With the start of the NFL Draft just one week away, rumors are swirling around on a daily basis, affecting mocks and markets in the process. While most rumors are just noise, some have validity, making them worth diving into, as a trade or shocking pick has the power to shake up the rest of the draft. For the rest of our draft coverage, check out our NFL Draft Guide for great insight and information.

Biggest NFL Draft Rumors and What They Mean

The Dallas Cowboys are Looking to Move Into the Top-5

With the Dallas Cowboys holding on to 1.12 and 1.20, they are widely expected to be aggressive and bundle their picks to move into the top five. What started as a commonly mocked idea has now started to gain some traction, with NFL insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Matt Miller reporting on the subject.

While I do not incorporate trades into my latest NFL mock draft, I chose to go with the Arizona Cardinals at 1.03, who find themselves in a pickle. With the third pick in the NFL Draft, the Cardinals have to make a decision between selecting an EDGE who they have no need for, or reaching for an offensive tackle with no player fitting their range.

With the Cowboys moving up to 1.03, there is minimal impact in regard to how the rest of the draft may shake out, most likely using their pick to draft either Arvell Reese or David Bailey, who are both expected to go in the top three. Where this trade gets interesting is in the back half of the first round, giving the Cardinals the option to take Ty Simpson at 1.20 or make another trade for a team interested in the Alabama quarterback, giving them more draft capital to patch their needs elsewhere.

The New York Giants Want to Trade Down

Potentially correlated with the previously mentioned rumor, the New York Giants may be looking to trade down in order to acquire more draft capital to help accelerate their rebuild. At 1.05, the Giants have a wide range of options that fit their range and needs, including WR Carnell Tate, OT Francis Mauigoa, LB Sonny Styles or RB Jeremiyah Love.

When factoring in their recent movement, it makes sense that the Giants want to trade down, avoiding selecting a player who may not live up to the hype of a top-five pick. Like Matthew Freedman, I am also skeptical of Tate, and I believe the gap between the upper-tier receivers and fringe first-rounders is as narrow as ever.

As for Mauigoa, his short arms raised red flags during the combine, potentially turning him into a guard if he is incapable of using his frame to bottle up defenders on the outside. Styles has also recently slid down the board, making him a fringe top-10 player per his current EDP (7.9).

If Love is still available at 1.05, then that may be the tipping point the Giants need to hear their phone ring to talk trade. Even though running backs have recently been devalued, Love is regarded as a rare top talent in the eyes of owners, making it worth bundling a late first-rounder and a Day 2 pick for the Notre Dame prospect.

The Detroit Lions Love Kadyn Proctor

Heading into 2025, the Detroit Lions were expected to compete for the Super Bowl per their preseason odds to win the title. After an embarrassing loss to the Green Bay Packers in week one, it was apparent their offensive line was going to hold them back from being a contender, lacking the protection Jared Goff needs to combat against variance.

With Taylor Decker gone, the Lions are in desperate need of patching their offensive line in order to round back into dominant form. Enter Kadyn Proctor, the Crimson Tide’s mammoth of an offensive tackle, who is a physical specimen on the outside. Weight issues aside, Proctor has shown he is capable of shedding down while maintaining his strength and power, finishing in the top 10 for offensive tackles in Combine Athleticism Score and in Production Score.

With the Lions enamored by Proctor, it will be interesting to see how they handle the draft. Especially if offensive tackles start to go early, forcing the Lions to get aggressive and move up. If Proctor does slip between their fingers, then the Lions may elect to patch their need at EDGE, giving Aidan Hutchinson the support he needs to help pull defensive attention away from him.

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