The NFL Player Each NFC Team Should Trade for During the 2026 Draft
The NFL Draft isnt just about the draft. Its often a catalyst for another round of trades. Sometimes its just general managers swapping draft picks. But its also the perfect time to move valuable or unwanted players, too. So, to help those GMs out, heres a list of one trade wed like to see every NFC team make one player they should try to acquire for a bit of their draft capital this year, if they can. RELATED: The NFL Player Each AFC Team Should Trade for During the 2026 Draft Arizona Cardinals Acquire: QB Anthony Richardson from the Indianapolis ColtsCost: 2026 seventh-round pick (217th overall), 2027 conditional sixth-round pick Why not take a low-risk flier on the former first-round pick with a big body (6-4, 244), huge arm and untapped potential? The Cards have veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew as place-holders at quarterback until the 2027 draft, but Richardson would give new coach Mike LaFleur, a Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan disciple, a young player to try and develop. If it works out in the last year of his deal, maybe they re-sign him and keep him as a backup to (or competition for) next years rookie. Or maybe he becomes a future trade asset. If not, they let him go. But right now, the more options they have at quarterback, the better. Atlanta Falcons Acquire: WR Jerry Jeudy from the Cleveland BrownsCost: 2026 second-round pick (48th) New Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski knows the ups and downs of the 27-year-old Jeudy, and he knows he needs a No. 2 receiver (currently either Jahan Dotson or Olamide Zaccheaus will fill that role). Jeudy had a terrible season last year, but in 2024 he caught 90 passes for 1,229 yards with Jameis Winston, Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe throwing him the ball. Hed be a huge help for No. 1 WR Drake London with Tua Tagovailoa and/or Michael Penix Jr. behind center. Carolina Panthers Acquire TE Cole Kmet from the Chicago BearsCost: 2026 fourth-round pick (119th), 2027 conditional sixth-round pick Its a make-or-break year for quarterback Bryce Young, and the Panthers have done a good job of surrounding him with receivers and running backs. But they dont have a reliable target at tight end often the best friend of an emerging quarterback.Kmet showed what he was capable in 2023 when he caught 73 passes for 719 yards and six touchdowns, but the emergence of Colston Loveland has made him an afterthought in Chicago. With two years and $20 million left on his contract, the Bears could be enticed to move on now. Chicago Bears Acquire: CB Denzel Ward from the Cleveland BrownsCost: 2026 third-round pick (89th), 2027 fifth-round pick They need help all over their defense, including at edge rusher. But upgrading at cornerback might be their biggest priority. Ward is a five-time Pro Bowler who is still only 29, and the Browns would be smart to dump the remaining two years on his contract to free up some salary cap space. Ward could either be the Bears third corner or step in for the erratic Tyrique Stevenson. It would also free up the Bears to target a defensive lineman early in the draft. And with two second-round picks, theyve got the Day 2 ammunition to get him. Dallas Cowboys Acquire: DE Maxx Crosby from the Las Vegas RaidersCost: 2026 first-round pick (12th), 2026 third-round pick (92nd), 2027 third-round pick This is probably a very un-Jerry Jones-like move, but the Cowboys defense is a mess, and they desperately need help with their pass rush. It would be costly, though not as costly as the two first-round picks the Ravens initially agreed to send to Vegas for Crosby before that trade fell apart. The Cowboys have two first-rounders, so they could part with one and sweeten the deal with a couple of thirds. Assuming Crosby's knee isn't ravaged, its worth the risk for a team desperate to make a Super Bowl run, because adding Crosby would give the Cowboys one of the best defensive fronts in the league. Detroit Lions Acquire: DT Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee TitansCost: 2026 first-round pick (17th), 2027 second-round pick The Titans didnt trade Simmons at the deadline last year, and its hard to imagine new coach Robert Saleh would want to part with his best player now. But the clock is ticking on a contract that expires after next season, and will the Titans be any good by then? The Lions, meanwhile, have their own clock ticking on contention and desperately need help on the defensive line to avoid Aidan Hutchinson drawing constant double-teams. Add a DT like Simmons and their pass rush could be fierce again, making them an instant contender. That could be worth what should be a very hefty price. Green Bay Packers Acquire: WR Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona CardinalsCost: 2026 second-round pick (52nd), 2027 third-round pick They have the same situation at WR as usual good depth, decent players, but no apparent No. 1. And they let their best receiver (Romeo Doubs) go while only bringing in Skyy Moore. Harrison has been a disappointment with the Cardinals, but that could be all about their miserable quarterback situation. Pair him with Jordan Love, and his numbers should soar. It would be a big deal, and complicated by the fact that the Packers dont have a first-rounder again until 2028. But Matt LaFleur could ask his old boss, Sean McVay, about why players are more important than those pesky high picks. Then he could call his brother Mike, the new coach in Arizona, and get this deal done. Los Angeles Rams Acquire: QB J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota VikingsCost: 2026 second-round pick (61st) The Vikings sure look like theyve moved on from the former 10th overall pick (2024) by signing Kyler Murray. Given Vikings coach Kevin OConnells success rate with QBs, maybe thats a red flag for the rest of the NFL. But McCarthy is still young and has only 10 games of experience. He could benefit from learning under McVay on a loaded offensive team. And not only do the Rams need to start thinking about who their quarterback will be after 38-year-old Matthew Stafford is done, they have to be prepared if he breaks down this season. Right now their backup is Stetson