2010 NFL Draft: Should the Cleveland Browns Trade the No. 7 Pick?

As unpredictable as the draft can be, there’s a good chance none of the prospects the Browns want with the No. 7 pick will be there when the Browns go on the clock.

It’s reasonable to think the Browns only would be interested in Sam Bradford, Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy, Russell Okung, Eric Berry and a few others.

If the draft goes as mocked by numerous websites and draft “experts,” Berry is about the only guy who still might be on the board, and that’s assuming the Browns haven’t decided someone like Earl Thomas or Jared Odrick are worth more than they’re currently charted.

However, the Browns have a list of needs longer than my arm, and trading down will give them at least one more second-round pick. Getting that additional second-round pick has been a goal of Team Holmgren since free agency started.

The Browns tendered six restricted free agents at the second round level, and only linebacker Jason Trusnick signed his tender. Running back Jerome Harrison, fullback Lawrence Vickers and linebacker D’Qwell Jackson and two others did not.

The Browns wanted to get at least another second round pick out of that bunch, but that didn’t happen. However, a draft day trade for at least one of those guys is not out of the question.

The Eagles want to trade up, but that could be lower than the Browns want to fall, unless not being able to get one of the top guys completely re-arranges their draft board to the point their next target still likely will be around at the No. 24 pick.

Getting another second-round pick also virtually would guarantee the Browns would take a quarterback in the second round. With two picks there, they can address three needs at the top of the draft and still have three third-round picks to grab above average prospects.

Trading down has a lot of benefits for the team at this point, but passing up certain players who still may be on the board isn’t always the smartest thing to do as history has proven for the Browns time and again.

The binders on Holmgren’s and general manager Tom Heckert’s respective desks are piled high right now, and overthinking the matter can be just as dangerous as glossing over information.

But that’s why they get paid the big bucks.