Ranking the 6 NFL teams that should be calling the Cardinals about a trade for the No. 3 pick

When the Chicago Bears sold off the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, they also sold off the top bargaining position.

That placing now belongs to the Arizona Cardinals, who own the No. 3 overall pick. Given that Arizona doesn’t need or want a quarterback to replace Kyler Murray (why would it want someone almost exactly like him?), it stands in a fortuitous place of a trade-down for more assets in a rebuild.

Barring something unprecedented happening between now and the onset of the draft, it seems that will be the Cardinals’ plan — a lucrative trade-down.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Arizona is already fielding calls from prospective teams looking to move and theoretically draft a young quarterback of the future. In fact, at least six teams have already made contact:

At least six teams have inquired with the Arizona Cardinals about trading up for the third overall pick in the upcoming April 27 NFL Draft, per league sources. Cardinals still are mulling whether to move pick or make it.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 10, 2023

I get it.

With someone like C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, or even Bryce Young available, you want to be the lucky team that gets to make that call. For many, there’s probably a steep drop-off after this trio (no offense, Will Levis and Hendon Hooker.).

But who are the NFL squads giving the Cardinals a ring about the No. 3 pick’s availability? And for whom does a trade-up make the most sense? Let’s rank six potential squads that should definitely have Arizona general manager Monti Ossenfort’s phone number on speed dial.

All trade value expenses courtesy of the Fitzgerald-Spielberger NFL Draft Trade Value Chart on Over The Cap.