2026 NFL Mock Draft 5.1: Trades that could shake up Round 1

No 2026 NFL Mock Draft you see will be 100% correct. One of the biggest reasons is that teams will make trades, and a player you would never expect to go to a certain team in a certain spot will come off the board when a team trades up. So, which trades could completely flip Round 1 on its head this year? Let’s take a look at the top possibilities with this first ClutchPoints 2026 NFL Mock Draft that includes trades.

Since this is a mock draft with trades, we’re going to go all out with potential deals that could realistically happen in Round 1. However, don’t be surprised if this draft has fewer trades than the average selection weekend. The reasons for this are twofold.

Because this is generally considered a weaker draft class, especially at the top, while several teams may love to trade back, they may not be able to find a partner willing to give up draft capital to move up for this group of prospects. Plus, with the 2027 NFL Draft class expected to be stacked, teams will likely not be willing to give up next year’s first, which is often what it takes to make a big trade in Round 1.

That said, there will still be trades in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and here’s what some of those could look like.

Previous mock draft: NFL Mock Draft 1.0 | Mock Draft 2.0 | Mock Draft 3.0 | Mock Draft 4.0 | Mock Draft 5.0

1. Las Vegas Raiders — QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

The one place we are completely sure there won’t be a trade in the 2026 NFL Draft is at pick No. 1. The Raiders are all in on Fernando Mendoza, so he will be the pick here no matter what. After that, it could start to get interesting.

2. New York Jets — LB/EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

Arvell Reese is one of the few players in this draft who almost everyone agrees has a Micah Parsons-like ceiling. The Jets absolutely need a difference-maker like that at a premium position, and they are in a place where they can wait a year or two for the pass-rush skills to develop. New York needs to not overthink this and stay where they are.

3. Washington Commanders (via trade with Cardinals) — RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

The Commanders need a game-changer to take some pressure off of Jayden Daniels, and none of the wideouts in the 2026 NFL Draft are surefire NFL stars. Running back Jeremiyah Love does fit that bill, though, but they will have to jump the Titans to go up and get the former Notre Dame back.

4. Tennessee Titans — EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech

This is an “eat your vegetables” pick for the Titans. They’d like to take the flashy running back to get the fans excited and sell tickets to their new stadium. However, if the Commanders leapfrog them, as they do in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, the Tennessee will be forced to make the responsible pick and take the pass rusher who Robert Saleh will make into a star.

5. New York Giants — LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

The Giants are another team that seems tempted to take Love, but gets a hand from the Commanders by taking that off the table. It seems as though Sonny Styles to the G Men is becoming more and more of a lock, which is a great fit. Styles is the perfect converted-safety-turned-modern-off-ball-linebacker who can help bring New York’s talent on that side of the ball together.

6. Dallas Cowboys (via trade with Browns) — EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

The Cowboys had a huge presence at the Miami Pro Day, and Rueben Bain Jr. is the type of all-around EDGE that Jerry Jones seems to want to replace Micah Parsons with. Despite his short arms, Bain’s production in college will likely be too much to ignore on draft day, so Jerry will move up six slots to ensure he gets his man.

Also, one note for this ClutchPoints’ 2026 NFL Mock Draft with trades. While we won’t get into specifics about trade packages, we will note that this one includes the Cowboys going from 12 to 6 and from 20 to 24 with the Browns.

7. Arizona Cardinals (via trade with the Commanders) — OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

This is a great deal for the Cardinals, as they get the player we projected that they would take in ClutchPoints 2026 NFL Mock Draft 5.0. So, they get their right tackle in Francis Mauigoa, and they get some extra draft capital, which may come in handy later in this draft (foreshadowing!).

8. New Orleans Saints — WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

The Saints are the start of the “keep calm and carry on” section of the 2026 NFL Draft, meaning if these next three teams just don’t panic and make a silly move, they will have excellent players and great fits fall to them at the back half of the top 10.

For the Saints, that means getting arguably the best pass-catcher in this class with Carnell Tate. He will immediately make the Saints offense better and help in Tyler Shough’s development.

9. Kansas City Chiefs — CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

At No. 9, the Chiefs can immediately replace Trent McDuffie with Mansoor Delane. The LSU corner is a player who will be a lot cheaper and who has a solid chance to be as good, if not better, than the corner they traded to the Rams.

