Draft week is officially here. But while the NFL draft is the biggest offseason event in sports largely because of the intrigue of where the incoming college class will land, that’s not the only action set for this week. There will be trades. We don’t know how many or how big, but I can say with absolute confidence that the weekend’s Dexter Lawrence blockbuster between the Giants and Bengals is not going to be the only swap in the next five days. 

The NFL calendar has natural pressure points that push teams to make deals, whether it’s the trade deadline in October or the start of the league year in March. The draft is another one of those, as this marks the last chance for teams to buy or sell picks in the current year. 

Lawrence wasn’t the only veteran player on the trade block and there will be more deals as teams make final calculations between the known commodity or the mystery box draft pick. There will also be jockeying between teams trying to extract value out of the draft board, either moving down to acquire more picks or moving up to get prospects before a perceived value cliff drop. 

We’ll dig into both here: player trades that could be catalyzed by the draft, and pressure points in the first two rounds that could spark trade action. Starting with the latter, let’s dive in. 

Dallas Moves Up For Defense?

First, it’s worth establishing that nearly every single team in the league would be willing to trade down for the right price. Some teams might even be willing to take a slight discount on the trade value charts to drop down in the order. But without a partner who is willing to pay the freight to move up, nothing happens. 

There has been smoke galore that the Cowboys are that motivated trader this year. Many of the popular draft analysts have included a Dallas trade-up into their mock drafts in the past week, which shows how prevalent the buzz is behind the scenes. The Cowboys themselves have indulged the conversation because it keeps them in the spotlight. On Thursday night, we’ll see if they’re willing to actually push their chips in. 

The rationale for a Cowboys trade-up is pretty obvious. Dallas has two first-round picks at No. 12 and No. 20 and glaring needs still to fix a defense that kept the team out of the playoffs last year. In a normal year, they could count on getting two pretty good prospects. Because of the dynamics of the 2026 class, which is shallower at the top in terms of consensus first-round prospects, the Cowboys face the prospect of ending up with lesser players than they would be accustomed to at those draft slots. 

The Bengals were in a similar spot to the Cowboys with big needs on defense, and they elected to trade the No. 10 overall pick days out from the draft because they already felt like the odds were strong they would be sniped on their top targets. Dallas is two slots lower than Cincinnati, so the team should be even more motivated to move up. The good news is that the 12th slot leaves them within striking distance to get deep into the top 10.  

The two slots to watch are the Cardinals at No. 3 overall and the Browns at No. 6 overall. Those two teams feel like the most motivated sellers in the top ten. Both have needs on the offensive line and would love to drop down to better match the pick value to the prospects available. Neither team is necessarily looking at 2026 as a competitive season, either, which makes collecting more picks a priority. Both Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort and Browns GM Andrew Berry have reputations as dealmakers, too. 

It depends on which trade value chart you use, but the difference between the No. 3 and No. 12 picks on older charts comes out to the No. 16 pick in the first round. On more modern charts, it ranges from the late second to the late third. There’s a stark difference if the Cowboys target the No. 6 pick, as that would be a difference equal to the No. 50 overall pick on the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart. That’s way more palatable but it also means more of Dallas’ targets could be off the board. 

With picks at No. 12, No. 20, No. 92 (third) and No. 112 (fourth), plus extra capital still in 2027, the Cowboys have ammunition to work with. However, watch for Dallas to be wary of giving up picks with so many needs still on defense. Instead, the Cowboys could lean on swaps to make up the difference in value. For instance: 

• Cowboys get: No. 6, No. 39 from Browns
• Give: No. 12, No. 20 and 2028 4th

This deal works out as equal value or a win for Cleveland on all the charts, and gives them a third first-round pick this year. It gets Dallas up into the top 10 while keeping their number of picks in 2026 the same and costing just a fourth in 2027. The Cowboys haven’t held tightly onto fourth-round picks in the past and they’d view this as a super cheap cost to move up. The board also flattens out quick this year than usual, so there might not be a huge difference between who they’d take at No. 20 versus No. 39.

It’s harder to build a similar deal with the Cardinals but not impossible if Arizona is determined to take the best trade-down offer no matter what. Frankly there aren’t really any prospects worth over-extending for in Dallas’ case, which makes a move to No. 6 more likely than No. 3. 

