Cleveland Browns Would Cripple Franchise by Trading No. 4 Pick

Although trading back to gather more picks may be enticing for the rebuilding Cleveland Browns, with the chance to select a legitimate franchise player at No. 4 overall, the team absolutely has to stay put. 

Cleveland is starved for a true franchise player that can become the face of the organization, create buzz in the fanbase and most importantly, help the team win games. 

The Browns made a monster trade with the Atlanta Falcons last year and gathered a handful of picks in the process—something that will ultimately turn out well for Cleveland. 

In that trade, the Browns gave up their No. 6 overall selection and missed out on a chance to grab that truly game-changing offensive player. 

Cleveland could have used Julio Jones, right? 

In the end, the deal was a positive one for the Browns, but now it's time to pull the trigger. 

Trent Richardson, Justin Blackmon and even Michael Floyd are possibilities at No. 4. If the team remains dedicated to Colt McCoy, it needs to create an atmosphere conducive to success. 

With Blackmon, Cleveland would get a well-rounded possession receiver who should flourish in its West Coast offense—he's really physical and tremendous after the catch. The same goes for Floyd, who's probably a little more athletically impressive with better leaping ability. 

With Richardson, the team could assimilate itself to the smash-mouth nature of the AFC North and become a run-heavy club. He's comfortable catching balls out of the backfield, too. 

Sure, it wouldn't be the most exciting brand of football, but an old-school style could certainly get results for a storied but struggling Cleveland franchise. 

Trading back always seems like the patient and intelligent football move. The New England Patriots do it; it's got to be smart, right? 

Well, kind of. 

Teams with glaring deficiencies like the Browns can only accumulate additional picks for so long. 

Now's the time when quality outweighs quantity. 

Cleveland needs a franchise guy who'll add a considerable spark to the offense and will likely have pick of the litter in this draft. 

Browns, hold onto your No. 4 pick and draft a dynamic skill position player. He'll help you return to relevance faster and more effectively than an abundance of mid-round picks. 

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