5 Trades That Would Turn 2026 NFL Draft Upside Down

The first round of the 2027 NFL draft will inevitably look different on April 26 than it does today. Multiple trades will commence between now and when teams are officially on the clock.

At this point a year ago, the Cleveland Browns still held the second overall pick with questions about whether the team would select Shedeur Sanders. Once the draft began, the Browns traded out of the second overall pick—allowing the Jacksonville Jaguars to select Travis Hunter—moved down three spots, choose defensive tackle Mason Graham and still drafted Sanders when he inexplicably fell to the fifth round.

Draft-day trades are always part of the bargain when trying to predict the unpredictable. Player deals can happen days or even weeks before the event opens for business.

Bleacher Report will look at five possibilities where one or the other occurs and completely changes the complexion of the draft and the current NFL landscape, starting at the top of the class.

Las Vegas Raiders Pass on QB, Trade Out of Top Spot

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While unexpected, the Las Vegas Raiders could go through the predraft cycle and not be enamored with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who is the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft. If an organization doesn't buy in completely regarding a first-round quarterback, the front office should consider the possibility of going in another direction.

Since this year's QB class is viewed as a one-horse race, potential suitors for Mendoza's services should still be plentiful, with the Raiders gaining leverage to recoup a windfall of assets in return.

The New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and possibly even the Los Angeles Rams should jump at the chance to gain possession of the No. 1 overall pick and finally land their franchise quarterback.

Conversely, the Raiders will obtain at least two first-round selections (plus more) since each of the teams mentioned currently hold a pair of picks in this year's opening frame. The path forward all depends on how the Raiders prefer to build under the direction of new head coach Klint Kubiak.

Kubiak is currently serving as the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator, where his quarterback, Sam Darnold, was a failed first-round pick who bounced between teams before finding his footing with the Minnesota Vikings. He then signed with the Seahawks as a free agent. Maybe the Raiders consider a veteran option with remaining upside to take a similar path.

Still, Mendoza to the Raiders seems like a lock. At minimum, the move is the smartest approach considering the franchise's current circumstances. But the NFL draft has provided some weird twists and turns over the years. Even if this particular selection is a 99.9 percent possibility, there's still a chance something could change in the coming months, which would cause the class to look drastically different once the first pick is made.

Kansas City Chiefs Jump Ahead of New Orleans Saints for RB Jeremiyah Love

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The Bleacher Report Scouting Department considers Jeremiyah Love a top-three prospect regardless of position. Even at a devaluated position, Love has the potential to jumpstart an offense.

"Love is a dynamic and explosive running back, who possesses the skill set to be a complete weapon in an NFL offense," B/R scout Dame Parson wrote. "He combines home-run top-end speed with route-running and pass-catching ability to impact the offense in multiple ways."

As good as Love is, he's not expected to be a top-five draft pick because of positional value. He shouldn't fall out of the initial 10 selections, though. The New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs own back-to-back picks at the eighth and ninth slots.

Love could be an ideal addition for the Saints to build around quarterback Tyler Shough, who is coming off an outstanding rookie season. The talented running back can give New Orleans an offensive focal point and take pressure of the passing game after finishing among the league's bottom five in rushing offense. Love can also serve as a weapon in the passing game, as Alvin Kamara has for years.

The veteran back turns 31 later this year and owns an $18.6 million salary-cap charge in 2026, which can be lessened by $8.5 million with a June 1 release designation.

A Saints backfield featuring Love and a developing Shough brings the potential for New Orleans to take over the NFC South after years of mediocrity running rampant throughout the division.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs must look at their current setup and realize they lack playmakers around quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Tight end Travis Kelce turns 37 this fall. Kansas City's front office has invested regularly into the wide receiver position, while not getting the caliber of return it needs. The Chiefs' running game wasn't much better than the Saints' last season, either, averaging just under 10 more yards per contest.

Kansas City is in the midst of a soft rebuild. But thanks to Mahomes' presence, once he's healthy, the team can still compete at a high level. Love has the playmaking capabilities to once again elevate the Chiefs offense and keep them in the hunt after this past season's downturn. In order for that to happen, Kansas City likely needs to leapfrog the Saints and land the dynamic option.

Detroit Lions Acquire DE Maxx Crosby from Las Vegas Raiders

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Three potential veteran moves could create a significant impact on the NFL draft. Let's starting with Maxx Crosby, who the Las Vegas Raiders may not want to trade but could be forced to do so.

