All articles tagged with #trade up
KC moved up three spots in the 2026 NFL Draft to draft LSU corner Mansoor Delane with a top-five grade, expecting him to start immediately and anchor a retooled secondary after the departures of Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Brian Cook, while praising his size, athleticism, ball skills, wrestling-honed toughness and fit for Steve Spagnuolo's scheme.
The Steelers moved up from No. 53 to No. 47 to draft Alabama WR Germie Bernard, a receiver who played for Michigan State, Washington and Alabama. In 2025 he posted 64 receptions for 862 yards and seven touchdowns, after leading Alabama in receptions in 2024 and 2025. The trade sent 53, 135 and 237 to the Colts in exchange for 47 and 249, with Indianapolis’ next pick then at No. 53.
With 11 picks, the Steelers are positioned to influence Day 2 of the NFL Draft and are reportedly among teams ready to move up in the second round, as Browns, Saints, and Dolphins also look to climb; potential targets include WRs Denzel Boston, Germie Bernard, and Zachariah Branch, though Pittsburgh could also address left guard Chase Bisontis or ILB/CB/DT options if BPA; several teams (49ers, Cardinals, Bills) are reportedly open to back moves, and Pittsburgh's No. 53 pick would cost roughly a third-rounder, with Omar Khan having moved up once before in 2023—so a push early on Day 2 is likely.
In a PFF second-round mock, the Steelers are shown trading up from 21 to 44 to draft Alabama WR Germie Bernard, one pick ahead of the Ravens, after previously liking Max Iheanachor. Bernard would bring strong after-the-catch ability and route savvy to pair with DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.; with several other WRs still available, Pittsburgh would likely need to move up to secure him, using its three third-round picks and two fourth-rounders to make a deal if they deem him worth it.
With Makai Lemon off the board, the Steelers are weighing an aggressive Day-2 move to trade up for a wide receiver, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Pittsburgh could target remaining WRs such as Denzel Boston or Germie Bernard, using picks No. 76, 85 and 99 to climb. The team also needs a left guard, and first-rounder Max Iheanachor will play tackle. Boston and Bernard were visited by Pittsburgh, and the club is aiming to add an immediate contributor at receiver to pair with Iheanachor for the long term.
With the 2026 NFL Draft underway, Cleveland is reportedly considering moving up late in the first round, possibly to target QB Ty Simpson, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, as part of a broader strategy that could retool the roster and keep Browns fans up late waiting for a result.
Final 2026 mock drafts from several outlets suggest the Eagles may trade up to target a premier offensive tackle (Kadyn Proctor or Monroe Freeling) to plan for Lane Johnson’s replacement, with various trade scenarios and partners (Lions, Cowboys, Jets, etc.). The consensus centers on bolstering the OL via a calculated move rather than a wait-and-see approach, and the piece notes the Eagles’ emphasis on tiers and development behind established players.
National mock drafts largely project the Eagles will use their 2026 first-round pick on an offensive tackle, with Kadyn Proctor, Monroe Freeling, Caleb Lomu, Blake Miller and Max Iheanachor among the top targets. Several projections stage a trade up to picks around 15–16 to secure an OT behind Lane Johnson, who will be 36 next year. The piece also notes mixed sentiment on first‑round WR/TE options and highlights the final tally: Miller is the most frequently projected pick (4 projections), followed by Freeling and Iheanachor (3 each), with Lomu (2) and single projections for Proctor, Omar Cooper, Kenyon Sadiq, Denzel Boston, and Spencer Fano across 17 mocks, totaling nine different players referenced.}
The Detroit Lions are reportedly calling teams to trade up from 17 in the NFL Draft to secure an offensive tackle, a move tied to Brad Holmes’ history of moving up for his targets and influenced by draft-day market dynamics that could push teams to act before Detroit picks.
The Kansas City Chiefs are weighing a bold first-round maneuver in the 2026 NFL Draft, exploring a trade up from the No. 9 pick (potentially as high as No. 3) or a move back to maximize value. They’re eyeing pass rushers, receivers, or offensive tackles, and could also keep the 29th pick or leverage 2027 capital. If the top targets slip, KC could stand pat and let others move, with teams like the Browns, Rams, Giants, and Eagles among potential trade partners.
The Steelers, led by GM Omar Khan, are prepared to trade up across the first two draft days, even multiple times, to address major needs while limiting risk to their top-100 picks. Day 1 targets include Spencer Fano (OT), Makai Lemon (WR), Vega Ioane (OG), and Monroe Freeling (OT) as top options to upgrade the line and receiving corps; Day 1 notes suggest Caleb Downs and a few others are unlikely to fall into range. Day 2 options expand to a mix of guards, linebackers, and defensive backs—guys like Jacob Rodriguez, Treydan Stukes, Keylan Rutledge, Jake Golday, and Germie Bernard—depending on who’s available, with the goal of maximizing value while balancing positional needs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers may push up in the 2026 NFL Draft to snag a premier offensive tackle, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 15 viewed as a likely trade partner. Analysts note Pittsburgh could target Kadyn Proctor, Monroe Freeling, Spencer Fano, or Blake Miller, while uncertainty around Broderick Jones’s 2026 availability adds urgency. A value gap (Steelers 800 vs. No. 15’s 1,050) could be bridged by swapping the No. 53 pick or packaging other picks, and teams like Vega Ioane and Makai Lemon are also on the radar. Omar Khan has a history of moving up, making a bold move plausible if the right deal materializes.
Dulac says a first-round trade-up for the Steelers is as likely as ever, driven by a weaker top of the draft and Pittsburgh’s wealth of picks. The three players they’re most linked to are Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon, with Downs and Tate likely demanding bigger moves and Lemon offering a cheaper path. The pick-ups are not expected to target Fano or Ioane; Lemon could land around No. 11–16, possibly for a third-round cost, with potential trade partners including the Dolphins, Buccaneers and Jets. The Steelers might also weigh using a veteran or multiple Day 2 picks to facilitate a deal, continuing Omar Khan’s trend of trading up for perimeter playmakers rather than trench players. Expect continued, real buzz on draft night.
With added WRs and interior rush, the 49ers’ ideal Round 1 is to avoid reaching for a need and let the best player available drop, ideally enabling a trade-up for targets like Max Iheanachor or Blaker Miller or landing Caleb Lomu within range. The emphasis is on BPA, not a peg-on-need pick, while hoping other teams’ selections don’t push the Niners into an overpay or reach.
In a three-part Raiders mock series, Las Vegas trades up to No. 20 to select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza and pairs him with WR Omar Cooper, then fills needs at DT and LB with later picks; the big move could pay off if Mendoza and Cooper click, but it also unsettles the board and sparks questions about the draft strategy.