10. Cincinnati Bengals — S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

The Bengals have a chance to have a true leader, playmaker, and superstar on the defensive side of the ball for the first time in a long time, and maybe for the first true time in franchise history. Yes, Caleb Downs is a safety, and there is less positional value here than at other spots. That said, Downs can be a real force multiplier in the NFL, and that is worth the 10th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

11. Detroit Lions (via trade with Dolphins) — OT Spencer Fano, Utah

After releasing Taylor Decker, the Lions have a big need for a right tackle as they move All-Pro Penei Sewell to LT. They also struggled at center last season, and even with Cade Mays now on the roster, that could still be a need. In Spencer Fano, the Lions get a player they can try to start at right tackle right away, and if that doesn’t work, starting guard or even center is Fano’s floor.

Sitting at 17 and taking the best RT available doesn’t give them a player with the talent, upside, or versatility of Fano, which is why this trade-up makes sense.

12. Cleveland Browns (via trade with Cowboys) — OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Like the Cardinals before them, the Browns can move back here and still get the offensive lineman they want. Monroe Freeling may not have the experience as a one-year starter, but at 6-foot-7, 315 pounds, he is the best true left tackle prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via trade with Rams) — TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Yes, the Buccaneers need help at edge rusher and linebacker, but after losing Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield needs some new friends, too. With only one first-round tight end in this year’s class, the Buccaneers will likely have to trade up for the fastest TE the NFL draft has ever seen. Kenyon Sadiq can help supercharge the Bucs offense, and that would be a major win in this draft.

14. Baltimore Ravens — WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

As Lamar Jackson closes in on 30, isn’t it time to get him his first true WR1? Yes, Jordyn Tyson has injury concerns, but if he can stay healthy after a run of injuries in college, the Ravens will get a huge bargain at pick 14.

15. Los Angeles Rams (via trade with Buccaneers) — WR Makai Lemon, USC

This is a win-now season for the Rams, and taking the most well-rounded wide receiver in this class makes a lot of sense. With Puka Nakua dealing with a host of offseason drama, his availability for 2026 is in question, so if LA can get Makai Lemon and pick up a few more selections in Rounds 2 or 3, that would be ideal.

16. Philadelphia Eagles (via trade with Jets) — S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

Howie Roseman loves to move around the draft board, and moving up to target an elite athlete like Dillon Thieneman seems like a move he would make. Replacing or even upgrading on Reed Blakenship after he signed with the Texans would help keep the Philly defense as a top unit, or even help it make the jump to elite status.

17. Miami Dolphins (via trade with Lions) — EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

The Dolphins are taking the biggest dead cap hit in league history this season, so signing a lot of rookies is crucial. Trading back and getting more picks will help them fill out the roster this season and set them up for the future. They can also afford to wait on raw talent, which Keldric Faulk is. At just 20 years old, it may be two to three years until Faulk shows what he can truly do at the next level, and Miami is a team uniquely suited to take that risk.

18. Los Angeles Chargers (via trade with Vikings) — G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

There are a host of teams coming up that would love to grab the best true guard in the draft to solidify the offensive line, which is why the Chargers can’t wait around until pick 22 to pull the trigger on Vega Ioane. The team needs to beef up the run game and better protect Justin Herbert, and Ioane checks both those boxes.

19. Carolina Panthers — S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

The Panthers did as good a job as any team filling holes this offseason. They don’t have a ton of glaring needs, although they would have loved if one of the top three WRs fell to 19. That’s not the case in this 2026 NFL Mock Draft, though, so they will take their second biggest need, which is safety. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren will set the tone for the Panthers defense next season and help them become one of the league’s upper echelon units.

20. Cleveland Browns (via trade with Cowboys) — WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

While the Browns can move back from No. 6 and still get the offensive lineman they covet, moving from 24 to 20 also makes sense so the franchise can target whomever they feel is the best wideout in the second tier of wide receivers. In this case, that is Omar Cooper Jr., who can do it all and make plays after the catch, which will help Shedeur Sanders (or whoever plays QB for the Browns) immensely.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers — OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama

Kadyn Proctor is a massive human being who can likely play tackle or guard at the NFL level. The Steelers could use a tackle or a guard in the 2026 NFL Draft, so this is a perfect fit. And they shouldn’t have to move up to get him.

