Ten NFL veteran moves that should be made after the 2023 NFL Draft: Trey Lance to the Vikings, Dalvin Cook to the Bills

After three days and 259 picks, the 2023 NFL Draft is officially over. But that doesn’t mean the teams are done moving as we progress through the offseason. In fact, completing the draft can only speed up the next steps for veterans still in free agency or on the trading block, as teams seek last-minute reinforcements in positions that need them.

With that in mind, here are 10 moves that might make sense now that the draft is in the books:

To be clear, we don’t really think the 49ers should sell such a gifted quarterback just two years after drafting him No. 3 overall. Brock Purdy was a heroic 2022 rookie, but he also just suffered a serious injury, and let’s not forget he only finished Seven starts in the NFL. That said, everything indicates that San Francisco is already mad at Lance after two injury-riddled seasons. If they’re really against using it, the Vikings make perfect sense in the world as their next destination. Not only are they playing in Lance’s home state, but they’re ready to step into the QB market with Kirk Cousins ​​entering a contract year and forward-thinking general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah potentially considering a more dynamic successor. The Vikings using a fifth-rounder on BYU’s Jaren Hall hardly changes the equation and only underscores Minnesota’s interest in extending the position.

Not quite unlike Lance, Willis doesn’t really deserve to be exiled from the team that just drafted him. But a year after spending a third round to land him, the Titans obviously moved on, spending the No. 33 pick this year on Will Levis, another athletic but erratic challenger for Ryan Tannehill. The Cardinals, on the other hand, already have a young starter in Kyler Murray, but he may not be ready to start 2023 due to injury, leaving only a host of aging reserves – Colt McCoy, Jeff Driskel, David Blough – to hold the fort. New coach Jonathan Gannon has seen Jalen Hurts become a double threat in Philadelphia, and he might be willing to take a flyer on Willis as a developmental draft behind Murray.

The Vikings have essentially already announced their quick but costly return, and spending a late pick on DeWayne McBride, a potential power complement to re-signed Alexander Mattison, could help pull them apart. Buffalo’s AFC East rivals the Dolphins have been more heavily linked with Miami native Cook, but they’ve just passed a third round on Devon Achane and have already re-signed Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson. The Bills, on the other hand, could take any opportunity to bolster an already explosive offense in their hunt to remain the division leaders. They’ve signed ex-Patriots Damien Harris, but he’s hardly a guarantee of staying on the pitch or playing a starring role. And while Cook’s brother James may be able to handle a full-time job, he could instead share the backfield with his brother if it means improving their Super Bowl chances.

The Bills could probably use Hopkins more, with Gabriel Davis under some pressure to become No. 2 against Stefon Diggs. But the Chiefs’ best offseason investment in wide receiver — second-rounder Rashee Rice — isn’t the technically sound possession goal that Hopkins hit at full speed. Kansas City is more than capable of staying cheap in this spot, leaving Patrick Mahomes to lean on Travis Kelce and elevate anyone they deploy. But when you’re in a perpetual Super Bowl window, you also take big swings, and Hopkins has previously suggested he’d agree to move to Arrowhead. The Cardinals could certainly keep the veteran for returning Kyler Murray, but they would surely prefer to get a decent draft pick for the pricey wide receiver while they can.

Philadelphia has stocked both rookies and veterans on draft weekend before, but Howie Roseman has never encountered a low-risk, high-reward trade he won’t accept. Hamler is relatively redundant in Denver after the Broncos traded to draft the smaller but faster Marvin Mims Jr. in the second, and the Eagles could afford to add some on-court competition for Quez Watkins. They also signed former Falcons WR Olamide Zaccheaus, but he projects more as a No. 3/4 possession goal.

Houston took care of business early in the draft, adding its quarterback and passer of the future. The next step is to upgrade CJ Stroud’s protection and weapons. Laremy Tunsil gives the Texans a highly paid and mostly reliable left tackle, but this team could always use reinforcements on the inside. Risner, meanwhile, remains unsigned after four solid, if unspectacular, seasons with the Broncos. Even as a summer guarding competition, it would be worth it.

Washington won Ohio State’s famed No. 2 passer in 2020, and he proved through a series of injuries that he could be a towering starter. But the Commanders are already paying top dollar to fellow D linemen Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, with Montez Sweat on deck next. After turning down Young’s fifth-year option, they might just look to sell him as a big-name recovery draft while focusing on a high school rebuild — and the inevitable future pursuit of a QB. The Bears, meanwhile, are still flush with cap space and committed to restocking their own front. Despite signing former Titans starter DeMarcus Walker, they could still use a peak presence of elite traits to get in front of their lucrative new linebacking corps.

Detroit added significant plays on both sides of the ball in a bizarre but productive draft; LB Jack Campbell and S Brian Branch should only bring more physicality to a rising defense. The one area they didn’t address, however, was the pass rusher, where Aidan Hutchinson could use a top running mate. John Cominsky flashed at the end of 2022, but Clark, who is still unsigned after a caper exit from the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs, could be a more experienced addition, especially come playoff time. As a bonus, the former Pro Bowler entered the NFL from Michigan, giving him a connection to his hometown.

Los Angeles didn’t approach the D line until the sixth round of the draft, and if the team is serious about pulling out of the AFC West, they could use more reinforcements there. Ford, who has spent the past five seasons with the Seahawks, isn’t necessarily a game-breaker, but he’s an enduring, gap-filling veteran who could bolster his current lineup at a reasonable price.

Baltimore just said goodbye to an aging cover man in Marcus Peters, who still hasn’t signed, so maybe the team won’t be in a rush to trade for Fuller, who has found mixed results as a that leaving well paid for commanders. But the Ravens didn’t hit position until the fifth round of the draft and could still use help from Marlon Humphrey as they look to win now in the AFC North. Fuller, 28, could be a victim of the cap in Washington, where Ron Rivera and Co. just passed a first round over Emmanuel Forbes and gradually injected more youth into the secondary.