Chiefs Exploring First-Round Trade
The Chiefs have explored a trade up from the No. 9 pick in the first round of Thursday’s draft, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Kansas City is widely expected to draft a pass rusher or wide receiver, though they have also done their homework on top offensive tackle talent. A cornerback is not out of the question, either, after Trent McDuffie was traded to the Rams.
The Chiefs could certainly stand pat and still secure a premium prospect at one of their positions of need. But if general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid have fallen in love with a specific player, they could use one of their other eight selections or 2027 capital to move up. It is worth noting that they have a second first-round pick this year, the 29th overall selection, which could give them the option to trade up as high as the No. 3 pick.
Moving up to the Browns’ sixth overall pick seems more reasonable. That would allow the Chiefs to jump the Commanders at No. 7, who are believed to have their eye on some of the same positions. Jumping three picks would be much cheaper than six, and it could also pre-empt other clubs looking to snipe the Chiefs’ targets.
However, Kansas City is “thinking about moving back just as much as they are thinking about moving up,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A team with a top-heavy salary cap picture needs to find multiple contributors in the draft every year, and getting more bites at the apple is crucial, especially in a class with so much Day 2 talent.
If the Chiefs do not trade up, but their preferred targets are gone at No. 9, they could suddenly be in the catbird’s seat for the teams behind looking to move up. Among those teams are the Rams (No. 13) and the Eagles (No. 23), according to Breer. The Giants (No. 10) and Dolphins (No. 11) are also candidates for such a move, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Cardinals Could Take Jeremiyah Love At No. 3, Prefer To Trade Down
APRIL 21: Hughes and Essentially Sports’ Tony Pauline echo the sentiment that Arizona will be active in looking to move out of the No. 3 slot. If the Cardinals stay put, the reports are split on the team’s preferred target. Hughes points to Love, while Pauline names David Bailey as the top option (provided he is not selected second overall by the Jets).
APRIL 20: It makes little financial sense to draft a running back with a top-five pick, but the Cardinals are considering taking Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 pick anyway.
Arizona would hand the Notre Dame standout a fully guaranteed contract worth just under $13.5MM per year, per OverTheCap. For several other positions, that would be a below-market rate – significantly so for wide receivers and edge rushers. Among running backs, though, Love would be at or close to the top of the positional market in both AAV and guarantees.
Is Love worth the opportunity cost of selecting a running back over a premium position with such a high pick? The Cardinals are coming around to the idea, per SNY’s Connor Hughes and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They currently have a backfield by committee – Tyler Allgeier, Trey Benson, and James Conner – along with Zonovan Knight and Corey Kiner as depth.
Arizona’s primary trio is serviceable, but Love undoubtedly offers more instant impact and long-term upside. While the team is still figuring out its future at the quarterback position, new head coach Mike LaFleur could push for the best offensive skill player in the 2026 class.
The Cardinals have also been linked with a trade out of the No. 3 spot, potentially with a team looking to come up for Love. At present, they have just seven picks – all their own – in both the 2026 and 2027 drafts. Arizona may take Ty Simpson to solve their quarterback problem right away, but they could wait to target a stronger class next year.
As a result, the latest reports could be nothing more than a draft week smokescreen to drum up interest in the No. 3 pick by a team who has already talked themselves into taking a running back with a top-10 pick. Almost all of the other teams in the top 10 have been connected with Love at some point or another, primarily the Titans, Giants, and Commanders. They could be looking to move up to secure the potential superstar running back, while other teams could be looking to jump that trio by trading up to Arizona’s pick.
Tank Dell Participating In Texans’ Offseason Program
Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was participating in the start of the team’s offseason conditioning program this week, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Dell was a third-round pick in 2023 who has been an electric slot receiver when healthy. He has appeared in just 25 games in his first three years due to a fractured fibula as a rookie and a brutal knee injury in 2024 that sidelined him for all of last season.
Now 16 months removed from that injury, which included a dislocated knee and multiple torn ligaments, Dell seems to be trending towards a return this season. His presence at the beginning of offseason workouts is a positive sign for his readiness for Houston’s OTAs, which start on May 27.
The Texans primarily used Christian Kirk and Jaylin Noel out of the slot last year, but even combined, the veteran and rookie duo could not match Dell’s production across his first two seasons. The team let Kirk leave in free agency, perhaps signaling their optimism about Dell’s availability this year. They could also be counting on Noel and fellow 2025 Day 2 pick Jayden Higgins to step into bigger roles during their sophomore campaigns.
