10 Notable Players Who Could Be Cut or Traded Immediately After the 2026 NFL Draft

As NFL teams make selections in the 2026 draft, general managers will work the phones for trades involving picks and players who no longer fit into the team's short-term plan.

Several veterans are either dissatisfied with their current role or contract. Most recently, Dexter Lawrence II expressed his displeasure with a trade request. 

Typically, teams quietly shop these players, though a reasonable trade offer may not materialize until a suitor misses out on a prospect at a position of need during the draft.

So, expect teams to revisit standing proposals for notable players next week.

Moreover, clubs could find replacements for aging and underperforming veterans. A high upside rookie can make someone at a crowded position expendable. 

Here are 10 players who could be on the move shortly after the 2026 draft.

WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk

The San Francisco 49ers will probably part ways with Brandon Aiyuk at some point in the offseason. Owner Jed York and head coach Kyle Shanahan gave the impression that they're willing to retain the disgruntled wideout, who's had little to no communication with the team during his recovery from a torn ACL and MCL.

Unlikely to resolve an issue with an uncooperative player, the 49ers should look to move on from Aiyuk, but before they do that, general manager John Lynch could draft a wide receiver to develop for the long term.

Ricky Pearsall has battled the injury bug in two seasons. He missed eight games last year. Mike Evans will turn 33, and he's coming off his least productive campaign. Christian Kirk's receiving numbers have been declining since 2022.

The 49ers have selected a wideout in the fourth round of the previous two drafts and could do so again with four picks in that round this year.

If Lynch takes a receiver within the first two rounds, he may already have a trade lined up for Aiyuk or is prepared to cut him. Remember, at the end of the 2025 season, he told reporters that the 28-year-old wideout played his last snap with the team. 

DL Arik Armstead, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead

Arik Armstead is entering the final year of a non-guaranteed contract. At 32, he's unlikely to play without financial security, though the Jacksonville Jaguars have no incentive to keep him on their books with a $19.4 million cap number.

In 2025, Armstead recorded 28 tackles (seven for loss), 5.5 sacks and 16 pressures, but he lost a starting job on the defensive line. His production faded in the second half of the season. 

The Jaguars will either restructure Armstead's contract to lower his salary for the current season or release him outright. General manager James Gladstone has a young ascending squad with little room for aging veterans whose production is trending in the wrong direction.

At this stage in his career, Armstead doesn't have much trade value, so he's a strong post-draft cut candidate if the Jaguars add a defensive tackle with one of their four top-100 picks.

EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/David Dermer

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard

In March, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Minnesota Vikings are "open" to trading Jonathan Greenard. The 2024 Pro Bowler is coming off a down year in which he missed five games because of injury, logging just three sacks and 24 pressures.

Entering his age-29 campaign, not far removed from consecutive 12-plus-sack seasons, Greenard should be able to fetch a middle-round pick. 

According to The Athletic's Zack Berman and Alec Lewis, the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts have expressed interest in Greenard.

Assuming Greenard has a solid trade market, Minnesota may be waiting for suitors to up the ante on compensation during the draft. Clubs that need an edge-rusher but pass on prospects at the position will be primary candidates to acquire a veteran next week.

Also worth noting: the Vikings can save $12.3 million in cap space by trading Greenard. He may be expendable after 2024 first-rounder Dallas Turner registered eight sacks in a rotational role last season.

DT Dexter Lawrence II, New York Giants

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence

Dexter Lawrence II's trade request could force the New York Giants to make a move in the coming weeks. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the defensive tackle's camp has tried to negotiate a new deal over the last two years.  

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Giants and Lawrence have reached an impasse in extension talks, and the club has engaged with potential trade suitors.

One way or another, Big Blue must address its contract situation with Lawrence, who has two non-guaranteed years left on his deal. The front office will either get an extension done or send him to another team in exchange for an early-round draft pick.

The Giants are unlikely to get a first-round pick for a 28-year-old interior defender who made minimal impact as a pass rusher in the previous season. However, they should be satisfied with a deal that includes a second-round pick if contract talks with Lawrence continue to stall.

WR Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette

Given his first-round draft pedigree, Xavier Legette's development has been underwhelming. In his rookie season, he caught 49 passes for 497 yards and four touchdowns, then saw a drop-off across the board in the previous campaign, averaging just 24.2 receiving yards per outing.

