With the NFL Draft approaching next month, many are speculating what the Cleveland Browns are going to do. Cleveland picks second overall in this upcoming draft and the options are plenty. Many believe that the team will pick a quarterback, or a wide receiver/cornerback, or maybe an edge rusher. If the player that the Browns want the most is taken first overall (by the Tennessee Titans or another team), what are the odds that the team potentially trades down?
Or, the team could possibly trade up.
It would be wise if Cleveland decided to not trade up in this draft and stay put at number two. It’s wishful thinking that things would work out perfectly with a trade either way but it should not be considered.
The Titans own the number one overall pick in the draft, and the signs are pointing toward them taking Miami QB Cam Ward. If there is one team that could be desperate enough to leapfrog the Browns to the top pick, it’s the team in East Rutherford, the New York Giants.
The reason?
The Giants are running low on quarterback options and both Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are trying to save their jobs. Cleveland has enough draft picks if they want to trade up, they should only trade up for a good reason: Their draft grades.
If they want to trade up to get Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter they would do it. Or, they could do it for someone like Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter. Quarterback is always a trade-up option, either Ward or Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Sanders is likely to fall to #2 or later in the first/early 2nd, so no need to move up for him. The Browns could draft him at two if they have him graded that high.
Cleveland’s purpose for this draft is to not focus mainly on needs but draft the best players that will help the team succeed. The team has needs and it would be foolish of the team to give away assets instead of using those assets to build their team. Staying at 2 is the wise decision the Browns should make, only trade up if they feel that Tennessee might surprise everyone and draft the player they want. They should only trade down if the Titans do in fact take that player.
In the end, staying put seems to be the wise decision.