Expectations for 2026 NFL Draft: 'There'll probably be a lot of trades.' Here's who could be on move before and afterward

Big players. Big draft picks. Big intrigue. And next week might be shaping up in similar fashion.

As Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach framed it during his pre-draft meeting with the media Thursday: “It should be an entertaining night. There’ll probably be a lot of trades.”

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid are playing with two first-round draft picks. (Emily Curiel/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

(Kansas City Star via Getty Images)

In the run-up to the draft that has seen no shortage of lamenting the overall lack of superstars on the board, that becomes part of the allure. It’s a choose-your-adventure selection process where beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder, but also the subject of debate from one player to the next. Even now, there’s not an absolute certainty who the No. 2 overall pick will be — which only fuels the possibility of teams jockeying for certain slots in the draft and using either picks or veteran players to make the move happen.

“The fans will be in for a treat next Thursday because I think the grades [assigned by teams to players] are going to be so close from some of these [offensive] tackles and [defensive] ends and receivers,” Veach said. “A lot of these guys that are mocked high may go a little lower and a lot of these guys mocked a little lower may go higher, because I think they’re so close this year. There’s not this huge gap and huge falloff.

“That’s what a draft like this, when you don’t have two or three [elite] quarterbacks and a Will Anderson or Myles Garret, does. It lends itself to open up to a lot of fun and movement.”

It also fuels months of trade talk and speculation about veteran players and who might be available in the days leading up to the draft, then during the draft itself and the months after, as teams figure out every avenue to filling remaining roster gaps. With that in mind, Yahoo Sports reached out to a handful of personnel executives seeking what veterans or trends have the potential to come into play over the remainder of this draft cycle and in the weeks that follow it.

Some players and trends to keep in mind …

Dexter Lawrence, DT, New York Giants

From all accounts, the extension talks with Lawrence have hit the rocks. So much so that multiple teams think the situation could devolve into this offseason’s Micah Parsons soap opera, potentially dragging onto the doorstep of the regular season. Lawrence has two years left on his current deal and turns 29 in November, but his guaranteed money has run out and there’s an inclination on the part of the two-time All Pro’s camp to get another bite at the contract apple now rather than waiting for Lawrence to hit the dreaded 30-year marker.

And I’m going to say it now because we’ll see it kicking in the next few years: The massive three-year, $81 million contract signed by Tyler Linderbaum is going to impact not only salary jumps along the offensive line, but also for premium defensive tackles who can pressure the pocket. Just like when wide receivers got paid, their cornerback counterparts pushed that to the negotiating table. Linderbaum’s deal will float the demands of centers, guards, tackles and multiple premium defensive tackles will be looking to get over the $30 million annual average before you know it. That reality foreshadows a standoff between Lawrence and the Giants that could get bitter quickly. And other NFL teams will try to seize on that in trade inquiries. Lawrence won’t be nearly as expensive as Parsons was a year ago, which opens the door to a potential trade before, during or after the draft.

A.J. Brown, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Howie Roseman isn’t going to shed any light on Brown until a move is imminent, but his actions in rounding out his wide receiver room are speaking volumes. He has the ammunition to select another rookie wideout if the board sets up right. Hollywood Brown and Elijah Moore were signed for 2026. And the move that should have raised eyebrows was Roseman giving up two sixth-round picks (in 2026 and 2027) for Green Bay Packers wideout Dontayvion Wicks — then giving Wicks a one-year extension for $12.5 million that will take him through the 2027 season. That pairs Wicks up again with new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion, who spent the past two years in Green Bay as an offensive assistant and then quarterbacks coach.

Just from conversations with people in the Eagles’ organization, I think there’s a sense that Wicks can level up from where he was with the Packers, where he flashed promise but also frustrated the staff with drops. It didn’t help that Green Bay had a cluttered and constantly banged-up wide receiver room that seemed to result in stunted growth for basically all their wideouts. That the Eagles believe he can still achieve another level — and the reality that he turns only 25 in June — is suggestive of something more than a bit role. Or at least the opportunity for a larger role will be there.

That draws more focus to Brown, who is suddenly in a room with more depth and experience, and the Eagles having the ability to add another receiver in the draft. While a Brown deal isn’t expected until after June 1 (to allow his cap hit to be split between 2026 and 2027), it feels likelier with each passing move from Roseman, as well as the New England Patriots still clearly lacking a true No. 1 wideout on the roster.

Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

This one is flying a little under the radar given that the Jets do not appear to have interest in moving off Wilson right now. In fact, I think the Jets want to make sure he’s around to be paired with a long-term quarterback of the future — which I think will arrive in the 2027 draft — so that a rookie won’t be saddled with a depleted set of skill position players. That said, I definitely got a sense when I was working on the All-Juice Team and speaking to a lot of front offices that Wilson is going to draw some “check-in” calls before, during or after the draft from teams that miss out on a preferred wide receiver target. Wilson also fits in the schemes of virtually every team that is eyeing a potential first-round receiver in this draft.

Again, to be clear: I haven’t heard any indication whatsoever that the Jets are shopping him. But there are a few teams that view Wilson among potential trade inquiries if the draft doesn’t break their way at wideout. And while it seems unlikely the new Jets regime would trade both Sauce Gardner and Wilson after signing them to extensions last offseason, I’d never say it’s impossible.

Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig, LBs, Pittsburgh Steelers

Highsmith’s name, along with fellow edge Nick Herbig are definitely floating around front offices as the draft approaches, although it seems that any trade would be a one-but-not-both scenario, with Highsmith being the likelier candidate to get moved. Highsmith turns 29 in August and still has two years remaining for a total scheduled base salary of $30 million ($14.5 in 2026 and $15.5 in 2027). With a strong year in 2026, it’s expected he’ll try to get back to the negotiating table for an extension that resets his salary and gets him another two years of guaranteed money. But with Herbig waiting in the wings and having been very productive while rotating with Highsmith and T.J. Watt, the Steelers are expected to take some calls on Highsmith if the phone rings. As one high-level personnel executive said, “I think they will trade one of them [between Highsmith and Herbig].”

Nick Herbig (left) celebrates a sack with teammate Alex Highsmith during the regular-season finale against the Ravens last January. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

(Joe Sargent via Getty Images)

While Herbig’s name has come up in conversations with teams about potential trade targets, it feels like the more acquirable player at this point would be Highsmith. Herbig is younger and has been productive despite limited starts. The complication is that he’s ascending and due for a contract extension after this season and the market for him — barring an injury or setback in his play — is quickly moving north. As a platoon player, his sack totals have gone from three as a rookie to 5.5 in his second year and then 7.5 last season. With another step up in performance, his next deal (and this is almost certainly being conservative) may have to start with a $20 million annual average as a salary floor. To know whether or not that’s fully justified, Herbig really needs to be used as a full-time starter to get the best possible projection. That may happen only if the Steelers can move Highsmith in a deal. If that’s not achievable or simply not getting traction, there are going to be some teams calling about Herbig. That doesn’t mean he’s available, but other front offices sense the logjam the Steelers are dealing with.

What this draft says about WR market

Talking to teams, you get the sense that even after the Wicks trade between the Packers and Eagles, there isn’t a lot of remaining appetite to onboard other young-ish receivers in need of a “fresh start.” Why? Because the draft is consistently offering clean slates to work with that haven’t already showcased limitations in the NFL. As one executive put it, the receiver development in college is no longer linear — and that’s a good thing: “Every draft has speed there now and the transfer portal keeps opening new possibilities for development. Ten years ago, you might have been stuck waiting to see if a guy at Alabama or LSU would finally pop in Year 4. Now that guy has transferred after Year 2 and is hitting his stride as a junior somewhere else. Look at [Texas A&M wideout] KC Concepcion.”

The point the executive was making is that perhaps more than any other position, the portal has provided a renewable depth in WR classes that looks like it’s going to be a regular occurrence. So why give up draft capital to go trade for unproven receivers who have hit a wall of limitation — and now need a new horizon — when you have deep drafts to select someone with a clean slate? The guys I’m thinking of: Kansas City’s Xavier Worthy, Buffalo’s Keon Coleman, Carolina’s Xavier Legette, etc. While it’s possible teams miss out on receiver targets and then later look to fill holes with struggling young wideouts later, that’s going to come at a cheaper cost and with far fewer competitors to deal with.

J.J. McCarthy’s trade value appears low

Maybe I’m the only one who continues to believe this, but I don’t think the Vikings are really trying to have a quarterback competition between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray. I don’t think McCarthy’s trade value is going to go anywhere but down from here. If the Vikings are eventually going to deal him, this is the window — either during this draft or afterward — with a team that is looking for a young developmental backup. This is going to become an Anthony Richardson/Zach Wilson scenario quickly, where there is just no value to be had from a former high draft pick. And something to keep in mind about whether McCarthy is even tradable: Malik Willis’ starting career looked like it was torched after his first two years with the Tennessee Titans, but he landed in the right place in Green Bay and turned it around. McCarthy needs that kind of new start. If they can get a look at a guy at a reasonable price, teams will deal for quarterbacks if they haven’t completely gone off a cliff yet.