Which teams should trade up in the 1st round?
It's become a time-honored tradition for multiple trades to occur during the first round of the NFL draft.
The allure of certain prospects often compels general managers to package multiple assets to move up the board, while teams looking to secure as much draft capital as possible astutely try to descend down the order.
This year shouldn't be any different. Here are the teams that ought to trade up during the first round of the upcoming draft:
Carolina Panthers
Carolina's regression from a 15-1 campaign in 2015 to a 6-10 mark in 2016 was arguably the NFL's most shocking development last year. The Panthers still boast one of the most talented rosters in the league, though. Cam Newton is expected to play at a level that more closely resembles his 2015 MVP campaign than last year's dropoff, while Luke Kuechly, arguably the most intelligent linebacker in the league, will return after missing three games due to a concussion. The sum of the team's parts would indicate they should be in the running for another Super Bowl berth.
With Newton, Kuechly, Kawann Short, Trai Turner, and Kelvin Benjamin all in the middle of their primes, the Panthers should take the opportunity to move up from No. 8 to draft a transcendent rookie who could lift the Panthers past their NFC rivals.
Cincinnati Bengals
Along with the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals hold a league-high 11 selections at this year's draft, and can afford to take a risk. The Bengals are in a transitory state, and need to decide whether they're going to continue to be a genuine playoff contender after missing the postseason for the first time since 2010, or blow up the current nucleus.
If the Bengals opt to get the most out of their current roster, moving up from the No. 9 spot would represent a serious commitment to contending. They've lacked ambition in each of their first-round picks since taking A.J. Green fourth overall in the vaunted 2011 NFL Draft. If the team plans on catching up with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, now is the time to strike.
Cleveland Browns
It appears to be a foregone conclusion that the Browns will select Myles Garrett - the best edge-rushing talent to enter the draft since Jadeveon Clowney in 2014 - with the first overall pick. Cleveland will already gain an immediate contributor, and, boasting the No. 12 selection, with an NFL-best 11 total picks throughout the draft, the Browns could try to accelerate their rebuild by moving up the board and nabbing two potential superstars.
One school of thought believes the Browns should trade down to accumulate even more draft capital, and that could ring true on Day 2. Without a true franchise quarterback in this year's draft, Cleveland could move up from No. 12 if they believe there's another potential superstar on this board. In doing so, it could be a draft that could go down as one for the ages for Sashi Brown and his staff.
Seattle Seahawks
Recent history suggests the Seahawks are among the least likely teams to trade up during the first round. Seattle hasn't used its original first-round pick since taking Bruce Irvin with the 15th overall selection in 2012, and traded away its pick in 2013, while moving down in 2014 and 2015. General manager John Schneider takes pride in extracting value later in the draft, and trading up runs against his philosophy.
This year is different, however, with the Seahawks' Super Bowl window finally appearing to shrink. Richard Sherman has been the subject of rampant trade speculation, while Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor finally proved vulnerable to major injuries. Marshawn Lynch is long gone, while an abysmal offensive line threatens to put Russell Wilson at risk once again. Once viewed as the young, upstart darlings of the NFL, the Seahawks are among the grizzly, stoic veterans now, and moving up from the No. 26 spot to select an immediate game-changer could extend the team's opportunity to contend for a Super Bowl.