The Cleveland Browns need a major shake-up. Dealing with the fallout from the disastrous Deshaun Watson trade, the franchise needs some new life, and holding the second overall pick certainly gives them the opportunity to do just that.
But one analyst believes a smarter bet for Cleveland, rather than taking the best available quarterback at pick No. 2 (Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward), is to trade down in the 2025 NFL Draft and build out their draft capital. The Browns can get the quarterback help they need by selecting a young prospect later on in the draft.
Do the Cleveland Browns Trade Back?
The idea of the Browns trading back feels blasphemous when looking at the roster and the immediate needs of the organization. However, that is exactly what PFSN’s Kyle Soppe would like to see Cleveland do.
Rather than go after Sanders early, they could wait patiently and grab Jaxson Dart instead.
Soppe wrote: “Where QB3 goes in this draft is a moving target, and I expect a team to be aggressive at some point should Jaxson Dart’s stock dip the way many are forecasting.
“They’ve clearly scouted the former Rebel, and the idea of leveraging the second overall pick has to at least be on their radar given the haul it could provide due to its value in this specific draft: your choice of arguably the best raw prospect or QB2 of a two-QB top tier.”
Soppe referenced the 2016 NFL Draft when the Browns moved out of the No. 2 pick in a trade with Philadelphia that netted them the No. 8 spot and four additional picks. The Eagles went on to take Carson Wentz there.
Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe Could Be Options at Quarterback
While there is a possibility such a deal happens even before April 24, Soppe believes the Browns can be smart with their choice if Dart’s stock begins to dip.
“The Browns are in a unique spot in that they can make this pick and explore options should Dart’s stock begin to dip,” Soppe wrote. “Teams picking in the middle third of the first round, like Atlanta, Arizona, and Cincinnati, aren’t in need of a quarterback, so what would stop Cleveland from drafting Penn State’s Abdul Carter and floating out pie-in-the-sky trade offers.”
However, the latest mock draft from PFSN isn’t going that far with Cleveland’s choice. While they also have the team selecting Abdul Carter, Jacob Infante doesn’t see a trade happening. Instead, they get their quarterback in the third round, in the form of Jalen Milroe out of Alabama.
“Jalen Milroe may go much higher than this because of his immense upside stemming from his strong arm and elite athleticism. That said, Cleveland would be a great landing spot for him to sit for a year or two, then inevitably push for a starting role.”