Browns, Steelers propose rule changes. How could they change the NFL?

The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers are usually bitter AFC North rivals. This year, they have something unique in common: Both teams have proposed a change to the NFL rulebook.

The NFL sent out a memo on March 18 announcing the rule changes proposed by each team. Both changes would affect the outlook of the offseason in different ways, and one of them could increase activity ahead of the annual NFL trade deadline.

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No team proposed a rule change attempting to ban the Philadelphia Eagles‘ “Tush Push” quarterback sneak play after a contentious debate and vote last offseason. NFL competition committee co-chair Rich McKay said in February that he had not heard about another attempt to ban the play and that another “Tush Push” vote was unlikely this year.

Here’s a closer look at the Steelers’ and Browns’ rule change proposals for the 2026 season (and beyond):

Browns propose change to NFL draft pick trade eligibility

Cleveland’s proposal deals with trading draft picks.

Under current NFL rules, teams are only allowed to trade picks in a draft that will take place within the next three seasons. The Browns are proposing to expand the maximum range to five years out.

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Cleveland’s listed reasoning for the rule change proposal is that it would improve “roster-building flexibility.” Should the rule change be approved, teams could mortgage their more distant future to make more immediate improvements to their roster.

The Browns’ proposal also argues that such a change would “create more creative trade structures that better mirror the valuations of both draft selections and players, … increase the liquidity of draft capital which supports league-wide parity, … improve alignment with contract and salary cap cycles, and … encourage a more active trade market.”

Recent NFL trade deadline days have already been among the league’s most active since 1990. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the day of the 2025 trade deadline (Nov. 4) featured six trades, third-most in the last 35 years. The day of the trade deadline in 2022 set the post-1990 high bar with 10 transactions. There were eight trades on deadline day in 2024.

Steelers propose NFL free agency rule change

Pittsburgh’s suggestion is to make a small but notable tweak to the rules surrounding the NFL’s negotiation period – also known as the “legal tampering” window – that takes place before the official start of free agency.

The Steelers’ proposed rule change would permit NFL teams to directly contact up to five prospective unrestricted free agents during the league’s legal tampering window. Teams attempting to enter negotiations with a pending free agent during that two-day period would be allowed to make one video or phone call per player, during which they could also make travel arrangements.

As part of enforcing the rule, each team making a call would have to report all details of the correspondence to the NFL Player Personnel Department.

During the legal tampering window under current NFL rules, teams are not allowed to make direct contact with a player who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year. All negotiations before free agency can occur only between the front office and the player’s representation (read: agent).

In 2026, the NFL had something of a test run of the Steelers’ proposed rule change. During this year’s negotiation window before free agency, teams were permitted their one phone or video call with up to five players set to hit free agency when the new league year began on March 11.

Pittsburgh’s proposal would make that rule permanent going forward.

How do NFL rule changes work?

For the Browns’ and Steelers’ rule proposals to get approved, they’ll first need to be considered by the league’s competition committee. The committee is instructed to consider the following questions about a new rule or rule change:

Does the change improve the game?

How will it be officiated?

Can the player apply the rule on the field?

Does the change enhance player protection?

Once the NFL competition committee outlines how the rule change will be implemented, all 32 team owners vote on whether to adopt the rule, usually at the annual league meeting. The new rule must have a 75 percent approval rating (24 of 32 teams) to pass.

This year’s annual league meeting will take place from March 29 to April 1 in Phoenix.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL rule change proposals by Browns, Steelers could reshape offseason

Browns, Steelers propose rule changes. How could they change the NFL?

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