The 2025 NFL Draft is just one day away, and excitement is building across the league. Thursday night marks the beginning of what many are calling one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory. The usual pre-draft certainty is nowhere to be found, especially in the first round, where there is no clear consensus on what most teams plan to do.
Uncertainty and Trade Possibilities
The biggest storyline heading into round one is the mystery surrounding potential trades. Will teams stay put, or will there be movement up and down the board? According to FOX Sports NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, several teams are actively exploring trade-down options, but they’re running into a major issue—there simply aren’t many willing trade partners.
This year’s draft class is considered weaker than usual, particularly at the top, which is affecting the trade market. Schultz reports that the lack of elite talent has made it more affordable than usual for teams interested in trading up. In his words, “The current offers are 70 cents on the dollar.”
A Buyer’s Market for Trades?
That quote paints a clear picture: the cost to move up the board is lower than in previous years. For teams like the Bears, who have extra draft capital and a front office willing to be aggressive, this could be a golden opportunity.
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Call me crazy (but don't call me late to the draft), #Bears GM Ryan Poles sounds like he's trading up! How do you read this? pic.twitter.com/TzQXV9yN8f
— Barroom Net | Aldo Gandia (@BarroomNetwork) April 22, 2025
“The current offers are 70 cents on the dollar.”
Jordan Schultz on the 2025 NFL Draft trade market
If General Manager Ryan Poles has a specific target in mind—say, superstar Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty—this might be the perfect year to make a move. Could the Bears leapfrog a team like the Las Vegas Raiders at pick No. 6? It’s certainly possible.
Expect the Unexpected
Poles himself added fuel to the fire earlier this week when he told reporters that he believes this year’s draft could be “a little wild” and predicted “a lot more movement than there has been in the past.” With no sure bets and teams playing things close to the vest, round one promises to deliver surprises.
In short, anything can happen Thursday night—and if you’re a Bears fan, or just a fan of the chaos that draft night can bring, you won’t want to miss a second.
