Browns 7-round mock draft projects trade down out of 1st round

Round 1, Pick 26: Trade down, Falcons

The Falcons need to plan long term at quarterback and with Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields likely off the board, Atlanta could be a real wild card in this spot.  Gambling on BYU’s Zach Wilson or North Dakota Sate’s Trey Lance comes with huge risk, so Atlanta holds here and takes Oregon stud tackle prospect Penei Sewell.

Atlanta still has Matt Ryan and won’t have to force a rookie into the lineup in 2021. They can take the best player available  at No. 4 while still getting their quarterback of the future later in the first round.

Enter the Browns. Atlanta will send Cleveland the 35th overall pick and a third-rounder this year to move up from No. 35 to No. 26, where they select Alabama’s Mac Jones.

Trading down stinks, but it’s a little easier to deal with when you’re going from pick No. 26 to, say No. 35.

Pro Football Focus recently highlighted how Jones is basically as good a prospect as Tua Tagolovoila was a season ago when it comes to throwing the deep ball.

Atlanta gets their quarterback and left tackle of the future and the Browns get an extra pick.