Houston’s wide receiver room, which is led by Nico Collins and also features Xavier Hutchinson, offers enough depth that Dell will not be pressed into a full-time role upon his return. He can ramp up as appropriate for a player returning from such a significant injury. It will be especially important to see if his short area movement skills – a core part of his game – have been impacted.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/20/26
Last Friday was the deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets with other teams. Now, they can only sign with their original club, and a number of players completed those deals on Monday. Several exclusive rights free agents also put pen to paper, giving them at least a roster spot heading into the draft. Here are the latest updates:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Xavier Guillory
Carolina Panthers
- Signed ERFA tender: WR Jalen Coker, WR Brycen Tremayne
Denver Broncos
- Signed ERFA tender: LB Dondrea Tillman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed ERFA tender: G Donovan Jennings, WR Bo Melton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed ERFA tender: WR Nikko Remigio
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed ERFA tender: G Justin Dedich, WR Xavier Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed RFA tender: LB Ivan Pace
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed ERFA tender: OT Austen Pleasants
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed ERFA tender: S Ty Okada
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed RFA tender: RB Sean Tucker
Coker signed with the Panthers as an undrafted rookie in 2024. He has quietly been a consistent presence in Carolina’s offense with 39.6 yards per game and 9.8 yards per target in 22 appearances across his first two seasons. That is better production than 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette, indicating Coker could be in line for a bigger role in 2026.
The Packers turned heads when they attempted to convert Melton to cornerback last year, but he instead served as their primary kick returner with just 96 snaps on offense. The departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks could open up more targets this year.
Remigio was a reliable returner for the Chiefs in his first two years in the NFL. He is now set to retain that role for another season.
Dedich started nine games at both guard spots for the Rams in the last two years. He can also line up at center and will continue to serve as valuable depth on the interior.
Pace saw his defensive snap share drop precipitously in 2025 with former Packer Eric Wilson stepping up next to Blake Cashman. He will likely remain in a tertiary role in 2026 while serving as a core special teams contributor.
The Seahawks dealt with several injuries in their safety room in 2025, pressing Okada into 11 starts on one of the league’s best defenses. He largely held up, though he returned to the bench in the postseason with Julian Love back on the field.
Tucker showed promise in 2024 with 308 yards on 50 carries (6.2 yards per attempt). However, he did not step up in 2025 despite Bucky Irving‘s extended absence, managing 320 yards on 86 carries (3.7 yards per attempt). He did find the end zone seven times on the ground, and his return abilities should keep him in the mix for a 2026 roster spot.
Kenny Moore, Anthony Richardson Absent From Colts’ Offseason Workouts
Neither Kenny Moore nor Anthony Richardson were present at the beginning of the Colts’ offseason program, according to FOX59’s Mike Chappell. Both players are on the trade block, but there has been little movement on a potential move out of Indianapolis.
“We’ll see how it works out,” general manager Chris Ballard said on Monday, adding that the two players’ situations were “different in my mind.”
Richardson was granted permission to seek a trade in February and remains somewhat of an unknown quantity entering his fourth NFL season. He is owed about $5.4MM in 2026, and a decision on his fifth-year option – projected by OverTheCap to be $22.5MM – must be made by May 1. Ballard said the Colts have not discussed Richardson’s option, but presumably, they do not plan to pick it up. And if another club comes calling, they may not be ready to commit that kind of future money to a player with just 15 career starts before he steps in their building.
That lack of playing time is partially due to injuries. Richardson missed most of his rookie season due to an AC shoulder sprain that required surgery, and he only appeared in two games last year due to a fractured orbital bone that severely impacted his vision. That remains “an important aspect” in trade talks, Ballard said (via The Athletic’s James Boyd), adding that Richardson is cleared for activity, but “still recovering a little bit.”
“We’ve had some talks, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Ballard continued. Several teams have been mentioned as potential fits for Richardson, and the Packers have expressed interest, per Chappell.
Moore, meanwhile, has been one of the league’s most consistent, reliable slot corners for the better part of the last decade. He informed the Colts that he was looking for a change of scenery, and the front office agreed to seek a trade.
He is set to earn $10MM in 2026, a decent price for a starting-caliber nickel with nine years of experience, but other teams may try to wait the Colts out. Ballard indicated that Moore could be released outright if he does not generate any trade interested. Rather than pay Moore $10MM and give up draft capital, teams can wait for him to hit free agency and potentially sign him at a lower price.
LB Alex Anzalone Turned Down Better Offers To Sign With Bucs
After five years in Detroit, linebacker Alex Anzalone left the Lions this offseason and took a two-year, $17MM deal with the Buccaneers. He could have earned more elsewhere, but his existing connection to Tampa Bay made it an easy decision.
