It takes two.
While some teams like the New England Patriots might want to trade back in the 2025 NFL Draft, the only way for them to get their wish is for another team to want to trade up. Obvious, right?
Well, one prominent NFL general manager seemingly can’t envision any obvious scenarios playing out.
“You can’t walk into it saying, ‘I am definitely looking to trade back,’ because you don’t know what’s going to fall to you,” Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht told reporters, per NFL.com.
“I do think this year is going to be — I could be wrong — you’re going to see maybe a little less people maybe wanting to move up and offering enough to make it worth your while just because the draft is pretty leveled-out at a certain point,” Licht continued. “You might be able to get the same level of player in the second round as you can in the fourth round at certain positions, so I think you’ll maybe see a little bit less of that.”
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Licht’s comments track with what countless draft experts have said during the pre-draft process. Teams won’t part with draft capital for one prospect if another similarly graded player will fall to them.
That isn’t great news for the Patriots, specifically. New England figures to have the first choice of second-tier prospects at fourth overall. The likelihood is top quarterback Cam Ward as well as two blue-chippers Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter will be off the board in the first three selections.
It’s caused a healthy portion of New England’s fan base to want the Patriots to trade back, which makes sense. If only it were that simple.
Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images
