Steelers and Cleveland Browns Have Proposed Rule Changes for the 2026 Season
The National Football League aims to make the game more competitive, safer and efficiently structured. Both on the field and behind the scenes. In this vein, organizations are allowed to submit changes they believe would make the league better across the board. Two teams have decided to take advantage of this provision. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns have proposed rule changes for the 2026 season that are being sent to NFL clubs for consideration.
The official NFL Football Operations page briefly outlined the gist of the two proposals:
RESOLUTION G-1 PROPOSAL—TWO-DAY NEGOTIATION PERIOD
Via Pittsburgh Steelers
To make permanent the change implemented during the 2025 season that permits clubs to have one video or phone call with no more than five prospective Unrestricted Free Agents during the Two-Day Negotiation Period, and to permit clubs to make travel arrangements with such players upon agreeing to terms.
RESOLUTION G-2 PROPOSAL—TRADES FOR NOMINAL CONSIDERATION
Via Cleveland Browns
To allow draft selections to be traded up to five (5) seasons in the future.
If you are wondering about Cleveland’s submission. What the Browns organization is essentially asking for is to allow teams to trade draft picks five years out instead of three. The rationale provided for the change is that extending the range of available compensation by another two years would allow greater roster-building flexibility.
Steelers and Cleveland Browns Have Proposed Rule Changes for the 2026 Season
As for Pittsburgh wanting to make permanent the one-year change that gave teams the ability to speak directly to up to five unrestricted free agents during the negotiating window, and to make travel arrangements during the pre-free agency period. NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack discussed the Steelers’ reason behind their proposal; he reports,
“Previously, contact was only permitted between teams and certified agents of free agents — or between a front office and a free agent not represented by a certified agent. An agent must still be a participant on the one allowed call with any represented players during the negotiation window, should teams pass Pittsburgh’s proposed rule.
Pittsburgh’s submitted reasoning for making the rule permanent is it is “competitively fairer.”
Furthermore, as was anticipated, there is no proposal to ban the so-called “tush push,” as there had been last year (by the Green Bay Packers). Moreover, there also isn’t any club playing rule or bylaw proposals included in the league’s announcement. Both proposals will require 24 votes to pass. The league also said that the 2026 proposals from the Competition Committee will be revealed next week.
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