NFL Rumors: Browns Would Be Wise To Trade Down in 2012 NFL Draft

Cleveland Browns general manager Tom Heckert admitted Monday that his team isn't in the running to move up to the No. 3 spot in the 2012 NFL draft, while also stating he wouldn't be opposed to moving back a couple spots if the right deal presented itself. 

From Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer:

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"We're most likely going to stay at No. 4 and we know we'll get a really good player there,'' he said. "But there's about five guys we really like, so we would consider trading down -- but probably only to five, six, seven or eight.''

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Trading down a couple spots, if given that opportunity, might be a best-case scenario for the Browns. 

While moving down three or four spots could take Cleveland out of the running for their top choice, it also gives them a chance to select a player they like and add even more draft ammo for rebuilding a roster that needs help in several areas. 

As Heckert later told Cabot, "Why not pick up some extra picks if you can get a guy you like a few spots back?"

Time will tell if any real interest comes for the Browns' No. 4 overall pick, but it seems entirely possible that a team could fall in love with quarterback Ryan Tannehill or running back Trent Richardson and would then want to move up a handful of spots to ensure they can select that player.

One such franchise could be the Miami Dolphins, who struck out on several free-agent quarterbacks and have no long-term plan at the position. Miami could potentially move up four spots to ensure they get a young, franchise-type quarterback, while Cleveland moves back to No. 8 and receives a second- or third- rounder for the swap.

That scenario seems to be a win-win for both clubs. 

In the end, if the Browns truly like "five guys," as Heckert states, in the top-10 of April's draft, there's very little risk in moving back. A guy like Tannehill, Richardson, Justin Blackmon or Morris Claiborne may be off the board by the time Cleveland finally picks, but they'll still get an impact player they have targeted as well as more chances later on to improve a position such as quarterback, running back, receiver, outside linebacker, cornerback or right tackle with a pick they didn't originally possess.

It most likely wouldn't be a popular move for fans in Cleveland, but a trade down makes a lot of football sense for Heckert in rebuilding this roster. More picks mean more chances to land a quality player in the draft, and that's exactly what the Browns need to turn around a franchise that has made just one playoff appearance since rejoining the league.