A trio of NFL Draft analysts predict that the Cleveland Browns will trade down from the No. 6 overall pick, with the Dallas Cowboys as a top suitor. Who will Cleveland take after that?
With rumors swirling that teams near the top of the NFL Draft order are looking to trade back, a trio of prominent draft analysts seem to think the Cleveland Browns are poised to do just that.
Wednesday morning brought the unveiling of three final mocks from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr., The Ringer's Todd McShay and The Athletics Dane Brugler. The group of draft experts all made sure to include the Browns making a trade back out of the No. 6 overall pick. Cleveland's trade partner in all three drafts was also the same: the Dallas Cowboys.
In Kiper's the Browns flipped pick No. 6 and their second-rounder at 39 to Dallas for picks No. 12 and 20, adding a third first-rounder to their arsenal. When Cleveland is finally on the clock again at 12, they select OT Kadyn Proctor out of Alabama. It then goes on to add Washington WR Denzel Boston at 20, followed by Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy at 24.
McShay's trade back follows similar parameters, with Dallas trading picks No. 12 and 92 plus a 2027 second instead of giving up both its first this year, to move up to six. The Browns then select Proctor at 12, and Texas A&M WR KC Concepcion at 24.
Meanwhile, Brugler's trade package is exactly the same as Kiper's, only with a 2027 fourth thrown in from the Cowboys to sweeten the pot. He then has the Browns using their three first round picks this year to draft Spencer Fano out of Utah at 12, Concepcion at 20 and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren at 24.
The fact that just about a week out from the draft, some of the top insiders are mocking the Browns to trade back is notable. In recent days, there has been a lot of chatter around Dallas being the most aggressive team in pursuit of a trade-up in the draft.
If true, Cleveland certainly makes a ton of sense as a potential trade partner for America's team. The Browns' biggest needs reside on the offensive side of the ball, notably at wide receiver and left tackle.
Meanwhile, Dallas may be in hot pursuit of one of the top edge rushers in the class such as Ohio State's Arvell Reese, or Texas Tech's David Bailey. Another Buckeye, in safety Caleb Downs could also be of interest to Jerry Jones team.
If any of those players are there at six, or even blue-chip running back Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame, expect the Cowboys and perhaps several other teams to express some interest in the Browns' current first pick.
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