5 teams that would be wise to trade up in the NFL Draft

While everybody and their brother expects the Los Angeles Chargers to trade up from No. 6 and into the top five because quarterbacks, keep an eye on their division rival lying low in the weeds with a pair of first-round picks. Though it may not be for a franchise quarterback because they signed Marcus Mariota in free agency, the Las Vegas Raiders have reasons to potentially trade up.

The 2020 NFL Draft was supposed to be all about Las Vegas. The NFL was in the Sin City for the first time with the Silver and Black as Southern Nevada’s beloved franchise. But with the draft being virtual, the Raiders have lost a bit of their luster in their first year in their new city. A trade up into the top 10 would be fascinating, but not all that surprising.

The Raiders have two first-round picks this year, their own at No. 12 and the Chicago Bears’ at No. 19 from the Khalil Mack trade. If they stand pat, the Raiders will have five first-round picks in the last two drafts with three a year ago. Given that owner Mark Davis is rarely swimming in cash, why would he put general manager Mike Mayock in a difficult spot in the coming years financially?

In short, the Raiders won’t be able to re-sign all five former first-rounds from the 2019 and 2020 NFL Drafts. Frankly, no team would be able to do that. By combing the No. 12 and No. 19 overall picks, the Raiders can move up and get the undoubted best wide receiver in this draft. They should be able to get Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb or whoever they want.