NFL Draft Rumors: Cardinals, Chargers Expected to Trade Down amid MHJ, Nabers Buzz

As next week's 2024 NFL draft approaches, there is buzz that the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers could look to trade down from the Nos. 4 and 5 overall picks, respectively.

ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday on SportsCenter that both the Cards and Bolts have interest in trading down, although it is possible only L.A. pulls the trigger on a deal:

"Chargers and Cardinals are trying to sell high; high interest rate. Most teams I've talked to expect one of these two teams to trade back and it might be more momentum with the Chargers right now because they have a lot of needs trying to re-establish an identity under [new head coach] Jim Harbaugh. So, they're looking to potentially move out. I've talked to teams who say they very much want to move out, maybe get an offensive lineman or a wide receiver later in the top 10-12 somewhere.

"The Cardinals still a threat there as well, but they could stay put. Some teams I've talked to believe they might just stay and take [Ohio State's] Marvin Harrison [Jr.], who's considered widely the best wide receiver in the draft. But you've got [LSU's] Malik Nabers, you've got [Washington's] Rome Odunze, all could go top 10, and both of these teams could end up with a wide receiver by the end of it."

Assuming quarterbacks go with the first three picks in the draft as is widely expected, the Nos. 4 and 5 picks could become coveted for teams looking to move up in order to select either one of the top wideouts in the draft or the best remaining quarterback, which figures to be Michigan's J.J. McCarthy or North Carolina's Drake Maye.

With Arizona committed to quarterback Kyler Murray moving forward, it has no need for a quarterback at fourth overall, although it could do Murray a huge favor by selecting a wideout.

The Cardinals lost Marquise "Hollywood" Brown to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, and their top returning wide receiver is Michael Wilson, who had just 565 yards last season.

Because of that, it is difficult to envision the Cards passing on the opportunity to add an elite weapon for Murray in the form of Harrison at fourth overall.

While Arizona could conceivably trade down and still end up with one of Nabers or Odunze, the most quarterback-needy teams are picking outside the top 10 in the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, and trading down that far would very likely cause the Cardinals to miss out on all of the top three wideouts.

Because of that, a trade down seemingly makes more sense for the Chargers, who are reshaping their roster in the wake of hiring Harbaugh away from the University of Michigan to be their new head coach.

Los Angeles has already made a ton of changes on offense, trading wide receiver Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears, releasing wide receiver Mike Williams and allowing running back Austin Ekeler to sign with the Washington Commanders in free agency.

Should the Chargers stay at No. 5, their top options would likely be an offensive tackle to bookend left tackle Rashawn Slater, or wide receiver to serve as quarterback Justin Herbert's new No. 1 target.

Since the Chargers already used a first-round pick on a wideout in Quentin Johnston last year, it is possible they would rather invest their early draft assets elsewhere.

It may be difficult to turn down taking Nabers or top-rated offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5, but if the Chargers trade down into the 11-to-13 range, there is still a solid chance they could land one of the draft's best tackles, such as Washington's Troy Fautanu or Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu.

Perhaps most importantly, the Chargers would bring in additional draft capital, which would allow them to bolster a roster that had to be torn down to some degree this offseason due to salary cap issues.