Are the Cleveland Browns done trading?
By Thomas Moore
The Cleveland Browns swung a big draft pick trade on Wednesday and they reportedly may not be done dealing.
The news that the Cleveland Browns had traded the No. 2 overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles was still resonating with Browns fans when speculation arose that the team may not be done.
The Browns now hold 12 picks in next week’s draft – including six of the first 100 – as they begin on their latest rebuilding project:
Our 1️⃣2️⃣ picks of the #2016NFLDraft
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 20, 2016
RD 1: (8)
RD 2: (32)
RD 3: (65, 77)
RD 4: (99, 100, 138)
RD 5: (141, 172, 173)
RD 6: (176)
RD 7: (223)
But that may not be enough to satisfy the front office, which could be on the hunt for another deal, only this would be with an eye on 2017:
Now don't be surprised when the #Browns trade back from the No. 8 spot. Look for Cleveland to try and control the 2017 NFL Draft.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 20, 2016
We’re not sure how well that would go over with Browns fans, a group where patience can run thin at times. While it is becoming widely accepted that the Browns are going to be in for a rough road this fall, the idea of taking additional assets away from this year to use in 2017 may be a bit too much for some fans to handle.
Related: Cleveland Browns draft profile: Paxton Lynch
The trade with the Eagles is a clear indication that the Browns have convinced themselves that the Los Angeles Rams are going to select the quarterback that the Browns really wanted with the first overall selection, so why not move down and acquire more assets.
By dropping from No. 2 to No. 8, the Browns are still in position to draft a potential impact player. With Cal’s Jared Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz almost certainly going off the board with the first two picks, the Browns should be comforted by the fact that someone among the group of Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner, Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey, UCLA linebacker Myles Jack or Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves should be available.
And just because the Browns did not like what was available from the quarterback position at No. 2 doesn’t mean they are out of the quarterback market, at least according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Quarterback to watch for Cleveland: Paxton Lynch.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 20, 2016
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It is possible that the Browns are interested in Lynch, who has flown a bit under the radar as everyone has focused on debating Goff vs. Wentz. But it seems extremely unlikely that they would select him at No. 8; if they really liked him they could have just stayed at No. 2 and not run the risk of missing out.
A more likely scenario would be to take a defensive impact player at No. 8 and if Lynch starts to fall in the first round, the Browns could use some of those newly acquired assets to poke their head out of the second round to move up and select Lynch, giving them their Khalil Mack-Derek Carr moment. (Just as long as that trade scenario does not involve the Browns trading with the Houston Texans at No. 22.)
The Browns made one big move today. Whether or not they are finished remains to be seen.