As draft preparation enters its final week, dialogue between teams will increase with respect to trades in the first-round order. In the case of the Chargers, that could see the No. 5 selection changing hands. 
First-year general manager Joe Hortiz made it clear last month he is open to making a deal with teams interested in moving up the order, presumably to acquire a quarterback. The top three teams on the board – Bears, Commanders, Patriots – are each positioned to remain in place and add a passer in lieu of moving down. That leaves the Cardinals as a key player, as they own the fourth overall pick and have stated a willingness to trade back.
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That does not mean Arizona is locked into a trade-down scenario, of course, but a team like the Giants, Vikings, Raiders or Broncos moving into the that spot would lead to QBs coming off the board with each of the first four selections. Multiple general managers around the league believe that will indeed be the case, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports. In that event, the Chargers’ pick would represent the top of the order for all other positions.
“If four quarterbacks go, we believe strongly we have the first pick,” Hortiz said (via the team’s website). “So, what are teams willing to give us? Now, we know it’s the fifth pick and teams are going to be trading on that scope, but it’s got to be a value for us. Do we have to be blown away? What is blown away? I don’t know the answer to that.”
Los Angeles could certainly command a considerable haul for the fifth selection, although the value would of course decrease considerably if a team moving up the order would be doing so after the top four passers already came off the board. Even if the Cardinals were to remain in place (and, quite possibly, select Marvin Harrison Jr.), the Bolts would also be in position to add a high-profile receiver such as Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze. Doing so would fill a notable roster hole, and as such a premium offer would be required to convince the team to trade back.
“There’s certainly, ‘It’s too good of a deal’, in terms of what you’re getting back,” Hortiz added. “They have to make it attractive to us for us to move away from those players [available at No. 5]. The whole, ‘It’s a fair trade, it’s a wash’. I don’t think that’s a trade we’re interested in.”
To little surprise, Hortiz also confirmed trade talks have taken place with teams interested in moving up, though those conversations have been preliminary to date. Interest will heat up in the coming days over negotiations with not only the Chargers, but also the Patriots and Giants. Their decisions – and those of the Cardinals – will be key factors in determining whether or not Los Angeles remains in place or adds notable draft capital for 2024.
How about an article about who’s NOT talking about a draft trade right now?
Every team is “fielding calls” and is “open for business” all the time.
If you have 5 dollars and someone offers you 10 dollars for those 5 dollars do you do the trade? Tough choice right, this article brought to light issues none of us could even conceive, I was frankly flabbergasted that this gm said he would trade his pick if the offer was really good, I thought he would only trade it for bad offers
Trading 5 dollars for 10 dollars seems like a great deal until you discover the 10 dollar bill was a counterfeit.
I think Hortiz is in over his head and he will not make it past year 3.
Yeah, 25 years in one of the best run organizations in football doesn’t bode well.
Never as a GM though and as ‘just a voice’ to another Hardi boy with ultimate power.
He was their director of college scouting for a decade before becoming director of pro personnel. He might not turn out to be a great GM, but he was an extremely qualified candidate and there’s zero reason to think he’s in over his head.
JO.2. If you watched any of his interviews you would change your mind. Who was a gm before that was available, belicheck. That’s usually how it goes when hire a gm it’s a new hire.
I’ll read any rumor about draft trades, but this is a bit of a nothing-burger. LAC is mostly likely to trade down since they could conceivably pick up Bower with a later pick.
And of course there would need to be some excess value if they move back.
IMHO, a more interesting story is what the Cards will do. I think they are desperate for a WR to see if Murray is a real QB or not. But if they move back, then the Chargers is simply a #5 and nothing more.
@joebrady think the cardinals will draft Marvin Harrison trying to drive the price up. If they get the #11 and #23 they might be able to Get bowers or odunze at #11. Would be a start they need as many picks as they can get.
Wouldn’t be shocked if they tried to replicate last year by trading down and then trading back up to secure one of the top three receivers.
I think chargers trade back with Minny for # 11 and # 23.
I’ve been a strong proponent of them moving #11, say Philly for # 22 and a 2nd (#50) for instance.
They can double up 1st round picks and double up 2nd round picks.
Walking away with 2 WRs, a RT, and C in rounds 1 and 2 would be ideal.
For instance
# 22 I’d take OT Guyton or Fautanu
# 23 I’d take Barton out of Duke or the C from Oregon
# 37 I’d take McConkey or Legette or Adoni Mitchell
# 50 I’d take Roman Wilson, Pearsal, Polk
I don’t think any of the QB’s that will be available after the first 3 picks will be worth what the Cards and Chargers will ask for their pick. The 2nd tier of QB’s, along with pretty much any other available players are not worth multiple 1st’s + more picks that I am sure will be the asking price.
Plenty of strong picks available after the first 10, and let’s be honest, all of the teams looking for a QB have plenty of other holes to fill/upgrade.
Then again teams do silly maneuvers every draft hoping their picks or trades exceed expectations. Besides these PFR writers have to post articles that spurn responses from peoples like us – hoping our teams get it right THIS draft, yet acknowledging they’re usually 25-30% correct……at best
@bowserhound hortiz is just saying we aren’t taking a fair trade. They probably will take the deal with the vikings, just bluffing. Someone will come up to get the 4th qb.Teams will be lowballing the cardinals. If cardinals make the trade chargers get Harrison Jr. I agree probably a move that will get a gm fired, but it happens every year.
They think they can get Marvin at 5. Would be cool. Been the move the whole time.
Unless they want to start building the O.L., which, with their staff, is a possibility. If they are, a trade down makes perfect sense.
So many teams seem to want to trade down in a deep draft this year that it feels as if they’ve lowered the collective price so much that only one or two teams will pull off the overpay that the sellers really want. They may have unintentionally set the market such that it won’t be worth it.
To be clear, I don’t think Harrison would be a bad pick for the Chargers. They could still probably get a decent line prospect after, too. I could see them going the other way, though.
The Chargers defense needs a major overhaul and since there isn’t an Aaron Donald or J.J Watt for the taking, they would be better off trading back for the draft capital.
Murphy is around 10-15 haven’t heard anyone really talk about him besides first dt taken off the board. I believe hortiz when he says he will take bpa because there’s so many holes he can do that the whole draft.