The winds could be shifting in Berea as the Cleveland Browns are now rumored to be considering a trade up to the third spot in the NFL Draft to select West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.
Once thought to be in the market to be trading down to acquire an extra draft pick, assumed to be in the second round, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports that there is a buzz building which would have the Browns attempting to leapfrog the Philadelphia Eagles to ensure that Smith is available when their helmet is on the clock.
The Eagles are rumored to be enamored with Smith while the Browns are reportedly not sold on Brandon Weeden as their quarterback of the future. The Browns traded up to the third spot in 2012 to draft running back Trent Richardson. Not owning a second-round selection in 2013, a trade up would ensure that the Browns—without a subsequent trade—would not be selecting at all on Friday night as a third-round pick would be needed to make the jump.
ESPN’s Todd McShay recently pegged the Browns with Smith, but doing so via their sixth-overall selection. The Eagles are the former employer of current Browns CEO Joe Banner.
[Related: WFNY Roundtable: Browns draft predictions for the 1st round]