Timing Is Everything: Receivers

There are a couple of positions this year where the contours of the class could be conducive to a trade-up. Receiver is the first. There are generally believed to be six first-round prospects in this class. 

• Ohio State’s Carnell Tate
• Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson
• USC’s Makai Lemon
• Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion
• Washington’s Denzel Boston
• Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr.

With the caveat that speaking in absolutes about the draft is an invitation to get Old Takes Exposed, Tate is probably the consensus first receiver off the board and a top-10 pick. Tyson’s stock has undulated much more thanks to his injuries and some playing style questions from some evaluators, but at this point it seems like he’s also riding a wave into the top 10 or 15 picks as the No. 2 off the board behind Tate. 

Lemon is probably third in the range of picks 10-20, but it really depends on how the board falls. There are so many different body types and playing styles at the position, and the fit from team to team can be unique. An organization looking for a big outside receiver will likely have Boston at the head of this cohort, while a team that needs a savvy slot merchant would probably prioritize Lemon. Concepcion is the fastest of this crew, while Cooper is the most rugged and the best after the catch. 

What that means is that if you’re one of the many, many teams that need a receiver this year, you have two considerations going into Thursday. The first is whether one of these six players will make it to your pick. The second and equally important consideration is whether the right one will be available, because not all the teams will view this group as interchangeable. 

The No. 15 overall pick owned by the Buccaneers looms as the first big pressure point for the receivers in Round 1. If Tyson and Tate go off the board in the top 10 and Lemon lands with the Rams, as is a popular mock selection, then that represents a chance for a team in the back half of the round to leapfrog the receiver-needy Jets. If Tyson or Lemon slide, that’s also an opportunity for a team that has a big grade on one of them to make a move. In a lot of mocks, the board ends up looking tough for Tampa Bay compared to their needs, which could prompt a trade down. 

The Steelers need a receiver and have 12 picks to play with this year, giving them uber flexibility to move around the board if they so choose. In an ideal world, the Browns would come away from the first round with prime targets at tackle and receiver, so they could finagle something with their second first-rounder at No. 24 overall to make sure that happens. The Bills traded for WR D.J. Moore but haven’t ruled out even more moves at receiver. The 49ers have a glaring need at receiver and a history of getting aggressive in the draft. The Chiefs also have a big need at pass catcher and extra selections to play around with thanks to trading CB Trent McDuffie. 

The Jets are another receiver-needy team that could either move up a pick to box out other teams or target a bigger jump with their four picks in the first 44 selections. They shouldn’t be ruled out from a big trade into the top 10 themselves, with the Commanders a team to watch that’s eager to move down and collect more Day 2 selections. The Chargers, picking at No. 22 overall, are another team to watch that could be motivated to move down, matching up with the teams at the end of the first round hoping to snare a pass catcher. 

Timing Is Everything Part II: Tackles

The other premium position that NFL observers think could spark a big run and potential trades on Thursday is offensive tackle. There aren’t enough of them to go around in the league. Teams are often willing to pay huge premiums to get even just average players, as when it gets bad, it can get bad at the position. 

Like receiver, there are around a half-dozen prospects viewed as first-round caliber at the tackle position. Unlike receiver, which has another couple dozen potential Day 2 selections, the talent at tackle falls off an absolute cliff after the first couple tiers. Exact order and grades may vary but the consensus generally sees it as: 

• Utah OT Spencer Fano
• Miami OT Francis Maiugoa
• Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor
• Georgia OT Monroe Freeling
• Clemson OT Blake Miller
• Utah OT Caleb Lomu
• Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor

Fano and Mauigoa make up the top tier and are generally seen as solid prospects who might end up in the top 10 thanks to demand. Proctor, Freeling and Miller are probably the next tier off the board. It wouldn’t be totally inconceivable for Lomu and Iheanachor to slide into the second round, as they’re viewed as projects who will need some time to develop. 

If they do, they won’t last past the first five picks of the round, as there will be a trading feeding frenzy to snap up whoever’s left. More than likely, a team will take the plunge in the first round on the high-end traits both Lomu and Iheanachor have and trust that they can reach their potential. 

If you’re a team that needs a tackle and you miss on one of these seven players, it is slim pickings the rest of the way. There will be a lot of energy spent this week trying to map out when the run on tackles could start. 

