The NFL offseason is built on hope, speculation, and the kind of bold moves. Those moves can shift the balance of power overnight. With the 2026 NFL Draft looming, front offices are weighing risk versus reward, contenders are looking for that final piece, and rebuilding franchises are searching for a shortcut back to relevance. While some teams will play it safe, others could decide that patience is overrated. That’s where blockbuster trades come in.
Whether it’s a superstar quarterback on the move, a defensive game-wrecker changing conferences, or a win-now contender pushing all its chips to the center of the table, the right deal before draft night can redefine a franchise’s trajectory for years. Here are five blockbuster NFL trades we want to see happen before the 2026 draft — the kind of moves that would dominate headlines, shake up draft boards, and instantly reshape the league.
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Chicago Bears trade DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills
The Bears have a lot of weapons on the offensive side of the ball. With youngsters Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III being the future at WR for them, Moore has become expendable. The Bills are in desperate need of a true number one wide receiver for Josh Allen, and trading picks for Moore would make sense for both of these teams.
Las Vegas Raiders trade Maxx Crosby to the Detroit Lions
Crosby is one of the league’s best defensive players. Since he entered the league in 2019, he has proven to be arguably the best run defender in the NFL. Crosby has 133 tackles for loss during that time. Of course, he is also a fantastic pass rusher, and the thought of him being on the same defensive line as Lions star Aidan Hutchinson is pretty wild. The Lions defense would be scary!
Philadelphia Eagles trade A.J. Brown to the Ravens
The Ravens have lacked strong options at wide receiver for seemingly all of Lamar Jackson’s career. Zay Flowers has stepped up and been a reliable option, but pairing him with a player like A.J. Brown would only make him better. Brown demands double coverage on the outside, allowing Flowers to work the middle of the field and use his speed. This trade could transform the Ravens offense.
Miami Dolphins Trade Jaylen Waddle to the New York Giants
The Dolphins have already released Tyreek Hill and are about to enter a complete rebuild. Trading Waddle is a very logical choice for them, and the Giants are a team that makes sense. They should be knocking down their door to get a deal done. The Giants need to give QB Jaxson Dart a legitimate number two wide receiver to pair with Malik Nabers. Moore and Nabers would be a formidable 1-2 punch.
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