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Cleveland Browns: Three Potential Day One Trade Scenarios During The 2017 NFL Draft

By Ryan Rosko

Mar 1, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Cleveland Browns are no strangers to making trades during the draft. What types of offers could we see them doing at the end of the month?

To draft specific players in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns may have to trade some of their assets to accomplishing their goals. Every team goes about evaluating trade capital differently.

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson used a very detailed draft chart. Over the years, NFL teams have used variations of it when figuring out trade values.

With 11 picks at the moment, it is safe to say not all of them will be used.

Using the draft trade chart that was posted on Pro Football Talk, here are three possible trade scenarios.

Cleveland adds defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson and moves into the top six.

The New York Jets would trade the sixth overall pick (1600 points) and Richardson to Cleveland for the 12th overall pick (1,200 points), 52nd pick (380 points), and a 2018 fifth round pick.

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By making this move, Cleveland accomplished multiple goals. First, they added a player in Richardson who can fill their three technique role.

The Browns also would have positioned themselves to either have their picks of quarterbacks or at worst all but one of them. Should they prefer another option, Ohio State safety Malik Hooker would make plenty of sense.

In addition, trading up to six allows Cleveland to select a player like Hooker among others before the Los Angles Chargers who has similar early needs.

I’d hate to give up the 52nd pick, but if it lands Hooker or another quality talent, then that must be done. The only other way a trade like this would work without the 52nd pick is by including multiple picks in the third through fifth rounds.

Although some may like that route more, those are the rounds where rosters are built and such a possibility is less likely.

Cleveland trade up in front of the New Orleans Saints

Let’s say somehow both UNC’s quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and Clemson’s Deshaun Watson are taken before the 10th pick. Should Cleveland be sold on the idea that they want to go quarterback, Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes would be their best bet.

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As a result, trading up with the Buffalo Bills would solidify that goal. Now I know what some of you are thinking and I agree with the following belief: No quarterback is worthy of a top 10 pick.

Even though such a statement holds value, the chances are strong that teams overreact and drafts a or multiple quarterbacks earlier than they should.

New Orleans, like Cleveland, is intrigued in Mahomes and could be tempted to select him with their 11th pick. So, to grab their quarterback, Cleveland sells Buffalo on moving down with just one additional pick: Buffalo trades the 10th pick (1,300 points) to Cleveland for the 12th pick (1,200 points) and the 108th pick (78 points).

Now, by trading up for Mahomes, the million dollar question is asked by fans. Yes, that question. Is he the answer to the quarterback problem? No one can say for sure, but with an improve offensive line and added resources on offense, perhaps Mahomes resolves Cleveland’s quarterback issue.

 Trade back into first round

For the sake of this scenario, Cleveland drafts either a cornerback, quarterback, or an offensive weapon (OW) at 12. Either way, the pursuit for a safety may be too hard to wait for their next selection, 33rd overall.

The New York Giants could be a willing trade partner depending on how the draft unfolds leading up to their 23rd overall pick. Moving down from 23 to 33 is not that much of a drop off.

As a result, the G-Men trade 23 (760 points) to Cleveland for 33 (580 points), 146 (33 points), and a 2018 fourth round pick.

By trading with New York, Cleveland jumps over teams like the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, both of whom are in need of secondary help. Following the trade, the Browns send in the card stating they have selected Washington safety Budda Baker.

Just think, after this trade, Cleveland would finish day one with Texas A&M EDGE Myles Garrett, CB/QB/OW, and Baker!

Next: 5 Non-QB Options For The 12th Pick

Of course not every trade is by the draft charts, but they certainly are a key piece to teams’ strategy during the draft. How EVP of football operations Sashi Brown and company determines which deals they want to make is just one of the many exciting aspects of the draft!

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