The Cardinals and Browns are trying to trade down out of the top ten and still land a tackle, but failing that they could just stick and pick. The Chiefs are another team picking in the top 10 that has been heavily linked to potentially taking a tackle, and with the No. 29 pick as well that’s worth remembering at the end of the first round. 

The Giants and Dolphins are two other potential tackle teams at No. 10 and No. 11. From there, it’s a slight gap before the Lions at No. 17, who have been persistently linked to Proctor and have tackle as one of their top needs. The Vikings and Panthers at the next two picks are dark-horse tackle teams, and the Steelers could go in that direction at No. 21 too. In the last third of the first round, you have the Eagles (No. 23), Browns (No. 24), Bears (No. 25), 49ers (No. 27), Texans (No. 28), Chiefs (No. 29), Dolphins (No. 30) and Patriots (No. 31) all potentially in need of a tackle, with some of these teams potentially more desperate than others. 

The further back in that order a team is, obviously the less likely it will be that they can land a tackle. A front office with a specific target in mind is probably going to have to jump up even higher into the teens to ensure they can land their target. Some of the pressure points are similar to those at receiver from the last section. The Buccaneers are in a good spot at tackle and could be willing to move down where the edge rusher talent is still plentiful. The Chargers at No. 22 also are a team to watch. Los Angeles GM Joe Hortiz is fond of picks with his background from the Baltimore front office, but has just five in this class. 

As far as other teams to watch, the Cowboys at No. 20 might be willing to play the board and move back. The Vikings and Panthers at No. 18 and No. 19 could use more picks, and with how shallow this class is, it’s quite possible they are out of first-round grades by the time they’re on the clock. The Eagles are always a threat to go up or down, and the same is true of the Browns. Right now I’d say those teams are more likely to move up than down, but you never know. 

The Ty Simpson Question

If there’s one thing about the NFL draft, it’s going to have intrigue about the quarterbacks, almost irregardless of the actual quality of the class. There’s no real debate about the No. 1 pick despite ESPN’s best efforts. The Raiders will take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. There’s also not really a debate about who the second quarterback off the board will be. 

However, there’s dramatically more uncertainty about when Alabama QB Ty Simpson will hear his name called. We’ve been following his stock closely, among other topics, in our 2026 NFL Draft Rumor Tracker. He’s a polarizing evaluation, with a lot to like about his game but also a lot of red flags, including just 15 career starts and some durability questions. There has been persistent first-round buzz about him, but it’s a lot harder to nail which teams might actually be willing to take the plunge in the first 32 picks. 

The Cardinals like Simpson; in fact they were one of the first teams to be linked to him near the end of the season. Other teams like the Rams, Jets and Browns have shown interest in Simpson, but the buzz is not quite as strong as it is with Arizona. If you connect the dots, those teams seem to have bigger priorities. The Rams are more focused on their window of contention with QB Matthew Stafford, while the Browns and Jets eye a 2027 class of quarterbacks that should be a lot better. 

The Cardinals shouldn’t have to use the No. 3 pick to be able to land Simpson. They could conceivably wait until their second-round selection at No. 34 overall, as there aren’t really many threats to take Simpson before then. The Jets don’t seem to be an option at No. 16 overall based on the buzz so far, and the same is true of the Steelers at No. 21 and the Browns at No. 24. The Rams traded their late first-round pick and aren’t on the board until the end of Round 2. 

The biggest risk might be New York’s leadoff selection of the second round at No. 33 overall. New York has done homework on Simpson and might view him as worth the gamble. They could also trade the pick to a mystery team that’s kept its love of Simpson a well-guarded secret. That’s why there is a ton of buzz about Arizona leaping up a few picks into the first round to make sure they land their guy. The Giants did it last year to take QB Jaxson Dart and the Packers did it to take QB Jordan Love, so there’s a well-worn precedent. 

There is no shortage of teams in the back third of the first round that would welcome a move back, so it comes down to what the Cardinals want to pay. They have just seven selections with no extra picks and a lot of needs, so giving up anything more than a fourth or fifth-round pick might be tough. They could part with 2027 capital but teams are going to be reluctant to do that given that next year is supposed to be a much stronger class. 

San Francisco at No. 27 and Seattle at No. 32 would be ideal partners as long as they were willing to trade within the division, which isn’t always the case. Houston at No. 28 stands out as another alternative, and the two organizations worked well together on a big trade in 2023. 

