As thrilling because the NFL draft may be on TV, ready to see which gamers NFL groups will choose, there’s way more taking place behind the scenes.
General managers and their employees have spent months placing collectively their very own large boards and considering choices for every choice. But there’s at all times an opportunity a trade materializes, placing all of that on maintain.
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Trades typically contain future and present draft picks however there’s at all times an opportunity issues broaden to incorporate a participant. The Tennessee Titans dealt large receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles for the No. 18 total choose within the 2022 NFL Draft.
2026 NFL DRAFT: Cowboys, Jaguars lead teams likely to trade down, up
Since then, few notable strikes have been made for gamers throughout the draft. Tennessee used that No. 18 total choose for large receiver Treylon Burks who managed simply 17 begins in three years with the Titans earlier than spending the 2025 season with Washington.
Teams could also be hesitant to make a transfer like that off of a veteran after how issues performed out for Tennessee.
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Still, there’s an opportunity gamers are moved throughout the three days of the 2026 NFL Draft. In a category with expertise at large receiver as soon as once more, in addition to edge and linebacker, groups may make vital strikes as they add a brand new group of gifted gamers to their rosters.
Here are six gamers who could possibly be moved throughout the 2026 NFL Draft and the place they may find yourself:
2026 NFL Draft trade predictions
Philadelphia Eagles WR A.J. Brown
Feels like deja vu, doesn’t it? Brown was the high-profile trade piece moved on draft night time in 2022 and could possibly be as soon as once more 4 years later. The Eagles large receiver was vocally annoyed a number of instances in 2026 because the Eagles gained the NFC East however have been bounced by the San Francisco 49ers at residence within the wild-card spherical.
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Brown could possibly be searching for a brand new residence however groups gained’t be making that transfer with out some concern. He’s coming into his age-29 season and had his worst 12 months since 2021 with 1,003 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns in 2025. Still, at his greatest, he’s a top-10 large receiver within the NFL. He might not command a Round 1 choice because of his age and contract however a Day 2 choose is unquestionably in play.
The Patriots have a shocking quantity of draft capital for a group that simply made the Super Bowl and will provide a number of picks to the Eagles. Las Vegas doesn’t however may go for a confirmed wideout to present to presumptive No. 1 choose Fernando Mendoza as he will get on top of things within the NFL.
Philadelphia Eagles DT Jalen Carter
Philadelphia made the transfer to signal Jordan Davis long-term which all of a sudden opens up the chance that Jalen Carter could possibly be on the transfer. Unlike Brown, Carter is younger sufficient and dominant sufficient to command at the very least a first-round choose in return.
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When he’s on the sector, there are few extra impactful inside defensive linemen than Carter on a down-to-down foundation. This may merely be that the Eagles can’t preserve each Carter and Davis on the roster long-term with out compromising at different spots.
Miami is armed with extra top-100 picks than some other group within the NFL. They may half with one in every of their first-round picks and extra to get a foundational piece to kick-start a defensive rebuild in South Florida. It’d seemingly be powerful for Kansas City to pry Carter away from Philadelphia, given their Super Bowl historical past, however it’s exhausting to think about a greater successor for Chris Jones within the center for Kansas City.
San Francisco 49ers OT Trent Williams
Trent Williams is among the prime left tackles within the NFL however he and the 49ers appear far aside on specifics inside his contract. He’ll be 38 years outdated by Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Season and nearing the tip of his Hall of Fame profession. The 49ers would have a troublesome time shifting on from him but when the 2 sides can’t come to a consensus, there’s an opportunity he’d be on the transfer.
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Williams might demand a first-round choose regardless of his age because of the demand for top-tier left tackles.
These are two groups with win-now mentalities. The Vikings signed Kyler Murray as a result of they will’t watch for J.J. McCarthy to determine issues out as a starter. This protection is nice sufficient to win now and the ability place group is among the greatest within the league. Detroit has a giant query mark at left deal with with Taylor Decker gone. Rather than financial institution on constructing for the long run, the Lions may go for a win-now transfer to make sure they’re a contender within the NFC North once more.
Las Vegas Raiders Edge Maxx Crosby
Maxx Crosby seemed poised for a change in surroundings with a transfer to Baltimore from Las Vegas because the Raiders rebuild below coach Klint Kubiak. That finally wasn’t to be, however there’s an opportunity he nonetheless will get moved throughout the NFL draft if the value strikes sufficient for different groups to have an interest. He’ll nonetheless require at the very least a first-round choose and a number of Day 2 picks.
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Potential touchdown spots: Philadelphia, New England
The Eagles could possibly be an fascinating trade associate on this state of affairs. Could the Eagles take a big gamble and transfer off of Carter for Crosby and future draft capital? The Patriots have extra draft capital than most in 2026 and will bundle a part of that for Crosby to make sure they proceed to contend within the AFC East.
More: Why did the Ravens back out of Maxx Crosby trade?
San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk
Williams isn’t the one 2023 All-Pro San Francisco may transfer off from. Brandon Aiyuk didn’t play for the 49ers in any respect in 2025 and appears headed for an inevitable divorce from the group. Coach Kyle Shanahan stated on the league conferences that the group is in no rush to launch their former prime receiver and as a substitute is hoping to get one thing again for him in a trade.
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Aiyuk’s worth is hard to gauge. He hasn’t performed since his extreme knee damage in 2024 and who is aware of how shut he’s to his 2023 career-best kind. He’s coming into his age-28 season, so if he’s totally wholesome, he may nonetheless have a number of seasons left of productive play.
Aiyuk performed with Jayden Daniels in faculty at Arizona State and Commanders normal supervisor Adam Peters was in San Francisco when the group drafted him. Though they’ve restricted assets within the draft, the transfer feels seemingly. Indianapolis traded away Michael Pittman Jr. earlier this offseason and doesn’t have a first-round choose to construct up the place. Trading away a late or future Day 3 choose for a flyer on a former All-Pro could possibly be a worthwhile transfer.
Atlanta Falcons S Jessie Bates III
Jessie Bates is among the prime safeties within the NFL however performs for a Falcons group which may be taking a step again in 2026. Major query marks at quarterback and a brand new employees may pressure lowered expectations for a group that underperformed down the stretch in 2025.
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Bates is coming into his age-29 season and was a second-team All-Pro final 12 months. It’s a stable 12 months for safeties within the NFL draft however a group may resolve to get a confirmed veteran as a substitute in the event that they’re on a extra win-now timeline.
Philadelphia traded Sydney Brown to Atlanta; they may flip round and trade for Bates if one of many prime security skills doesn’t fall to them. The Eagles have a bounty of Day 2 picks they will seemingly transfer off of to safe a veteran at a place of want. Cincinnati is in win-now mode for Zac Taylor and firm. Bringing Bates again to the group he began his profession with could possibly be a prudent transfer to save lots of a protection that desperately must take a step ahead.
This article initially appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL Draft trade predictions: 6 players who could be on the move