New NFL Draft 2026 Rumors Reveal Teams Looking to Trade Down to Get Additional Picks

Trading down in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft is proving to be easier said than done, according to The MMQB's Albert Breer.

Breer reported Monday that the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders are all exploring deals to move down.

"The problem for those five is finding teams to move up," he wrote.

The NFL insider wrote that Ohio State edge-rusher/linebacker Arvell Reese or Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love could be deemed good enough to warrant a move up on Day 1. He then cited the New Orleans Saints (No. 8) or Dallas Cowboys (No. 12) as realistic candidates sufficiently motivated to get aggressive.

For the most part, teams simply aren't all that incentivized to trade up this year.

General managers often leapfrog the competition in order to get a quarterback they like. The dearth of good QBs in the 2026 class removes that as a consideration.

Alabama's Ty Simpson is the second-best passer on the Bleacher Report big board but ranks 28th overall. LSU's Garrett Nussmeier is QB3 and is all the way down at 65th.

Then you have prospects such as Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, OSU linebacker Sonny Styles and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love who are very good but don't play premium positions. Does it make sense to give up valuable draft capital for a running back, even one as dynamic as Love?

The Cardinals, Titans, Giants, Browns and Commanders are all sitting in a good position. Even in a somewhat down draft cycle, having a top-10 pick assures you the opportunity to address a roster need in a major way.

Failing to find a trade partner between now and April 23 wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.