Then again, the Cardinals might be just as likely to hold onto all their picks and play a high-stakes game of chicken that Simpson will last until they’re on the clock at No. 34. 

Late Day 1/Early Day 2 Action

The transition from the end of the first round to the beginning of the second round usually sparks some action. Teams that want the flexibility of the fifth-year option can move up into the first 32 picks, and there’s also sometimes jockeying to get the last players at certain positions where the value falls off sharply. Any tackles or receivers that get into the range of picks 27 to 32 are worth watching for a trade, with the Jets (No. 33), Titans (No. 35), Texans (No. 38), Browns (No. 39) and Chiefs (No. 40) worth watching as teams with big needs at those spots, extra picks and aggressive general managers. 

There could also be some trades into the first 10 picks of the second round, and I’d be watching for a few positions in particular beyond just the usual premiums on tackles, pass rushers, receivers and quarterbacks. This is not considered a good year for defensive tackles; in fact there’s a better chance than not that none will go in the first round. But there is a cluster right at the top of the second round that could drive interest from teams that need help along the interior defensive line and don’t have any other recourse. 

The players to know include Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald, a prolific run stopper with an underdeveloped pass rush game and questions about his ceiling in that particular area, and Clemson DT Peter Woods, someone who was seen as a potential top pick last summer and has slid due to a variety of factors over the last 12 months. There’s Georgia’s Christen Miller, a solid all-around player, and Florida’s Caleb Banks, a mountain of an athlete at 6-6 and 320-plus with top-20 traits, but serious red flags due to injuries and other issues. 

Expect a run on that group in Round 2, and that could spark some trades. The Giants need to replace Lawrence, and could make a small move up from No. 37 to make sure they don’t get left hanging. The Chiefs have some extra picks to work with, as do the Dolphins. The Vikings and Packers are picking low enough that if they want a defensive tackle, they might have to go up and get one. Minnesota has nine picks and Green Bay has eight. 

Two other positions to know include cornerback and linebacker. This is a deep class at corner but not all that great at the top. That could drive demand for a few players. If Tennessee CB Colton Hood or San Diego State CB Chris Johnson get out of the first round, there would be high demand for them at the top of Round 2 as trade-up targets. Arizona DB Treydan Stukes is another buzzy name; he plays nickel but teams are valuing that position more and more and Stukes is both a great athlete and a ballhawk. 

Linebacker isn’t a premium position and this is a deep class, but there are a handful of guys that I could see teams wanting to make sure they secure. Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez, Georgia’s CJ Allen, Cincinnati’s Jake Golday and Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. are commonly mocked in Round 2. Teams like the Colts, Panthers, Falcons and Broncos have big needs, pick toward the middle to end of the round and might not want to chance waiting. 

Other Trade-Up Teams To Watch

Going back to the guiding principle that it takes a team wanting to trade up to make a deal happen, there are a few teams worth watching as active agents who could foment activity during the draft. These teams tend to share one or more of these traits — extra draft capital to spend, an aggressive decision-maker who’s not afraid to take risks and a contending window that the team is trying to maximize. 

The Eagles have to be mentioned first here, as GM Howie Roseman is probably one of the pioneers of the modern GM prototype. He’s incredibly active as a dealmaker, and while he doesn’t win every time, he culls more than his fair share of value. It helps that he has rock-solid job security and can afford to approach things with a longer timeline than some of his peers. The Eagles have eight picks, including an extra third-rounder, so they could be active moving around the board to secure targets at positions of need like tackle, wide receiver, tight end, edge rusher and safety. 

The Broncos have already made one big deal, trading away their first-round selection for WR Jaylen Waddle. It would not be surprising to see them make another trade. Denver still has seven picks and a pretty good roster that might not have room for seven rookies. Broncos HC Sean Payton has a long history of falling in love with specific players and doing what it takes to go get them. I don’t think he’s going to be content to just sit at pick No. 62 — the only selection the Broncos have during the first two days of the draft right now — and cross his fingers that one of his targets falls. 

No team has more selections than the 12 the Steelers own. Current GM Omar Khan is also far more willing to make a trade than any of his predecessors in Pittsburgh (there’s a segment of the fanbase that’s nicknamed him The Khan Artist). Pittsburgh has two extra third-rounders, an extra fourth and two extra sevenths to work with this weekend. They can make sure they don’t get boxed out for a tackle or a receiver in Round 1 if they want, or maneuver on the second and third days to get targets at positions like linebacker, cornerback, safety and maybe even quarterback. 

