The Cleveland Browns are positioned well to make a major move on the trade market ahead of, or during, the the NFL draft, which is exactly what the team is planning for just days out from Round 1.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN appeared on ESPN Cleveland radio Monday, April 20 and reported a source inside the Browns organization who admitted as much to the league insider.
“I was told by a source with the team that it would be shortsighted to assume that they’re just going to fulfill two needs with their two first-round picks and just go from there,” Fowler said. “They are very open to a surprise here.”
Cleveland owns the Nos. 6 and 24 selections on Thursday night, as well as pick No. 39 overall in Round 2.
Trading Down for Extra Asset, Selecting Tackle in Top Half of First Round Ideal NFL Draft Scenario for Browns
GettyUtah offensive tackle Spencer Fano.
The Browns’ needs are well-established, with offensive tackle and wide receiver taking priority over all other positions.
But Cleveland doesn’t necessarily have to stick and pick at No. 6 to accomplish both of those goals, and general manager Andrew Berry has spoken openly leading up to the draft about “maximizing the asset,” meaning that top-10 pick.
Todd McShay of The Ringer predicted Monday that there will be a run on the offensive tackle position that could begin as soon as the low double-digits and continue on through the mid-20s. He asserted there are seven high-level prospects at the position, noting that “once they’re gone, they’re gone.”
As such, the Browns will run a risk if they choose to go with a receiver first and hold out into the mid-20s hoping that an OT falls to them there. Cleveland might have its choice of tackles if it uses the No. 6 selection to draft one, which is probably the best bet should a quality trade down opportunity fail to materialize.
If the Browns do trade out of the No. 6 spot, going down to No. 12 with a team like the Dallas Cowboys that might target a top-tier edge-rusher would be the best sort of deal Cleveland could make.
Adding another strong asset in this draft — or the 2027 class, which is projected to be excellent across several positions — would be a major win for Berry and company if they are still able to take a top-three or top-four tackle and then grab the best wideout remaining on the board at No. 24.
Browns Unlikely to Address QB Position Early in NFL Draft
GettyQuarterback Shedeur Sanders of the Cleveland Browns.
Many Browns fans and general NFL observers might argue that quarterback is an even bigger concern in Cleveleand — with second-year signal-caller Shedeur Sanders and the oft-injured Deshaun Watson both entering the spring as one of the team’s the top two options.
But there is just one consensus franchise QB in the 2026 class: Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, and he is a lock to go No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Browns could look at Ty Simpson of Alabama, but that connection hasn’t picked up steam in recent weeks.
Thus, Cleveland is expected to continue building out its offense around the QB position and revisit the position group next offseason, perhaps by selecting one of several high-upside prospects in the 2027 draft class.
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