Now that the first pick of the draft will almost certainly be a quarterback, the Cleveland Browns own some extremely valuable real estate in the No. 2 spot. And yes, they need a quarterback. And yes, there are supposedly two top-tier quarterbacks in this draft. But should the Browns consider taking advantage of the value now associated with that pick by trading down?
Titans general manager Jon Robinson stated after his team’s blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Rams that there was interest from other teams. That probably means teams will be making offers to Cleveland for the second pick so that they can have a chance to draft Jared Goff or Carson Wentz. That would enable a barren Browns team to collect extra picks in order to initiate a rebuild.
We don’t know what to expect from the Browns going forward. That’s the reality when you have a brand-new front office, and the fact that they let four key free agents walk suggests they’re going to basically start from scratch. But there’s still some hope for 2012 offensive rookie of the year Robert Griffin III, who might have a chance to flourish in a new setting. If you trade down and add a second-level prospect like Paxton Lynch or Connor Cook, you create competition while also maintaining similar chances of finally finding that franchise pivot.
I’m sure Wentz and Goff are intriguing, but if teams are having a hard time justifying selling the farm to move into the top of the draft, shouldn’t teams take similar heat for neglecting to accept a king’s ransom in order to move down? If an offer that even remotely resembles the Rams-Titans deal is on the table, the Browns should strongly consider accepting and gambling that they’ll be better off with a second-tier quarterback and some extra picks in their back pocket.
