Which NFL teams could Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos trade up with in the draft to get a quarterback?

It takes two to tango.

“I think it’s realistic,” Sean Payton said, when asked if it’s realistic that the Denver Broncos trade up in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. “It’s realistic. What’s hard to predict, though, is what’s on the receiving end? I think it’s good to be [Cardinals General Manager] Monti [Ossenfort] today at Arizona. It’s hard to predict what the cost is and yet, I certainly wouldn’t say that it’s unrealistic. We will pay close attention to it.”

Regardless of the rumors, reports, buzz or whatever speculation is out there that Payton and the team want to trade up in the 2024 NFL Draft for a quarterback, there has to be a team willing to make a deal with Denver in order for that to happen.

How many of the teams in front of the Broncos would be willing to move back in a deal with the Broncos? What would the asking price be for the No. 2 overall pick? How would that compare to, say, the ninth-overall pick?

Here’s a deep dive on just how many, and which, spots would potentially be available for the Broncos if they do, in fact, try to move up in the draft for a quarterback.

Draft order

No. 1 — Chicago Bears (Via Carolina Panthers)

• Current QBs on Bears’ roster
  • Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien
• Would team consider trading back with Denver?
  • Nearly impossible
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • Three first-round picks plus additional picks and likely a top player or two

It’s a lock that Caleb Williams will be the first-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After the Bears traded Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers it became a near lock that Chicago will be the one making that pick.

For any team to persuade Chicago to trade that pick, they would have to offer the biggest haul in NFL history. Even that might not get it done.

No. 2 — Washington Commanders

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Marcus Mariota, Jake Fromm
• Would team consider trading back with Denver?
  • Extremely unlikely
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • Three first-round picks plus additional picks and potentially a top player

The price wouldn’t be as rich as trading to No. 1 because the team making the trade wouldn’t be getting Caleb Williams. But it would still be very expensive for the Broncos to move up 11 spots.

However, this is even less of an option than the No. 1 overall pick since the Commanders desperately need a quarterback. The only way they trade this pick is if they are given an offer they simply can’t refuse.

No. 3 — New England Patriots

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Jacoby Brissett, Bailey Zappe, Nathan Rourke
• Would team consider trading back with Denver
  • Very unlikely
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • Nearly the same cost for No. 2 — Three first-round picks and potentially a top player

This might actually be as difficult as trading for the No. 2 overall pick. Within days of the Patriots naming Jerod Mayo as their next head coach, he all but said the team will draft a quarterback with this pick.

If that’s the case, then there’s no chance they would drop back nine spots and pass up on landing Jayden Daniels, J.J. McCarthy or Drake Maye.

No. 4 — Arizona Cardinals

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Kyler Murray, Desmond Ridder, Clayton Tune
• Would team consider trading back with Denver
  • Possible, but for a haul
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • Multiple first-round picks plus additional picks/players

As Sean Payton said at the NFL Annual League Meeting on Mar. 25, it’s good to be the Cardinals’ general manager right now.

If three quarterbacks go with the first three picks, the Cardinals will have an opportunity to land a generational receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr. or auction off the pick for a team looking to snag the fourth quarterback in the draft.

With many believing there is a big drop-off in quarterbacks after the top four, this could be a very valuable pick.

No. 5 — Los Angeles Chargers

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Justin Herbert, Easton Stick, Max Duggan
• Would team consider trading back with Denver
  • Extremely unlikely
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • Multiple first-round picks plus a sweetener to trade with a division opponent

Why would the Chargers help their division rival get a quarterback? Only if Denver significantly overpaid in a trade. According to draft value charts, the Broncos would have to trade No. 12 and likely a future first-round pick for this spot. The Chargers could ask for even more.

No. 6 — New York Giants

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito
• Would team consider trading back with Denver
  • Yes, if they don’t want a quarterback
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • No. 12 and 2025 second plus likely an additional third

If the Broncos want to make a jump, this is the sweet spot taking into consideration cost and other team’s willingness to move back.

The only issue is if the Giants want to draft a quarterback. That seems to be gaining momentum the closer the draft gets.

If they decide to trade the pick, it could become a bidding war with the Vikings also wanting to trade up.

No. 7 — Tennessee Titans

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Will Levis, Mason Rudolph, Malik Willis
• Would team consider trading back with Denver?
  • Yes
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • No. 12 and 2025 second plus potentially a Day 3 pick

Will Levis appears to be the Titans’ plan at quarterback… unless new offensive-minded head coach Brian Callahan wants to take the fourth or five quarterback in the draft here. Denver could likely move up to this spot at an affordable price.

No. 8 — Atlanta Falcons

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Kirk Cousins, Taylor Heinicke
• Would team consider trading back with Denver?
  • Yes
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • No. 12 plus 2025 second or No. 12 plus 2024 third and fourth

After signing Kirk Cousins to a whopping four-year, $180 million contract, the eighth pick in the draft is up for grabs if a team wants to make a jump up.

No. 9 — Chicago Bears

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Tyson Bagent, Brett Rypien
• Would team consider trading back with Denver?
  • Yes
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • No. 12 and 2024 third

This would be the spot where Denver could make a slight jump up to grab Payton’s guy at quarterback, even if it’s Nix or Penix, just to ensure the Broncos land him. This move would not break the bank either.

No. 10 — New York Jets

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor, Zach Wilson
• Would team consider trading back with Denver?
  • Sure?
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • No. 12 and 2025 third

This is the same scenario for the Broncos as the No. 9 pick. If their guy is there and they get a feeling another team might jump up to get him, then making a slight move up would make sense.

No. 11 — Minnesota Vikings

• Current QBs on team’s roster
  • Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall
• Would team consider trading back with Denver?
  • Potentially…
• Estimated cost for Broncos to trade up
  • No. 12 and 2024 fourth

On the draft value chart, the Broncos giving the 12th pick and their own fourth-round pick would be a perfectly even trade to move up one spot.

But the Vikings appear to be competing with the Broncos to make a jump up in the draft for a quarterback. There’s a chance by the time this pick rolls around, the Vikings no longer own it.