play2:09Darlington: Eagles to operate in draft as if A.J. Brown will be tradedJeff Darlington, Domonique Foxworth and Mike Tannenbaum discuss the Eagles’ potential draft plans and what it could mean for A.J. Brown.
play1:50Why Graziano says Cardinals should avoid drafting Jeremiyah Love at No. 3Dan Graziano discusses why taking Jeremiyah Love early in the NFL draft could be a bad financial decision.
play1:02Why Tannenbaum says Steelers should draft Ty SimpsonMike Tannenbaum and Jason McCourty discuss why the Steelers should consider drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson even if Aaron Rodgers returns.
play1:07Why Schrager has ‘most polarizing prospect’ going to Chiefs in his mock draftPeter Schrager breaks down why he has Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson going ninth to the Chiefs in his NFL mock draft.
play1:49Jeff Darlington: Chiefs’ 9th pick is ‘pivot point’ in NFL draftJeff Darlington and Domonique Foxworth discuss the importance of the Chiefs’ draft pick at No. 9.
play1:54Jordan Rodgers: Cousins signing with Raiders is best thing for MendozaThe “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that Kirk Cousins will sign with the Raiders, and analyzes what this means for Fernando Mendoza.
Schefter: A.J. Brown likely to be traded to the Patriots post-June 1 (2:00)Adam Schefter reports that the Eagles are likely to deal A.J. Brown to the Patriots after June 1. (2:00)
Darlington: Eagles to operate in draft as if A.J. Brown will be tradedJeff Darlington, Domonique Foxworth and Mike Tannenbaum discuss the Eagles’ potential draft plans and what it could mean for A.J. Brown.
Jeff Darlington, Domonique Foxworth and Mike Tannenbaum discuss the Eagles’ potential draft plans and what it could mean for A.J. Brown.
Why Graziano says Cardinals should avoid drafting Jeremiyah Love at No. 3Dan Graziano discusses why taking Jeremiyah Love early in the NFL draft could be a bad financial decision.
Dan Graziano discusses why taking Jeremiyah Love early in the NFL draft could be a bad financial decision.
Why Tannenbaum says Steelers should draft Ty SimpsonMike Tannenbaum and Jason McCourty discuss why the Steelers should consider drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson even if Aaron Rodgers returns.
Mike Tannenbaum and Jason McCourty discuss why the Steelers should consider drafting Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson even if Aaron Rodgers returns.
Why Schrager has ‘most polarizing prospect’ going to Chiefs in his mock draftPeter Schrager breaks down why he has Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson going ninth to the Chiefs in his NFL mock draft.
Peter Schrager breaks down why he has Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson going ninth to the Chiefs in his NFL mock draft.
Jeff Darlington: Chiefs’ 9th pick is ‘pivot point’ in NFL draftJeff Darlington and Domonique Foxworth discuss the importance of the Chiefs’ draft pick at No. 9.
Jordan Rodgers: Cousins signing with Raiders is best thing for MendozaThe “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that Kirk Cousins will sign with the Raiders, and analyzes what this means for Fernando Mendoza.
The “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that Kirk Cousins will sign with the Raiders, and analyzes what this means for Fernando Mendoza.
Adam SchefterApr 20, 2026, 06:20 AM ETMultiple Authors
Fewer first-round trades possible, but watch the Browns
The 2026 NFL draft begins Thursday night in Pittsburgh, so it’s a good time to share some intel and insights from around the league.
Every draft has its surprises, and everyone will spend this week trying to figure out what will happen once Round 1 begins. A few days before the 2025 draft, this column suggested, “New [Jaguars] GM James Gladstone — who has 10 picks to work with, including four in the top 90 — might not be that predictable. As one league executive said recently: ‘Jacksonville is a wild card — watch.'”
Sure enough, moments after the Titans selected quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 selection, the Jaguars traded the No. 5 pick, a second-rounder, a fourth-rounder and a future first-rounder to the Browns in exchange for a fourth-rounder, sixth-rounder and the No. 2 pick — which Jacksonville used on cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter. The trade had actually been agreed to roughly two weeks before the draft and managed to stay quiet until the Browns were on the clock, per sources.
Two years ago, a few days before the 2024 draft, this column stated: “One NFL general manager said he believes ‘there is an undercurrent of support for Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix,’ even though his team doesn’t have a first-round grade on either. This particular general manager said he believes both Penix and Nix are Day 2 picks. Some teams disagree, and there now is speculation Penix could go as high as No. 8 to the Falcons.” It turned out to be the exact spot where Penix was picked.
