Cleveland Browns: Why another trade with the Buffalo Bills isn’t likely
By Ryan Rosko
Another Cleveland Browns trade with the Buffalo Bills should not be expected.
On Friday, the Cleveland Browns accomplished one of their goals, acquiring a veteran quarterback in Tyrod Taylor. To add the former Virginia Tech QB, Cleveland dealt their third-rounder to the Buffalo Bills.
If the season started tomorrow, Buffalo would be starting Nathan Peterman, a second-year player from the University of Pittsburgh. Even with Taylor, Buffalo was looking for their long-term answer. Now that he is gone, the pursuit is even stronger for them to their answer at quarterback.
They could sign a veteran to be their starter in the meantime. Regardless if they do or not, Buffalo will need another option at quarterback which brings me to the draft.
More from Factory of Sadness
- Bet $1 on ANYTHING to Unlock $200 Guaranteed with Crazy Bet365 Ohio Promo!
- 3 reasons why the Cleveland Cavaliers have a good shot to win the East next year
- It might be too soon to say it but it looks like the Cleveland Guardians are back
- Are the Cleveland Browns a Top 10 roster heading into the 2023 season?
- Eastern Conference Solidarity: Back the Heat with $5 Bet, Win $200 Bonus INSTANTLY with DraftKings Promo
If Buffalo really wants to get a quarterback, they are going to have to trade up in round one to select him. The Bills do have picks 21 and 22 as a good starting point but plenty more would have to be added.
By drafting a quarterback first overall, Cleveland’s fourth pick could be the most sought-after pick for teams to trade up to for a quarterback. However, why would Cleveland even want to trade down that far? Yes, the back to back first rounders are nice but there are reservations about trading that far down.
If Cleveland just stood put or at the very least traded down a couple spots (not 17), they know what they are working with in terms of who is on the board. By trading down all the way into the 20s, the preference of choice is gone.
By selecting in the 20s, the best case scenario would be to hope for a top player to drop significantly.
Assuming the Browns get the chance to draft NC State DE Bradley Chubb, Alabama DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, and other top-tier players, Cleveland should not hesitate to make the pick. They need to continue to add blue chip players who can make an impact early on.
That said, crazier things have happened during the draft, especially with the Browns. That is why the only remote chance of them trading down to a team like Buffalo is because they plan to select a running back not named Saquon Barkley, formerly of Penn State in the first round.
More from Cleveland Browns
- Are the Cleveland Browns a Top 10 roster heading into the 2023 season?
- There will be no more excuses for Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns in 2023
- There is hope that the Cleveland Browns land DeAndre Hopkins
- 4 reasons the Cleveland Browns may in fact land DeAndre Hopkins
- The Cleveland Browns need to rock some white helmets in 2023
To consider this, the following would probably would need to happen: 1) Cleveland’s grade on Barkley is much closer to other running backs. 2) Cleveland would have to add at least one but likely multiple draft picks in 2019 that will be in the top 60 or so aka round one and/or two draft picks, and T Cordy Glenn somehow.
In other words, no one has to be concerned about them moving all the way down like that because it is not going to happen.
General manager John Dorsey, like every executive right now will tell the media that their picks are available for trade. Of course they are, it would be irresponsible not to. Teams are wheeling and dealing like never before.
Cleveland should make a trade during the draft whenever they see fit. It will be because of both Buffalo and them that they got both Taylor and a rookie quarterback.
Next: 2018 post combine mock draft
On the other hand, Buffalo will have to either hope for the best with Peterman/other veteran or give up the farm to land their next rookie signal-caller.