Ideal Prospect Fit for Teams Rumored to Want to Trade Down in 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL draft class is loaded with tantalizing prospects at every position. It's not a particularly top-heavy class, however, and that trait is reportedly making things difficult for teams hoping to trade down in the first round.

At least five franchises have been exploring the possibility of moving down the board on Day 1. According to The MMQB's Albert Breer,  the Arizona Cardinals (No. 3 overall), Tennessee Titans (No. 4), New York Giants (No. 5), Cleveland Browns (Nos. 6 & 24) and Washington Commanders (No. 7) are all hoping to slide back in exchange for some additional draft capital.

While a distinct lack of blue-chip quarterback prospects—Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders is the only clear-cut pick at this juncture—limits both the value and number of suitors for these oft-coveted selections, it would be shocking if a few of those teams don't find a taker for their top-10 picks.

A flurry of trade activity occurs during every NFL draft and 2026 shouldn't break the mold. Four deals involving first-round picks went down during last year's event and plenty more of these premium selections could change hands on draft night this year.

Squads will inevitably fall in love with a prospect and pay the cost of admission to move up to land them. The clubs trading back should also come away from these transactions satisfied. They'll still have a great chance to score an elite Day 1 prospect while also picking up valuable capital in the later rounds and future years.

With that in mind, let's highlight one player each of the five teams reportedly interested in trading down during the 2026 NFL draft should make a run at.

Arizona Cardinals: OL Spencer Fano, Utah

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

With so many needs across new head coach Mike LaFleur's roster, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Arizona Cardinals jump-start an extensive rebuild by trading down from its No. 3 overall draft slot.

Doing so will afford the team additional capital it can use to augment the seven selections—just three of which fall within the top 100—it currently holds in the 2026 draft.

The Dallas Cowboys would make an intriguing trade partner for the Cardinals. Dallas is on the cusp of contention but needs the type of star defender a top-three pick can provide. The Cowboys also have two first-rounders (Nos. 12 and 20) they can leverage for a significant jump up on Day 1.

If Arizona acquires both of those selections in the deal—or at least the earlier of the two in addition to a haul of later-round and future picks—the team will be in prime position to land standout offensive lineman Spencer Fano.

Fano was a three-year starter at Utah and profiles as a plug-and-play option from the jump in the NFL. While his pro position is currently fluid—he offers the versatility to play almost anywhere at the next level—he brings a wealth of experience at both left and right tackle. He's well-versed in pro-style blocking schemes and makes up for his lack of ideal size with quick hands, strong footwork and good athleticism. 

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department has Fano rated as the No. 1 overall offensive tackle and No. 13 overall prospect on their latest big board. They paired him with the Minnesota Vikings at No. 18 in their most recent mock, but No. 12 isn't a major reach and is around the ceiling he can expect in the 2026 draft.

Fano is a sound building block who immediately fills one of several holes in the offensive trenches for Arizona. Landing this rock-solid prospect after a trade down would be a major win for the Cards.

Tennessee Titans: RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Eakin Howard/Getty Images

With 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward showing plenty of promise in his first season, there is hope for a contender to arise in the Music City for the first time in a half-decade.

Because of their quarterback's potential, the Tennessee Titans can afford to move down the board to pick up some additional chips that will help new head coach Robert Saleh get off to a quick start.

One of the biggest needs in Tennessee is at running back. It wouldn't be outlandish for the club to make a run at the best back in the class and snap up Jeremiyah Love at No. 4 overall, but there's a chance the Titans could trade down and still come away with the Notre Dame star.

Sliding down to No. 9—a spot the Kansas City Chiefs are picking in during a rare down year—and getting an additional second-rounder for the trouble would make plenty of sense for Tennessee.

It's a move ESPN's Bill Barnwell believes both sides could benefit from, allowing the Titans to remain in range for Love while the Chiefs would get into striking distance for a stud receiver such as Carnell Tate or game-breaking edge-rusher in David Bailey.

Tennessee would be the true winner of such a move, as Love is the No. 2 overall prospect in the class according to the B/R Scouting Department. He's significantly more promising than any other back in the class, too, notably being the lone player at his position to get taken in the first round of the B/R Scouting Department's updated mock draft.

Love has the potential to become a top-five back as early as his rookie season. He's a player who B/R scout Dame Parson describes as a "dynamic and explosive running back who possesses the skill set to be a complete weapon in an NFL offense."

Getting him at No. 9 would provide Tennessee with a prospect who not only fits the roster's most glaring need but also at a value that will make the rest of the league jealous.

