The 2026 NFL Draft class lacks top-tier talent throughout the first round, making trading down an appealing strategy for teams wanting to maximize value.
According to ESPN analysts Matt Miller and Field Yates, two franchises with recent playoff success sit in a prime position to move back: the Buffalo Bills and the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Both entered the offseason with limited draft capital and would benefit from adding picks to replenish their rosters.
Why the Buffalo Bills Could Trade Down From No. 26
Brandon Beane has never been shy about moving around the draft board. The Bills general manager has a track record of trading down when the value aligns, and this year’s circumstances make that approach even more appealing.
Buffalo finished 12-5 in 2025 and reached the Divisional Round before falling to the Denver Broncos 33-30 in overtime. The loss cost Sean McDermott his job after nine seasons, with Joe Brady taking over as head coach. Despite the coaching change, the Bills remain a win-now team with Josh Allen still in his prime.
When asked “which team is most likely to trade down in Round 1?” Miller highlighted the Bills in a recent ESPN article.
“Finding a partner willing to move into Round 1 might be as difficult as predicting which team will move out,” Miller wrote. “It’s expected that teams will not give up too much 2027 capital based on the strength of next year’s class. That makes me think it’ll be a “win-now” team willing to jump out of Round 1. Buffalo GM Brandon Beane has long been a fan of moving down on draft day. And with just three picks in the first four rounds, the Bills could benefit from adding draft capital.”
Buffalo addressed major needs through free agency and trades, acquiring DJ Moore from the Bears and signing Bradley Chubb and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. But the roster still has holes, and only seven total picks won’t fill them.
According to PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric, the Bills’ defense finished last season as the 13th-ranked unit with an impact score of 78.0. However, they could regress following McDermott’s departure.
Trading back from No. 26 could net the Bills an extra Day 2 selection to add depth at positions like edge rusher or cornerback under new coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Why the Seattle Seahawks Might Trade the No. 32 Pick
Seattle’s situation is different but equally conducive to a trade down. The Seahawks capped a dominant 14-3 season by defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl 60, their first championship since 2013.
Mike Macdonald’s defense earned the nickname “The Dark Side” and finished as the league’s top scoring unit, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba won Offensive Player of the Year after setting a franchise record with 1,793 receiving yards.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
Yates picked the Seahawks as the team that could potentially look to trade out of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
“To be clear, my assessment of who is most likely is based off what I believe is logical; no team has revealed its intentions to move up or down in the draft,” Yates wrote. “But the Seahawks are a sensible pick for two obvious reasons. They enter the draft with a league-low four selections and can offer the 32nd pick to another team that wants to secure a fifth year of contract control for a prospect.”
That fifth-year option is significant as first-round picks come with club control through Year 5, which is valuable for teams trying to lock up a prospect longer before paying market rate. A team sitting in the early second round might pay a premium to jump into the back of Round 1 for that extra year.
Seattle’s offseason has focused on running it back. GM John Schneider retained most of the championship core, and Smith-Njigba signed a massive extension. With limited picks and a roster already built to compete, adding Day 2 or Day 3 selections through a trade makes more sense than reaching for a player at No. 32.
