The Cleveland Browns have proposed a big change to player trade rules that could alter the future of how deals are completed and the way rosters are constructed in the NFL.
The league announced on Wednesday that the organization wants to discuss the possibility of allowing teams to trade draft picks up to five years into the future. At present, teams can only trade picks three years ahead.
Their suggestion will be discussed by NFL owners at league meetings later this month – 24 of the 32 teams have to approve it for it to become a rule.
And if it does come into force it would, the Browns say, lead to a more active trade market and improved flexibility within rosters.
For fans, more trades would equal more excitement – players switching teams is a thrilling part of the NFL calendar, even if it mainly happens during the offseason.
A more significant consquence, however, could be that general managers restrict teams from rebuilds in the future if they trade away too many future first-round picks for players who do not fulfil potential. For better or worse, if the rule is passed it will change the way teams are built.
The Kansas City Chiefs have two first-round picks for the 2026 NFL Draft next month
The Denver Broncos sent a first-round pick to Miami Dolphons for Jaylen Waddle this week
There have been six trades involving first-round picks during the current offseason.
This week, the Denver Broncos traded theirs to the Miami Dolphins as part of the deal to land wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
The Kansas City Chiefs also got a second first-round pick when they traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.Â
There are also five teams without first-round draft picks, as it stands, for 2026; Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Broncos.
The NFL also allowed teams this year on a trial basis to conduct up to five phone or video calls directly with players on other teams during the two-day free agent negotiating period before the start of the league year.Â
Teams previously had been able to contact only agents during that time.Â
The Pittsburgh Steelers are now asking for that rule to be permanent, as well as allowing teams to make travel arrangements before the start of the league year with players who have agreed to terms for new contracts during the negotiating period.Â
NFL executive Troy Vincent said last month at the scouting combine that no team had submitted a proposal to ban the tush push after Green Bay’s proposed rule change was narrowly defeated last year.Â
The LA Rams gave the Chiefs a first-round pick as part of the recent Trent McDuffie trade
There were no other on-field rule changes proposed by teams this year, although the competition committee will announce next week its proposed rule changes.
It also emerged this week that the NFL season is likely to start on a Wednesday in 2026 for just the second time in 75 years. The Super Bowl winners, Seattle Seahawks, will start the season at home.
The move is being made to accomodate the NFL staging a game in Melbourne, Australia between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, which will be held on the traditional Thursday slow.Â
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NFL team proposes bombshell change to player trade rules that could turn football on its head