NFL Could Expand Draft Pick Trade Window - And Some Front Offices Are Ready to Push the Envelope
Could the NFL be on the verge of loosening the reins on how far into the future teams can trade draft picks? Right now, franchises are limited to dealing selections up to three years out - which means with the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, teams can currently move picks in 2027, 2028, and 2029. But that restriction may not last much longer.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, there’s already some chatter behind the scenes about extending that window to five years. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Schefter dropped this nugget:
“There are going to be people in the NFL this offseason that push to have that limit grown to five years. 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.”
That’s a big shift - and one that could fundamentally change how teams build (and rebuild) their rosters.
Why This Matters
In other major leagues like the NBA and NHL, extended trade windows have opened the door for more deadline fireworks and bold, franchise-altering swings. Front offices in those leagues aren’t shy about mortgaging future assets to chase present-day success - whether that’s landing a superstar or stocking up for a playoff run.
The NFL, by contrast, tends to play it safer. The current three-year rule reflects a league that values long-term roster control and draft capital preservation. But with the trade deadline becoming more active in recent years, and with aggressive GMs like New Orleans’ Mickey Loomis always looking for an edge, the appetite for more flexibility is growing.
What Would Five Years of Picks Mean?
Let’s be clear: this wouldn’t just be about more trades - it’s about more creative trades. Extending the trade window to five years would give GMs the ability to structure deals with more layers, more contingencies, and more long-term vision. It could also help teams in win-now mode go all-in without gutting their immediate draft stock.
But with greater flexibility comes greater risk. That’s why any proposal to expand the draft-pick trade window would likely come with guardrails.
One idea floated from the NBA world? **Pick protections.
** In the NBA, it’s common to protect first-rounders - meaning if a team’s pick lands in the top 3, 5, or 10, they keep it, and the deal rolls over to the next year. Something similar could work in the NFL, giving teams a safety net in case things go south after a big trade.
Another proposal comes from salary cap analyst Nick Korte at Over The Cap. He suggests a more conservative approach: limit trades in Years 4 and 5 to Day 3 picks (Rounds 4 through 7), and require teams to have completed at least three trades involving picks from the first three years before unlocking access to those later picks. It’s a more measured path - one that might appeal to the league’s more cautious owners.
Still, that kind of restriction could be a tough sell when it comes time to vote. NFL owners are famously protective of the draft process, and any major changes would need to pass muster with all 32.
Loomis and the Saints: Ready to Roll the Dice?
While the league’s decision-makers will weigh the pros and cons at the ownership meetings in April, there’s little doubt that some front offices are ready to embrace the chaos. Mickey Loomis, the longtime Saints GM, has a reputation for pushing the envelope when it comes to cap maneuvering and draft capital. He’s never been shy about trading up or kicking the financial can down the road.
If the five-year window becomes reality, expect Loomis and others like him to be first in line, ready to package future picks for impact players. For aggressive teams looking to capitalize on a closing championship window or reset a roster in a hurry, this could be a game-changer.
What’s Next?
The conversation is just getting started, but the fact that it’s happening at all is telling. As the league evolves - with more player movement, more aggressive front offices, and a more flexible salary cap - the draft pick trade rules may be the next domino to fall.
We’ll know more come April, when the league’s power brokers gather to hash out the future of roster-building in the NFL. But one thing’s clear: if the five-year pick window gets the green light, the trade market could get a whole lot more interesting.