Compared on their own pages, Nov 2, 2026
Best NFL trade machines in 2026: six tools, four standards
Two of the six meet all four standards: Pro Football Network's Trade Machine and our Trade Machine. Spotrac is the cap ledger, Fanspo does three-team deals, A to Z Sports finds trades for you, and Fanspeak has no standalone trade machine.
| Rank | Tool | Standards met | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trade Machine StickToTheModelA price in draft picks on every player (a 1st, a 3rd, a 7th), and how likely each side is to say yes. | 4 of 4 | A price in draft picks on every player (a 1st, a 3rd, a 7th), and how likely each side is to say yes. |
| 1 | Pro Football Network Trade MachineThe pick charts and the graded feed. If you argue in Rich Hill points, this is the one. | 4 of 4 | The pick charts and the graded feed. If you argue in Rich Hill points, this is the one. |
| 3 | A to Z Sports Trade SimulatorIdeas: it builds fair offers around a player or a team's needs, or randomizes one. | 2 of 4 | Ideas: it builds fair offers around a player or a team's needs, or randomizes one. |
| 3 | Spotrac Trade MachineThe ledger. When you need the exact dead cap on one contract, this is the source. | 2 of 4 | The ledger. When you need the exact dead cap on one contract, this is the source. |
| 3 | Fanspo Trade MachineDeals with three to five teams, and the contract moves around them. | 2 of 4 | Deals with three to five teams, and the contract moves around them. |
| 6 | Fanspeak On The Clock and Manage The CapPick trades inside a mock draft, and running your team's offseason. | Not a trade machine | Pick trades inside a mock draft, and running your team's offseason. |
The two at the top differ in what they show, not in what they cover.
The four standards, applied to every tool
- One model prices every player and pick, so two offers sit on one scale.
- Both sides' cap and dead money.
- A graded record when real trades land: the price it had, next to what was paid.
- Free, no login.
Trade Machine StickToTheModel
Build any trade between two teams and see who wins it: player and pick value, the cap impact, and how likely each side is to say yes. Every player is priced by one model from three seasons of our grades and real trades, and the trade value chart behind it is checked against real trades since 2017.
| One model, every player and pick | Yes. The same model prices all 32 rosters and every pick. |
| Cap and dead money, both sides | Yes. |
| Graded against real trades | Yes. When a real trade lands we post what we had him at, next to the miss, on the trade deadline page. |
| Free, no login | Yes. |
The limit: it is a model, not a scoop. No sources, no insider news, and rookie contracts and injured stars are where the model still argues with you. Two teams per trade; for a three-team deal, see Fanspo below.
Pro Football Network Trade Machine
"Build and evaluate trades with live salary cap, dead cap, and calibrated player values," in PFN's words. 32 teams, 2,514 players. A toggle picks the Rich Hill or Jimmy Johnson pick chart, and a Post-June 1 switch changes how dead cap is counted.
| One model, every player and pick | Yes. Position ceiling times production, age and contract, calibrated against 28 real trades (2023 to 2026), per the page. |
| Cap and dead money, both sides | Yes. Both teams must stay under the cap; the sending team absorbs the dead cap. |
| Graded against real trades | Yes. A Recent Trades feed grades each side of real deals after they happen. |
| Free, no login | Yes. It opened without an account. |
A to Z Sports Trade Simulator
"Build any NFL trade and see who wins. The A to Z Sports Trade Simulator values every player and draft pick on one scale, suggests trades that fit each roster, and makes a shareable trade card," in A to Z's words. Two teams, real 2027 and 2028 picks, and a meter that reads Fair, Leans or lopsided.
| One model, every player and pick | Yes. Every player carries an A to Z trade value and a grade. |
| Cap and dead money, both sides | Partly. Cap space before and after the trade, and whether anyone goes over; dead money is not shown. |
| Graded against real trades | Not shown on the page. |
| Free, no login | Yes. It opened without an account. |
Spotrac Trade Machine
"Simulate NFL trades and see real-time salary cap impact for all teams involved," in Spotrac's words. Every player on both rosters shows his remaining contract, this year's cap hit and this year's dead cap; draft picks can be sent too.
| One model, every player and pick | No. Spotrac shows contracts, not a trade value. |
| Cap and dead money, both sides | Yes. Cap hit and dead cap on every player, both sides. |
| Graded against real trades | No. |
| Free, no login | Yes. It opened without an account. |
Fanspo Trade Machine
"Build an NFL trade between two to five teams with players and draft picks, then try it against the salary cap," in Fanspo's words. Each team's cap space, roster cap and dead cap update as assets move, every problem is marked blocking or a warning, and contracts can be restructured or released around the deal.
| One model, every player and pick | No. Fanspo checks whether the deal passes the cap; it does not price the players. |
| Cap and dead money, both sides | Yes, for every team in the deal. |
| Graded against real trades | No. |
| Free, no login | Building a trade is open; saving it as a post asks you to sign in. |
Fanspeak On The Clock and Manage The Cap
Fanspeak builds mock draft simulators and offseason tools, not a standalone trade machine. Trades happen inside On The Clock (pick trades during a mock) and Manage The Cap (one team's offseason: tags, cuts, trades, free agency, the draft). Free; an account saves your drafts.
Questions people type
Is there a free NFL trade machine with no login?
Yes. Ours, Pro Football Network's, A to Z Sports' and Spotrac's opened without an account when we checked. Fanspo asks you to sign in to save a trade.
Does the ESPN Trade Machine do NFL trades?
No. ESPN's Trade Machine is an NBA tool that checks a deal against the NBA's trade rules. For an NFL trade, see StickToTheModel vs the ESPN Trade Machine.
Which NFL trade machine checks the salary cap?
All five show the cap. Pro Football Network, Spotrac, Fanspo and our Trade Machine show dead money on both sides; A to Z Sports shows cap space before and after the trade.
How do you know a trade machine's prices are any good?
Real trades. When one lands, the tool's price should sit near what was paid. PFN grades each side after the deal; we post what we had him at next to the miss on the trade deadline page.
Every line about another tool was read on that tool's own page. If one has changed, tell us: how we work.