Carlton will consider trading their first-round draft pick in the 2017 National Draft, but only if the club can get some "elite youth" in return.
The Blues are likely to finish with a top three selection, as they currently sit 17th on the AFL ladder with just four matches to go.
Club CEO Steven Trigg told AFL.com.au the Blues would also look for mature midfielders who can help the likes of Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs, although they would pursue those players separately to the draft.
"We do need to go to the draft again but we do need at the same time to find just a bit more maturity when we're tested for depth, particularly in the midfield at the moment – and that's the balancing act we've got to get right in this upcoming draft and exchange period," Trigg said.
"If the season stopped today and we have pick No.2 I can't see too many circumstances under which we would move that, unless it was for absolutely elite youth.
"Thereafter, we're contemplating getting that balance right."
Carlton are reportedly in the race for GWS young gun Josh Kelly, who would certainly be a member of the "elite youth" group Trigg is talking about when referring to the number two pick.
With Kelly just out of contract with the Giants and not a free agent, the Blues will likely need to trade for the 22-year-old, and GWS would surely be after their first-round selection.
Despite a bottom-three finish looming, the Blues have impressed for the majority of 2017, and won five of their first 12 games before injuries took their toll.
They've slowed down to lose their past six matches, but have lost key members of their side including Patrick Cripps, Ed Curnow and Sam Rowe over the past month.
"At the moment with a dozen or so injuries we're being tested depth-wise, particularly in the midfield," Trigg told the AFL webiste.
"We've got a young group that is challenged by the week-to-week grind and it's only going to be better for it, but that just doesn't quite manifest on the scoreboard.
"Right at the moment with Cripps and Ed Curnow out, our two experienced midfielders have had to carry a really, really heavy load. We just have to find some more support for them with mature talent in the exchange period."