The Jaguars play their cards close to the vest but they have 11 picks and GM James Gladstone has already established that he likes to make a splash. It’s fair to expect some activity from them on the second day of the draft, particularly with three third-rounders. 

Finally, the Patriots are another team that it’s fair to expect some activity from. Coming off an appearance in the Super Bowl, and more specifically a beatdown in the Super Bowl, the Patriots are eager to raise the talent level across the board on the roster. They will be pivoting more toward quality rather than quantity. Eleven selections ties for second-most in the league, but eight of those are on Day 3 and five are in the sixth through seventh rounds. Those picks probably won’t move the needle all that much, but they are chips to help the Patriots make sure they land prospects who will in the first several rounds. They could be especially useful in moving around in the fourth and fifth rounds. 

Tight End Blockbuster? 

Put on your Windy fingers with me for a moment. Falcons GM Ian Cunningham has been asked about trading TE Kyle Pitts twice this month, the first time at the owners meetings and the second time at his pre-draft press conference on Monday. Twice now, Cunningham has trotted out the same line about how it’s his job to listen when other teams call. He’s also spoken openly about his desire for more draft selections, with the Falcons down to just five picks this year. If you’re fluent in GM speak, this comes off as Cunningham practically begging for offers from other teams on Pitts. 

It’s a deep tight end class, which will blunt the interest in Pitts to some degree. So will his salary, $15.045 million on the fifth-year option. However, Pitts is a unique enough talent that some teams and coaches will be drawn to him as a matchup-dictater in the passing game. 

There’s a team we’ve already talked about that has made more headlines than any other in the past year or so with its pursuit of those matchup-dictating players. This team not only needs a tight end, they need a tight end like Pitts who’s a skilled pass catcher. This team has the cap space to take on his contract and some picks to work with to compensate the Falcons, including two at the top of the fourth round. They also have a head coach who it’s easy to see falling head over heels for Pitts and the possibilities he might unlock in the passing game. 

I’m speaking of course about the Broncos and Payton. I also think it’s interesting that former Broncos CB Aqib Talib, who works in media now, said he’s heard the Broncos aren’t done and have another big move up their sleeves. Talib had a teaser that proved to be on the dot about Denver’s trade for Waddle. Maybe this is Talib taking a heat check, but if he’s on to something yet again, Pitts is the player I’d have my eye on. 

I don’t think a trade would cost the Broncos the No. 61 overall pick in the second round either, at least not straight up. A package including their fourth-rounder, which would be a year sooner and higher than any realistic compensatory pick the Falcons could get if Pitts walked next year, could be sufficient. 

Steelers Open For Business

Back in March, there was some smoke about a potential deal that would have sent Steelers LB Patrick Queen to the Cowboys. That died off but could be resurrected this week if Dallas isn’t able to fill its void at inside linebacker. Day 3 of the draft would be the spot to watch if the Cowboys don’t like how the board has settled. 

But the rumor mill is churning with bigger names than Queen that the Steelers might be willing to part with. A report last week named OLBs Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig as players the Steelers would listen to offers on. Even though the draft is deep with pass rushers, it still might not be enough to meet the demand for every team. Some squads will prefer proven contributors over rookies as well. 

Of the two, Highsmith is more likely to be moved. He’s older and more expensive, with two years left on his deal for a total of $30 million. He had 14.5 sacks back in 2022 but hasn’t quite been able to match that in the three years since, though he’s been fairly productive still. He turns 29 in August and has missed 10 games over the past two years, so the Steelers are likely looking at a third or fourth-rounder if they trade him this weekend. 

Herbig might be the reason the Steelers are willing to listen to offers for Highsmith. He’s entering the final year of his rookie deal and coming off a breakout 2025 season where he had 7.5 sacks largely coming off the bench behind Highsmith and T.J. Watt. He would be a starter on a lot of other teams, and Pittsburgh might be looking to clear a path for him while taking advantage of its depth at a premium position. It might be tough to pay up a big deal for Herbig while still keeping Watt and Highsmith on the books — though Highsmith’s deal is pretty strong value for a No. 2 pass rusher. 

