NFL considering longer runway for draft pick trades

By Ross Jackson

This one could be music to the New Orleans Saints’ ears. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, there is expected to be a push this offseason to extend the draft pick trade limits from three years to five. A historically aggressive organization such as the Saints could be among those in support of this change. 

There are people in the NFL pushing to allow draft pick trading 5 years out, per @AdamSchefter

Currently teams can’t trade picks beyond 3 years. pic.twitter.com/F044tKm99F

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) February 9, 2026

At present, NFL teams are only allowed to trade away draft selections that are set for the next three years. For instance, right now, the latest pick a team could send away in a trade is a seventh-rounder in the 2028 selection process. 

If the proposed change were implemented, that final pick would be the seventh-round selection from the 2030 draft. 

“There is going to be a push by at least one team this offseason to extend the NFL trade limits from three years of picks to five years of picks,” said Schefter on the Pat McAfee Show. 

While many speculate that one team could be New Orleans, it’s not hard to imagine the organization supporting the change. Being able to trade picks up to five years out doesn’t necessarily mean you have to trade picks five years out. But having the option, much like the NBA which allows teams a seven-year runway. 

Some have also considered adding pick protections just like the NBA or even limited the rounds from which selections from the fourth and fifth years can be traded. All seem like perfectly logical starting places to balance the shift were it to be enacted. 

With ever-innovative front offices around the league and risk-taking decision makers in those offices, this could be the dawn of a new day in the league driven by even more player mobility.