“It actually means something to play in Tampa.” Anzalone told NFL insider Jordan Schultz this month. He and his wife already have a house in the area where they are raising their children, so signing with the Buccaneers was a homecoming of sorts.
Anzalone also expressed excitement about playing in Todd Bowles‘ defense, calling it a “perfect fit.” He has spent most of his career playing under coaches who served with or under Bowles at some point in his career. That list that includes both Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn.
The 31-year-old linebacker’s experience will be crucial. He has big shoes to fill following franchise legend Lavonte David‘s retirement this offseason after 14 years in Tampa Bay. Anzalone will start next to SirVocea Dennis, though the Buccaneers could stand to add a young linebacker to develop next to Anzalone in the draft.
While money was not the primary motivator behind Anzalone’s arrival in Tampa Bay, it was the driving force of his exit from Detroit. He sought a raise heading into 2025, a contract year but did not receive one, an indicator that the Lions were not planning to sign him to another deal.
“It literally just came down to finances and what [the Lions] could and couldn’t afford,” Anzalone said. “It’s the nature of the beast. It’s the business. Their front office made decisions of where they wanted to invest money, and it wasn’t in me, and it is what it is.”
Anzalone earned just over $24MM during his five seasons in Detroit. That is a relatively small sum for a veteran starter on a defense that ranked among the best in the league multiple times. In Tampa Bay, he will make about two-thirds of that amount in just two years.
Monroe Freeling, Max Iheanachor, Kadyn Proctor Rack Up Pre-Draft Visits
It is exceeding difficult to find high-quality offensive tackle play outside of the first round, so teams searching for starters in next week’s draft will have to prioritize the position early on.
Miami’s Francis Mauigoa seems to have locked up OT1 status. Behind him are Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, Western Michigan’s Max Iheanachor, and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor, who are all expected to go in the first round.
Freeling, 21, has only one full season as a starter under his belt, and all of his starts have come at left tackle. He earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2025, but teams may still have to be patient with his development. Freeling previously visited the Chiefs and has also met with the Browns, Dolphins, and Rams, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Cleveland is searching for their next long-term left tackle, but with Dawand Jones already on the roster, they could allow Freeling to sit for a year as he gets his bearings in the NFL, if needed. Miami has Patrick Paul on the blind side, but right tackle Austin Jackson took a pay cut this offseason and is in the last year of his contract. Freeling would have a year to sit as he transitions to right tackle with the hopes of taking on the starting job in 2027. Los Angeles has a glaring hole at right tackle, but asking Freeling to switch as a rookie could be a tough task given his lack of experience. On the other hand, perhaps he is not so ingrained at the left tackle position and can quickly learn how to play on the right side.
Iheanachor may also need to develop in the pros. He had a long list of visits, including the 49ers, Bengals, Packers, Bears, Patriots, Eagles, Panthers, Ravens, Dolphins, Cardinals, and Bengals, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The 49ers need to find a successor to Trent Williams, as do the Eagles to Lane Johnson. The Bears only re-signed Braxton Jones on a one-year deal, and the Cardinals do not have a clear RT starter right now. The Bengals, Panthers and Ravens seem to be set with their offensive tackles, but they all have one expensive, aging starter. They would be able to give Iheanachor time to season before he takes on starting duties.
Proctor was a three-year starter at Alabama, making him a potential fit for Detroit, who parted ways with longtime left tackle Taylor Decker this offseason. The Lions, met with Proctor during the pre-draft process, as did the 49ers, Browns, Dolphins, Eagles, and Cardinals, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
For the Eagles specifically, The Athletic’s Zach Berman believes that Freeling or Proctor would be their preference in the first round. This makes sense for a team that has invested heavily in SEC talent, particularly out of Georgia. But with the No. 23 pick, Philadelphia may have to trade up to ensure they secure one of their two desired prospects.
Cardinals Considered Strong Candidate To Trade Down
APRIL 19: ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms there is a belief around the league that Arizona is indeed open to moving down from No. 3. Adding capital for a potential move up the board to land Ty Simpson late in the first round could prove to be a particularly attractive approach for the Cardinals.
APRIL 16: The Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick in next week’s draft, the same slot as their original position in the 2023 draft. That year, they traded down to the 12th pick — before coming back to No. 6 overall for Paris Johnson Jr.
The Cardinals may make a similar move this year. They are considered a strong candidate to move down from the No. 3 pick, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. It could be an especially valuable selection in a draft class that is viewed as thin on elite talent that drops sharply by the middle of the first round and plateaus into the second round.
The Raiders are expected to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first with the Jets deciding between Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey for No. 2. Whomever does not end up in New York could be a target for teams trading up to Arizona’s pick.
