Bold Trade Predictions Before the 2026 NFL Season Kicks Off

With the preseason complete, initial 53-man rosters set and early free agency a distant memory, NFL teams largely know what sort of rosters they're carrying into Week 1.

Many of those rosters will look different by midseason, though, and trades will be a big part of the equation.

Some teams will look to the trade market early in the year to fill remaining roster holes, while others will look to swing deals after key injuries arise. Yet other teams will look to sell off pieces while looking ahead to the future and a loaded 2027 draft.

This year's trade window won't close until November 10, but it's never too early to survey the landscape and make a few bold predictions. That's precisely what we'll do here by diving into seven bold-but-realistic scenarios that would change the NFL picture in 2026.

The Pittsburgh Steelers would certainly prefer to keep starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. However, their desire to delay contract talks with him may force Pittsburgh to consider a trade instead.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote the following on Wednesday:

"Sources say the Steelers' lack of a formal offer for weeks sent the clear message to Porter that they would like him to play out the final year of his rookie contract, which prompted him to consider the possibility of a trade or sitting out for an extended period."

If things get to a point where the Steelers don't believe they can keep Porter, flipping him for a high 2027 pick will become an option for them. Aaron Rodgers isn't the future at quarterback, and while Pittsburgh may hope that either Will Howard or Drew Allar can be, it wouldn't hurt to have a pair of first-round picks in what is expected to be a QB-heavy draft.

The Detroit Lions, meanwhile, could be prompted to make an aggressive move for a defensive difference-maker like Porter.

After missing the playoffs in 2025, the Lions are undoubtedly eager to get back to the top of the NFC North mountain. They could also use a new starter after parting with 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold this offseason.

Cardinals Get: Conditional 2027 4th-Round Pick

Though he was the topic of trade speculation early in the offseason, the Arizona Cardinals are reportedly uninterested in moving pass-rusher Josh Sweat.

"The Cardinals are telling interested teams they aren't planning to trade Sweat, and I believe that to be true," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote.

The caveat here is that, as Graziano noted, "no team has won or lost any games yet."

Arizona will likely change its stance on trading players if and when it becomes clear that it can't contend in 2026—or if it becomes obvious that rookie quarterback Carson Beck isn't a franchise savior.

Sweat will turn 30 next offseason and looms as a potential 2027 cap casualty. Moving him for quality draft capital would make sense. Giving up a conditional pick that could become a Day-2 selection for Sweat would be logical for a contender like the Chicago Bears.

Chicago still needs a consistent edge presence opposite Montez Sweat, and it could acquire one by doing a deal with the Cardinals.

Bills Get: Conditional 2027 5th-Round Pick

The San Francisco 49ers already have some question marks at wide receiver. Though they did bring back Deebo Samuel and sign Mike Evans, they also lost Jauan Jennings in free agency and lost Ricky Pearsall to season-ending injured reserve (PCL).

The 49ers will rely heavily on aging wideouts and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling , and they could afford to add some extra depth to their receiver room. Buffalo Bills receiver Keon Coleman, meanwhile, could use a fresh start.

Coleman, the 33rd overall pick in the 2024 draft, hasn't developed into a reliable go-to receiver in Buffalo. He wasn't always even part of the game plan in 2025, though he does have a supporter in former offensive coordinator and current head coach Joe Brady.

"I was one of the ones that stood on the table for Keon Coleman, and I believe in Keon Coleman," Brady said, per ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg .

At some point, Brady will have to place more importance on results than his belief in a former draft pick. If Coleman continues to struggle, Brady will have to create more opportunities for 2025 free-agent addition Joshua Palmer and rookie Skyler Bell .

A trade could help create those opportunities while giving Coleman a new chance in Kyle Shanahan's offense.

Chicken equity? This may be the wildest jersey number trade yet

While J.J. McCarthy wasn't released or traded ahead of the cuts deadline, it still feels like his time with the Minnesota Vikings is running out—even if the team says otherwise.

"J.J. McCarthy's role is to continue to develop, to improve and to support his teammates," GM Nolan Teasley said, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert . "And he's done an excellent job of that from the moment that I've been here and, from my understanding, since he walked through the door."

The Vikings were quick to name free-agent addition Kyler Murray as their starter, and they have a veteran backup in Carson Wentz. While continuing to develop McCarthy is an option, Minnesota may want to rip off the proverbial Band-Aid and move on from him.

