Possible NFL Draft Approach for Each Team

What does the draft capital each NFL team have indicate about the best draft strategy to pursue for 2025?

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Now that free agency has settled down, NFL fans are certain to turn their attention toward the draft at the end of April.

I wanted to look at where each NFL team stands in terms of draft capital and what may make the most sense for them as far as the approach to take, particularly given their current roster.

It's worth noting that every team will enter the 2025 NFL Draft with a first-round pick — at least, for the moment. It's possible we see a trade in which a team deals a first-round pick prior to the day of the draft. But for now, all 32 teams are set to make a selection in the first round.

Let's go over the teams in order of where they will draft in the first round.

1. Tennessee Titans: The Titans have eight total picks but no third-round pick. They are a team that could very well take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick, though it's possible they trade down if they can get an offer they can't pass up. If they do go with a quarterback at No. 1 overall, they might want to consider trading down in the second round to pick up an additional pick in the later rounds.

2. Cleveland Browns: The Browns are having to dig out of a hole caused by the disastrous DeShaun Watson trade and subsequent five-year, fully guaranteed contract. The good news is they have 10 total picks with four in the first three rounds. This will allow them to replenish the roster. They strike me as a team that will wait until 2026 to draft a quarterback in the first round, though I could see the Browns taking one in the later rounds of this year's draft.

3. New York Giants: The Giants regime is reportedly on notice that they need to win in 2025, which could lead to the regime looking for a quarterback early. They have eight total picks with four in the first three rounds, so they are positioned to replenish the roster. The Giants are another team that might consider trading down in the later rounds should they take a quarterback at No. 3 overall.

4. New England Patriots: With nine total picks, including four in the first three rounds, the Patriots are well positioned to continue building the roster around Drake Maye. The Patriots might use the first-round pick on an impact player on defense, then figure out what makes the most sense after that.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: They have 10 total picks with four in the first three rounds and are certain to keep building around Trevor Lawrence. They are better off not trading up at any point to ensure they have enough draft capital to build the team, because Lawrence is no longer on a cheap deal.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: They have nine total picks and don't appear to be targeting a quarterback in the first round, but I would not be surprised to see them look for a QB in the later rounds. This is another team who might benefit from trading down in the later rounds.

7. New York Jets: They have eight total picks and it might be difficult for them to trade up if they really like the top quarterback prospects (of which there are just two said to be worth a high draft pick). I continue to believe the Jets are a team that is better off looking toward the 2026 draft class for its long-term QB, though it wouldn't be a bad idea to take a chance on a QB in the later rounds.

8. Carolina Panthers: With nine total picks, the Panthers are in position to continue to build around Bryce Young. This is a team that needs to view 2025 as the "make or break" season for Young, which means they should avoid trading up in case things don't work out. That way, they would be in a better position to draft a QB in 2026 if it comes to that.

9. New Orleans Saints: The Saints have nine total picks and four in the first three rounds, which is a good thing because they need to start thinking about what the roster will look like once they move on from current players. Though they got their cap situation under control without causing too much long-term damage, they need to accept that they are in a soft rebuild and not be aggressive in moves up the draft board.

10. Chicago Bears: The Bears have seven total picks but with two in the second. They are a team that might consider trading down in the first round unless they see a player they love. In the second round, though, I would seriously consider a trade down so the Bears can add more picks to build up team depth.

11. San Francisco 49ers: They have 11 total picks, which means they have the means to add a lot of talent on cheaper contracts at a time when they will be considering an extension for Brock Purdy. The Niners have two thirds and three fourths and might be able to use one of the fourth rounders to move up a couple of spots if there's a player they really like.

12. Dallas Cowboys: With 10 total picks, the Cowboys are in good shape. Though they don't have a fourth-round pick, they have seven picks on day three, which is plenty of capital to fill out the depth. They might consider using a day three pick to move up a couple of spots in the second or third round.

13. Miami Dolphins: They have 10 total picks, which is good because it allows them a chance to find inexpensive talent in an offseason in which they started without much draft capital. They do have seven picks on day three and are another team that might be OK with sending a day-three pick to another team to move up in the second or third round.

