{"id":2917,"date":"2026-04-16T08:42:57","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T08:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rarabet.com\/news\/?p=2917"},"modified":"2026-04-16T08:42:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T08:42:57","slug":"biggest-nfl-offseason-trades-before-the-2026-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rarabet.com\/news\/2026\/04\/16\/biggest-nfl-offseason-trades-before-the-2026-draft\/","title":{"rendered":"Biggest NFL Offseason Trades Before the 2026 Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NFL Two weeks until Pittsburgh. For fans tracking team projections on platforms like <\/span>1xbet sports betting<\/span><\/a>, the board has been moving since March. Some front offices spent the offseason making careful, incremental upgrades. Others called their shot and went all in. Here’s where things stand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trent McDuffie Trade to the Los Angeles Rams<\/span><\/h2>\n

Les Snead wanted Maxx Crosby. The Ravens wanted Crosby too. That deal fell apart, and within days Snead had pivoted to Trent McDuffie instead, pulling the 25-year-old corner away from the Chiefs for what NFL.com described as a classic Snead move.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why McDuffie Might Matter More Than Crosby Would Have<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Rams already had Jared Verse and Byron Young rushing the passer. What they didn’t have was a corner who could lock down a receiver long enough for that rush to get home. Quarterbacks were releasing the ball in under 2.5 seconds against the Rams’ secondary for most of the second half of last season. McDuffie has graded out as a top-ten cover corner since 2023 and costs less than Crosby would have on the cap.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jaylen Waddle Trade to the Denver Broncos<\/span><\/h2>\n

Three draft picks went to the Dolphins for this one. A first-rounder (No. 30), a third, and a fourth.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Denver Gets<\/span><\/h3>\n

Bo Nix’s playoff run stalled in the red zone because defenses could bracket his primary targets without worrying about a second receiver winning in tight spaces. Waddle, who ran a 4.37 at the combine and has averaged 11.4 yards per reception across his career, gives Nix exactly the kind of underneath weapon that was missing during Denver’s run to within four points of the Super Bowl.<\/span><\/p>\n

What the Dolphins Lost<\/span><\/h3>\n

Everything. Tua Tagovailoa had already been released and ended up with the Falcons for the minimum. Tyreek Hill was gone. Now Waddle. Malik Willis, who spent years waiting behind other quarterbacks, got $67.5 million on a three-year deal and a franchise where the previous starter’s jersey is barely cold. Nobody in the AFC East saw that coming twelve months ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

DJ Moore Trade to the Buffalo Bills<\/span><\/h2>\n

Moore posted 2.5 yards per route run and an 85 overall ESPN receiver score during his first year in Chicago. That earned him an extension. Then Rome Odunze arrived, Luther Burden III took the slot, and Colston Loveland started eating targets at tight end. Eighteen months later, Moore was on a plane to Buffalo.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bills gave up a second-round pick and got a fifth-rounder back. Allen tends to make whoever lines up at receiver look better than they probably are, and Moore’s route precision at the intermediate level means he won’t have to force as many off-script throws this year. Poles walked away with $16.5 million in freed-up cap space and another top-100 selection for the draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jets Rebuild Through Three Separate Trades<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Trade<\/span><\/td>\nPlayer Acquired<\/span><\/td>\nFrom<\/span><\/td>\nKey Terms<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
QB acquisition<\/span><\/td>\nGeno Smith<\/span><\/td>\nRaiders<\/span><\/td>\nSixth-round pick swap<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Safety upgrade<\/span><\/td>\nMinkah Fitzpatrick<\/span><\/td>\nDolphins<\/span><\/td>\nSeventh-round pick, plus $40M extension<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Franchise tag<\/span><\/td>\nBreece Hall<\/span><\/td>\nInternal<\/span><\/td>\n$14.293M tag, long-term deal in progress<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The smart part of what the Jets did is the cost. Two late-round pick swaps and money. Picks #2 and #16 this April and three first-rounders in 2027 survived the entire offseason untouched. Smith runs the offense. Fitzpatrick reads coverages at a level the Jets haven’t had in the secondary since Jamal Adams was playing in green and wanted out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Michael Pittman Jr. Trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers
\n\"NFL<\/span><\/h2>\n

DK Metcalf last year. Pittman this year. The Steelers keep trading for receivers and giving them extensions, and the trade cost stays almost nothing. A late-round pick swap got Pittman to Pittsburgh, and the Colts got rid of a $59 million commitment they didn’t want to carry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rodgers threw short last season. Seventy-six percent of his attempts stayed under 10 air yards, and Pittman’s 8.1 air yards per target lands right in that window. Rod Woodson told reporters the Steelers need to stop waiting on Rodgers and commit to a direction, and the front office hasn’t responded publicly. If Rodgers comes back, him throwing to Metcalf and Pittman on short and intermediate routes is going to be a problem for AFC defensive coordinators. If he doesn’t, that $59 million extension is sitting on the books without anyone to get Pittman the ball.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other Moves Worth Tracking<\/span><\/h2>\n