NFL Insider Jordan Schultz says NFL teams are expecting the 2026 NFL Draft to be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory, with defensive players expected to be the trade targets.
2026 NFL Draft Expected To See A Flurry of Trades
The 2026 NFL Draft is two weeks away, and with all the draft prep done and most draft boards organized, NFL teams are starting to gather intel on draft day trades. Because the 2026 draft isn’t quarterback-driven, it will likely lead to a multitude of trades for defensive players. After speaking with multiple team executives, NFL insider Jordan Schultz believes there will be a lot of trades in the draft, particularly in the first half of round one.
The expectation among many NFL teams is that the 2026 draft will be one of the more trade-heavy drafts in recent memory, according to multiple league sources.
Specifically, on the defensive side of the ball — EDGE, CB and LB are all strong/deep — while WR is typically… pic.twitter.com/NhNQJiM91T
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 8, 2026
It will be interesting to see what players are specifically being targeted in the first half of the first round. A player like safety Caleb Downs comes to mind as someone teams could be circling for a trade. Downs is viewed as one of the top players in this class, but due to him being a safety, it’s likely Downs could slide in the first round due to positional value. Downs could go anywhere from 5-15 if he falls out of the top ten, a team will for sure trade up for him.
Other Notable Prospects NFL Teams Could Trade For
Edge Rueben Bain Jr. is one of the more polarizing players in the entire draft. Bain is arguably the top pass rusher in the draft, but due to his measurables, most notably short arms, there has been mystery around his draft stock. Bain could go number two overall or could fall out of the top ten, in which case teams would eye a trade up for him.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy is also a wild card and could be a notable trade target in the first half of the NFL draft. McCoy is considered the best corner in his class, but due to injury concerns, pinpointing his draft slot in the first round is difficult. After tearing his ACL at the top of 2025, McCoy missed the whole season, choosing to sit out and enter the NFL draft after a stellar 2024 season. Teams will be keeping tabs on how far McCoy could potentially fall.
Linebacker Sonny Styles is an elite prospect and considered the best and most athletic linebacker in the draft. Styles is a top-five prospect, but seldom do off-ball linebackers go in the top five of the draft, with Devin White being the last one in 2019. However, teams will push hard to get into the top five or six, if they can, to try to land Styles.
Teams that could be the most aggressive in looking to trade
The Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets all own multiple first-round picks in this draft. The Dolphins specifically have eight picks in the top 100. Look for a team like Miami to be aggressive in the first round while also keeping an eye on Jerry Jones in Dallas, who could be looking to wheel and deal with the draft capital they have. The Philadelphia Eagles are another team that’s never been afraid to be aggressive with trades, so they are another team to watch as well.
