The Los Angeles Chargers are one of many clear trade-back candidates on Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
They currently possess just five selections, having traded away their fifth and seventh-round picks in the Odafe Oweh and Elijah Molden trades. They greatest position of need is at offensive guard, which can likely be nabbed in the second round if Olaivavega Ioane comes off the board as early as many analysts expect.
If Los Angeles is able to move off of their first-round pick in exchange for a second-rounder and further capital later in the Draft, no one would blame them for taking the conservative route. The problem comes when you try to match them with a trade partner.
Although there are a small number of teams that could look to bump themselves out of the early second round, there will likely be a greater number of teams attempting to move down. If the Chargers ultimately choose to try to offload their Day 1 selection, finding the right team won't be an easy task.
Fortunately, Bleacher Report's latest "Chaos Edition" Mock Draft, drawn up by Moe Moton, takes the liberty of setting up a hypothetical trade for each team with a first-round selection. The Chargers, for their part, swap first-round picks with the Buffalo Bills in exchange for an extra pair of Day 3 picks.
It's an unlikely move, but it's an intriguing one nonetheless.
Bills are an unlikely, but sensible, trade-back partner for the Chargers
Although the suggested price is likely steeper than Buffalo might be willing to entertain, the pairing of trade partners is perhaps more realistic than the hypothetical nature of the mock draft might suggest.
In this case, the Bills would be trading up to grab defensive tackle Peter Woods out of Clemson. As Moton points out, Buffalo had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL in 2025. Having at least put a band-aid on its wide receiver situation with its acquisition of D.J. Moore, there's an argument to be made for acquiring one of the top interior defensive line pieces in this draft class.
While Buffalo lacks a second-rounder in this Draft, it is in possession of an extra fifth-round selection that was earned in the Moore trade.
If Ioane is off the board, the Chargers have nothing to lose by bumping down to 26th overall, where the Bills are currently slated to select. The pass-rusher class is deep enough that Los Angeles could likely get its hands on a top positional prospect in that range. Even if they want to take a guard like Chase Bisontis, drafting him at 26th overall would represent less of a reach and insure them against a potential rise out of their draft range in the second round..
Much like the Chargers, however, Buffalo has needs all across their defense they must address this offseason. Their desire to trade up depends on if they're particularly enamored with a prospect in Los Angeles' range.
But given what we know about Joe Hortiz's conservative approach and Brandon Beane's willingness to push the envelope when necessary, this deal certainly isn't out of the realm of possibility.
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