Teams Hold "Untouchable Assets"

Nobody was willing to give up future 1st round picks to move up this year.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7227723/2026/04/25/2027-draft-pick-trades-qb-class/

Here's a snippet from the link:

"Regardless, those 2027 first-round picks feel like lottery tickets at the moment, and their value could skyrocket throughout the next college football season. Even for teams that don’t need a quarterback, they can auction a pick and recoup enough assets to reshape the future of an organization. It wasn’t worth burning that opportunity this week.

Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars sent a 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns to jump from No. 5 to No. 2 for Travis Hunter. The Atlanta Falcons shipped off a future first-rounder to the Los Angeles Rams to leap from No. 46 in the second round to No. 26 for defensive end James Pearce Jr. (the move was heavily scrutinized at the time by teams that had off-field concerns with the player).

Nobody felt so opportunistic this week — not when Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese fell to the New York Giants at No. 5, or when the Cleveland Browns were shopping No. 6, not even with the Dallas Cowboys exploring their options to jump into the top 10.

There was nothing even close to a future first on the table. The Kansas City Chiefs jumped from No. 9 to No. 6 by attaching third- and fifth-rounders in this draft. The Cowboys sent two fifth-rounders to Miami in their move from 12th to 11th. Of the six trades in the back half of the first round, no one spent more than the equivalent of a third-day pick to move up.

“It’s more that this class isn’t talented enough to move up drastically,” another executive said.

The quarterback situation didn’t help. While the Las Vegas Raiders were locked into Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, there was no urgency around the league to pay a premium to get into position for Ty Simpson, who went to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13. Beck was the next QB taken 52 picks later.

“There’s not a player in this draft to move up for who is worthy of giving up a first-rounder,” a third executive said. “Usually, you’ll do that for a QB, and it’s just not worth giving up a No. 1 next year for anything this year.”

So teams held tight, carefully protecting their 2027 first-rounders in the process. Right now, with hope still in the air, that QB class could change the direction of several well-positioned teams next spring."

 

More of those pesky facts.

 

Next yrs class is potentially deep and elite at a few key positions.... far too much value to lose on this draft

 

The narrative that the Steelers missed out of trading down in the first round.

They didn’t need more mid round 2026 picks. They’ve got more than they need already.

So if you can’t pry loose 2027 picks; there’s not much gain for moving off #21.

 

The point in acquiring more 2026 mid round picks by trading down then try to flip some of them for 2027, they wouldn't get a first or second but anything would help. In a loaded 2027 class they won't have any extra picks.

 

Totally agree. If they hadn't had so many picks already, it might've been different.

 

I understand the thinking. But all the emerging facts from this draft point to few, if any, teams wanting to move 2027 picks of any type.

 

Yea, there is that pesky problem.

 

Based on the title I was a little hesitant to open this thread.