The New York Giants holding the first overall pick potentially opens the door for a franchise-altering trade haul from a team desperate for a quarterback. The 2026 NFL Draft does not feature a prospect at a position of need that the Giants should take, so trading back is an ideal strategy.

The upcoming draft class features two quarterbacks who will be highly sought after: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore. With the finish to Mendoza’s season, he’ll likely become a significant target for teams looking to find their franchise quarterback. Additionally, Alabama’s Ty Simpson could be the mix, but he had a shaky finish to the year.

I previously detailed what a trade haul could look like if the Giants successfully orchestrated a trade. What they receive will be impacted by who wants to trade up. With that in mind, it begs the question: which teams are the most likely to enter the sweepstakes of getting the first overall pick? Here are the teams that appear most desperate.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are in a difficult position because they passed on drafting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. Since mishandling the Deshaun Watson situation, they’ve had no luck finding a replacement. Shedeur Sanders has performed well in some games, but it’s unclear if the Browns want to build around him. Cleveland could be a team that seeks out a veteran free agent to help them become competitive immediately with their elite defense.

However, they need a plan because waiting another year to draft a quarterback only keeps this franchise in a directionless state. They currently hold the fourth overall pick and could easily be passed over by other franchises that are aggressive in the draft.

New York Jets

Similar to the Browns, the Jets cannot go another year without adding a young quarterback to build around. They were major sellers at the trade deadline, and could use their capital to move off if they have to. This team has a solid young core, but they need a beacon to rally around.

New York currently holds the fifth overall pick as of Week 15 and appears to be in an awkward spot to draft a QB. Any team outside of the top three is in danger of being boxed out of getting a quarterback, considering the Raiders sit comfortably in a position to take the second-best quarterback regardless of who goes first overall. The Jets ultimately can’t risk that.

Los Angles Rams

The Rams are in a very unique position with having the tenth overall pick in this draft because the Atlanta Falcons are a mess of a franchise. They traded up into the first round last year to take a second pass rusher in James Pearce Jr., and now the Rams are benefiting from it.

Because they have a high pick with an older quarterback, they get a rare opportunity to find Matthew Stafford’s replacement. If they’re willing to package some picks to move up to the top spot, it won’t cost them nearly as much as a selection in the 20s. Right now, the Rams hold the tenth overall pick, which is far more feasible. If they fall in love with Moore or Mendoza, it could make a lot of sense for them to be aggressive in continuing their success.

Pittsburgh Steelers

This has to be the worst quarterback situation in the NFL that isn’t getting talked about enough. The Steelers brought in Aaron Rodgers to make one final run at a Super Bowl with their stellar roster. He obviously won’t be back next year, and they can’t afford to have a young option in the fold.

Right now, the Steelers are expected to have the 20th overall pick, way past the realistic range of when worthy quarterbacks will be available. The last time they took a QB in this range, it was Kenny Pickett, and that failed miserably. If the Giants pulled out a trade with Pittsburgh, it could provide them with a bounty of picks.

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