Teams looking to trade up for No. 3 pick eyeing OL?

A report emerged earlier this month that no fewer than six teams have called Arizona about the No. 3 selection. Teams moving up to such a premium spot would presumably do so to land a quarterback (especially if the Texans decline to draft a signal-caller with the second overall pick). In the event the Cardinals agreed to a swap, however, that may not be the case.

Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network reports that teams looking to trade up to the third slot are looking to do so to select an offensive lineman (Twitter link). 

That comes as a surprise, considering the way the top of the board is ranked across most of the scouting community. A number of offensive tackles are considered locks to go in the first round, but few (if any) are expected to hear their names called in the top 5 or 10 on draft night.

The identity of the blocker who would be the target at No. 3 would likely depend on which team was moving up. Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski is seen by many as the top O-lineman in the 2023 class, though signs are pointing to him playing at guard at the NFL level. 

Prospects expected to primarily play at tackle include Paris Johnson Jr., (Ohio State) Broderick Jones (Georgia) and Darnell Wright (Tennessee).

Each of those players have received strong evaluations in the lead-in to the draft, but defenders Will Anderson and Jalen Carter are generally seen as the best non-QBs in the class. 

Arizona moving down the board for a team to avoid either of those two would certainly be noteworthy, though it could keep open the possibility of the Cardinals still being able to select one of them, depending on where they landed in the order.

Given Arizona’s status as likely entering a rebuild, trading down would yield obvious benefits. With the 2023 class believed to be short on bluechip prospects, though, the list of candidates willing to move up has remained rather short. 

The Raiders and Titans have been reported as open to trading up from seventh and 11th, respectively, though quarterback is thought to be the position such a move would be built upon. 

The question of whether any of the class’ top tackles begin to gain steam in the coming days will be one worth answering as the draft approaches.