5 NFL Pretenders That Should Be Focused on Trading for More Picks in 2027 Draft

The 2026 NFL draft will mark the next major milestone of the offseason. This event will bring an influx of talented prospects into the league, players who can fill the holes still lingering on rosters after the initial waves of free agency.

While these reinforcements might help take certain squads over the hump and get them into Super Bowl contention, other clubs need far more help than a single draft class can offer.

Whether they're lacking quality pieces at key positions, need more time to develop or some combination of these and other factors, these pretenders still seem at least a season away from making noise in the NFL playoffs.

These franchises shouldn't hesitate to better themselves with some of the intriguing prospects from the 2026 class, but they could also benefit heavily from trading out and loading up on picks in next year's draft.

Doing so will give them more capital in a class projected to feature some elite-level talent at positions largely lacking this year—most notably the quarterback spot.

With that in mind, here's a look at five pretenders who should look to go all-in on the 2027 draft.

Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

The Arizona Cardinals are preparing to enter a new era following the merciful end of former head coach Jonathan Gannon's regime. With Mike LaFleur taking over in the desert, the Cards have a slew of work to do to get back to respectability.

One of the biggest issues Arizona is facing in Year 1 of the LaFleur era is a glaring lack of talent under center. The Cardinals parted ways with Kyler Murray after seven polarizing seasons, unceremoniously releasing 2019's No. 1 overall pick after he fell out of favor and dealt with more injuries last year.

While Murray wasn't faring too well when he was on the field in recent years, Arizona didn't have a clear replacement waiting in the wings when it cut the longtime starter. After missing out on Malik Willis in free agency, the team looks poised to play out 2026 with Jacoby Brissett as the starter again with journeyman Gardner Minshew II as the backup.

With both quarterbacks soon to be over 30 years old, it's clear the Cardinals don't have a viable long-term option worth building around. Given the lack of depth at the position in the 2026 draft, it's unlikely Arizona will find one next month either.

There's a chance the Cardinals could hit a home run with a Day 2 or 3 selection—someone like Garrett Nussmeier would be a sensible gamble—but it would behoove the organization to start looking ahead to 2027 and a far better opportunity to find a worthy heir to Murray.

Whether they opt to dangle the No. 3 overall pick in exchange for future firsts or put together a package using some of their six other selections in 2026, the Cardinals should be working the phones to come up with as much 2027 capital as possible.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/David Richard

The Cleveland Browns came up short of the playoffs once again in 2025, a disappointing campaign that led to sweeping changes across the organization.

This shift could be a mistake, one that could cost the Browns a chance at a winning season and force them to look ahead to 2027 for another reset.

With head coach Kevin Stefanski out, the rudderless Browns turned to Art Monken—a 60-year-old first-time head coach who spent the last three years coordinating the Baltimore Ravens' offense—to try and right the ship.

While Monken found some success in Charm City—the Ravens ranked top-six in both total and scoring offense during his first two years before crashing out of the top-10 during a trying 2025 season—it remains to be seen how his system will fare back in Cleveland for the first time since an underwhelming stint on Freddie Kitchens' staff in 2019.

The odds of a major turnaround occurring aren't great. The Browns may have some pieces in place such as reigning Defensive Player of the Year winner Myles Garrett, but the offense lacks a strong quarterback to lead it. Shedeur Sanders is the projected starter under center following a mildly promising rookie season, but he hasn't shown enough for Cleveland to feel confident it found a franchise cornerstone to build around.

While the Browns could opt to bring in more competition with one of their 2026 draft picks, the club's quarterback battle became a circus last year. Given the dearth of passing talent in this year's class, the team would be wise to avoid going through that again and simply commit to one of the incumbents.

If Sanders or another of Cleveland's QBs such as Dillon Gabriel or Deshaun Watson emerges (or re-emerges in Watson's case) as a star, the Browns will be well-positioned for the future. The club shouldn't count on that development, however, and should add some insurance by trading out of this year's draft.

Padding out their 2027 capital will provide the Browns with better options and more choices when it comes to resetting and rebuilding at this same point next year.

Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

The Indianapolis Colts saw enough promise in the first half of the 2025 season to run it back in 2026 with largely the same cast.

Whether this was a massive misstep or not remains to be seen, but the Colts should try to mitigate a potential disaster by stockpiling 2027 draft picks.

