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NFL Draft pick trade value chart: How teams make deals with a number assigned to every spot in 2026
TL;DR
The NFL Draft pick trade value chart assigns a numerical value to each draft spot, aiding teams in making trades. Originally created by Mike McCoy for the Cowboys, it remains a key tool for draft negotiations in 2026.
Key points
- NFL Draft pick trade value chart assigns values to draft spots
- Created by Mike McCoy for the Cowboys in the 1990s
- Used by teams to facilitate draft pick trades
- Standardizes trade negotiations for the 2026 NFL Draft
Mentioned in this story
Dallas Cowboys
NFL Draft pick trade value chart: How teams make deals with a number assigned to every spot in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NFL Draft is a lot more art than science, except when it comes to trading draft picks.
That's because there's a chart for that, one that assigns a value to every spot in the draft. So with the 2026 NFL Draft about to get underway, it's worth taking a look.
The system was created by Mike McCoy in the 1990s to be utilized by Jimmy Johnson to help the Cowboys get a leg up.
Now, everyone knows the chart -- and so teams either need to create their own systems or recognize that, on paper, they're trading with exactly the same values.
Every year, there are a lot of draft pick trades.
The chart for 2026 helps at least make sense of most of them (although future picks are always a bit ambiguous in terms of value.
MORE:The full origin story of ESPN's NFL Draft pick chime
2026 NFL Draft pick trade value chart
This is the full value chart for the 2026 NFL Draft (with order as of Thursday morning), with values via Pro Football Reference:
| Round | Pick | Value | Team |
|---|
Q&A
What is the NFL Draft pick trade value chart?
The NFL Draft pick trade value chart assigns a numerical value to each draft position, helping teams assess trade offers.
Who created the NFL Draft pick trade value chart?
The chart was created by Mike McCoy in the 1990s for use by Jimmy Johnson with the Dallas Cowboys.
How does the trade value chart impact NFL Draft trades?
The chart standardizes the perceived value of draft picks, allowing teams to negotiate trades based on these established values.
When will the 2026 NFL Draft take place?
The exact date for the 2026 NFL Draft has not been specified, but it typically occurs in late April.
