guy from that class) obviously worked out, while the Patriots, after further moves, ended up with OG Cole Strange, DB Jack Jones, QB Bailey Zappe, and SAF Marte Mapu.
This is an interesting example for the Eagles this year – are you better off with a single top CB like Trent McDuffie or several picks that turned into an average guard, a corner with off-field issues, and two misses? The Chiefs’ scouts were absolutely convicted on McDuffie and were right.
What do teams that trade up have in common?
The common themes with the teams willing to move up are:
- Possessed extra draft capital
- Moved for a premium position
- A player they liked and had a need at fell
| Draft Trade | Extra Capital | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Giants (Jaxson Dart) | Extra 3rd, extra 7th | Moved up for a QB |
| 2024 Lions (Terrion Arnold) | Extra 6th | Arnold pre-draft ranked 16 |
| 2023 Bills (Dalton Kincaid) | Extra 4th, extra 6th | Kincaid pre-draft ranked 23 |
| 2022 Chiefs (Trent McDuffie) | Two picks in each of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th along with four 7ths (from the Tyreek trade) | McDuffie pre-draft ranked 19 |
Which teams fit this profile in 2026?
If you look for teams with extra draft capital and a need at a premium position, four pop out to me: the 49ers at 27, Broncos at 30, Patriots at 31 or 32, and Raiders at 36.
| Pick | Team | Draft Capital Situation |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Bears | Missing a 6th |
| 26 | Bills | Extra 7th, missing a 6th |
| 27 | 49ers | Three 4ths (127, 133, 138) |
| 28 | Texans | Two 2nds (38, 59), two 4ths (106, 128), missing a 6th |
| 29 | Rams | Two 1sts (13, 29), two 5ths, two 6ths, three 7ths, missing a 4th) |
| 30 | Broncos | Two 4ths (108, 131), three 7ths, missing a 6th |
| 31* | Patriots | Two 4ths (125, 130), three 6ths, missing a 7th |
| 32* | Seahawks | Missing 4th, 5th, 7th |
| 33 | Jets | Two 1sts (1, 16), two 2nds (33, 44), two 5ths, two 7ths, missing a 3rd |
| 34 | Cardinals | Have all their standard picks |
| 35 | Titans | Two 6ths |
| 36 | Raiders | Three 4ths (102, 124, 134), two 6ths |
* Draft picks 31-32 are not set yet
49ers at R1-27
Why: The 49ers are losing three WRs and will be without George Kittle for most of the year, and if there’s a run on WRs, they should look to move up with their extra draft capital.
Potential trade: The value difference between 23 and 27 is an early 4th round pick, the 49ers send their end of 3rd pick, which is an acceptable overpay and still have six day 3 picks, including three in R4.
- Eagles send R1-23
- 49ers send R1-27, R3-92
Broncos at R1-30
Why: The Broncos have a few interesting needs. Like everybody else on the list, they need a WR, but they also need a TE, RB, and OL. What if Kenyon Sadiq (currently projected at 17) slides to the Eagles’ pick?
Potential trade: Effectively the same value difference as the Patriots above. I use a day 2 pick swap to even it out, and the Broncos have not been afraid to skip a round in the past.
- Eagles send R1-23, R3-98
- Broncos send R1-31, R2-63
Patriots at R1-31* (pick not set yet)
Why: The Pats have a big need at WR and the 20s could see a run at receiver. With Denzel Boston projected at 23 and KC Concepcion at 27 (both interesting WRs, I like KC a lot), there’s a big gap in talent to the next receivers with Elijah Sarratt at 40 and Chris Bell at 43.
Potential trade: The value difference between 23 and 30 is roughly pick 90. The Pats are projected to have 94, but assuming a small value difference favoring the trade-down team, a trade could look like the McDuffie trade:
- Eagles send R1-23
- Patriots send R1-30, R3-90, R4-125
Raiders at R2-36
Why: Same reason as the Patriots – to grab a receiver for their new QB, Fernando Mendoza as they have a WR3 and two TEs – although this one is much harder due to the move.
Potential trade: The value difference between 23 and 36 is roughly pick 74. The Raiders have pick 67 which would work, but would leave them with only two picks in the top 100. They could overpay with a future pick, and we know Howie does not discount future picks like other GMs.
- Eagles send R1-23
- Patriots send R2-36, R4-102, 2027 3rd
The Eagles get the equivalent of an extra 4th in return.
Bonus trade-down mock draft:
The Eagles are on the clock at pick 23…
Mansoor Delaney and Jermod McCoy have already been taken well ahead of their pick. Immediately before the Eagles picked, the Chargers took OT Francis Mauigoa. The best players available of interest are (current board rank in parentheses):
- TE Kenyon Sadiq (17)
- WRs KC Concepcion (25), Denzel Boston (21)
- OTs Kadyn Proctor (22), Caleb Lomu (23), Monroe Freeling (37)
- EDGE Akeem Mesidor (33)
- IOLs Vega Ioane (20), Emmanuel Pregnon (32)
- CB Colton Hood (31)
The NFC rival 49ers call Howie to see if he’s interested in trading down as they didn’t expect Kenyon to drop that far.
Howie has 4-5 guys he’d be happy with here, but has his eye on OT Monroe Freeling as a Lane replacement. With the Browns already taking an OT at pick 6, the Bills and Bears largely set at tackle, and three OTs still on the board, Howie pulls the trigger with the 49ers.
Eagles send R1-23 to the 49ers for R1-27 and R3-92. Howie is now sitting with five picks in the top hundred at R1-27, R2-54, R3-68, R3-92, and R3-98.
Eagles back on the clock at pick 27…
Selection: OT Blake Miller, Clemson
Maybe a surprising pick given current big boards, but Blake Miller is a guy who will rise and fits what the Eagles want.
At OT, the Eagles have a very particular type – length, athleticism, mobility, pass protection is non-negotiable, coachability, toughness. And the better known OTs above weren’t the mold they want – Kadyn Proctor has the size but doesn’t have the quickness, Caleb Lomu has the movement but lacks the power.
Blake has over 3,500 snaps at RT and still only 21 years old, incredibly durable, big at 6064 and 315 lbs with reported 35″ arms. Extremely mobile, testing 96th percentile speed and 98th percentile acceleration. Oh, he’s also got a nasty streak… Think Brian O’Neill from the Vikings (and from my alma mater Pitt).
The Eagles round out their draft, hitting the draft-neglected offensive side of the ball with their most valuable picks:
R2-54: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Oklahoma
R3-64: IOL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M
R3-92: CB Malik Muhammad, Texas
R3-98: TE Tanner Koziol, Houston
R4-122: SAF Michael Taaffe, Texas
R4-136: EDGE Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Really educational article, as usual. I also would love this Trade Down draft for the Eagles.
One question: Will the Eagles receive another 3rd round pick as compensation for Milton Williams? Or, am I overthinking things?
Yes, they get a 3rd for Milt, but it’s already assumed in all the mocks (that’s the one you see at pick 98)