Quarterback Trades (But Maybe Not Who You Think)

The carousel for the league’s 32 starting positions is basically stopped, but it’s still going strong for the No. 2 role with a bunch of backup gigs around the league still up in the air. Well over 40 quarterbacks a year tend to see significant stretches of playing time thanks to injuries, so the backup position is one that teams value highly. 

What this quarterback class lacks in top-end talent, it sorta kinda makes up for in intriguing middle-rounders. That said, many teams will be reluctant to trust the No. 2 role to a rookie and will instead elect for players with at least some experience. Earlier this offseason, we took a look at a few of those candidates and all of them still remain available for deals. An updated look at that group would include: 

• Eagles QB Tanner McKee
• Titans QB Will Levis
• Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell
• Saints QB Spencer Rattler
• Colts QB Anthony Richardson

McKee remains one of the more intriguing backups given his small sample size of appearances in the regular season and preseason. The Eagles did trade for QB Andy Dalton from the Panthers, giving them the luxury of the most experienced No. 3 passer in football right now. That could allow them to trade McKee and still be in good shape at quarterback but it’s not a given if they don’t like the offers. 

Levis has been ready for a fresh start since the Titans took Cam Ward No. 1 overall last season. He missed the whole year after getting shoulder surgery, a decision that seemed like it caught the Titans off guard a bit. Tennessee signed both QBs Mitchell Trubisky and Hendon Hooker this offseason, so it seems like the only question is whether Levis is dealt this coming weekend or later this summer. 

The Raiders have also added a lot to the quarterback room, signing veteran QB Kirk Cousins to mentor Mendoza and run things until the rookie is ready to start. He has one year left on his rookie contract and could stick around as the No. 3, but with 17 starts under his belt, he’s experienced enough to be an appealing backup somewhere else. 

By adding QB Zach Wilson to a room that included Tyler Shough and Rattler, the Saints have made things a little crowded in the quarterback room. Rattler has two years left on his rookie contract, so New Orleans isn’t pressed to make a move, but the addition of Wilson certainly seems to make trading Rattler more viable. 

Richardson profiles more as a developmental No. 3 than a true backup thanks to his lack of experience. But Dolphins QB Malik Willis is a fresh example as a success story from betting on a passer with physical traits. It might not happen this weekend either but it does seem like eventually Richardson will be dealt. 

Other Player Trades To Watch For

The draft serves as a soft deadline for teams that are thinking about trading a player or trying to offload them, with the next window for deals not really opening until after training camps are underway. There are plenty of teams that have made sure to drop hints that certain players are available, and in some cases they’ve come right out and said it. A few of those options include: 

Colts CB Kenny Moore II

Indianapolis and Moore’s agent jointly informed reporters that the two sides had mutually agreed to pursue a trade. Moore is turning 31 in August and the Colts have some young cornerbacks they’re really excited about, including 2025 third-rounder Justin Walley who was pushing to start before missing all of last season with an injury. The contract is probably a factor, too. Moore is due $10 million with no guarantees and the Colts have spent a lot of money this offseason. 

For Moore’s part, he’s obviously hoping to maximize his playing time and salary and can read the writing on the wall in Indianapolis. This is a situation where the Colts are hoping to get something instead of nothing, as GM Chris Ballard admitted Monday they would probably release Moore if no trade comes together in the next couple of weeks. 

Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte

As various reporters become more and more comfortable with spelling out a future Eagles/Patriots trade involving WR A.J. Brown, there are downstream ripple effects. New England’s receiving room is crowded already and adding Brown would likely mean pushing someone else out. Boutte had a solid season in 2025 and has really turned his career around after sliding to the sixth round and facing gambling charges. But he’s in the final year of his deal and his skillset has become redundant in the team’s receiving corps. 

This deal probably won’t happen until after the draft and/or closer to camp as the various receiver-needy teams sort through their rosters. 

Giants OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux

The Giants defender most people figured would be traded instead of Lawrence, Thibodeaux remains on the trade block by all accounts but the Giants probably feel less pressed to take whatever they can get. There’s room for him on the defense, especially since he’s a solid run defender, and New York can hold out for a great return, kind of like what they did with Lawrence. 

However, the basic facts that point to a Thibodeaux trade aren’t going anywhere. He’s in the final year of his deal and the Giants are unlikely to pony up the money next year to keep him as the No. 3 in a room that includes Brian Burns and Abdul Carter. Whether it’s during camp or before the midseason deadline, expect Thibodeaux to keep cropping up as a trade candidate.