Cleveland Browns: Possible trade targets in the 2020 NFL Draft

This spot is really just for any of the top four 2020 NFL Draft offensive tackle prospects that the Cleveland Browns covet the most. While I think Andrew Thomas may be the best option for the Browns, and that’s why I put him up there, I think he is actually the least likely of the four to be traded up for.

Thomas seems to lack the perceived upside and ceiling that the likes of Mekhi Becton, Tristan Wirfs and Jedrick Wills Jr. allegedly possess according to many evaluators. Wills’ consistency and positional versatility, Wirfs’ incredibly athletic showing at the combine and Becton’s intimidating frame and impressive moving ability all seem to be hot topics of discussion.

Andrew Thomas is just a very solid, experienced and reliable player at the left tackle position. He doesn’t have the hype that a lot of the other prospects at the position do, possibly hurting his draft stock. After being OT1 early in the process, many mocks have him as the fourth tackle coming off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft.

If that is the case, the Browns may not have to trade up for him. It all depends on how the draft shakes out, which could be in a variety of ways when it comes to tackles. If the Giants take Simmons, Miami and Los Angeles both go Chargers and the Panthers, Cardinals and Jaguars address needs elsewhere on their rosters (defensive line, wide receiver or cornerback, presumably) then the Cleveland Browns could even end up with their pick of all the tackles.

On the other hand, what if the Giants go tackle instead of Simmons? What if the Dolphins take the quarterback the Chargers wanted and they take a tackle at six? Carolina, Arizona and Jacksonville all could use a tackle, leaving the Browns empty-handed in terms of the top four tackle prospects.

Realistically, it will probably fall somewhere in between, with two or maybe only one of the top four options still available at 10. If there is a run on tackles early and the Browns fear that the guy they really like, whoever that may be, they make a jump up in an effort to secure him.

Again, it seems like guys like Becton and Wirfs who have more impressive traits and upside may be better trade-up targets, but it really all depends on the team and who they value. I’m not inside the heads of Berry, head coach Kevin Stefanski or offensive line coach Bill Callahan, so it’s hard to say who they would want to move up for exactly.

They very well may stand pat and take whoever falls to them (assuming one does), with confidence that they are all great prospects that Callahan can mold into great players. Even if they don’t get a tackle at 10, they could trade out and take one later or even pursue a guy like Trent Williams.

When it comes down to it, it is highly unlikely the Cleveland Browns will trade up from the 10th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. But if they really like one guy more than the others (like I do with Thomas) and the tackles were flying off the board early in the first round, they may consider going up just a couple spots to secure their guy.