Schefter Names Trade Targets to Watch for NFL Draft with Aiyuk, Thibodeaux, Anthony Richardson, More

Three-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence may not be the only notable veteran to change teams ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.

ESPN's Adam Schefter listed off a number of possible trade candidates in the coming days:

• Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.
• Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis
• New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler
• Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts
• Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II
• New York Giants edge Kayvon Thibodeaux
• Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman
• San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk

On Brandon Aiyuk, the big variable appears to be whether interested suitors will simply wait out the San Francisco 49ers.

The 28-year-old had back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2022 and 2023, but he hasn't appeared in an NFL game since October 2024. He carries an average salary of $30 million as well.

When a separation from the Niners looks inevitable, driving a hard bargain or banking on San Francisco cutting him altogether would be the aggressive way to play this.

By trading Lawrence, the Giants left no doubt as to their rebuilding status.

Kayvon Thibodeaux only turned 25 in December, so he could theoretically be a long-term piece for the defense. However, he's also due to be a free agent next spring and is coming off two disappointing seasons. Between 2024 and 2025, he had eight sacks in 22 appearances.

Maybe another team is willing to bet on Thibodeaux's upside and isn't afraid to part with a good draft pick for him.

Kyle Pitts is a bit of an outlier on Schefter's list because he's coming off one his best years with the Atlanta Falcons. The tight end caught 88 passes for 928 yards and five touchdowns.

Like Thibodeaux, though, Pitts is heading to free agency next offseason after Atlanta applied the franchise tag. Pegging his long-term value is tricky because the raw tools are still there, yet he hasn't lived up to his status as a top-five draft pick.

For the right price, trading Pitts would make sense for the Falcons.

Kenny Moore II is another free-agent-to-be, with Schefter reporting earlier this month that the Indianapolis Colts were prepared to work with him on a trade. Indy is spending more on the cornerback position than any other team, so offloading Moore would ease that burden.

Anthony Richardson Sr., Will Levis, Spencer Rattler and Keon Coleman all either have big injury questions or simply haven't met expectations.

Richardson meets both of those qualifications after having made just 17 starts since arriving in the league in 2023. He has thrown for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over that span.

The writing is pretty much on the wall with the Colts signing Daniel Jones to a two-year, $88 million contract. Richardson won't be able to parachute into another offense and immediately be the starter, but he needs a change of scenery.