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Cleveland Browns: Pre-Draft Moves Not Without Controversy

By Nick Dudukovich

Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown speaks to the media during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 3, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Fans pose with No. 1 jerseys of the Oakland Raiders (left)and Arizona Cardinals (middle) and the Denver Broncos at the NFL draft exhibit at the NFL Experience at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Fans pose with No. 1 jerseys of the Oakland Raiders (left)and Arizona Cardinals (middle) and the Denver Broncos at the NFL draft exhibit at the NFL Experience at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2) Did the Browns get enough value to move down to 8th overall?

KRIS: For #1 overall, The Tennessee Titans got the #15 overall, multiple 2nd round picks in 2016, a 2016 3rd Rounder, with both a 2017 1st Round pick and 3rd Rounder. In comparison, the Cleveland Browns got #8 overall, a 3rd rounder, and a 4th round pick in 2016, with the Eagles 2017 1st and a 2018 2nd rounder. So was it enough?

In my opinion I don’t think so. The one thing that the Eagles couldn’t offer the Browns was a 2016 or 2017 2nd round pick. To me, that would have made this deal a lot stronger. Sure the Browns didn’t drop 14 spots like the Titans, but a 3rd and 4th rounder? Then just the 1st round pick next season and a 2nd in 2018? It didn’t seem like it was enough to me. Acquiring a 2nd rounder for this season would have given the Browns 3 potential players to impact this roster. Instead they get 2 (#8 and #32), and can hope maybe their 3rd rounder makes the team. The Browns needed to force the Eagles to find them at least one relevant 2nd round pick, as 2018 is just too far away for me to care.

JOE: It was one of the worst kept secrets in the NFL that the Browns desperately wanted out of the 2nd spot. When you hang a for sale sign as bright as that one, you aren’t going to grab the highest value out there. At 2nd overall, the choices were limited anyways, as whoever traded up behind the Rams was going to be stuck with whichever quarterback L.A. didn’t want or reaching for a position player. It’s a bad combination of lack of leverage and lack of customers.

As for the haul in return, this is still a great deal for the Browns. Moving down only six spots doesn’t take them out of the running for a day one player nor does it shake up their draft board that much. If they traded down, their desired options should be there. Additionally, there are plenty of teams that will want the 8th overall spot for one of the top offensive lineman (think Colts, Bears here) or even Ezekiel Elliot if he is on the board. The Browns are still in a great spot to accumulate even more picks and focus on the future, which they have pretty much stated given their moves.

Don’t undervalue the 2nd rounder in 2018. The Eagles might be overestimating their window for success, even with Carson Wentz or Jared Goff under center. This deal provides long term value and immediate return, given the extra first rounder in 2017 and the extra 3rd and 4th rounder this season. Those extra picks will keep the Browns from being dominated by undrafted free agents on the 53 man roster.

KRIS: You’re right Joe, the fact that the Browns had a For Sale sign on the No. 2 pick didn’t help them in this deal. They did get a haul of draft picks, and they didn’t trade as far back as Tennessee. I just wanted to see an earlier 2nd rounder come into play. A couple years ago the Redskins gave away three 1st round picks for the #2 overall pick. So is a 2nd rounder really too much to ask? Sure, It came back to bite them of course, and it’s a cautionary tale, but we are giving the Eagles their potential franchise QB. It woulda just been nice to pull in a 2nd rounder who could be an intricate part of this team two seasons from now rather than starting their path in 2018.

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We won’t truly know if the Browns got enough or if the Eagles gave up too much for years. It’s possible the 2018 pick could become a trade piece in another big deal. Who knows! However, everyone is ecstatic about this trade from fans to analysts, so in the end I think they got the best value they could. Personally, I just wanted that 2nd rounder sooner. The Eagles just didn’t have one available.

JOE: Kris, a 2nd rounder right away would have been great. The Eagles didn’t have one to give up, but I’ll gladly take their 2nd rounder in a couple of years. I don’t think the Eagles will see this as a Redskins like situation though. There’s far less risk here, not to mention there aren’t three first-rounders. We’ll be able to assess after the 2018 draft if this was really the right value or not.

Next: Will The Browns Move Down Again?

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