The Carolina Panthers found their go-to receiver in 2025 first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year. Jalen Coker, who went undrafted in 2024, has slightly outproduced Legette while playing in 11 games in back-to-back seasons.

Legette isn't going to draw strong interest following two modest years of production, but the Panthers may look to move on from him if they draft another receiver who can present more upside in a flashier career start.

In this year's class, Carolina could target underrated prospects like Georgia State's Ted Hurst or Connecticut's Skyler Bell in the third round before it deals Legette to another club.

OL Walker Little, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/John Raoux

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Walker Little

The Jacksonville Jaguars have already put the writing on the wall for Walker Little's exit. He lost his starting job at left tackle to Cole Van Lanen, who signed a three-year, $51 million extension in January.

The Jaguars have Little on their books at $14.5 million, including $11 million in guaranteed money. He would be an expensive backup if Jacksonville retains him for the year.

Little has 39 career starts at a premium position. The Jaguars should be able to get a decent return for him if he's on the trade block.

This year, teams could make an early run on picks in a top-heavy offensive tackle class. If that's the case, clubs outside the top 12 eyeing a prospect at the position can call the Jaguars to inquire about Little as an alternative plan.

WR DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo

For now, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a big-bodied receiver duo with Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf on the roster. Keep an eye on the contract situation for the latter.

After the Steelers acquired Pittman from the Indianapolis Colts, they signed him to an extension. Meanwhile, Metcalf is set to play out the rest of his deal, which runs through 2029, without guaranteed money. 

There's almost no chance that Metcalf plays another down on his current contract. The Steelers will need to rework his deal. Perhaps those negotiations have already begun. If not, Pittsburgh may prefer a wide receiver on a rookie contract over a seven-year veteran who needs a new one coming off an inconsistent season and a recent suspension.

The Steelers have a strong track record of drafting wide receivers. They're more likely to trade Metcalf rather than go through a lengthy post-draft negotiation process with his camp.

CB Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II

Barring an unexpected turn of events, Kenny Moore II will probably suit up for a new team this year. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the nine-year cornerback and the Colts have "mutually agreed" to find a trade partner.

In the last year of a non-guaranteed deal, Moore has a palatable contract for potential trade suitors. He's still one of the league's top slot cornerbacks entering his age-31 season. The eight-year veteran hasn't allowed a passer rating above 88 in two campaigns.

With most teams operating out of the nickel formation as the base defensive alignment, Moore has value on the trade market and could return a middle-round pick in a deal.

If not before the draft, the Colts should have a deal in place for Moore shortly after the three-day selection process.

QB Anthony Richardson Sr., Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo

The Indianapolis Colts also seemed primed to move on from quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.

As is the case with cornerback Kenny Moore II, the Colts and Richardson have "mutually agreed" to part ways, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. 

Richardson started in 15 games through two injury-riddled years before losing the lead position to Daniel Jones in an open competition last offseason. He suffered an orbital fracture last October and only suited up for two contests in the 2025 campaign.

While recovering from a torn ACL, Jones signed a two-year, $88 million extension, which makes him the Colts' starter for the foreseeable future. 

Richardson needs a change of scenery, as teams have shown some level of interest in him.

The Athletic's Zac Jackson expects the Cleveland Browns to "seriously consider" trading for Richardson. ESPN's Stephen Holder believes the Green Bay Packers are a "team to monitor" in a potential trade.

Looking at quarterback Malik Willis' development in Green Bay over the last two years, Richardson should hope that Colts general manager Chris Ballard is on the phone with Packers executive Brian Gutekunst during or after the draft.

EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux, New York Giants

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeau

Reporters and insiders have mentioned Kayvon Thibodeaux in the rumor mill for months. Per ESPN's Jordan Raanan, there's an expectation that the Giants will eventually trade the 25-year-old edge-rusher.

The current Giants' front-office regime selected Thibodeaux with the No. 5 pick in 2022. After that, it signed Brian Burns to a five-year, $141 million extension in 2024 and selected Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

Because of Thibodeaux's waning production over the previous two years, he's probably the odd man out of that rotation, with Carter likely to play more snaps in his second season.

Teams may want to consider the depth of this year's edge-rusher class before picking up Thibodeaux's $14.8 million salary for 2026. That said, he showed some potential in an 11.5-sack 2023 campaign and could draw some interest from clubs that want a plug-and-play veteran on the edge.

Player contract details are provided by Over the Cap.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.