The Cleveland Browns have proposed a big change to player trade rules that could alter the future of how deals are completed and the way rosters are constructed in the NFL.
The league announced on Wednesday that the organization wants to discuss the possibility of allowing teams to trade draft picks up to five years into the future. At present, teams can only trade picks three years ahead.
Their suggestion will be discussed by NFL owners at league meetings later this month – 24 of the 32 teams have to approve it for it to become a rule.
And if it does come into force it would, the Browns say, lead to a more active trade market and improved flexibility within rosters.
For fans, more trades would equal more excitement – players switching teams is a thrilling part of the NFL calendar, even if it mainly happens during the offseason.
A more significant consquence, however, could be that general managers restrict teams from rebuilds in the future if they trade away too many future first-round picks for players who do not fulfil potential. For better or worse, if the rule is passed it will change the way teams are built.
The Kansas City Chiefs have two first-round picks for the 2026 NFL Draft next month
There have been six trades involving first-round picks during the current offseason.
This week, the Denver Broncos traded theirs to the Miami Dolphins as part of the deal to land wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
The Kansas City Chiefs also got a second first-round pick when they traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams.
The NFL also allowed teams this year on a trial basis to conduct up to five phone or video calls directly with players on other teams during the two-day free agent negotiating period before the start of the league year. Teams previously had been able to contact only agents during that time.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are now asking for that rule to be permanent, as well as allowing teams to make travel arrangements before the start of the league year with players who have agreed to terms for new contracts during the negotiating period.
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