The Cleveland Browns head into the NFL draft with a weak roster and several needs, with the biggest being at the quarterback position. In a recent NFL mock draft, the team is projected to select both top overall prospect Abdul Carter and top quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders. To pull off this move, the team stays at second overall to take Carter and then trades up to the 15th pick with the Atlanta Falcons to select Sanders as their starting quarterback. The trade package includes picks No. 33, No. 67, and No. 104 for the No. 15 pick, which would be an 18-pick jump and likely ahead of division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, who may be eyeing Sanders as well.
Sanders is seen as a good fit for head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offensive scheme, making it more realistic for the Browns to select him at second overall. However, it is also possible for the Giants to choose him with the third overall pick. If Sanders were to fall past the top three picks, it could lead to a potentially crazy draft where teams in need of a quarterback may take advantage of the situation by selecting another top prospect first and then trading back up for Sanders. While this scenario seems wishful on paper, first-round trades do happen often, but typically do not involve such a significant drop from the top half of the first round to the second round.
Overall, the mock draft presents some entertaining scenarios that may or may not come to fruition on draft day. Falcons fans may not approve of this trade, as there are other interesting prospects available at the 15th pick for them to consider, such as top defensive talents or remaining top receivers like Tetairoa McMillan or Matthew Golden. While the draft could potentially play out in a variety of ways, it is uncertain how closely it will align with the predictions made in this mock draft. The real draft day is likely to be filled with surprises and unexpected moves from teams looking to add top-tier talent to their rosters.