New York Giants: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

Off-ball linebackers generally aren't valued enough to come off the board early in the first round, but Sonny Styles is special and has the potential to become one of the league's greats.

Although Styles wouldn't be a big reach for the New York Giants with the No. 5 overall pick, it would benefit them to exercise some patience and roll the dice on the linebacker remaining available following a small trade down.

Dropping a handful of spots in the first round could result in a couple extra picks to pad out the roster while also keeping New York in contention to scoop up the Ohio State star.

The New Orleans Saints would make for an ideal trade partner as they possess a wealth of Day 3 picks they can package in addition to their No. 8 overall selection. Making this relatively cheap jump up the board could put them in position to get a top-tier wideout such as Carnell Tate—Styles' teammate with the Buckeyes.

While the Giants will still have to hope Styles slips past the Washington Commanders at No. 7 overall, Big Blue's NFC East rivals are reportedly exploring a trade down of their own and have plenty of other pressing holes to fill. Styles would be more of a luxury for a Commanders team that now employs both Frankie Luvu and Leo Chenal.

If Styles is there at No. 8, he would be the perfect draft choice to jump-start new head coach John Harbaugh's regime. During his 18 years at the helm of the Baltimore Ravens, Harbaugh acquired and developed a litany of All-Pro and Pro Bowl off-ball linebackers including Ray Lewis, C.J. Mosley, Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith.

Styles could be the next player to join that impressive list, solidifying a Giants defense hoping to make a massive leap in 2026. Regardless of whether he's taken at No. 5, No. 8 or elsewhere, he'll make the type of impact New York needs to get back into playoff contention.

Cleveland Browns: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

The Cleveland Browns could make a rather sizable jump down the board on draft night and still come away with the type of talented prospect it needs to make waves under new head coach Todd Monken. Working out an agreement with another long-suffering franchise in the New York Jets could be the best move for both parties.

Dealing the No. 6 pick in exchange for a package headlined by two of Gang Green's premium selections (Nos. 16 and 33) would give Cleveland the type of capital required to orchestrate a rapid turnaround. The Jets would come away satisfied as well, having positioned themselves to land a pair of potential franchise-altering talents within the first six picks of the draft.

If Cleveland drops to the midpoint of Round 1, Monroe Freeling should be atop the team's wish list. While he didn't receive strong marks from the Bleacher Report Scouting Department—grading out as the No. 4 offensive tackle and No. 45 overall prospect on their big board—he's well-regarded in other league circles and is coming off the board at No. 11 overall in B/R's latest mock.

At 6'7", 315 pounds, Freeling has prototypical size for an offensive tackle and packs plenty of athleticism into that frame. B/R scout Brandon Thorn praised the Georgia product's quickness, ability to peel off double-teams and absorb force from the bull-rush while noting that the 21-year-old's best football is still to come.

Freeling could ultimately come off the board as early as No. 6 overall to Cleveland, but getting him midway through the first round would be a far better value. Trading down and landing a left tackle to build around would be a massive victory for Andrew Berry in what will be a make-or-break draft for the GM.

Washington Commanders: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

AP Photo/Darryl Webb

The Washington Commanders have a meager six selections—including just a single pick in the top 70—in the 2026 NFL draft.

They'll need to do some crafty maneuvering down the board if they want to come away with a high-impact draft class that can inject some much-needed youth and athleticism into a roster that appeared old and sluggish in 2025.

If the Baltimore Ravens are willing to part with the No. 14 pick in addition to a package of Day 2 and 3 selections, the Commanders would be wise to move off No. 7 overall. The extra picks could open the door for a return to the type of form that saw Washington reach the NFC Championship Game just two seasons ago.

There would still be plenty of strong options for the Commanders to consider near the middle of Round 1, with no player making more sense than Jordyn Tyson.

Tyson is a potential game-changer at the wide receiver position, offering a unique blend of size, athleticism and playmaking ability that few can match. The B/R Scouting Department has him rated as the No. 1 wideout and No. 8 overall prospect in this year's class, although a history of concerning injuries could lead to a draft-day fall.

The Arizona State star shouldn't slip past the Commanders if they trade down seven spots, though, as there's far too much value and potential production to pass up. Washington has a major hole to address in the receiving corps with no clear No. 2 option to augment Terry McLaurin. Tyson can fill that void in the short term while also profiling as the veteran wideout's long-term replacement.

In his scouting report for Tyson, B/R's Dame Parson described the wideout as a "twitchy, dynamic playmaker with the route-running traits to be an impact starter and matchup receiver." He'd be an excellent complement to Jayden Daniels in Washington, opening the door for this offense to return to the league's upper echelon in 2026.