Exploring the Four Trade Up Options in Next Week's NFL Draft

Let's break down the realistic movement spots and what it will cost.

(Matt Starkey/Cleveland Browns)

We won’t know anything for certain until the clock starts ticking on April 24th, but all signs—and just about every draft-day whisper—currently point to the Cleveland Browns making waves. The hot name attached to the No. 2 overall pick is former Colorado Buffaloes two-way phenom Travis Hunter.

While that selection would bring undeniable star power to Cleveland, the Browns could very well trade-up to secure a quarterback, potentially targeting Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, or Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.

Make no mistake—trading up would be a gamble. The 2025 draft class is widely regarded as one where the real value lies in the second and third rounds. That’s where teams can uncover day-one starters and long-term contributors—critical depth that helps playoff teams separate from the pack. Surrendering that kind of draft capital could leave Cleveland thin in other key areas.

But here's the thing: if you don’t have a quarterback, you don’t have a chance. And the Browns know that better than most. If Andrew Berry and the coaching staff believe one of these quarterbacks could develop into the guy, they won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at some potential trade-up partners that could help Cleveland move up the board and secure their next franchise signal-caller. For our purposes, we are going to use the a modified/updated version of the Rich Hall trade chart that was compiled by Drafttek, which assigns a point value to each draft slot. For a trade to be considered “fair,” the value of the total points exchanged should come relatively close to a net zero delta.

15th Overall with the Atlanta Falcons

In what would be considered a rather aggressive move, the Browns move up from number 33 to number 15 overall, which is currently held by the Atlanta Falcons. The New Orleans Saints, i.e. the most viable team to take a quarterback after the Browns and New York Giants, pass on Sanders at number 9 and the Browns did not want to risk another team coming up to take the polarizing prospect.

The trade:

• Browns receive: Pick 15 (315 points) and select Sanders

• Saints receive: Pick 33 (180 points), Pick 67 (75 points), and a 2025 third-rounder (estimated 60 points)

Total points exchanged? Nearly even. But let’s not kid ourselves—this deal is all about the Browns putting their chips on the table for a quarterback they believe can be the face of the franchise.

Here’s the thing: this price tag is steep. Yes, the Browns need a quarterback. But they also need depth—quality players that could’ve been had at pick 67. In a draft rich with Day 2 talent, sacrificing a top-70 pick plus a future third is no small gamble. This is the kind of pick that could define the next five years in Cleveland—for better or worse.

Too rich for my blood? Probably. But desperate times call for bold swings. And the Browns just took a big one. Let’s move to more realistic spots.