The Tennessee Titans shocked the NFL world in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft by trading star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brown would go on to play an integral role in the Eagles winning the NFC.
Could any big-name veterans potentially be on the move Thursday in round one of the 2023 NFL draft?
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports speculates 13 big names that could be on the move. Yes, Washington defensive Chase Young is mentioned. Here’s Benjamin’s thoughts on a potential Young trade:
Young seemed like he was going to be a cornerstone player for the Commanders when he was taken No. 2 overall out of Ohio State and then made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Injuries have dogged him since then, though, and Washington declined to pick up his fifth-year option. Might another team be willing to give up something of value and hope it can tap into his immense upside?
It’s difficult to imagine Washington trading Young. His value is at an all-time low, and anything the Commanders could fetch in return would be less valuable than what Young can potentially give them in 2023.
Benjamin mentioned another possibility involving the Commanders. Cardinals safety Budda Baker recently requested a trade; therefore, Benjamin named him a possible trade candidate, naming the Commanders as a logical landing spot:
Baker requested a trade out of Arizona earlier this offseason, and given the position that roster is in, it might make sense for the team to grant him his way and begin to restock its cupboard of draft picks. A high-impact secondary player who plays much bigger than his size (5-10, 195 pounds), Baker has also shown himself to be highly durable, missing only five games in six seasons. He carries base salaries of $13.1 million and $14.2 million over the next two years, and he should be able to maintain a high level of play even beyond that, as 2024 is only his age-28 season.
Logical landing spots: Eagles, Patriots, Colts, Commanders
Baker is a fantastic player who would make Washington’s defense better, but the Commanders aren’t trading for him.
If Washington makes a trade Thursday, it’s likely to move back later in the first round.