Field Yates, Matt Miller Predict NFL Teams Most Likely to Trade Down in 1st Round of 2026 Draft

As the NFL draft rumor mill starts heating up with three weeks remaining before the event, one thing to keep an eye on are the teams that could be looking to make a move up or down in the first round.

ESPN's Field Yates and Matt Miller posted their predictions on which teams are most likely to trade down on Day 1 of the draft.

Miller cited the Buffalo Bills as a team to watch, while Yates went with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Bills have been a popular trade-down candidate in various expert mock drafts. It makes sense because they gave up their second-round pick in the DJ Moore trade, so after their first selection at No. 26, they won't pick again until No. 91 overall in the third round.

In the latest mock from B/R's NFL scouting department, the Bills are projected to trade their first-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for picks at No. 34, 65 and a third-round selection in 2027.

Miller did note teams looking to make moves won't want to give up much 2027 draft capital because that class looks very strong, which could also make it more likely that a team in win-now mode like Buffalo would be inclined to add more picks this year to help supplement the roster right away.

Yates picking the Seahawks, who own the final pick of the first round, feels like a bit of a cheat because it's not uncommon for teams picking at the top of Day 2 to move up in order to give themselves the fifth-year option and ensure other clubs that might have interest in the same player can't steal them.

The last pick in the first round has been traded in each of the last two years and three times in the last four years. Last year saw the Philadelphia Eagles move up a spot to get pick No. 31 and select Jihaad Campbell.

The previous two times (2022 and 2024), though, it was because the team picking in that spot moved down.

There are also practical reasons for the Seahawks to look into trading down. They currently have the fewest picks (four) of any team in the league, with their lone Day 3 pick being in the sixth round at No. 188 overall.