14. Indianapolis Colts: They have seven picks, one in each round. I could see the Colts possibly trade down in the first round if they believe it's best to accumulate more draft capital. Again, it's fair to ask if the current regime is on notice to win in 2025, but I'd avoid risking a move up the board.

15. Atlanta Falcons: They have just five total picks and really need more draft capital to get more talent to build around Micheal Penix Jr. Because this is a strong draft for interior defensive linemen, the Falcons should think about trading down to get more picks. They might be able to move several spots down the board and get a third-round pick (they currently don't have one) and a day three pick. That could help a lot with getting the roster replenished.

16. Arizona Cardinals: They have six total picks and, as I previously mentioned, are a team that may be expected to take the next step. It might not be a bad idea for the Cardinals to try to trade down in the first round. The good news is that they have a pick in each of the first three rounds, so they are in a position to find players who can help out immediately.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: This is another team with six total picks and has one in each of the first three rounds. Again, it might not be a bad idea for the Bengals to trade down in the first round. However, they are positioned well enough to find players who can help immediately.

18. Seattle Seahawks: They have 10 total picks with five in the first three rounds. As I previously mentioned, they are well positioned to find players to replace those they either cut or traded. I still think the Seahawks might be looking at QB prospects in the 2026 draft.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: We have a third team with six total picks but one in each of the first three rounds. The Bucs are another team that might want to look at trading down in the first round. As with the Cardinals and Bengals, though, the Bucs are in a solid position to find immediate contributors.

20. Denver Broncos: They have seven total picks with three in the sixth round. This is another team that is positioned to find immediate contributors but might benefit from a trade down in the first round.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Here is another team with six total picks but they don't have a second-round pick. The Steelers still don't have a proven starting quarterback on the roster, so if they are thinking about taking a chance on a draft pick, they need to do what they can to trade down in the first round so they can get additional capital.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: With 10 total picks, four in the sixth round, the Chargers are in a great position to fill out the roster and build up the depth. This is a team that can afford to take a chance on trading up in the first round. If not, they can take chances on players that fall down the board or on long-term projects on day three.

23. Green Bay Packers: They have eight total picks and don't necessarily need to move up or down the board. Much of their draft strategy will depend on what they want to do with current players whose deals expire after the 2025 season.

24. Minnesota Vikings: With just four picks, the Vikings are a team that could really benefit from trading down in the first round. The question is whether or not they could get a lot in return, given that they draft No. 24 overall. I'm not sure if they could manage a trade out of the first round because the teams that draft early in the second might benefit more from trading down in the second.

25. Houston Texans: They have seven total picks but have two third-round picks, so they are well positioned to find immediate contributors. It's possible they could trade down in the third to get an additional day three pick. But this draft will primarily be about finding the final pieces they need so they can become a team that is better positioned for a deep playoff run.

26. Los Angeles Rams: They have eight total picks but no pick in the second round. As with the Vikings, if the Rams want to trade down in the first or out of the first, the question is whether they will be able to do so. In the past, the Rams have traded down in later rounds, so it wouldn't surprise me if they do that again.

27. Baltimore Ravens: As is often the case, the Ravens enter the draft with a lot of capital because they accumulate compensatory picks. With 11 total picks, the Ravens are a team that could easily trade up if they want.

28. Detroit Lions: They have seven total picks with two in the seventh but none in the fifth. I'm not anticipating the Lions making a move up the first round, though it's possible they could take a chance if they believe it would put them over the top to get to the Super Bowl.

29. Washington Commanders: They have just five total picks and have no third-round pick. The Commanders traded away draft capital to acquire players from other teams, so they don't necessarily need to trade down for more draff assets. But they probably need to avoid a big jump up the board.

30. Buffalo Bills: They have 10 total picks with two seconds but no third. Here is a team I could see moving up the first round, though not at a cost of too much draft capital. Another strategy could be to stay put at No. 30 overall but be prepared to move up in the second round.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: They have eight total picks with four in the first three rounds. Here is a team that is in a solid position as far as finding immediate contributors. Given that the Chiefs have the best QB in the NFL, I could see them taking a chance on a move up the first round if there's a player they really covet.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: They have eight total picks with four in the fifth round. I don't see the Eagles as a team that will make a move up the draft board. Maybe they do so in the second or third round, but they might be better off keeping their picks to fill out depth.