Hue Jackson Says Browns Will Not Trade No. 1 Pick in 2017 NFL Draft

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson said Tuesday the organization will not trade the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL draft.

When asked about the possibility of striking a deal, Jackson said, "No. I can tell you no on that one," according to ESPN.com's Pat McManamon.

Jackson also expressed the importance of solidifying the Browns' quarterback situation and said he would be open to trading the team's No. 12 overall pick in order to do so.

"There's trade opportunities, hopefully," he said.

Last April, Cleveland traded the No. 2 overall selection and a fourth-rounder in the 2016 draft to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for two first-round picks, a second-round pick, a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick.

Philly selected quarterback Carson Wentz with that No. 2 choice, and the Browns cycled through Cody Kessler, Josh McCown, Robert Griffin III, Kevin Hogan and Charlie Whitehurst under center last season.

Kessler and Hogan remain on the roster, and Cleveland also acquired Brock Osweiler from the Houston Texans on March 9, though he is expected to be traded or released.

North Carolina's Mitchell Trubisky and Clemson's Deshaun Watson are the top-rated quarterback prospects available in the 2017 draft.

Cleveland is widely expected to take Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Myles Garrett at No. 1, though it may look for a signal-caller at No. 12 if it doesn't trade that pick.

In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller predicted the Browns will select Garrett first overall and Watson 12th.