It's hard to fault the organization for taking the path it did this offseason. The club agreed to a massive two-year, $88 million extension with Daniel Jones because there weren't any viable alternatives to the talented but oft-injured veteran.

Given the lack of a first-round pick stemming from the Sauce Gardner trade deadline deal and Jones' upside against the other underwhelming options on the free-agent market, Indy's brass had little choice but to hope the team could rekindle some of the magic it displayed during an 8-2 start last year.

With Alec Pierce's four-year, $116 million deal leaving little left for blockbuster external pickups, the Colts were left betting on Jones returning to full strength. If the QB can stay healthy and effective for an entire season—something Jones hasn't accomplished since the 2022 campaign—the team could be a dark horse contender.

Given Jones' propensity for injuries and regression, Indy would be wise to keep one eye on next year's draft and the opportunity it will provide for a reset. The Colts still won't have a first-rounder of their own (that Day 1 pick will be the final compensation owed to the New York Jets for Gardner), but they could potentially add one by moving some of their remaining 2026 selections next month.

Having a future first-rounder back in their pocket could allow the Colts to cut ties with Jones—who has just $10 million guaranteed next season—and give them a shot at one of the many prized quarterback prospects set to become available in 2027.

Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

The Miami Dolphins had a dramatic offseason, one that saw them part ways with longtime quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, head coach Mike McDaniel and several key veterans.

These drastic moves have hurt Miami's potential to contend in 2026 and should lead to an increased focus on the 2027 draft.

While the 'Phins did bring in some intriguing replacements for both Tagovailoa and McDaniel in the form of Jeff Hafley and Malik Willis, respectively, the squad still has more questions than answers surrounding it.

Although Willis flashed elite potential during his brief tenure as the Green Bay Packers' backup QB, he looked far worse during his first two seasons in the league.

Whether Miami is getting the Green Bay version of Willis—who completed 78.7 percent of his throws with six touchdowns and zero interceptions—or the Tennessee Titans version, who barely connected on more than half his passes and had three picks with zero TDs, remains to be seen.

It's most likely Willis falls somewhere in the middle, a dynamic dual-threat signal-caller who can carve up defenses with his legs but may struggle to run an offense on a full-time basis. A lackluster supporting cast should temper any hopes of the four-year veteran leading Miami to its first playoff victory since 2000.

With Tyreek Hill released and Jaylen Waddle exiting via trade, the 'Phins were left with a painfully thin receiving corps. Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell represent the three best wideouts the team currently employs.

While Miami will inevitably add more firepower with the 11 selections it currently holds in the 2026 draft, team brass would be wise to look ahead to 2027 to fill more holes in the receivers room as well as other positions of need. Quarterback could be one if Willis fails to meet expectations on his three-year, $67.5 million deal.

Considering the Dolphins have a whopping seven picks within the top 100 alone this year, the club should be able to address its most glaring needs while still orchestrating trades to acquire future capital that will allow it to swing for the fences in 2027.

New York Jets

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

The New York Jets' offseason hit a snag right out of the gate.

Despite securing the second overall pick and what could have been a fantastic chance to land a much-needed franchise quarterback, the team was dealt a crushing blow when Dante Moore—the consensus No. 2 passer in the 2026 class for much of the year—announced he would be returning to Oregon for his redshirt junior season.

With Moore off the board, Fernando Mendoza became the lone signal-caller worth a top selection in the draft. Unfortunately for Gang Green, the Heisman Trophy winner is a lock to land with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 1 overall.

While the Jets could still get a quarterback on Day 1—Alabama's Ty Simpson is a popular pairing in mock drafts—the team would be far better served waiting until next year before trying to unearth a franchise passer.

The 2027 draft class is projected to be loaded with high-quality quarterback talent.  

Not only is Moore likely to come out, but well-regarded prospects such as Texas' Arch Manning and Ohio State's Julian Sayin should also be available. Each of these players is likely to grade out higher than Simpson, the No. 26 overall player on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's big board.

Given the Jets nabbed a perfectly fine bridge quarterback with their trade for Geno Smith, the franchise shouldn't hesitate to trade out of the early portion of the 2026 draft and go all-in to acquire as many future first-rounders as it can get.