With the 2025 NFL Draft just a month away, speculation is heating up about which teams might make some bold moves. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell thinks two teams in particular the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks should trade up to fix glaring issues on their rosters.
Seattle’s O-Line Woes
Seattle’s offensive line is in rough shape, and Barnwell sees a trade-up as a smart way to address it. The Seahawks have five top-100 picks thanks to the Geno Smith and DK Metcalf trades, so they have the ammo to move up the board. But will GM John Schneider actually do it?
Historically, Schneider prefers trading down to collect more picks rather than making aggressive moves up. Since 2011, he’s traded down 17 times and moved up just nine. But with a desperate need for O-line help, Barnwell thinks this might be the year he shifts gears.
“If there’s an offensive lineman he loves in the first three rounds, he might need to consolidate picks and get guys who can immediately step into the lineup,” Barnwell wrote.
Detroit Needs a Pass-Rushing Partner for Hutchinson
Barnwell also sees a trade-up as a perfect move for the Lions, who still haven’t found a true No. 2 edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson.
Detroit brought back Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad in free agency, but let’s be real they’re more rotational guys than long-term solutions. Barnwell suggests the Lions could jump from No. 28 into the middle of the first round to grab an edge rusher like Mike Green (Marshall) or Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M).
“With Hutchinson now eligible for what will surely be a significant contract extension, this might be the time for Detroit to take a bigger swing,” Barnwell argued.
The Lions already traded up a few spots last year to land Terrion Arnold in the 2024 draft. Could they pull off another draft-day move this April? Stay tuned.
Pressure Mounts: Lions, Seahawks Advised to Climb the Draft Ladder
