Report: Cleveland Browns talking with teams that covet Ezekiel Elliott

The Cleveland Browns may be ready to trade again if running back Ezekiel Elliott is still on the board when they pick at No. 8.

The Cleveland Browns, having already traded back to the No. 8 overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, may be on the move once again, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The Browns, who were able to convince the Philadelphia Eagles to move up because they wanted one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft, are now reportedly trying to do the same with teams that covet Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott.

The teams that may be showing the most interest in Elliott include the New York Giants at No. 10, the Chicago Bears at No. 11 and the Miami Dolphins at No. 13. Miami has rumored for a while now to be interested in Elliott, but the Bears have come into the picture this week, especially after Elliott named the Bears as a team that was in “love” with him during an appearance on The Dan Patrick radio show.

There is also an Ohio connection on the Bears staff, as running backs coach Stan Drayton recruited Elliott to Ohio State and coached him for two years with the Buckeyes.

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Unlike the deal with the Eagles, a trade involving Elliott would seemingly not go down until the Browns are on the clock as no one is going to willing to move up in the draft until they are sure that Elliott is available. The biggest threat to that scenario could be the Dallas Cowboys at No. 4, where Elliott would continue to benefit from playing behind a talented offensive line. (Although not everyone agrees with the idea of Elliott in blue and silver.)

If Elliott is still available at No. 8 and the Browns swing a deal, it would be a tough pill to swallow for some Browns fans as Elliott is considered not only the best running back in the draft, but the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson in 2007.

The reality is that the NFL is a league where running backs no longer go in the top 10 of the draft and, as talented as Elliott may be, the Browns have numerous other holes to fill before the running back position. And if they do want a running back, there should be some good ones available later in the weekend, possibly someone like Alabama running back Derrick Henry, who the Browns are reportedly interested in.

By moving down a few more slots they should still have the opportunity to add a solid player to the roster while also picking up yet more draft capital to spend throughout the weekend.