Browns Projected To Make Draft-Day Trade With Cowboys

The Cleveland Browns are likely to have several options to solve multiple glaring needs with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, they may not be fully sold on the value of those prospects being worthy of that selection.

So, the Browns could take a player at a position they do not seemingly need to improve, such as Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love or Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Yet, with a draft class that is deep at both wide receiver and offensive tackle, Cleveland could instead decide to trade down, acquiring more picks while still addressing those roster holes.

That is why Tim Bielik of Cleveland.com is projecting that the Browns will make a draft-day trade with the Dallas Cowboys, and will then target USC wide receiver Makai Lemon at No. 12 overall.

Browns receive: Picks 12 and 20
Cowboys receive: Picks 6, 70, and 146

“The Cowboys need an elite pass rusher, and the Browns could use more picks to accelerate their rebuild. […] As tempting as it could be to take (offensive tackle) Monroe Freeling, the Browns need impact now, especially at wide receiver. They have not added to the position at all this offseason, and this [No. 12] pick feels like the prime opportunity to get a player in Lemon who has a case for being the top receiver in this class. In an ideal world, the Browns should try to add size at receiver, which is why [Carnell] Tate at 6 might be a simpler option. But they pass on him for more assets down the road, and they get a player in Lemon who still might be the best pro receiver out of this group,” Bielik wrote.

Dallas would likely be looking to draft edge rusher David Bailey of Texas Tech or Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami in this scenario. The Browns are already set at that position with Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

If this trade is made, it would give Cleveland three first-round picks – No. 12, No. 20, and No. 24 – that could open up some intriguing possibilities. While there is no guarantee Lemon would fall to No. 12, as he has been linked to the New Orleans Saints at No. 8 in some mock drafts, the Browns could pivot to an offensive tackle such as Freeling out of Georgia at No. 12, and then take a wide receiver afterward.

At No. 20 or No. 24, potential wide receiver targets would include Denzel Boston of Washington, Omar Cooper Jr. of Indiana, or KC Concepcion of Texas A&M. If Lemon is drafted, potential tackle selections would be Kadyn Proctor of Alabama or Caleb Lomu of Utah.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry has publicly admitted that he does not know who the team would pick if the draft were being held today, so perhaps trading down is the best move the franchise can make.