Nov 28, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) prepares to throw the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. The California Golden Bears defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils 48-46. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Draft Rumors: Cleveland Browns More Willing To Trade Down If Jared Goff Goes First by Nick Dudukovich

One popular option for the Cleveland Browns is to trade down in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. If Cleveland goes that route, they should make a trade with the Dallas Cowboys.

The news of first round picks being traded continues to happen. With so many holes, this is a strong possibility for the Cleveland Browns. There are plenty of pros and cons with the Browns making such a trade so early, especially having 10 picks already, but it could work out.

I do not want to see the Browns trade down. However, it is very doubtful they trade out of the top 10 and just dropping a few spots should not change much, if anything on their draft board.

Multiple teams have been rumored to trade up to two but trading with the Dallas Cowboys may be the most realistic. Because they are drafting fourth, I would would be in favor of such a move since Cleveland does not drop far.

The Browns trading down is contingent on what the Los Angeles Rams do with the first pick overall. There has been mixed reports on who the Rams will take, but for the sake of this piece, let’s say they select North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz.

The selection of Wentz would mean that California quarterback Jared Goff is there for the Cleveland Browns. That is a sure thing right? No, it is not. Between the possibility of a trade and the intrigue of drafting to fill a need elsewhere, anything is in play.

The Cleveland Browns quarterback situation is on shaky grounds with four players at the position already. A rookie quarterback does not give the team the best chance to win.

Instead, Robert Griffin III does and I understand the concerns. Yet, I would ask is there not enough confidence in Hue Jackson when he selected Griffin as his quarterback (at least temporarily but could be long-term)? If there is so much confidence, then let him go about adding talent at the quarterback his own way. Besides, the past ways have not led anything great.

Limited weapons on offense with half of a line does not lead to success. Why draft a quarterback in the first if the team’s roster is set up that way?

The need to add to the quarterback position is a strong one, but it does not have to happen in the first round. Jackson believes in Griffin and should eventually feel the same with a rookie if needed. That said, trading the second overall pick to the Cowboys would benefit both teams.

Come the first night of the draft, if we see the Cleveland Browns trade down in the first round, it is likely the first of many trades Cleveland will be involved in. Should Dallas be their trade partner, who could their target be? Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey, Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil, and Oregon defensive lineman Deforest Buckner all makes sense, but I do not see them as the selection.

Any trade up for Dallas will be for a quarterback. Cleveland moving down two spots to four also lets them acquire one of the top prospects, filling a need (likely Ramsey or Tunsil), while adding to their draft pick total. Dallas has not stated they want a quarterback, but with Goff available, do not put it past them to trade up.

Goff worked out today at Cal U for the Dallas Cowboys. Both head coach Jason Garrett and owner/GM Jerry Jones was in attendance and Jones, according to Sports Illustrated‘s Peter King, Jones loved what he saw. Dallas does not have a lot to work with this year, so trading from next year’s group of picks will be needed.

The Cleveland Browns second pick has a value of 2,600. To make the trade up to two, per the trade value chart from Pro Football Talk, Dallas would have to give Cleveland the fourth overall pick (1,800), their second round pick – 34th overall (560), a fourth rounder – 101st overall (96), and a mid-round pick next year.

Depending on what the two teams would like to do, the fourth round pick could go away, being replaced with a third round pick. That would allow Dallas to also drop the mid-round selection to either a fifth or sixth round pick.

Plenty has to go right for this scenario to even become reality. Does Jones and the Cowboys really like Goff that much to give up what it would take to move up two spots?

Soon enough we will know that answer. Assuming they do, the Dallas Cowboys would get their quarterback of the future, while the Cleveland Browns solidifies a need other than quarterback very early.

Then, the 34th overall pick in the second round pick on Friday night would be a great complement to their own to kick off day two of the draft. Just think of the talent the Cleveland Browns could acquire with their own picks, in addition to the picks gained from Dallas.