"I do," FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer responded when asked by Yahoo Sports if he believes Crosby's time with the Raiders is done. "So the day it [shutting down Crosby] happened, no less than 20 teams called me, and asked, 'Is this real. Can we get him? '"

Glazer added, "They [Raiders] don't want to do it. But he was just like, 'I'm not going through another rebuild. '"

A first-round pick in return should be the starting point for any suitor interested in acquiring one of the game's best defenders.

The Detroit Lions have a nagging need at defensive end to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Crosby has also expressed interest in playing for the Lions, because he was born in Michigan and played at Eastern Michigan, where he serves as assistant general manager for the Eagles' football program. Plus, Crosby's relentless motor and play-style are perfect for philosophical approach integrated by Lions head coach Dan Campbell.

The Lions may have reached a breaking point this past season after missing the playoffs. Detroit previously found itself one step away from the Super Bowl and then severely disappointed. Crosby's acquisition signals the franchise is all in to win now.

Instead of drafting a bookend to Hutchinson, the Lions can acquire a much greater immediate impact and move out of the opening frame altogether by giving the Raiders an extra first-round pick (17th overall). In turn, Las Vegas can immediately start building around the No. 1 overall pick. Both teams can be helped tremendously with one trade.

Pittsburgh Steelers trade for QB Kirk Cousins

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Once Fernando Mendoza is chosen at or near the top of the NFL draft, teams and fans could be waiting quite some time before another quarterback hears his name called. Meanwhile, The Pittsburgh Steelers can't be satisfied with what they currently have at the game's most important position.

As of now, the plan in Pittsburgh seems to be bringing Aaron Rodgers back to lead the offense. Considering how this past season went and the fact Rodgers turns 43 during the 2026 campaign, the organization should go in a different direction.

The draft is one avenue. The Steelers own the 21st overall pick, which serves as the breakpoint for the class' QB2 to come off the board. Alabama's Ty Simpson is the presumptive favorite, and the Steelers have to seriously entertain the possibility.

Granted, the organization doesn't want a repeat of 2022 when it made the ill-advised selection of Kenny Pickett with the 22nd overall pick, because the team had a screaming need. As such, general manager Omar Khan can entertain other veteran options beyond Rodgers.

Kirk Cousins played well down the stretch for the Atlanta Falcons. He looked more like himself a year after he tore an Achilles tendon. The Falcons aren't handing Michael Penix Jr. the starting job once he's healthy again, but the reality of the situation likely ends with the recent eighth overall draft leading the offense despite Cousins' previous experience working with Kevin Stefanski.

In Pittsburgh, new head Mike McCarthy hired Brian Angelichio as his offensive coordinator. Angelichio served as Cousins' passing game coordinator during the the 27-year-old veteran's last two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

If the Falcons are receptive and the Steelers pull the trigger on a trade, even with the possibility of a deal not coming together until after the draft, Pittsburgh would likely pass on quarterback altogether with a second option not being selected in this year's first round. This approach can create a cascading effect throughout the league with teams waiting and then taking a quarterback prospect during Day 2 of the draft.

Buffalo Bills Land WR AJ Brown in Trade with Philadelphia Eagles

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Terry Pegula throwing wide receiver Keon Coleman under the proverbial bus during a press conference after the Buffalo Bills owner chose to fire head coach Sean McDermott remains a staggering turn of events. Clearly, the Bills are looking to improve at wide receiver, with the 2024 second-round pick likely out of the picture.

The Bills originally drafted Coleman to give MVP quarterback Josh Allen a big-bodied ball-winner on the outside. The 22-year-old has yet to develop into a consistent threat.

Whereas, AJ Brown is the one of the NFL's most physical receivers. However, Brown's relationship with the Philadelphia Eagles' organization, specifically head coach Nick Sirianni, seems to have soured with a trade being a likely possibility.

"I think teams are going to be motivated [in inquiring about Brown]," ESPN's Adam Schefter said during a radio interview on 97.5 the Fanatic out of Philadelphia. "Everyone's going to be motivated to upgrade their roster, so what's the best way to do that if you can't do it in free agency? You're going to be more anxious to do it in a trade, but you know if you're trading Brown, I don't know what the return would be on an A.J. Brown trade. I personally think the Eagles would want a one if they even entertained it. I don't know if they will. At least a one."

The Bills should be motivated to flip the 26th overall pick to the Eagles for a proven 28-year-old target. Brown's potential acquisition can rejuvenate an organization that decided being one of the NFL's best squads wasn't good enough and made a major move to name a new head coach. If Pegula and his front office is fully committed, they shouldn't stop there.

Conversely, Brown's potential trade, along with multiple other departures in the past year, could signal a significant Eagles' downturn after five straight postseason appearances, three division titles and a Super Bowl victory. But the setup at it currently stands isn't sustainable and Philadelphia should pivot.