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If being an NFL Draft writer wasn't enough to make me less fun at parties, one of the rules my friends have had to deal with gets the job done.
When I ask them what they want their favorite teams to do in the first round, they are not allowed to answer "trade down." It's cowardly in principle and not in the spirit of the question.
Nearly every team should want to trade down come April. It's almost a plus-EV move, and the idea of moving down the board to take a player while adding another draft pick is something almost any fan would be happy with. Just say which prospect you like the most!
The problem, of course, is that trades are inevitable, and in the days after the NFL Draft, the teams that earned extra capital will be graded favorably by every outlet. It's often the right move, after all. As such, it's worth monitoring which teams are best positioned to move down in Round 1, and how much of a priority that trade should become.
Teams who should trade down (or out) of Round 1
Dallas Cowboys
America's Team has been active on the trading block, pulling off one of the biggest deals in league history before the season began, months after sending a third-round pick for receiver George Pickens.
Those moves came with varying degrees of success, and after sending a second-round pick and a 2027 first for Quinnen Williams, Dallas has a nice balance of star power and early-round ammunition.
With two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft (Nos. 12 and 20), the Cowboys should look into trading down from the latter to make a splash on Day 2. They currently have one Day 2 pick (92nd overall) and are more than two difference-makers away from championship contention. Instead of double-dipping, Dallas can take its X-factor at 12 while recouping capital via trade.
It's a deep class at edge, linebacker, safety, and defensive tackle -- each of which could be of interest to the Cowboys in the middle rounds of the draft. The class's lack of blue-chip talent makes those mid-to-late firsts a little less valuable, but if a team comes calling, they'd be more than justified in picking up the phone.
Washington Commanders
I applauded the Commanders for being aggressive after Jayden Daniels' rapid ascent to franchise quarterbacking. Taking swings on tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Deebo Samuel were calculated risks, although it diminished future draft capital.
Unfortunately, free agency was far less successful. The Commanders are old, expensive, and (most importantly) not very threatening. Now armed with some of the league's weakest war chests, Washington is in desperate need of young talent.
MORE: 3 teams who should consider trading up in the 2026 NFL Draft
Subsequently, trading down from No. 7 feels just short of mandatory. Caleb Downs, Jeremiyah Love, or a top-10 edge rusher would be nice, but compared to future classes, 2026 lacks top-end talent. A top-10 selection is still more than enough to secure a 2027 first and/or significant Day 2 capital.
With as many holes as Washington has, that kind of replenishment would correct the mistakes of last offseason.
Are the Commanders contenders? Are they rebuilding? Are they as sold on Daniels as they were a year ago?
I don't have the answers to those questions, but Washington opting to aggregate high-level talent makes sense in every hypothetical version of this offseason.
San Francisco 49ers
When Kyle Shanahan took the San Francisco gig, he was the up-and-coming mind who brought as much youthful energy as offensive ingenuity. In the years since, he's asserted himself as the league's best play-caller and turned the 49ers into contenders.
But this is no longer a youthful man. And this is no longer a youthful core on the cusp of a championship.
Questions persist about San Francisco's competitive window and Shanahan's sanity as he chases football immortality. This roster in many ways resembles its coach; still talented, but not necessarily ahead of the pack. The 49ers are not one of the youngest teams in the league. They are troubled by cap-space turmoil and the emotional cost of coming so close so many times.
It's no surprise the 49ers -- now without a third-round pick -- have little April ammo. Without a clear picture of a perfect fit falling to No. 27, it's easy to see San Francisco letting another team jump the line. Few teams need young, controllable talent like the 49ers. Late in Round 1, they seem poised to make the kind of trade that fares well on every value chart, even if it makes the San Francisco faithful wait until Friday for a selection.
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