While some have speculated that Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft could feature of frenzy of trades, others have more conservative predictions. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, an overabundance of teams looking to trade down on Thursday could actually indicate that fewer trades will take place in 2026 as those teams struggle to find trade partners.
A year after trading down from the second overall pick, the Browns are once again “taking calls about” trading out of their top draft pick, per Schefter. Cleveland already has nine picks scheduled in this year’s draft, and by trading down, the Browns would likely be collecting quite a bit more in a trade down. The franchise is notorious for trading back, and with a draft that is considered thin in top-level talent and thin in depth at the positions Cleveland needs to improve on most, all signs are pointing to another deal getting done.
Initial reports on Cleveland’s desire to move back indicated that the team was looking to land a wide receiver or offensive tackle and believed it could still get a desired prospect after slipping back a few picks. Per Tony Pauline of EssentiallySports, at this point in time, the Browns “would have no problem moving out of the top 10 if the right offer is put in front of them.” That could be crucial as one of the teams most linked to a potential trade up to No. 6 overall is the Cowboys, who currently hold the 12th pick of the draft.
There are several top end prospects at both positions Cleveland is looking at. The rumors of a trade-crazy first round were centered mostly around the idea that several teams would be looking to trade up into the top 10 for offensive tackles. If Cleveland is willing to move down into the double-digit picks, though, it could mean the team is looking to add at wide receiver first, otherwise it would be first in line for the best offensive tackles available if the team just stayed put.
Even if they target an offensive tackle first, though, it’s widely expected that it will be after a trade back. The sources of NFL insider Jason La Canfora “are convinced at this point that (the Browns) will not be using the sixth overall pick.” There are several strategies that Cleveland could be adopting in its attempts to trade back. We’re only days away from seeing what those strategies might be and whether or not the Browns will be able to put them in action.
Just draft Freeling …. don’t get cute
At 6? That would be getting cute. Fano and maybe even Mauigoa could be there.
Fano is a center at best. Arms are short and you don’t draft a Center at 6. Freeling has way more upside then Francis Mauigoa plus Mauigoa projects as a Guard with a back issue …Freeling has by far the highest upside…. certainly has caught the attention of HOF Joe Thomas
He is not a center *at best* lol that’s a ridiculous statement that’s getting parroted around because a couple industry people repeated it when it’s clear as day that it was teams trying to use it to push him down the board.
His arms measured 32 7/8″. That’s longer than Will Campbell, who went what 4th last year, and the same as Rashawn Slater, who became the highest paid OT last offseason. He can absolutely stick at OT and the film backs it up. People get way too obsessed with some measurements. It’s not like he came in with 31″ inch arms, he still crossed many team’s thresholds. Freeling doesn’t have the same film as them. He’s a major reach at 6.
By the way, an unnamed multi-year all-pro called Lomu the best tackle in the class. Are we taking that as gospel because a really good player said it?
Freeling is nowhere near worth pick 6
Trade back and get your QB next offseason.
All of these teams wanting to trade back… who is going to trade up?
I imagine the GMs most likely to trade up are those that are feeling some heat from ownership and fans and need a home run to silence critics who say a time for change has come. I think this is a critical draft for Omar Khan. Now that Tomlin has left, disgruntled Steelers fans are going to direct their frustration at their GM.
Carnell Tate at 6, then one of the 6 or 7 projected 1st round tackles will still be there at 24, I don’t get how it’s that hard Berry
Because you don’t just take a guy because he’s projected to be there, you take a guy you like. If Proctor is the last man standing but they think he’s a guard, suddenly they’ve missed out. If they think Iheanachor is too raw and have a later grade on him, then they’re reaching for someone they don’t think can come in and have an instant impact. Teams have different grades than the media.
Tate is NOT a sure fire can’t miss WR …. certainly not top 6 material
bottleesup,
A part of the problem is that the Browns are so cash strapped by the Watson contract they need to have as many low cost players as possible. So, if they can trade out of pick 6 and pick up a lower 1st round and add a high 2nd round pick
it makes things easier financially. High picks that succeed cost more money than picks who end up only being serviceable or average players.
Actually they are not cash strapped…. Andrew Berry looks at long term value when he drafts…has nothing to do with the Watson contract
Tracenv,
I am sorry to disagree with you since we are both Browns fans, but IMO Berry has done a terrible job since he started drafting players. By your standard he has not been successful with his ‘long term value’ metric, and if that is his vision then why is he constantly trading down for more picks?
Then, of course, last draft he traded for picks, then gave them away to move in the 5th round for Sanders, who might become a serviceable QB, two rounds after drafting Gabriel.
Sadly, even if you are completely right and I am completely wrong, he traded for and signed Watson to the big contract. He threw away three years of high draft picks which could have brought the Browns an awful lot of players with ‘long term value’ and got the largest boat anchor in NFL history for doing it.
I am so tired of the Browns being laughed, taunted, named the worst franchise in the league, etc. especially since they were totally hosed by the NFL with the expansion draft rules they suffered under, especially in comparison to the Jags and Panthers rules a couple years later. But there is no excuse for the harm this current front office and ownership did to the team.
This has to be Jerry calling them asking to move up.
So long as they get a premium WR or OT, and then a very good WR or OT from 1st round, I don’t care if they trade back or not. If they can back a bit, still accomplish a very good WR AND OT, AND get another 2nd or 3rd round pick this year or 2nd for next year, all the better.
This sort of thing is what has plagued this franchise since it’s reincarnation in 1999. The Browns chase positions of need, and not best overall player.
You win championships by building your club through selecting the best available player. For example, Caleb Downs is likely to be the best available player at 6 and if he is there, you take him whether you need him or not.
Scrambling to fill positions of need is how you end up with Brandon Weeden instead of David DeCastro or Dont’a Hightower.
Draft the best player and stop being too smart by half…
More than anything Cleveland needs impact talent and a cohesive team identity which makes trading back foolish. I think their best play would be to take Sonny Styles at 6 to pair with Schwesinger as your long term linebackers playing behind Garrett and Mason Graham. Even with an average secondary that defense would be a very imposing unit. Then use the later first round pick on the best WR or OL available.
You realize trading back added Graham , RB Judkins and whomever they draft at 24 .. thats smart football … not foolish
True Tracenv,
But they did not have to move back to get Graham (a good choice IMO), the jury is still out on Judkins, and they could still move out of 24 for more picks. I hope it all works out, but color me skeptical at this point.
Cleveland should outsource their offseason decisions.
Well they tried that approach once and the consultant firm they hired recommended they hire Hue Jackson. That worked out really well…lol.
ChatGPT? 😄🤣
THIS frustrated Browns is open to anything.