The problem is that McCarthy doesn't have much of a trade market after struggling to stay healthy and largely playing poorly over his first two seasons.

The Los Angeles Chargers are one team that might be willing to take a chance on McCarthy. Los Angeles has its starting quarterback in Justin Herbert, but it has a less-experienced backup in Trey Lance, who is also on a one-year deal.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was McCarthy's coach at Michigan, and he could be interested in developing his former starter as a long-term backup in L.A.

While this isn't a trade that would impact the starting lineup of either the Vikings or the Chargers, it would officially bring an end to the McCarthy experiment in Minnesota.

While the New England Patriots just represented the AFC in Super Bowl LX, they are still an emerging team. New England has holes on its roster that it should be looking to fill with younger long-term talent.

One of the Patriots' biggest weaknesses is their pass rush. While New England did sign Dre'Month Jones and use a second-round pick on Illinois' Gabe Jacas , it also recorded just 34 sacks as a team last season.

If the Patriots' pass rush struggles again early in 2026, don't be shocked if they go chasing sack artists on the trade market—and given their desire to avoid the dreaded Super Bowl hangover, don't be surprised if they get a little desperate.

Earlier in the offseason, the New York Giants were listening to offers for 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal. However, they couldn't find a buyer at their desired price.

According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, the Giants had conversations with the New Orleans Saints during draft weekend, though their asking price of a second-round pick was something the Saints weren't willing to meet.

The Patriots, who are looking to build rather than rebuild, might be more eager to meet New York's demands, even if a trade for Thibodeaux would require a new contract.

Raiders Get: 2027 1st-Round Pick, 2028 1st-Round Pick, Edge Rashan Gary

The Dallas Cowboys have taken an aggressive approach to rebuilding their defense this offseason, and franchise owner Jerry Jones has stated that he may not be finished making moves.

"A top pick is expendable this year to add somebody meaningful that would help us now," Jones said in July, per The Athletic's Jon Machota .

Jones has also made it clear that Dallas never closed the door on trading for Las Vegas Raiders pass-rusher Maxx Crosby.

"We did not walk away. That's about all there is to say," Jones said, per Machota.

While the Cowboys have since added Von Miller to their pass-rushing rotation, it wouldn't be a shock to see them make another run at Crosby closer to the trade deadline.

If Dallas looks like a formidable playoff contender by November, trading valuable draft capital—along with a proven player like Rashan Gary, who was acquired via trade early in the offseason—to get Crosby could be the sort of all-in move that Jones believes will get him to the Super Bowl.

The Raiders seem content to keep Crosby after their offseason trade with the Baltimore Ravens fell through. However, they could revisit the idea of flipping the 29-year-old if they're struggling to compete in late October.

After taking Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, Las Vegas won't be in the market for a quarterback in next year's draft. However, it will be looking for long-term pieces to put around Mendoza. Trading Crosby, who could be past his prime by the time the Raiders are ready to contend, could get Las Vegas a very strong return.

Browns Get: Conditional 2027 7th-Round Pick, QB Tua Tagovailoa

The Atlanta Falcons have yet to name a starting quarterback, which doesn't bode particularly well for free-agent addition Tua Tagovailoa. Atlanta signed the former Miami Dolphins starter to compete with 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr., but Penix hasn't been able to do much competing while recovering from a torn ACL.

According to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe , the Falcons' plan is to start Penix "eventually."

Atlanta also has Cooper Rush and undrafted free agent Jack Strand in its quarterback room. However, Tagovailoa and Penix are most likely the only quarterbacks that the new regime views as potential long-term options. If and when those two fail to impress, the Falcons will probably begin evaluating 2027 quarterback prospects.

Along the way, the Falcons could look to add another potential bridge quarterback by trading for Cleveland Browns third-stringer Dillon Gabriel. The Oregon product started six games as a rookie in 2025, had a strong preseason finale last month, and has experience in Kevin Stefanski's offense.

Gabriel will open the season on injured reserve with a back injury but has been designated to return. The Falcons could acquire the 2025 third-rounder by surrendering a Day-3 pick and by giving the Browns another reclamation project at quarterback to audition.

This isn't a trade that would rock the playoff picture, but it would impact two teams desperate for a franchise quarterback.