The analytics back up a volume approach in the modern NFL draft. There will be whiffs, so take more bites at the apple.
Could that swing value back the other direction, though? There are several GMs who might look to get aggressive and secure one of the few blue-chip talents on the board in 2026, many of whom are at unconventional, “non-premium” positions.
Dallas Cowboys
To no one’s surprise, the Dallas Cowboys might not be content with their two first-round picks at No. 12 and No. 20 overall.
More than any other team with two first-rounders, the Cowboys are in win-now mode after trading for Quinnen Williams and placing the franchise tag on George Pickens.
There’s a viable path where the Cowboys strike a balance by trading both up and down in the same draft. They could move up to No. 3 with Arizona or No. 6 with Cleveland, while also flipping their later first-round pick into the early second round. Both teams would likely prefer to move back to target an offensive tackle.
In my final three-round NFL mock draft of the 2026 draft cycle, the Cowboys executed a swap with the Browns, landing Caleb Downs while still being in position to target a cornerback or linebacker at No. 39.
The PFSN Mock Draft Simulator shows a perfectly even value if Dallas surrenders picks 12, 20, and 180 in exchange for the Browns’ picks 6, 39, 146, and 149. That’s a great deal for both sides, allowing the Cowboys to scoop up a blue-chip defender.
Pittsburgh Steelers
In Mike McCarthy’s first year with the Steelers, could the organization known for patience and composure get unusually aggressive?
Looking up and down Pittsburgh’s roster, there just aren’t a ton of glaring holes. Yet, the Steelers have five picks on the first two days of the draft, including three picks in Round 3.
Pittsburgh’s biggest need is arguably the interior offensive line, while depth at wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, and safety wouldn’t hurt. From the No. 21 spot, could they get aggressive to potentially snatch Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane from their division rivals, Baltimore and Cleveland? How about Carnell Tate to supersize the receiving corps?
A dancing partner to watch could be the Washington Commanders. Washington has no second-round pick due to the Laremy Tunsil deal. The mock draft simulator shows that picks 21, 53, 85, and 161 could snatch the No. 7 overall pick from Washington and still leave the Terrible Towels with two Day 2 selections.
Miami Dolphins
If there’s anything the Miami Dolphins have plenty of, it’s draft capital.
The team is now positioned with 11 picks across the three days of the draft, with needs just about everywhere. It wouldn’t be crazy if the Dolphins traded back and recouped more, either.
However, as Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan begin their reign over the organization, will there be a tone-setting force at No. 11? It seems early mock targets like Mansoor Delane and Carnell Tate will no longer be available.
Of course, Hafley and Sullivan come from a Green Bay organization that just took a mammoth swing at Micah Parsons. A similarly athletic off-ball linebacker-turned-EDGE could be had at No. 3 in Arvell Reese, and as mentioned, the Cardinals would like to move back.
The Mock Draft Simulator believes it would take picks 11, 43, and 140 for Miami to move up to No. 3, allowing them to still have plenty of Day 2 picks to potentially trade back again and recoup late-round capital.
Jacksonville Jaguars
James Gladstone swings for the bleachers. We saw that last year when he forked over Jacksonville’s 2026 first-round selection for Travis Hunter.
It wouldn’t be overly shocking to see him move up the board again. A deep Jaguars roster has one key need: a nose tackle.
The Ringer’s Todd McShay reports that the defensive tackle group is sliding as a whole. It’s no certainty that Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald is a first-round pick, and you’d presume that Clemson’s Peter Woods, Florida’s Caleb Banks, and Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter would follow him in some order.
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The Jags’ first pick is at No. 56, but they have 11 total selections and three third-round picks. It would only cost them picks 56, 81, and 164 to move all the way up to No. 36, according to the Mock Draft Simulator. That’s where a Las Vegas Raiders team with a ton of holes sits and might be willing to slide back.
