Why trading up in 2026 is a bad idea.

[Basbear]

It puts more pressure on being right, I always feel trading back is the move 97/100 times. There are times where you fall in love and if that guy is only 7 spots away and the cost is only a 6th or pick swap......why not?? so long the cost is low, Im more willing to do so. 

Still one of the best teams at trading back and they torn apart the Panthers on those trades; Pats. You still have to pick the players, that's what matters. In theory you should always add picks, but it does get to the point of eight 3rd rounders or two late 1st and a 2nd?? I mean every draft is different, so the talent maybe not fall off a cliff after pick 50. Case by case deal, but vastly I prefer to trade back.....another curve if you trade back and the scouts/coaches have not planned for it. You have to be ready and know the spot you are trading too (everyone). Just like trading out of 1st round two weeks before the draft, that hurts your team as they have been focused on pick 10 and now its wait until pick 42.... 

Edited 22 hours ago by Basbear

[strato]

I liked that Eager… I think Eager, maybe Tillis too, but they have probabilities of every guy on their board still being there by a given point. Whether it is a full round or 20 picks or whatever. 
It seems to work. 

[MartyClemons]

Making blanket statements about trading up or down are kinda meaningless in a vacuum. 
 

Sonny Styles is a great prospect. IMO he probably goes top 5. We’d have to give up basically a whole draft worth of pics to get there for a line backer on a team that lacks talent and I wouldn’t love that. I doubt he falls past 7. But in the chance he does. I’d absolutely be thrilled to trade up for him. It just depends on the price

But tbh. I like CJ Allen. I think a guy like that could upgrade our LB room and defense overall. And I think someone falls. 
 

maybe it’s Sadiq as weapon of a TE. Maybe it’s one of the top 3 WRs. Maybe Delane or McCoy fall 

There’s going to be good football players where we’re at imo

 

[DaveThePanther2008]

3 minutes ago, MartyClemons said:

Making blanket statements about trading up or down are kinda meaningless in a vacuum. 
 

Sonny Styles is a great prospect. IMO he probably goes top 5. We’d have to give up basically a whole draft worth of pics to get there for a line backer on a team that lacks talent and I wouldn’t love that. I doubt he falls past 7. But in the chance he does. I’d absolutely be thrilled to trade up for him. It just depends on the price

But tbh. I like CJ Allen. I think a guy like that could upgrade our LB room and defense overall. And I think someone falls. 
 

maybe it’s Sadiq as weapon of a TE. Maybe it’s one of the top 3 WRs. Maybe Delane or McCoy fall 

There’s going to be good football players where we’re at imo

 

I saw a mock by PFF I believe it was that said we would take Allen.

[shaqattaq]

On 3/2/2026 at 6:31 PM, DaveThePanther2008 said:

Thoughts?

Trading up in the 1st is almost ALWAYS a bad idea. If you make moves out of desperation, you generally get fleeced (see 2023).