NFL Could Expand Draft Pick Trade Window - But at What Cost?
As the NFL world converges on the Super Bowl, it’s not just about crowning a champion - it’s also the unofficial kickoff to offseason buzz. With league executives, coaches, and insiders all in one place, this is when the seeds of change often get planted. And according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, one potential shift being floated could significantly impact how front offices manage their draft capital: expanding the window in which teams can trade future draft picks.
Currently, NFL teams can only trade draft picks up to three years into the future. That means during the 2026 offseason, the furthest out a team can deal is a 2028 pick.
But that limit might soon be stretched. Schefter reported on The Pat McAfee Show that at least one team is expected to push for expanding the window to five years.
That’s a big jump - and it raises some serious questions.
Risk vs. Reward: A Front Office Balancing Act
On paper, giving teams more flexibility sounds like a win. More options, more creativity, more ways to build a roster. But the reality is a bit more complicated, especially when you factor in the human element - namely, general managers and coaches trying to save their jobs.
Let’s take a look at a real-world example: the 2025 Atlanta Falcons.
At the time, GM Terry Fontenot had been at the helm for four seasons without posting a winning record. Despite the struggles, owner Arthur Blank gave him one more shot - a fifth draft. And Fontenot went all in.
On draft day, he packaged the team’s 2026 first-round pick (which ended up being the 13th overall), a 2025 seventh-rounder, and dropped 55 spots on Day 2 just to move up for Tennessee edge rusher **James Pearce Jr. **.
Pearce was undeniably talented and even put together a strong rookie campaign with 10.5 sacks. But he also came with red flags - and those concerns resurfaced in a major way when he was arrested this past weekend on five felony charges, including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated stalking.
Now, there’s a real possibility that the 26th overall pick may never play another snap in the NFL.
Fontenot, who was let go after another losing season in 2025, never had to deal with the consequences of that move. Instead, the fallout lands on the shoulders of new leadership - in this case, Falcons president of football operations Matt Ryan. That’s the danger of extending the draft pick trade window: it gives decision-makers on the hot seat more room to mortgage the future for a shot at short-term survival.
The Case for Guardrails
If the league does move forward with this proposal, it might want to consider guardrails. One idea?
Tie the ability to trade far-off picks to the contract status of a team’s general manager. If a GM only has a year left on their deal, should they really be allowed to trade away picks five years down the line?
That kind of flexibility might make sense for a front office with long-term stability - but it’s a risky bet when leadership is hanging by a thread.
The NFL has long prided itself on parity - the idea that every team, every season, has a shot. But allowing desperate GMs to ship off future assets in a last-ditch effort to save their jobs could tilt the balance. It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where a team is left in a multi-year hole because of one win-now swing that didn’t pan out.
Final Thoughts
There’s no question that NFL front offices are always looking for an edge. And expanding the draft trade window could open new doors for creativity and aggressive team-building. But it also opens the door to more reckless decision-making - especially from those with little to lose.
As the league considers this potential change, it’ll need to weigh flexibility against accountability. Because while five-year draft trades might sound like a savvy move in theory, the real-world consequences could be far more lasting than one bold trade-up on draft night.