5 Bold Cleveland Browns 2022 NFL draft predictions

Bold prediction No. 2: Cleveland Browns move back into first round

Instead of holding steady at pick No. 44 in the second round of the draft, the Browns decide to move up into the first round of the draft. There are several players the team could be targeting either on the defensive side of the ball at defensive end or tackle.

They may even still have their eyes set on a wide receiver.

The Browns haven’t been known to make bold moves like this one but they’re also in a new stage of the team’s future. Spending a lot of money on bringing in a new quarterback as they did with Deshaun Watson may make this upcoming win at all costs more of a priority.

So if there is a prospect or two in that first round that the team is looking at strongly, it wouldn’t be alarming to see them make this move. There are any number of teams that might be willing to part with their pick in the first round if the Browns packaged some picks or even their quarterback, Baker Mayfield.

The New York Giants have two picks in the first round at No. 5 and 7 and could be interested in moving around (although it’s not as if Cleveland can move all the way up to No. 7 but if they were to move down at least once, they could suddenly be talking to Cleveland).

The Browns and Giants have been trading partners in the past and the Browns former head coach Freddie Kitchens is on the Giants coaching staff. The Seattle Seahawks have three picks in the first two rounds at No. 9 and 40 and 41. Would they be willing to part with the first-round pick to gain more picks?

Let’s not look past the Philadelphia Eagles either and their willingness to make a trade with Cleveland. They have two picks in the first round at No. 15 and 18. They have made trades with the Browns in the past too and might be an attractive partner to make a trade with again.