2026 NFL Draft: Teams Most Likely to Trade Picks

We’re just days away from the 2026 NFL Draft, and something we hear a lot about is draft trades, whether that’s moving up or moving down. In theory, teams would love to move down and acquire more assets for more dart throws at the dart board.

Of course, when it comes to any trade, it takes two to tango. Below are four teams that could be in the market to trade draft picks for the 2026 NFL Draft.

2026 NFL Draft: Teams Most Likely to Trade Picks

Kansas City Chiefs

According to Johnny Venerable of PHNX, the Chiefs have been in talks with the Arizona Cardinals about a move up to No. 3 overall.

If the Chiefs made that massive a move, it would likely be to acquire either David Bailey or Arvell Reese, whichever player the New York Jets don’t draft. It could also be to leapfrog the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants to get Carnell Tate to pair with Rashee Rice, a player Rice has said he’d like to have on the team.

However, I foresee other scenarios as well, including trading up with either the Titans or the Giants. Yes, the Giants also pick at No. 10 right now, but they could trade down to No. 9 overall, potentially get No. 29 or the Chiefs’ second-round pick, and have even more assets to add talent.

Either way, it appears the Chiefs, who have four picks inside the top 74, want to make some noise.

Arizona Cardinals

As mentioned above, the Cardinals are in talks to trade the No. 3 pick, and this is a slot that, for months, was an obvious trade-down spot. Sure, they could use Arvell Reese or David Bailey, but it’s not a massively pressing need. They need a right tackle, and they could get one by trading down.

The Cardinals are an excellent candidate to make the move of trading back into the first round later to draft Ty Simpson, so they can secure his fifth-year option.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have the most picks of any team in the NFL Draft with 12 selections, including five inside the top 100. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers may or may not come back. If he does, he may only play for another year. I could see a scenario where the Steelers decide to trade up using picks from this draft to add players around Rodgers and make a push for a Super Bowl run.

Conversely, it also wouldn’t surprise me if they went in the other direction and unloaded assets for the 2027 draft class, where they could be in the market for a quarterback if Rodgers retires after the 2026-27 season.

Seattle Seahawks

Coming off a Super Bowl win, the Seahawks don’t really have any needs, and they have just four picks. The good news is that three of those picks are inside the top 100.

However, even though there are no apparent needs right now, it never hurts to trade down and get a few more picks. They’ve had plenty of success with Day 2 defensive backs like Nick Emmanwori. They could also add some more assets to the defensive line and the interior offensive line.

Trading down from pick No. 32 makes sense.