The Cardinals also have holes to fill all over their roster, so they may prefer trading back and targeting the strong Day 2 depth of this class. Their wide variety of needs is one of the reasons they are seen as a wild card in this year’s draft, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
“Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort is known to be willing to make a draft-day deal,” Jones writes. “You’ll hear plenty about teams being willing to trade down in this year’s draft, and I think the Cardinals are serious contenders to do just that. Looking around the league, folks believe the draft begins at No. 3 and no one seems to have a very good sense of what Arizona will do.”
Ossenfort could conceivable target any position except for cornerback and tight end with his premium picks, and the Cardinals still need some depth at the latter position. That will allow him to take a true ‘best player available’ approach as he attempts to rebuild the roster for new head coach Mike LaFleur.
CB Chris Johnson Met With Jets, Packers, Bucs, Cowboys, Jags, Chiefs
San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson has flown up draft boards throughout the pre-draft process. He is now considered a borderline first-round pick after visits and/or meetings with several teams.
Among them are the Jets, Packers, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Jaguars and Chiefs, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. They all have various needs at cornerback, save for the Buccaneers
After trading Sauce Gardner last year, the Jets now have Brandon Stephens, Nahshon Wright, and Jarvis Brownlee leading their cornerback room. 2025 third-rounder Azareye’h Thomas is expected to take on a bigger role this season, but the team still lacks high-upside talent in the long term. Thomas is also the only corner in that group that is signed through 2027.
The Packers have Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine entering the final years of their contract, creating a major need at the cornerback position. Benjamin St-Juste is signed through 2027, but none of the team’s other cornerbacks profile as starting options.
In Jacksonville, the Jaguars have Montaric Brown, Jarrian Jones, and Jourdan Lewis. Brown and Jones are both younger and could be long-term starters, but Lewis is 31 years old with two years left on his deal. The team also lacks quality depth behind their top three.
Like the Jets, the Chiefs traded away their star CB1 recently, leaving a gaping hole in their defense. Kansas City took fliers on Kaiir Elam and Kader Kohou to fill the cornerback room, but neither is a surefire starter in 2026. Kristian Fulton is also entering the final year of his contract. 2025 third-rounder Nohl Williams impressed as a rookie and should be able to lock down a starting job, but the rest of the Chiefs’ cornerback rotation remains murky.
The Bucs, by contrast, are set at cornerback with Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison penciled in on the boundary and Jacob Parrish manning the slot. Morrison, though, is an injury risk, and Tampa Bay has little proven depth behind its top young trio. That seems like a spot to make an inexpensive veteran addition rather than a high draft pick, though, seemingly making Johnson a luxury pick with other long-term needs to fill.
LB CJ Allen Seen As First-Round Pick?
Georgia linebacker CJ Allen has been a late riser as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches. Less than a week out, he has put himself in first-round consideration, according to EssentiallySports’ Tony Pauline.
Allen, 21, did not participate in athletic testing at the Combine or Georgia’s pro day. But this week, he worked out for scouts and rank a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, Pauline adds, despite being just “months removed from knee surgery.” That gave scouts more confidence in his recovery and athleticism, which firmed up his spot as the third-ranked linebacker on most big boards.
Pauline previously mocked Allen to the Bills and adds the Buccaneers and Cowboys as other options. Those teams would trade back from their No. 15 and No. 20 picks, respectively, to select him.
The Bills need to find a long-term replacement for veteran inside linebacker Matt Milano, who hit free agency this offseason after nine season in Buffalo. The current starters would be Terrel Bernard and Dorian Williams, but Williams is entering the final year of his contract. Allen would be a long-term running mate for Bernard who would likely succeed him as the Bills’ primary inside linebacker.
The Buccaneers are in a very similar situation. They saw Lavonte David announce his retirement this offseason. Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom were signed as immediate veteran replacements, but SirVocea Dennis is on an expiring deal. Again, Allen would come in and push Anzalone or Dennis for playing time with a long-term projection as a high-level starter.
The Cowboy do not have a clear starter next to DeMarvion Overshown, who is entering the last year of his contract, too. He is a candidate to be extended, but, as in Buffalo and Tampa Bay, Allen could be an instant No. 2 who takes over as the top spot in the future.
The one significant drawback of selecting Allen in the first round is the loss of value on his fifth-year option. Currently, off-ball/inside linebackers are grouped with outside linebackers for the NFL’s positional designations relating to contracts. As a result, inside linebacker fifth-year option values are based on the salaries of the league’s top edge rushers, who are significantly more expensive. That means the fifth-year option for linebackers is inflated and therefore not worth picking up.
Allen also met virtually with the Texans, Eagles, and Seahawks, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.