NFL Draft rumors on Cowboys trade up spots, Jets’ intel at No. 2, Giants at No. 5, and more

The 2026 NFL Draft begins exactly two weeks from tonight. Check out our latest mock draft here.

It’s officially rumors season as the draft approaches. Is the latest intel legit, or just another smokescreen? Let’s let’s dive into the newest draft rumors and see what feels real, and what could be propaganda.

What happens after Fernando Mendoza?

Based on what we know right now, the 2026 NFL Draft begins with the second pick.

The Las Vegas Raiders are unofficially on the clock, and are expected to make Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first-overall selection. That means that the draft, as far as we know, truly begins with the New York Jets at No. 2.

So let’s look at the rest of the top five and what those teams are thinking, thanks to this meaty piece from ESPN’s roster of beat reporters as well as some other sources.

Jets leaning toward David Bailey?

For the past few months, Arvell Reese was the name linked to the New York Jets at No. 2.

But could another defender be in play for New York at that spot?

On ESPN’s “The Schrager Hour” podcast, both Peter Schrager and Daniel Jeremiah noted that the Jets might be leaning toward Texas Tech pass rusher David Bailey instead. While Reese is an enticing prospect, moving him fulltime to the edge after he spent time as both a pass rusher and an off-ball linebacker at Ohio State will require some development.

As for Bailey, while he might not offer the pure upside that Reese does, he is viewed as the more “pro-ready” pass rusher off the edge. And with the Jets needing to turn their defense around overnight, that might carry some weight.

It is worth noting that Schrager sent Bailey to the Jets in his first mock draft.

What does Arizona do at 3?

So what do the Arizona Cardinals do at No. 3?

Many, myself included, believe the Cardinals need to address their offensive line at that spot. Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa have been frequently linked to Arizona in mock drafts over the past few months. While the Cardinals did add Isaac Seumalo and Elijah Wilkinson in free agency, it is still believed that they need to do more up front.

But could they address their defense instead?

ESPN’s Matt Miller believes so, especially since either Bailey or Reese will be available at that spot. One league source told Miller that the Cardinals “should stick and pick” either one of those players, depending on which defender the Jets pick at No. 2.

Another option?

Trading out.

Cardinals beat writer Josh Weinfuss noted that Arizona trading back into the first round to draft Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is “not out of the realm of possibility.” But another path for Arizona could be moving down from No. 2 — as one league source suggested to Miller — in a deal with a team that wants to come up for a pass rusher.

From there, Arizona could slide back, pick up additional draft capital in the first round, and perhaps add Simpson later on that night.

Is Jeremiyah Love now headed to Tennessee?

A prospect enjoying something of a pre-draft rise is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. Believe the hype: Love is really the rare running back worth a top-5 pick.

Early in the process, it seemed the RB was heading to Kansas City when the Chiefs went on the clock at No. 9. But with Kenneth Walker III now on his way to KC, finding a different home for Love in mock drafts has required some thinking.

But instead of sliding him down boards, we have moved him up, settling on Tennessee at No. 4.

Part of that is due to what the Titans have done in free agency. Pass rush was a need for Tennessee ahead of the spring, but the Titans have added multiple defenders to their front seven. While Tennessee could still add another pass rusher to their defensive rotation, Turron Davenport believes drafting Love is “very possible” for the Titans.

It’s very possible. The idea of adding a playmaker who can help Cam Ward and the offense score more points is intriguing, especially with Love being a three down-back who the Titans feel fits the mold of Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs,“ wrote Davenport.

The beat writer also noted that Robert Saleh’s defensive background could see Tennessee ultimately look at defense, potentially Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, but this might be the clearest sign yet that Love is in play at No. 4.

What do the Giants do at No. 5?

The New York Giants have needs at several positions, including wide receiver, interior offensive line, linebacker, cornerback, and safety.

Which do they address with the fifth selection in the 2026 NFL Draft?

Their biggest need might be right guard, but as much as I personally love Olaivavega Ioane from Penn State, it is hard to see an interior offensive lineman coming off the board at No. 2, even if he is the best IOL prospect since Quenton Nelson, who went sixth overall back in 2018.

A popular pick in recent mock drafts has been Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, and that could be where the Giants go at No. 5. “Talking to league sources, the Giants wouldn’t be shy about drafting an off-ball linebacker at No. 5, making Styles a real possibility at that spot as Jordan alluded to above. New coach John Harbaugh has always considered the middle linebacker spot to be important, and Styles fits the mold of what Harbaugh has loved in players such as Roquan Smith,” wrote Jordan Reid.

“The Giants’ biggest need is right guard, where they’re without a starter unless they have full confidence in Daniel Faalele and/or Evan Neal, which seems nearly impossible right now,“ added ESPN Giants beat writer Jordan Raanan. “But would they really draft a right guard at No. 5, even if that player could later slide out to tackle? Instead, the Giants could go the best-player-available route … but who would be the best player at that spot, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs or Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles? If those are the choices, linebacker it is.”

Could the Cowboys trade up?

This happens every year ahead of the draft, and that process is beginning right now.

A discussion of trades inside the first round.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz kicked that into gear on Wednesday with this post on social media:

One team apparently thinking about moving up? The Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones needs to get a defensive playmaker or two out of this draft class, and the team has a pair of first-round selections to work with. But as ESPN’s Reid notes, they could move up if there is a defender they like.

“Trading up continues to be a possibility, especially if there’s a player they have high on their board who backslides a tad,“ wrote Reid. ”Safety Caleb Downs (Ohio State) and edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) are believed to be players whom the Cowboys would maneuver for, as Dallas reportedly sees both as instant-impact game changers on defense.“

Having just spun through the first round above, it looks like both Downs and Bain could slide out of the top five … to the Cleveland Browns at No. 6.

Is that a spot the Cowboys would be willing to move up to?

Patriots moving up?

Speaking of teams that want to move up in the 2026 NFL Draft, you can add the New England Patriots to that list.

New England has eight picks on the third day of the draft, tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the most in the league. But according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, expect the Patriots to at least try and move up into Day 2, or even into the first round again, with some of those selections.

“True. Or at least they will try to make this statement true. The Patriots have two fourth-rounders and four sixth-rounders and, according to some scouts, this year’s draft is not considered as strong on Day 3 as it was in 2025. So, the Patriots are expected to explore the possibility of using some of those Day 3 picks as chips in trades to better position themselves for players they are targeting earlier in the draft,“ wrote Reiss.

As for what the Patriots might move up for, expect some work in the trenches.

“It’s essential for the Patriots to attack the offensive and defensive lines in this draft. Don’t rule out a defensive tackle for New England in the first two rounds, as it wants to continue to strengthen its rotation at that spot. Kayden McDonald (Ohio State) is someone to watch early, and Nick Barrett (South Carolina) is an interior defender to keep an eye on in later rounds,“ added Reid.