This is the second time that Pittsburgh has hosted the NFL draft, the first being in December 1947, when 300 players were selected over 32 rounds. The draft has now become more of an event — and it should be a true celebration of how far it and the league have come over the past 80 years when the first round begins Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, live on ESPN, ABC, the ESPN App and the NFL Network. Cue “Renegade.”
One GM said last week that this was not a great year to have a top-10 pick. Another front office executive called the first half of Round 1 “uninspiring,” saying, “There are good players, but not a lot of star power.” Other executives say they believe that one of the strong suits of this class might be in the third and fourth rounds, where many of those good players and opportunities await.
As difficult as it is to predict, it doesn’t stop many from trying to figure out how it will unfold. Here is some of the informed speculation floating around leading into this week’s draft.
Jump to a section: A.J. Brown, Eagles trade talk Other trade candidates to watch Jeremiyah Love’s stock Teams looking to move up, down Ty Simpson landing spots Questions for the Steelers Buzz on the WR class Mendoza and the QB class Seahawks, Chiefs targets
No matter what happens at this week’s draft, an A.J. Brown trade to the Patriots is still on the table and still tracking to happen on or after June 1, per league sources. The two sides have discussed a deal, but neither has been willing to commit to it until after June 1, when Brown’s $40 million salary cap charge would be split between this year and next.
All the elements remain in place to make it happen, and Brown to the Patriots is still the likely outcome … just not during this week’s draft, per sources. Put the trade on hold for now, but things will soon quickly warm back up. The Eagles remain open to trading Brown, the Patriots remain highly interested in acquiring the star receiver, and conversations are expected to resume on or before June 1, probably culminating in a deal, per league sources.
The Patriots remain at the forefront of trade talks for Brown. Another team could always emerge, and there’s a lot of time between now and June 1. But as of now, multiple sources say they believe Brown will likely become a Patriot.
The Eagles could make trades beyond any Brown-related move. League sources say that general manager Howie Roseman is plotting to make a deal on draft weekend. Roseman usually has a trick or two up his sleeve, and other front office executives suspect there’s one coming this week.
League sources say the Eagles and Vikings could revisit discussions they already have had during the upcoming draft, but talks have lost steam in recent weeks. The Eagles’ wish list of trade candidates goes well beyond Greenard, per sources, though. Roseman almost always has a Plan A, B, C and D, and his team is one to monitor on one of the busiest weekends of the NFL calendar.
Darlington: Eagles to operate in draft as if A.J. Brown will be traded
Though Brown and Greenard are two of the biggest trade candidates — and the Giants already traded defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II on Saturday to Cincinnati for the No. 10 pick — there are plenty more who could be dealt during the upcoming draft.
Those who could gain interest include Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., Titans quarterback Will Levis, Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler, Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II, Giants edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman and 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, among others.
One quarterback not expected to go anywhere is San Francisco’s Mac Jones, whose market never heated up this offseason. Asked at last month’s owners meetings why he thought there had not been a more robust market for Jones, Browns coach Todd Monken told reporters he could not comment because the 49ers quarterback is under contract and any comment could be construed as tampering.
“I would just tell Kyle [Shanahan] to cut him,” Monken joked. “And then we’ll see what the market is.”
Even though he will not go No. 1, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is considered by many to be the best player in this class and could become the first running back drafted in the top five picks since the Giants selected Saquon Barkley No. 2 in 2018. There are some who believe he could go as high as No. 3 to Arizona and no lower than No. 7 to Washington, which has been pushing to upgrade its backfield in each of the past two offseasons.
Why Graziano says Cardinals should avoid drafting Jeremiyah Love at No. 3
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is predicting an active Thursday with plenty of trades. Others are not so sure.
A potential trade-up candidate in the eyes of some front office executives is the Cowboys. They have two first-round picks — though they are said to want to hold onto pick No. 20 — and need a big-time defensive player. Speaking of which …
There are draft surprises every year, with players going in spots no one forecasted. Here’s one that, depending on how the first few picks play out, has generated some speculation in a handful of front offices.
Then Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese — or Bailey, if the Jets take Reese at No. 2 — could slide to No. 5. It would suddenly be very tempting for a team such as the Cowboys to potentially trade up for a top-tier pass rusher. Again, the draft would have to go a specific way for this scenario to play out. But two teams raised this scenario this weekend, wondering if it somehow could unfold this week. It’s exactly the type of scenario that makes the draft so compelling.