Bennett. McCarthy would at least be an upgrade over that. And thats important for an expected Super Bowl contender. Minnesota Vikings Acquire: RB DeVon Achane from the Miami DolphinsCost: 2026 third-round pick (82nd), fifth-round pick (163rd) The Vikings brought back Aaron Jones, but he's 31 and constantly battling injuries. And while hes a good receiver out of the backfield, Achane is a great one, a much faster and more dynamic player overall and seven years younger (24). The Dolphins say they want to keep him after he ran for 1,350 yards and caught 67 passes for 488 yards last season. But they have the look of a team undergoing a fire sale, so surely they have their price. Achane will need a contract extension, so maybe a third-round pick and change will do it. The Dolphins would be crazy to say no for a second-rounder. New Orleans Saints Acquire: WR Quentin Johnston from the Los Angeles ChargersCost: 2026 third-round pick (73rd), 2027 conditional sixth-round pick The 6-3, 208-pounder arrived with huge expectations after being the 21st overall pick in the 2023 draft, but hes struggled to live up to them and has seemingly maxed out as a 50-catch, 700-yard, No. 2 receiver. Johnston was drafted by a different Chargers regime, so the current one should be willing to move on from an underperforming player. But the Saints could see value in adding a big target next to Chris Olave for their emerging quarterback. And their third-round pick could be enough to convince Jim Harbaugh to give up on him, since it would be relatively high in that round. New York Giants Acquire: CB Marlon Humphrey from the Baltimore RavensCost: 2026 fourth-round pick (105th), 2027 conditional seventh-round pick The thinnest position on the Giants roster might be corner, where veteran Paulson Adebo has battled injuries the past two seasons, Deonte Banks has been a bust, and theyre counting a lot on the flier they took on Greg Newsome. Humphrey, a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, will be 30 and carries a $15.25 million salary, so he might not cost more than a Day 3 pick. The Ravens will be OK in the secondary without him. And they could make this a win-win trade if they can entice Baltimore with edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux in a blockbuster deal, too. Philadelphia Eagles Acquire: DE Myles Garrett from the Cleveland BrownsCost: 2026 first-round pick (23rd), 2026 third-round pick (68th), 2027 first-round pick It would be one of the biggest blockbusters in years, considering Garrett has won two of the past three Defensive Player of the Year awards, just set the single-season sack record and is one year into a four-year, $160 million contract. Cleveland might not want to trade him, but what if the Eagles offered Jalen Carter as part of the package in return? Not crazy, considering Philly just signed defensive tackle Jordan Davis to a huge contract. But if the Eagles prefer to keep Carter, then offering the Maxx Crosby package (two first-round picks) and a bit more should be valuable to a rebuilding team like the Browns who might not be good again soon. Thats a problem since Garrett is already 30. But he would instantly give Philly the pass rush it needs to return to the top of the NFC. San Francisco 49ers Acquire: OLB Nick Herbig from the Pittsburgh SteelersCost: 2026 second-round pick (58th), 2027 conditional fifth-round pick Their pass rush was completely punchless last season, with Bryce Huff leading the team with just four sacks. They are hopeful that both Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams will be healthy and back in their old form next season, but they could use another body in the rotation. Herbig, 24, is stuck in a rotation behind T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith in Pittsburgh and in the final year of his contract. He had 13 sacks in a limited role over the past two seasons and would be well worth the high pick it would probably cost for the Steelers to swap him. Seattle Seahawks Acquire: RB Breece Hall from the New York JetsCost: 2026 third-round pick (96th), 2027 fifth-round pick The Jets just placed the franchise tag on Hall and they want to sign him long term, though its not clear if Hall actually wants to stay in New York. The Seahawks, meanwhile, need a replacement for Kenneth Walker, whom they lost in free agency. The cost would be at least a third-round pick, which was reportedly what the Jets were asking for at the deadline last year. A running back like Hall is an unnecessary luxury for a team like the Jets headed for the bottom of the standings, but he could instantly make the Seahawks an even bigger threat to repeat as Super Bowl champs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Acquire: CB Riley Moss from the Denver BroncosCost: 2026 third-round pick (77th) After adding help up front in free agency, even coach Todd Bowles acknowledged the need for another corner amid Jamel Dean's departure. The Broncos are strong at that position and could be willing to deal the 26-year-old Moss ahead of the last year of his contract. Hes been good playing opposite Patrick Surtain, considering the amount of teams that would prefer to throw at him. His low cost could mean the Broncos wouldnt part with him for less than a second-round pick, unless the Bucs dangled a player in the deal, like perhaps young running back Sean Tucker. Washington Commanders Acquire: WR DK Metcalf from the Pittsburgh SteelersCost: 2026 third-round pick (71st), 2027 fifth-round pick The idea of the Steelers trading him all depends on what happens with Aaron Rodgers, and whether Pittsburgh goes for it all in 2026 or goes into a rebuilding mode. They did just trade for Michael Pittman, so their cupboard wouldnt be bare without Metcalf. And Metcalf was a bit of a disappointment last season with just 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns as Rodgers struggled to find him downfield. Hed have better luck with the younger, stronger Jayden Daniels throwing him the ball. And the Commanders are desperate for a WR opposite Terry McLaurin. Metcalf cost the Steelers a second-round pick. But after a down year, and with three years and more than $100 million left on his contract, something less would do.
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