NFL Teams Most Likely to Trade Down in 1st Round of 2026 Draft

ESPN analysts predict Bills and Seahawks as top candidates to move back on draft night

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:19pm

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A cubist, fragmented painting depicting an abstract NFL draft scene, with sharp geometric shapes in muted earth tones representing the strategic positioning and negotiations between teams.The complex geometry of the NFL draft landscape, with teams maneuvering to secure the best position and assets.Philadelphia Today

With the 2026 NFL Draft just three weeks away, ESPN analysts Field Yates and Matt Miller have identified the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks as the teams most likely to trade down from their first-round picks. The Bills, who lack a second-round selection after a previous trade, could look to move back from No. 26 to acquire more picks, while the Seahawks own the final pick of the opening round and have historically been active in draft-day trades.

Why it matters

Trading down in the draft can be a strategic move for teams looking to acquire more selections and address multiple needs, especially for clubs like the Bills who are missing picks in the middle rounds. The Seahawks' history of trading the last pick of the first round also makes them a prime candidate to move back and potentially gain additional assets.

The details

Miller cited the Bills as a team to watch, noting they gave up their second-round pick in the DJ Moore trade and could look to move back from No. 26 to add more selections in the 2026 draft. Yates predicted the Seahawks, who own the final pick of the first round, as another likely trade-down candidate, as teams picking at the top of the second round often look to move up to secure the fifth-year option on first-round selections.

  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26.
  • The Bills traded away their second-round pick in the 2025 offseason.

The players

Field Yates

ESPN NFL analyst who predicted the Seattle Seahawks as a team likely to trade down in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Matt Miller

ESPN NFL draft analyst who identified the Buffalo Bills as a team to watch for a potential trade-down in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Buffalo Bills

An NFL team that lacks a second-round pick in the 2026 draft after a previous trade, making them a potential candidate to move back from their first-round selection to acquire more selections.

Seattle Seahawks

An NFL team that owns the final pick of the first round in the 2026 draft, a spot that has been traded in each of the last two years and three times in the last four years, making them a likely trade-down candidate.

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What they’re saying

“The Bills have been a popular trade-down candidate in various expert mock drafts. It makes sense because they gave up their second-round pick in the DJ Moore trade, so after their first selection at No. 26, they won't pick again until No. 91 overall in the third round.”

— Matt Miller, ESPN NFL draft analyst

“Yates picking the Seahawks, who own the final pick of the first round, feels like a bit of a cheat because it's not uncommon for teams picking at the top of Day 2 to move up in order to give themselves the fifth-year option and ensure other clubs that might have interest in the same player can't steal them.”

— Adam Wells, Bleacher Report writer

What’s next

With the 2026 NFL Draft just three weeks away, teams will continue to evaluate their draft strategies and explore potential trade scenarios as they look to maximize their selections and address roster needs.

The takeaway

The Bills and Seahawks have emerged as prime candidates to trade down in the 2026 NFL Draft's first round, highlighting how teams can leverage their draft capital to acquire more picks and build their rosters. This reflects the strategic nature of the draft process as clubs seek to position themselves for long-term success.