22. Minnesota Vikings (via trade with Chargers) — DT Peter Woods, Clemson

The Vikings do need a safety to replace Harrison Smith if he is, in fact, done. However, the weakest position group on their defense is actually defensive tackle. This draft has a lot of DT specialists, but Peter Woods is one of the few who can do a little bit of everything, which will fill a big need for Brian Flores.

23. Buffalo Bills (via trade with Eagles, Jets) — EDGE Ahkeem Mesidor, Miami

The Jets keep on moving back and adding assets here as they continue their rebuild, and they do so with their AFC East foe, the Bills. On the Buffalo side, Brandon Beane loves trading up a few spots to get his guy, usually to mediocre results at best.

For this pick, the Bills go get one of the best pass rushers in the draft, even though Akheem Mesidor is an old prospect at 25. Josh Allen needs help on the other side of the ball now, though, and this is one team that doesn’t care about the second contract.

24. Dallas Cowboys (via trade with Browns) — LB C.J. Allen, Georgia

Getting an off-ball linebacker would help the Cowboys’ defense immensely, and they can trade back a bit and still get C.J. Allen. The former Georgia linebacker is a green dot captain waiting to happen, and is the type of player who can lead a defense to the top of the statistical rankings.

25. Chicago Bears — EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson

The Bears can stay put and bulk up their defensive line one way or another. In T.J. Parker, they get a serviceable defensive end who has double-digit sack upside if he returns to his 2024 form. Even if he’s 2025 Parker, though, after Clemson’s season from hell, he can still make a solid impact against the run.

26. New York Jets (via trade with Bills) — CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

The Jets keep moving back and get great value here. Jermod McCoy might be the No. 1 CB in this draft if not for his knee injury last year. As it stands, the Jets don’t have to rush him back, so this is a steal, especially with the added picks.

27. San Francisco 49ers — OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

The 49ers need a guard right now and a cornerstone left tackle for the future. Since Max Iheanachor is so inexperienced and raw, the Niners can mold him into whatever they need, including Trent Williams’ eventual replacement.

28. Arizona Cardinals (via trade with Texans) — QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

If a team believes in a quarterback as a second-rounder, they should consider trading back into the end of the first, so they get a fifth-year option on that player. That’s exactly what the Cardinals do here, grabbing Ty Simpson. And the beauty is, after trading back and getting more seconds and thirds, Arizona won’t have to give away its 2027 first, which could easily be a top-three selection.

As for the Texans, they did a great job filling all their holes on both sides of the ball this offseason, so at this point, they are drafting more for future upside and depth. A trade with the Cardinals could have them end up with up to six top 100 picks, or even a coveted 2027 selection or two.

29. Kansas City Chiefs — EDGE Zion Young, Missouri

The Chiefs could use a demon off the edge, and they have used this type of late-round pick before to try and get that. In Zion Young, they have the best chance of finally finding what they are looking for, and as KC has shown us over and over, they have no issue drafting players with character concerns.

30. Miami Dolphins — WR Denzel Boston, Washington

Since the Dolphins signed Malik Willis, they owe him at least one WR to throw to. Right now, the ‘Phins’ entire starting WR group would be lucky to make most NFL rosters. With big Denzel Boston, Miami gets a guy with a WR1 frame who can help Willis or next year’s No. 1 pick.

31. New England Patriots — WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

Drake Maye needs some more weapons now that Stefon Diggs is gone. In KC Concepcion, the Patriots get Diggs 2.0. He doesn’t have elite size, but the former Aggie can go up and get the ball, then make magic once it is in his hands. Adding a weapon like this will scare the rest of the AFC.

32. Seattle Seahawks — CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

With the fewest picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Seahawks would love to trade out of this spot. However, the reality of this year’s draft is that there are no players left in this NFL mock draft who teams would give up serious capital to get.

So, in this case, look for Seattle to fill a need with a high-floor player in Averion Terrell. He can immediately become a starter and help the Seahawks defend their title.

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