Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
Getty
Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry.
The Cleveland Browns are in a unique position to benefit from a blockbuster trade in this year’s NFL draft given their two first-round picks, Nos. 6 and 24, and their personnel needs compared to some other franchises picking just after them.
The Kansas City Chiefs are candidates to move up from No. 9 overall to make a play for one of the three elite pass-rushers in the 2026 class: David Bailey, Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain Jr.
Max Loeb of Bleacher Report on Monday, March 16 issued a trade pitch involving the Chiefs and either the New York Giants at No. 5 or the Browns at No. 6 to accomplish that.
“[The Chiefs] have nine picks in the draft and they are picking ninth overall,” Loeb said. “But the reality with this Chiefs team is they need an immediate impact player with their roster built to win now, and the top edge-rushers in the draft may not fall to them at nine. I could see the New York Giants or the Cleveland Browns trading down and the Kansas City Chiefs moving up to take someone like David Bailey or Rueben Bain.”
Browns May Be Able to Trade Back Without Missing Out on Top Draft Choice
Monroe Freeling of the Georgia Bulldogs is rising, and could land with the Cleveland Browns at No. 6.
GettyGeorgia Bulldogs offensive tackle Monroe Freeling.
The value should be there for the Browns to hop down three spots and pick up a solid asset in return from the Chiefs, perhaps the 74th overall selection in Round 3.
Cleveland is most likely looking at adding an offensive tackle or a wide receiver with the No. 6 pick and should still be able to get an excellent player to fill either void three spots later, particularly if the Browns know that the Chiefs are moving up to draft an edge-rusher and won’t consider taking a player at another position.
Field Yates of ESPN in his latest mock draft last week had wideout Carnell Tate of Ohio State coming off the board at No. 4 to the Tennessee Titans anyway, but also projected that the New Orleans Saints will take receiver Makai Lemon of USC at No. 8. If the Browns want Lemon, then trading down could be a problem.
However, Yates predicted after the opening day of free agency that the Browns will key in on offensive tackle Monroe Freeling out of Georgia with the sixth pick to complete their offensive line rebuild. In that scenario, the Browns can move down three spots, grab an extra third-round selection from Kansas City and still get their player of choice in Freeling at No. 9 overall.
Cleveland could then look at a pass-catcher like Jordyn Tyson of Arizona State if he falls all the way to No. 24 in Round 1 following a lingering hamstring issue, or select a player such as WR Denzel Boston who also has a first-round grade in the estimation of most national draft analysts.
Browns Can Use as Many High-End Draft Picks as Possible Amid Roster Rebuild
Cleveland Browns
GettyCleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken.
Cleveland already owns 10 draft picks across seven rounds in 2026, but the franchise should still be looking to acquire more good selections on Days 1 and 2.
The Browns finished last year with a record of 4-13. The defense was ranked No. 4 in the league in 2025, but lost coordinator Jim Schwartz this offseason. The offense, meanwhile, was a mess and is going to look very different in 2026.
One thing Cleveland did well last year was draft, hitting on several players like defensive tackle Mason Graham, linebacker and Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger, running back Quinshon Judkins and tight end Harold Fannin Jr. — all in the first three rounds.
The Browns need to draft inexpensive talent given their salary cap situation, which will remain marred by Deshaun Watson’s deal for years to come, and because it is difficult to lure free-agent talent to a small market in a cold-weather, Midwestern city.
Beyond first-round selections at Nos. 6 and 24, Cleveland holds picks No. 39 and 70 in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively.
Adding another top-75 pick via a trade with the Chiefs will only help the Browns with a significant offensive rebuild under new head coach Todd Monken this offseason, while also potentially allowing the team to consolidate some of its later-round assets to move up for better players on Days 2 and 3.